Project No. 20170390.H10

City of Pittsfield

Community Resilience Building WorkshopSummary of Findings

January, 2019

CRB Workshop Summary of Findings – City of Pittsfield 1

City of Pittsfield

Community Resilience Building Workshop

Summary of Findings

OverviewExtreme weather and natural and climate-related hazards are an increasing concern for the communitiesof Massachusetts, and there is a clear need to involve municipalities, corporations, organizations, and theState in increasing resilience at all levels. Recent storm events affecting the region have highlighted manyof the vulnerabilities that towns and cities face. Hurricane Irene and Superstorm Sandy brought intenseflooding to many municipalities and threatened (or destroyed) infrastructure across the state. Extremetemperatures at both ends of the spectrum have pushed the limits of communities’ preparedness toprotect both infrastructure and people. In coastal communities, the impacts of sea level rise are felt dailyand further exacerbate the impacts of other extreme events. Current climate modeling indicates that allof these hazards are expected to increase in frequency and scale over the coming decades. The MunicipalVulnerability Preparedness (MVP) program provides support and a prescribed process for cities and townsin Massachusetts to plan proactively for resiliency and implement key climate change adaptation actions.

In 2018, the City of Pittsfield was awarded a $40,500 MVP grant to fund the planning stage of this processand simultaneously complete Hazard Mitigation Planning for the City. The City partnered with Fuss &O’Neill, a state certified MVP Provider, to complete a comprehensive, baseline climate change and naturalhazard vulnerability assessment and develop a list of priority actions for the City. This process involvedthe development of an MVP Core Team, which met on November 1, 2018 to determine initial concerns andworked to identify stakeholders within the municipality and set goals for the process. Those stakeholderswere then invited to participate in a Community Resilience Building (CRB) workshop on December 6, 2018,engaging in a day-long, tried and tested process developed by The Nature Conservancy. The CRBmethodology is an “anywhere at any scale” format that draws on stakeholders’ wealth of information andexperience to foster dialogue about the strengths and vulnerabilities within the City. Workshopparticipants interacted at both large and small group levels, using an iterative process to gather input,synthesize ideas across groups, and ultimately develop a set of priority resilience and adaptation actions.

The CRB workshop’s central objectives were to:Define top local natural and climate-related hazards of concern;Identify existing and future strengths and vulnerabilities;Develop prioritized actions for Pittsfield;Identify immediate opportunities to collaboratively advance actions to increase resilience.

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Top Hazards and Vulnerable Areas

During the Community Resilience Building workshop, participants were asked to identify the top fournatural hazards of concern for the City of Pittsfield. Discussion of the top hazards built on earlierconversations that took place at the MVP Core Team Meeting, as well as simultaneous, ongoing Cityconversations that are forming the basis of the City’s Hazard Mitigation Planning. Flooding was identifiedas a top hazard. Extreme temperatures, both cold and heat, especially the increase in days over 90degrees Fahrenheit, was a second hazard. Severe storms bringing intense wind and rain were considereda third hazard. The collective impacts of ice and snow were seen as a fourth major hazard. These fourhazards have already had demonstrated impacts on the City, and as climate change progresses, thesehazards are expected to have ever greater consequences for infrastructure and environment, as well asfor various societal elements. Specific areas of concern are identified below.

Top Hazards

FloodingExtreme TemperaturesSevere StormsIce and Snow

Areas of Concern

While many impacts are expected to be felt City-wide, certainelements, locations, or community groups present particularconcerns.

Neighborhoods/CommunitiesLakewood Neighborhood, Morningside, Grant Street, Brattle Street, Providence Court, West Street, EastStreet, low-income housing and low-income neighborhoods, housing authority properties

FacilitiesHill 78 & Allendale School, Berkshire Medical Center, Berkshire Community College, Joseph ScelsiIntermodal Transportation Center, U-Haul, Big Y Shopping Center, Bowling Alley, Reid Middle School

EcosystemsHousatonic River, Southwest Branch Housatonic River, West Branch Housatonic River, East BranchHousatonic River, Brattle Brook, Unkamet Brook, Wetlands around the King St Dump, Cleveland andAshley Reservoirs

DamsFarnham Dam, Tel-Electric Dam, Bel Air Dam, Wild Acres Pond Dams

InfrastructureDan Casey Memorial Drive/Causeway, power grid, WWTP interceptor line, pump stations, RR crossings atMorewood Lake and Shaker Brook, South Mountain Road, Coltsville and East New Lenox flow controlstations, Berkshire Gas lines

ParksWahconah Park Baseball Stadium, Marchisio Park, Kirvin Park

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Current Concerns and Challenges Presented by Hazards

Major storm events have been a recurring threat to Pittsfield throughout its history, from hurricanesbringing wind, intense precipitation, and localized flooding, to winter storms delivering ice and snow.Notable historic events include impacts from the Great Hurricane of 1938, the flood stage of which ismemorialized with a sign on the Pomeroy Bridge. More recently, the City has been experiencing anincreasing regularity of storms, with the so-called 100 year storm now happening several times a year.One resident has used the Pomeroy Bridge sign as a reference point for comparing recent flooding events,and indicated that recent storms have come close in severity to the historic flood levels marked on thebridge.

More intense storms delivering higher volumes of precipitation in a single event are expected to putsignificant pressure on dams, culverts, and other drainage infrastructure that were designed to handlesmaller storms with more consistent distributions of precipitation. This problem manifests at pointsacross the City and is acute where the local drainage systems concentrate and discharge, especially nearWahconah Park.

The City is also noticing a shift in the type and timing of storms. Many storm events now encompass amixture of rain, ice, and snow, making it more difficult to maintain safe, accessible roadways. The majorsnow storm that hit in October 2011 is also still fresh in residents’ memories. Due to the unusual timing ofwet, heavy snow when leaves were still on the trees, that storm caused extensive damage to electricalinfrastructure, leading to extended power outages. That same year, Hurricane Irene and Tropical StormLee had substantial impacts on Pittsfield, including washouts on the streambank of the Housatonic Riverby the airport. Trees and ground vegetation had been removed in the flight path northwest of the airportas part of an expansion project, leaving the landscape vulnerable to storm impacts, which led tocatastrophic erosion and sedimentation in the river.

In 2016, the schools were impacted by severe winter weather and cold which used up all of the district’ssnow days and forced students to attend school later into the summer months. As this trend continues,they see decreased student attendance on days with extreme temperatures, which exacerbates thepressure to close school on both cold and hot days. Pittsfield was on the verge of calling off school forexcessive heat days in 2018.

Extreme temperatures are also leading the City to make greater use of cooling shelters. The Senior Centerand Athenaeum were both used as designated cooling shelters into August during 2018. Municipalleaders are eager to get the word out and increase transportation options so that more people, especiallythe elderly, are able to access these vital resources more often.

Although excessive heat is a concern, Pittsfield generally has not experienced the impacts of drought.While many cities and towns across the Commonwealth were under severe drought warnings during theextended drought of 2016, Pittsfield was under advisement only, and its water supplies were sustained.

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Specific Categories of Concerns and Challenges

Infrastructural

Culverts and BridgesCulverts and bridges are a concern City-wide, particularly as Pittsfield’s developed areas are in such closeproximity to the Housatonic River and several brooks and wetlands. Flooding at the causeway on DanCasey Memorial Drive was one area of particular concern. Existing culverts and bridges were designed toaccommodate historic patterns of precipitation and runoff, but are rapidly becoming inadequate as aresult of climate change. While design standards have changed, the City’s infrastructure largely predatessuch changes, and thus has not kept up with new standards. As precipitation events become moreintense and less predictable, undersized culverts are expected to pose a greater threat of failure andflooding. The Housatonic Valley Association (HVA) has completed road-stream crossing assessmentsthroughout the City as part of a larger regional assessment effort, and the City has detailed information onstructures that have been prioritized for replacements or upgrades to improve aquatic connectivity andaddress areas where undersized culverts or washouts contribute to road overtopping during heavyprecipitation events. One high-priority culvert replacement has already been completed on Churchillroad, and several other structures have been identified as ready for design and permitting based on theHVA study. The City has also used consultants to conduct condition assessments of several of the City’sbridges.

Stormwater Basins and ConveyancesDetention basins and other stormwater infrastructure are recognized as a potential concern City-wide.Similarly to culverts conveying natural streams, there is a general recognition that much of the stormwaterdrainage system was designed to accommodate historic patterns of precipitation and runoff, and may beundersized as climate and weather patterns continue to shift. The City’s aging stormwater infrastructureand lack of maintenance funds exacerbates flooding potential during heavy rains. Further, illicitdischarges (i.e., non-stormwater discharges) are known to occur along the Housatonic West Branch whensanitary sewers overflow during heavy precipitation events. Stormwater detention basins were alsonoted as a concern, particularly in the areas around the former General Electric (GE) site and East Street. Ifproper maintenance is not conducted at detention basins it ultimately detracts from their functionality.Finally, residents described a problem with litter getting into storm drains and outfalls to wetlands, whichis detrimental to the environment and public health as well as the drainage system.

RoadsRoads in Pittsfield are vulnerable to flooding, as well as the impacts of snow and ice. In general, shiftingweather patterns due to climate change are increasing the difficulty of maintaining those roadways.Potholes and sinkholes are becoming more problematic due to new patterns of freezing and thawing thatoccur repeatedly throughout the winter season. Participants also voiced concern about the amount ofsand and salt needed to keep streets clear during the winter, the financial burden of purchasing increasingquantities of these materials, and the impact that these materials have on wetlands and protected areas(as well as impacts on the landscapes where they are being mined or extracted). Roadway impacts due tohazard events in turn compromise the City’s ability to provide emergency services. The layout ofPittsfield’s street system is an interconnected urban grid, which is beneficial for being able to circumventroad closings and escape hazard areas. However, roads vulnerable to flooding were identified in multiplelocations across the City and were especially of concern where they limit access to hospitals,supermarkets, gas stations, shelters and social services. Known areas where blockages may reduce access

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to critical destinations include roads leading to Big Y, Berkshire Community College, and the BerkshireMedical Center on North Street (the latter has had issues with ambulance access in the past).

Public Water SupplyThe City’s current water supply is drawn from six City-owned reservoirs, all of which are located outside ofthe City. The reservoirs were built between the 1930s and 1950s, when Pittsfield’s population wasprojected to reach 90,000 people. As the City’s population has instead declined in recent decades, thequantity of Pittsfield’s water supply has not been a topic of concern, and the City generally has confidencein its supply, even during periods of drought. However, workshop participants did express concern aboutprotecting the watersheds surrounding these reservoirs to preserve water quality. Pittsfield has two City-owned water treatment plants, Cleveland and Ashley, as well as two flow control stations on the east sideof the City (Coltsville and East New Lenox) and approximately 241 miles of water distribution lines. Criticalinfrastructure, equipment, and water mains may be susceptible to hazards, especially flooding andextreme temperatures. It was also noted that the City’s five water pump stations are not all equippedwith backup power, meaning that they cannot operate during outages. Upgrades to the drinking waterinfrastructure are necessary and on-going.

Wastewater InfrastructureThe City has been actively working for several decades to assess, prioritize and upgrade its wastewaterinfrastructure. Improvements such as using siphons instead of pump stations have helped make thesystem more resilient. Further safeguards are needed at remaining pump stations in low areas to ensureback-up power, flow control, and protection from flooding. Overall, however, the maintenance currentlyneeded by Pittsfield’s wastewater infrastructure, including at multiple collection points across the City, istypical of the maintenance needs for a system of its age. The wastewater treatment plant is in need ofupgrades to address a range of long-term issues including capacity constraints, sanitary sewer overflows,external equipment vulnerable to climate-related hazards and power outages, and infiltration and inflow(I/I). Infiltration has a major impact on the interceptor pipe which flows through the main branch of theHousatonic on its way to the wastewater treatment plant. As a result, the City is inadvertently treatingclean water from the river that infiltrates the line.

Underground Storage TanksA Mobil Gas Station located at the intersection of South Street (Route 20) and Industrial Drive wasidentified as an area of concern due to the potential vulnerability of its underground storage tanks toflooding. The gas station is approximately 1,000 feet from the Southwest Branch Housatonic River to theNorth and 1,500 feet from Wampenum Brook to the South. FEMA mapping indicates that the gas stationis just outside the flood extent from a 100 year storm; as larger storms become more frequent, there isconcern about flood risk relative to these tanks. Similar vulnerability issues of underground storage tanksmay exist in other flood-prone locations in the City.

Electrical and Communications InfrastructureCommunications and power lines can be knocked out by snow and ice, in addition to wind events, causingextensive impacts to the City. Workshop participants described wooden utility poles, which are the normin the City, as being vulnerable to snapping. Extreme heat also stresses the electrical system, as increasinguse of air conditioning leads to a risk of brown outs and outages, particularly if heat impacts are region-wide. At various sites in the City, renewable power generation and storage projects are helping to reducereliance on the primary power grid, however participants expressed concern over whether these projects,such as solar sites, may be vulnerable to the impacts of storms, snow and ice, flooding, or even extremetemperatures.

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Buildings and FacilitiesThe impacts of heavy snow loads on the City’s aging, flat-roofed municipal buildings were a concern.Extreme temperatures are also impacting the ability to effectively heat or cool buildings. For example,buildings with brick and masonry facades absorb excessive heat from the urban environment and retain itduring extremely hot days. Cooling capacity is an issue at locations City-wide, but was noted in particularfor senior housing buildings such as Providence Court, which has air conditioning in common areas, butnot in individual housing units where seniors may be vulnerable to health problems amid hightemperatures. More generally, the need to buffer and protect structures in flood zones and establishbackup power for critical infrastructure and facilities across the City is recognized as a major concernaffecting large portions of the community.

BeaversConcerns about beavers were discussed as an environmental issue, but also, and more critically, as aninfrastructure problem. Whereas the City generally has some record of and control over man-madestream crossings or impoundments, beaver activity is often known only anecdotally, if at all, and can causeunpredictable problems during heavy precipitation, when flooding occurs in unexpected locations. TheCity struggles with trying to keep beaver impoundments from inundating recreation areas with water; forinstance, beaver-driven flooding has impacted field use at Marchisio Park and caused flooding in thenortheast corner of the City when a beaver dam at the top of Oak Hill was breached approximately 15years ago. The City’s Conservation Agent feels that the current regulations get in the way of managing theproblem.

DamsDams in Pittsfield were identified as a high-priority for resiliency improvements. The City owns six damsoutside the City that support Pittsfield’s drinking water reservoirs. Five of these are considered highhazard dams, however they are not currently a major concern because inspection of the impoundments isup-to-date and three of the six have been renovated in the past ten years. Within City limits, most City-owned dams are regulated under State dam safety regulations, and the condition of these dams istypically known. As one City staff person noted, “I doubt there’s an unknown [regarding Pittsfield’s dams],we have a pretty good handle on the terrible condition of our dams.” Maintenance and monitoring ofdams, and of Farnham Dam in particular, is complicated by the fact that road access to the City’s dams islimited by deteriorating road conditions, as well as snow and ice during the winter months, and the Citydoes not have equipment for remote monitoring. Less oversight, and in some cases, less information,exists for some of the private dams in the City, and there was discussion about how the City canencourage or enforce maintenance on private property. One example is Bel Air Dam, which holds waterfrom Pontoosuc Lake and is a high hazard dam upstream of several low-income neighborhoods as well asBerkshire Medical Center. Bel Air Dam is known to have water leaking through a broken spillway, butbecause it is privately-owned and funds are not available for repairs, there is little the City can do tomanage this hazard. Water backups and flooding have been problematic at the Telelectric Dam, butprogress is being made toward removing this dam. Similarly, the City has pursued dam removal feasibilitystudies for the City-owned Upper Wild Acres Dam, but funds have not been available to carry out thatassessment. Other dams in the City, including Cleveland and Ashley Dams, are also upstream of majormedical, commercial, and municipal sites for which flooding would be catastrophic. Understanding theCity’s overall vulnerability to dam failure, where dam removal is possible, and where improvements can bemade to public and privately-owned dams, especially high-hazard dams, was a major infrastructureconcern.

Berkshire GasSafety and reliability of gas service is important to Pittsfield’s resiliency. Dave Grande, representingBerkshire Gas, described two key vulnerability points for the natural gas lines serving Pittsfield: lines are

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vulnerable at bridge crossings where pipes could be submerged in storm flows or disconnected in theevent of a bridge failure, and old, bare metal pipes are susceptible to inflow. Berkshire Gas is proactivelyworking to improve the resiliency of its infrastructure and prevent a disruption that could impact gasservice to major portions of the City. The company has started moving underground infrastructure above-ground for better access, and also has an emergency management plan and mutual aid agreements inplace.

MicrogridA City-initiated, microgrid feasibility study is underway to explore priority usage areas where access to anindependent power grid would be most beneficial. A microgrid would allow buildings to continuereceiving electricity even if the main power grid experienced an outage.

Environmental

PCBsPittsfield’s industrial history has left behind a legacy of environmental contaminants, notablypolychlorinated biphenyls, or PCBs. PCBs are a known problem in the Housatonic River in Pittsfield, and ata portion of the former General Electric (GE) site known as the Hill 78 Area, which contains a pile of PCBsbehind the City’s Allendale Elementary School. State Health Official’s reports for this area indicate thatthere is currently no risk to students or the general public from these contaminants, and substantial heatwould be required to mobilize these pollutants in a way that would be detrimental to human health.However, a representative from the City did note that new PCB readings in some areas of the GE site arecloser to actionable levels than they have been in the past, and monitoring is ongoing. Regardless of thefact that readings have stayed under actionable levels, there is concern and public anxiety about thepotential for flooding to mobilize contaminated soils. There was also question about whether PCBcontamination could exist in an underground aquifer or individual wells, although this is not anticipated toaffect the City’s drinking water since Pittsfield is served by surface reservoirs.

Wildlife HabitatThe City’s concern for the vitality and resilience of its rivers, brooks, and wetlands is for both human safetyand enjoyment, as well as for the well-being of wildlife. Ongoing improvements to storm waterinfrastructure and road/stream crossings are expected to increase habitat quality and resiliency, reducingdecades of negative impacts to riparian and wetland habitats, which was expressed as constituting a “win-win” for the City and for wildlife. Workshop participants representing several environmental advocacygroups that work within the City and the greater watershed gave voice to the importance of protectingexisting habitat and creating new habitat that would support safe passage for wildlife year-round, as wellas provide wildlife with evacuation routes and areas for sheltering during natural disasters or hazardsaffecting the City and surrounding region. Managing beaver issues, which are a significant wildlife concernin Pittsfield due to their role in flood risk, is part of the larger project of stewarding wildlife habitat, as theyare inextricably linked to the major and minor waterways that weave through the City, as well as thewetlands.

Trees and ForestsForests provide critical ecosystem services that help buffer the effects of climate change, fromsequestering carbon, to increasing groundwater recharge, to modulating local temperature. Street treesare likewise critical for infiltration of rainwater and provision of shade. However, trees and forests are alsothreatened by climate change. Participants noted that oak, hemlock, maple, ash, and pine are all indecline either due to pests or changing climate. Wind and storms cause blowdowns, drought cancontribute to die-off, new invasive pests (e.g., Emerald Ash Borer, Hemlock Wooly Adelgid, and AsianLonghorned Beetle) are eliminating certain tree species, and others are in decline due to shifting

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temperature and precipitation regimes that favor more southerly species. The City’s emergency servicesalso recognize that hazard events can convert trees from assets to threats. Pittsfield is part of theMassachusetts Greening the Gateway Cities Program, which is planting trees in targeted neighborhoodswith the aim of reducing household heating and cooling costs by increasing canopy cover in those areas.

Invasive SpeciesInvasive plants and animals are already a source of concern in Pittsfield, as they are throughout theCommonwealth. Forest and upland ecosystems are threatened by a variety of invasive plants, includingplants such as oriental bittersweet, multiflora rose, two types of swallowwort, and several non-nativehoneysuckles. Riparian and aquatic habitats are severely threatened by common reed, Japaneseknotweed, invasive water chestnut, hydrilla, purple loosestrife, Eurasian milfoil, and zebra mussels. Inaddition to their habitat impacts, the latter can potentially cause flooding by clogging drain pipes. Criticalinvasive insect pests already in the area include the Asian Longhorned Beetle, Hemlock Wooly Adelgid, andEmerald Ash Borer, all of which have the potential to do serious damage (both environmental andeconomic) to Massachusetts’ forests and trees. These and other species already pose a significantchallenge and have serious consequences for ecosystem health and resilience, and these impacts arelikely to increase in response to climate change. Warming temperatures will also bring new invasives tothe area, and these will have an easier time gaining a foothold if the City’s natural ecosystems aresimultaneously weakened due to changes in climatic conditions.

Water QualityPittsfield has a history of industrial activity which has impacted water quality and left a legacy ofcontamination. One participant at the workshop recalled watching the Housatonic river burn as a child,and historically, the river had been known to change color due to the impacts of oils, paints, and dyes usedin nearby factories. The river is in much better condition today; in more recent decades, General Electric(GE), a major contributor to legacy contamination, has made efforts to remove and stabilize some of thecontamination left behind by its operations in the area. However, significant pollution will remain into thefuture and is likely to be accompanied by constant concern about potential negative impacts the City’swater quality could have on human communities, ecosystems, and wildlife, especially as climate changethreatens to mobilize latent contamination through increased heat and flooding risks. Pittsfield alsoexperiences ongoing sanitary sewer overflows (SSOs) during periods of heavy precipitation. Workshopparticipants described that seeing toilet paper in the streets after heavy rain events is not uncommon. Inaddition to the problems posed by heavy rainfall, rising average water temperatures resulting fromclimate change and decreased water levels due to drought both contribute to conditions that areincreasingly favorable for the presence of harmful algal blooms and bacteria. These negative impacts, aswell as nutrient pollution, which is driven in part by changes in land use, can result in fish kills, and impactsto recreation and public health. Continued monitoring of water quality in the City will involve majorpartners at local, state and federal levels, including the EPA. A number of beneficial watershed projectsare already underway, which, in combination with efforts to improve stormwater management, shouldhelp to improve water quality over time.

Local AgricultureUnpredictable climate and weather conditions are taking a toll on agriculture locally and across the region.Workshop participants have noticed that the crucial hardening-off period for apples no longer occursreliably and can harm crops. Climate change is expected to result in a longer growing season for NewEngland, which can be beneficial for some crops but may lead to issues with others, for instance, byallowing additional time for blight or other crop diseases to develop. Early melt of snow pack, drought,excessive rain, and changing temperatures may all affect agriculture and livestock at varying scales.

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Flood MappingPittsfield’s flood mapping is approximately 50 years old and does not reflect contemporary data ormodeling that accounts for climate change. FEMA does have plans to update the City’s flood maps,however these plans do not include conducting any new studies or determining new flood elevations. Theupdates will instead only include incorporation of new LIDAR data and updated digital photos into theexisting models.

Debris ManagementFlood debris is a concern, especially as accumulating debris in waterways and floodplains leftover fromone event can create blockages that further exacerbate the impacts of future storms. After a flood eventin 1987, the City endured weeks of haze and smoke as large amounts of debris produced by the stormwere piled and burned at a designated site on the City perimeter.

Societal

Water-Based RecreationPittsfield’s Onota Lake is recognized as one of the best free recreation and cooling-off locations in the City.Workshop participants recognized that the Lake is a key resource for vulnerable populations and families,and that if swimming were shut down due to a hazardous condition such as a harmful algal bloom, itwould pose a major problem for the City’s resiliency to heat. Climate hazards also threaten the use of theCity’s rivers for recreation. Use of the rivers may already be somewhat impacted by perceptions ofcontamination, limiting their value as a means for residents to keep cool during periods of extreme heat.More immediately though, emergency personnel noted that for those who do use the rivers, excessiveprecipitation and severe storms can create dangerous conditions where water rises quickly and is movingfaster than boaters are prepared to handle. Emergency responders have already had incidents wherethey have been required to rescue kayakers or canoers who were out on the Housatonic River in highwater conditions.

Vulnerable NeighborhoodsCertain neighborhoods within Pittsfield are especially prone to flooding and have been experiencingproblematic events for decades. These include the Lakewood section of the City, Dan Casey MemorialDrive (the Causeway), neighborhoods along the East Branch of the Housatonic, and the neighborhoodaround Goodrich Pond, which floods in even a light rain event. As Jim Clark, the Director of the Council onAging put it at the Core Team meeting, “it sounds weird, but this has been this way for years, and peopleknow that.” Police Captain, Michael Grady, confirmed that local residents are accustomed to these repeatimpacts, saying that as someone who lives in the Lakewood Section, “If we know it’s going to rain, we knowwhat to do.” While drainage-driven flooding from heavy rain is one concern, the City is also concernedabout neighborhoods downstream of its many dams, including Bel Air Dam, which is upstream ofBerkshire Medical Center, and a low-income residential neighborhood in the vicinity of Wahconah Park. Aquestion raised many times was whether flooding was disproportionately impacting neighborhoods withlow socio-economic status, presenting the potential to overwhelm support services if disaster struck.Repetitive loss was also a concern, and participants noted that many residents of these most vulnerableareas are renters and therefore may not have flood insurance, or, in some cases, may not even be awarethat they reside in a flood zone.

Vulnerable PopulationsWorkshop participants acknowledged the challenges of identifying and reaching vulnerable individuals,especially those without internet access for viewing the City’s Facebook page, which serves as a primaryoutlet for emergency information, those who may no longer have a land-line telephone, homelessindividuals without an address, or those who may not self-identify as vulnerable. Certain populations,

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especially seniors, homeless citizens, citizens struggling with addiction, and environmental justicecommunities within the City, are known to be at higher risk during hazard events and may require supportbeyond emergency notifications. Approximately 25% of Pittsfield’s population is over 60, but only about10% of that group is known to be actively engaged in activities through the Senior Center. Currently, theBerkshire Athenaeum (Pittsfield’s Public Library) and the Intermodal Transportation Center are informallyproviding respite for homeless citizens during the day, including as warming and cooling centers duringextreme temperatures. The need for a more formal plan has prompted the City to reinstate its HomelessPrevention Committee. Pittsfield is also aware that the City has high rates of disease and individuals withchronic health conditions, both factors which can worsen health outcomes associated with hazard events,especially extreme heat. Workshop participants expressed concerns about vulnerable citizens’ ability toobtain food and medical supplies during hazard events, and to access heating and cooling centers on theirown due to lack of transportation. The Council on Aging, which provides a variety of activities and servicesto senior residents in the City, is concerned about the limitations of its vehicle fleet in light of theincreasing need for transportation services. The Salvation Army is also working to support residentsthrough community activities and transportation options. However, both the Council on Aging andSalvation Army vehicles have limited capabilities.

Communications SystemsMany channels of communication are coordinated out of the Mayor’s office. The City’s Facebook pagecurrently serves as a repository for official information and allows emergency management teams toshare live information during hazards. In addition, the City deploys a CODE RED alert system to send massmessages to all registered users during emergency situations. In Pittsfield, this includes any land linenumber that was active at the time the system was instituted, as well as anyone who has chosen to enrolltheir phone number (land line or cell phone) since that time. Pittsfield also has its own local 911 callcenter, which improves response times during emergencies. Local communications assets, such asPittsfield Community Television (PCTV), also play a role in ensuring that emergency information reacheseveryone consistently and reliably. Police Chief Wynn described plans that are in progress to provideemergency departments with off-hours access to the local broadcasting station so that importantinformation can be sent out over live TV or radio transmissions. The Chief also noted the importance ofmaking sure that residents still own battery powered radio receivers, which is increasingly uncommon inthe age of cell phones and internet-based communications.

SheltersMany social organizations and charitable institutions in Pittsfield are equipped to help with the task ofproviding shelter services in times of need. However, there is a lack of trained personnel to open the City’sshelters, and many locations have limitations. For instance, Reid Middle School has a back-up generatorand can serve as an overnight shelter, but it is susceptible to road access issues. Barton’s Crossing andSoldier On provide shelter for homeless individuals year-round, but have a limited number of beds that fillup quickly on cold nights and may be closed during the day. Many emergency shelters throughout theCity are open only on a short-term basis due to lacking backup power, food supplies, or the ability to offermedical services. There was also concern among workshop participants about the lack of appropriatesheltering options for vulnerable populations, including opioid-addicted residents, others with healthconditions requiring electricity for medical devices, and individuals with mental illness who may needspecialized support for coping with the stress of emergency situations. The particular challenges ofsheltering seniors were discussed, including getting them to leave their homes, providing appropriatetransportation to shelters, integrating the medical services they need at shelters, and providing overnightand long-term sheltering options. Understanding the different needs of the City’s residents and thestrengths and limitations of its sheltering resources was a major concern for Pittsfield’s emergencypreparedness in the face of a hazard event.

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SchoolsPittsfield’s schools and student population are affected by a variety of hazard types. Schools areincreasingly forced to cancel classes due to snow and ice events or extreme cold that make it impossibleto safely get students to school. Participants described a “ripple effect” of unintended consequences whenschools close, in which parents have to miss work, which results in lost wages. Closures, in turn, have thepotential to extend the school year further into the summer, which exacerbates the risks that school willbe in session during extreme heat events. For instance, in 2016, the schools had no snow days left andstudents had to attend school late into June. As days above 90 degrees increase, heat stroke is a concernfor the student population in general, as the schools are not air conditioned, and for student athletes inparticular. Pittsfield’s School Superintendent also reported that on extremely cold days (below 10°F) orextremely hot days (around 90°F), they see a “pretty massive drop in daily attendance.” This impact isparticularly prominent for the 1500 to 1800 students who walk to school each day. The high school alsosuffers from dramatic temperature differentials in different parts of the school building; theSuperintendent reported that it can be 40°F in one room, while close to 90°F in another because ofinadequate or outdated heating systems. Pittsfield does have one brand new school, Taconic High School,which has air conditioning and is equipped with generators. Finally, school lunches are critical for many ofPittsfield’s students, and school closures, particularly those lasting longer than a single day, can mean thatstudents are hungry and/or cold.

Childcare CentersWhen schools close due to inclement or extreme weather, some of Pittsfield’s childcare centers remainopen or offer additional hours for school-aged children to provide services for students who wouldotherwise be at school. Many facilities, however, have a policy of closing whenever the public schoolsclose. This has economic repercussions for parents who may be forced to miss work in order to stayhome with their children.

Berkshire Community CollegeThe College has an agreement with the City to make its facilities available to provide meals and shelter toPittsfield residents during emergencies. Primary access to the College is from West Street, which issusceptible to flooding in two places: near the west exit parking lot and where the street crosses SmithBrook. In both locations, the flooding is thought to be due to undersized culverts. Flooding of West Streetrenders the college inaccessible as alternative road access is limited. The College also lacks backup powerfor operating its facilities during long term outages, and has concerns about funding and equipment forsnow removal to keep the college functioning safely.

Pests and Disease ControlClimate change is affecting pests and disease vectors both through changing precipitation conditions andchanging temperature conditions. Warmer, wetter conditions lead to increased mosquito populations,while the absence of sufficient periods of cold means that pest populations that would historically havebeen killed off or reduced are able to survive the winter and emerge in greater numbers the followingseason. Workshop participants also noted that rodent infestations increase after flooding events; rats hadbeen a problem during the summer of 2018. Further, as the Massachusetts climate begins to look morelike the climate of the mid-Atlantic and southern states, we are seeing new types of diseases show up inexisting pests (e.g. mosquitoes carrying West Nile Virus, Eastern Equine Encephalitis, or Zika and tickscarrying Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever). 2018 marked the Commonwealth’s highest ever incidence ofWest Nile Virus diagnosis. Pittsfield’s Public Health Nurse noted that the City saw Rocky Mountain SpottedFever for the first time in 2018, mosquitoes are becoming increasingly problematic, even during the day,and that other diseases, especially tick-borne diseases, have been undergoing an “exponential increaseand almost doubling every year.” These changes present a major public and animal health challenge interms of education, prevention, and treatment. Workshop participants noted that unmaintained

CRB Workshop Summary of Findings – City of Pittsfield 12

stormwater detention basins collect standing water, which supports increased mosquito populations.Pittsfield is currently part of a mosquito control district and participates in spraying programs, but this iscontroversial among residents.

Provisions, Medicine, and FuelMaintaining access to essential supplies like groceries, medicines, and fuel (for vehicles, heating, andgenerators), as well as critical medical care and drug treatment during emergencies, was a concern forworkshop participants. It was acknowledged that power outages or road closures which affect access tothese services could have extensive impacts on residents throughout the City. These issues areexacerbated for vulnerable populations, and for particular neighborhoods where there is limited access togrocery stores. Workshop participants expressed concern about the Morningside area in particular, asmany residents rely on public transportation and there are no grocery stores in walking distance.Berkshire Medical Center is always open with heat, food, and a pharmacy, but more options for accessingrefrigerated medicines during a hazard event are needed. Access to fuel assistance is also a concern, asextreme temperatures and severe storms can place an extra burden on residents’ heating budgets, andfunding for fuel assistance in Berkshire County was recently cut.

Economic RevitalizationIn addition to the fact that Pittsfield has a large number of low-income residents and homeless, the City asa whole has suffered from an economic downturn that has left many buildings empty and limits theavailability of jobs, retail opportunities, and services within the City. A revitalized downtown core couldpotentially increase the City’s resiliency, both from an economic perspective, and in terms of the ability toaccess resources during a hazard event.

Stress on Emergency ServicesPittsfield’s Fire, Police, and Public Works departments bear much of the burden of responding to theincreased human threats that result from climate-induced hazards. An ever larger percentage of thedepartments’ time and resources are being devoted to handling things like traffic accidents and injuriesthat result from ice or other dangerous conditions and activities to protect property and maintain trafficflows during storm events, and Public Works is relied upon to clear roads and maintain access throughoutthe City. Pittsfield has a formal mutual aid agreement within Berkshire County for police and fire servicesand support from the Law Enforcement Council for services between counties, but many climate hazardsare expected to have regional effects, in which case resources from neighboring communities may not beavailable. Some additional support has come from the federal government under the auspices ofHomeland Security and the National Guard to help with emergency preparedness.

TransportationThe City has a valuable transportation partnership with the Berkshire Regional Transit Authority (BRTA).Public transportation is vital to many of the City’s residents, and BRTA is committed to their role in servingthe community and has an existing MOU with the City. In addition to transportation services, BRTA alsoprovides de facto shelter for many transient or homeless individuals. There is therefore concern aboutthe impacts of a service disruption associated with a hazard event, as well as more general concerns abouthow to transport citizens, including transporting seniors to heating and cooling centers and evacuatingschools and daycare facilities. Both the BRTA Administrator and the School Superintendent expressedwillingness and ability to provide such services. The schools own their own bus fleet, which gives themflexibility in providing services, however, there are questions related to licensure, liability and insurancecoverage if adults are transported on City school busses. Both the schools and BRTA also operate withunion staff, which places some restriction on the availability of drivers, but both administrators expressedoptimism about the ability to utilize non-union staff and make necessary arrangements that would allowtheir vehicles to support emergency transportation needs.

CRB Workshop Summary of Findings – City of Pittsfield 13

Local and State RegulationsThere was recognition among workshop participants that City and state regulations are outdated andtherefore insufficient to address climate change risks. In particular, the City’s stormwater ordinance,building code, and zoning ordinances are in need of updating to make sure that new buildings anddevelopment achieve higher standards for resilience with respect to the City’s four hazard areas.Discouraging any development within the City’s flood zones and protecting wetland areas were alsopriorities for revised City regulations.

Parks and Open SpaceOpen space provides ecosystem services that help buffer the effects of climate change, from sequesteringcarbon, to increasing groundwater recharge, to modulating local temperature. Open space is also criticalin floodplains for providing a buffer and increased flood storage, near public water supplies to maintainhigh water quality and promote recharge, and to maintain overall habitat connectivity that will be vital toallowing ecosystems and individual species to adapt to a changing climate. From a social perspective,open space and parks also provide opportunities for recreation and stress-relief. Several of Pittsfield’sparks are subject to flooding. Kirvin Park, which includes soccer facilities, experiences flooding duringheavy precipitation which affects both fields and access in and out of the park. Wahconah Park alsosuffers from regular flooding, which is particularly problematic as the park serves as the main helicopterlanding site for Berkshire Medical Center. Plans are currently being developed for a new park known asthe West Side Riverway which would provide access to the Housatonic River in the area near DeweyAvenue and John Street, downstream of Wahconah Park. The West Side Riverway project would increaseflood storage, and could potentially form the basis for a larger floodplain restoration in the urban center.

CRB Workshop Summary of Findings – City of Pittsfield 14

Current Strengths and Assets

While the City recognized a number of vulnerabilities, workshop participants identified key strengths aswell. Pittsfield has a number of systems in place to facilitate emergency communications and informationtransfer, and the City has obtained specialized equipment to help ensure that emergency services can beprovided in a wide range of conditions. The City has also established memorandums of understandingand mutual aid agreements that will support resiliency during hazards. Numerous social and charitableorganizations are already providing valuable, year-round care to citizens, including vulnerable populations.

Pittsfield’s Schools have emergency response and evacuation plans in place.

The City’s Taconic High School is brand new and equipped with air conditioning and generators.

Pittsfield recently reconvened the Homeless Prevention Committee to serve homelessresidents.

Pittsfield has an existing City Facebook page that serves as an information hub for residents.

Police will have access to local broadcasting equipment for live TV and radio transmissions.

CRB Workshop Summary of Findings – City of Pittsfield 15

Pittsfield has its own 911 call center.

The City focuses on Low Impact Development for stormwater management, rather thantraditional conveyance structures.

Pittsfield is working toward removal of impervious surfaces.

The City operates a CODE RED Emergency Alert system that can be used to share informationrelevant to short-term hazards or expected long-term hazards.

Pittsfield’s Emergency Operations Center can operate out of multiple redundant locations,including the training room at Berkshire Corrections facility for larger-scale emergencies.

Pittsfield has two vans to provide transportation to shelters.

The City owns its own school busses, making them available for use in emergencies.

Pittsfield’s Council on Aging has two handicap-accessible vehicles for providing shopping andcare services for seniors.

The Salvation Army has a small disaster vehicle available for public use during emergencies.

A microgrid feasibility study is underway in the City.

The City has an existing survey of road/stream crossings conducted by HVA.

The City has many existing infrastructure studies that provide baseline information on waterand wastewater systems.

Pittsfield has invested in new equipment, vehicles and training to help with emergencyresponse and resiliency.

Facilities and plans are in place for emergency pet sheltering.

Berkshire Medical Center has back-up power and its own pharmacy.

The City has mutual aid agreements for police and fire services.

The City has a comprehensive emergency management plan already in place.

The City is working to update its Hazard Mitigation Plan.

Berkshire Gas has an Emergency Management Plan and Mutual Aid Agreements in place and isin the process of implementing ongoing line replacements and upgrades.

The DPW Garage has its own fuel pumps and emergency communications system, though theseare currently covered only by portable back-up power systems in the case of an outage.

The City benefits from the efforts of Eversource, which invests time and money into clearinghazard trees and improving the robustness of the electrical system through grid modernization.

CRB Workshop Summary of Findings – City of Pittsfield 16

The City has many organizations that serve vulnerable populations including ServiceNet,Soldier On, and The Salvation Army, and religious groups, including the Christian Center.

The Athenaeum serves as an informal shelter, heating, and cooling center, and plays a consciousrole in caring for the City’s homeless and vulnerable residents.

The City has a Community Sheltering Plan.

There are several shelters in place and additional options available at local institutions.

Berkshire Community College has sheltering and commercial kitchen facilities available to thecommunity during emergencies.

There is a wide array of organizational support for senior residents in Pittsfield, including fromthe Council on Aging, YMCA, Silver Sneakers, and the Senior Center.

The City has short-term heating and cooling centers.

The City is part of the Massachusetts Greening the Gateway Program which encourages treeplanting to improve the City’s streetscape for resilience and aesthetics.

The City is part of a regional mosquito control district.

The West Side Riverway Project is creating new public park space and additional flood storagealong the Housatonic River.

CRB Workshop Summary of Findings – City of Pittsfield 17

Top Recommendations to Improve Resilience in Pittsfield

Participants at the CRB workshop identified a number of recommendations to address vulnerabilities andincrease resiliency in three main topic areas: infrastructure, environment, and society. Management ofwater, primarily dealing with excesses of water due to flooding, was a primary concern that emerged inboth the small and large group discussions, encompassing a wide variety of infrastructural concerns.Providing sufficient protections and planning for vulnerable populations in the City was a second majortheme.

Highest Priority

Implement priority projects from the City’s existing field inventory of culverts, and bridgesfor increased flooding resiliency and storm-hardening, including design of priority re-sizing orreplacement projects. Green infrastructure, Low-Impact Design, and other nature-basedsolutions should be integrated with hard-infrastructure improvements to establish approachesthat will be robust in the face of natural hazards and climate-change scenarios and that will meetthe Massachusetts stream crossing standards.

Conduct dam assessments and study feasibility of dam removals, specifically at Bel Air Damand Wild Acres Dam, and where other aging, public or privately-owned dams may pose a threat offailure and flooding, or where removal may have significant positive impacts on stream habitatand aquatic organism passage or for increasing flood storage and flood control possibilities.

Assess cost-effective green infrastructure opportunities for stormwater management todevelop a list of specific priority projects where reduction of stormwater runoff could mitigateflooding risk without the need to conduct expensive culvert replacement and resizing projects.Assess feasibility and cost, rank priority projects in terms of climate resilience potential, anddevelop concept designs for key projects. Review City regulations and update as necessary tosupport green infrastructure and low-impact development approaches.

Develop a comprehensive plan to address flooding at Wahconah Park and surroundingneighborhoods. Assess the viability of using nature-based solutions such as restoration ofwetlands and river channels or implementation of green infrastructure to develop a list of specificpriority projects where reduction of stormwater runoff and increased flood storage capacity couldmitigate flooding risk. Determine the best leverage points in the system to effectively addressflooding, whether at the park, or further upstream.

Update and improve City regulations and building code to reduce vulnerability of existingdeveloped areas and promote resiliency of new development to flooding, severe weather, andextreme temperatures. Improve construction standards and requirements to prevent issues withsnow and ice hazards on new buildings. Increase enforcement of regulations related tomaintenance of detention ponds. Ensure that the zoning enforcement officer has a list of allprivately and publically owned structures.

Develop education and outreach to residents living in flood-prone areas to ensure that allindividuals and families residing in these areas are aware of the potential risks, as well as

CRB Workshop Summary of Findings – City of Pittsfield 18

mechanisms, such as flood insurance, to reduce their risk exposure. Ensure that outreach targetsrenters as well as property owners.

Continue assessing water and wastewater systems and implementing upgrades, particularlyat pump stations, collection points, and treatment plants. Establish priority actions for reducingpotential flooding impacts, addressing infiltration and inflow, and incorporating nature-basedsolutions or green infrastructure approaches. Establish plans to implement emergency back-uppower for the pump stations. Explore storm hardening and protective strategies for structuresand equipment, including elevating or adding barriers to flow control stations in floodplains.

Conduct robust education and outreach to build awareness of City resources and make Cityresidents aware of the many planning efforts, sources of emergency information, mutual aidagreements, shelters, evacuation routes, etc. which are focused on making the City more resilientto climate change impacts. Ensure that all residents have transportation options and know howto access these resources when they are needed.

Evaluate opportunities to provide improvements at critical facilities, especially emergencybackup power, including feasibility of green power and battery storage. City-wide, there are anumber of buildings and facilities (including pump stations, schools, senior housing properties,medical facilities, etc.) in need of backup power systems to protect public buildings andinfrastructure from freezing and improve services for residents who may lose power duringemergencies or hazard events. Consider supplying backup power to the BCC fieldhouse to enableit to serve as a shelter during hazard events.

Evaluate and implement green power and resilient power systems, including implementingthe recommendations of the ongoing microgrid feasibility study and addressing storm-hardeningneeds at solar sites around the City.

Develop a City-wide Business Improvement and Economic Development Plan to supportlocal businesses and make the business community more resilient. Identify businessdevelopment areas where impacts from climate hazards can be easily avoided or mitigated (e.g.,by avoiding floodplains or areas of known drainage-related flooding) and targeted improvements,such as a microgrid, could be employed to provide extra resilience to community businesses.Encourage reuse of brownfields and existing buildings, where appropriate. Simultaneouslyidentify areas from which businesses would be encouraged to divest in order to avoid hazardsand minimize the potential for economic losses or additional stress on emergency services. Theplan’s goals should also include a focused plan for attracting climate-friendly businesses to theCity that will invigorate the City’s economy, improve the tax base and reduce the tax burden to allresidents, business owners, and land owners while simultaneously generating funds that willenable the City to continue building toward a resilient future.

Expand the City’s emergency communications system to establish local TV and radio accessfor live updates and enroll more residents in the City’s CODE RED system and Facebook page foremergency updates. Engage social and charitable organizations in developing communicationsnetworks to reach vulnerable populations before, during and after hazards events. Encourageresidents to include crank or battery-powered radios in emergency kits.

Develop a robust transportation plan that addresses both emergency access to transportationand the social and economic consequences that accompany service interruptions. Planningshould include supplemental funding and equipment for snow removal, a review of available

CRB Workshop Summary of Findings – City of Pittsfield 19

drivers, and the understanding of potential issues related to insurance and union contracts thatmay influence access to certain transportation resources. Access to critical resources such aschildcare and provisions should be considered. Promote public transportation to help reducecars on the road during inclement weather and reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

Develop and implement an Illicit Discharge Detection and Elimination (IDDE) Program tomeet the requirements of the City’s MS4 Permit for stormwater management and address waterquality problems that are exacerbated by heavy precipitation.

Assess mosquito/tick/pest control options, including cost/benefit analysis of membership in amosquito control district versus options for the City to manage control independently, integratedpest management approaches, determination of future risks due to increase in type and quantityof pests/disease vectors due to climate change, and development of an education and outreachprogram. Outreach should include programs targeted at medical providers to increaseawareness of new diseases and encourage early testing. Develop local funding and resources tomake it easier for residents to have ticks tested when a biting tick is found.

Moderate Priority

Advocate for state and federal policies that improve the City’s resilience to a variety ofhazards, including increased access to fuel assistance and transportation funding.

Acquire remote monitoring equipment to enable continuous monitoring of critical structuressuch as high hazard dams.

Improve access roads at dams and other critical facilities and purchase appropriate vehiclesor equipment to ensure access is possible under a wide range of hazard conditions.

Implement the designs for the West Side Riverway to create additional open space and floodresiliency along the Housatonic River.

Coordinate efforts among local partner organizations providing support for emergenciesand vulnerable populations. Share information regarding available resources, such as vehiclesor sheltering options, including those offered by the Council on Aging and the Salvation Army.Explore funding options for upgrades to these organizations’ vehicles. Organize information onevacuation routes and emergency communications equipment so that local organizations arewell-informed and can help keep residents out of hazard areas.

Update and improve the City’s flood maps to include more accurate information specific toPittsfield, as well as new modeling that reflects up-to-date rainfall predictions that account forclimate change (e.g., Atlas 14 data).

Develop a comprehensive strategy for sheltering that evaluates strengths and vulnerabilitiesof existing shelters and recommends tangible steps for improvements. Include a plan forcommunication to residents about shelter locations, amenities, and availability. Train additionalpersonnel to open the City’s shelters and enact the Community Sheltering Plan.

Develop partnerships with local businesses to distribute information and help facilitateoutreach efforts, particularly to vulnerable populations such as senior residents.

CRB Workshop Summary of Findings – City of Pittsfield 20

Continue replacement and upgrade of natural gas lines throughout the City to increase theresiliency of Berkshire Gas infrastructure, with particular attention to areas like bridge crossings.

Lower Priority

Develop a City-wide plan to maintain open space corridors and appropriate habitat for smalland large mammals (coyotes, bears, fisher cats).

Evaluate opportunities for improved watershed protections to preserve or improve waterquality in the City’s reservoirs and waterways.

Evaluate the need for a back-up water purification system at the former GE site to ensurethat stormwater runoff is treated before leaving the site.

Develop comprehensive plan for beaver management to mitigate against unpredictableflooding/impoundment impacts. Establish creative engineering solutions, identify suitable areasfor beaver relocation or where beaver activity may be creating flood storage that contributes toresiliency, and consider the development of special legislation to give the Town authority toaddress problematic beaver dams on private property.

Develop a comprehensive tree and forests management program that builds on the Greeningthe Gateway Program, to identify, remove, and replace problem trees, preserve intact forests andstreet tree cover, and provide guidance and resources for gradually moving toward more climate-resilient trees and forest communities (e.g. species that will tolerate warmer temperatures).

Develop comprehensive invasive species management from inventory stage throughmanagement planning and implementation to address existing invasive populations that threatenfeatures such as open space or forests, both of which contribute to resiliency, as well as anticipatenew invasives that are likely to move into the area as climates shift.

Conduct strategic planning to support regional agriculture in the face of climate change. All ofthe identified hazards (flooding, drought, extreme temperatures, storm events) have the potentialto significantly impact agricultural production, with corresponding threats to livelihoods and foodavailability. Planning should address hazard resiliency and approaches to connect growers withlocal buyers to shorten supply chains.

Evaluate alternatives to sand and salt for winter road maintenance, focusing on effectiveness,environmental impacts, and costs. Products to be considered should include newer options suchas beet juice and byproducts of the brewing industry, which may be able to be obtained throughpartnerships with local businesses.

Conduct outreach to residents regarding winter road maintenance to build understanding ofthe impacts of deicing materials, encourage safe winter driving practices, and evaluate supportfor various alternative winter maintenance approaches.

Assess feasibility of using pervious paving in new road construction.

Develop a community litter-reduction education and outreach program aimed at limitingdebris in stormwater infrastructure and natural waterbodies. Increase everyday access to trashand recycling disposal and promote the use of these amenities by residents.

CRB Workshop Summary of Findings – City of Pittsfield 21

Develop a debris management plan to identify appropriate disposal sites and methods forflood debris, as well as maintenance plans to ensure that debris is removed to keep waterwaysand floodplains clear.

Partner with utility providers to identify vulnerabilities and assess resilience strategies,including gradual replacement of wooden poles with sturdier structures and tree managementplanning. Enhance communication and cooperation between the City and private utilities.

CRB Workshop Summary of Findings – City of Pittsfield 22

CRB Workshop ParticipantsAll workshop invitees are listed below; attendees are indicated with an asterisk.

Name Position/OrganizationBecky Manship* Recreation Activities Coordinator, Community DevelopmentAlex Reczkowski* Director of Berkshire Athenaeum (Library)Gerry Garner* Building CommissionerMackenzie Greer* Berkshire Natural Resource Council (BNRC)Jane Winn* Berkshire Environmental Action Team (BEAT)Joe Durwin Parks CommissionBryan House* Berkshire Community Action Council (BCAC)Ellen Merritt Christian CenterCheryl Mirer* Downtown Pittsfield, Inc.Deborah Leonczyk* Berkshire Community Action Council (BCAC)Captain Darlene Higgins* Salvation ArmyMelissa Hancock EversourceRobert Malnati* Berkshire Regional Transit Authority (BRTA)Dennis Regan* Housatonic Valley Association (HVA)Jay Sacchetti Service NetDomenick Sacco* Department of Conservation & Recreation (DCR)Chris Horton* Berkshire County Mosquito ControlDave Grande* Berkshire GasAdam Hinds State SenatorTricia Farley-Bouvier* State Representative - PittsfieldPaige Dolinski* State Representative Paul Mark's Office - Pittsfield 1BMelissa Olesen* Senator Markey's OfficeNeil Kulikauskas* Consultant, KleinfelderMeredith Washington* Consultant, AECOMSteve Baker* General DynamicsChief Wynn* Pittsfield Police DepartmentChief Czerwinski* Pittsfield Fire DepartmentRob VanDerKar* Conservation AgentCJ Hoss* City PlannerGina Armstrong* Health Department DirectorJim Clark* Council on Aging DirectorConnie Scott* Pittsfield Housing Authority Assistant Executive DirectorRoberta McCulloch-Dews* Director of Administrative Services, Mayor’s OfficeNick Caccamo City Councilor – Ward 3Jake McCandless* Superintendent of Pittsfield Public SchoolsEric Saydlowski* Berkshire Medical CenterAllison Egan* Berkshire Regional Planning Commission – Senior PlannerRyan Grennan* GIS CoordinatorRicardo Morales City EngineerMichael King* Director of Safety and Security, Berkshire Community CollegeJoy Duperault* State Floodplain ManagerKevin Podkowka* Forester, DCR

* indicates attendees

CRB Workshop Summary of Findings – City of Pittsfield 23

CitationFuss & O’Neill (2018). Community Resilience Building Workshop Summary of Findings. City of Pittsfield,Fuss & O’Neill, Inc. Springfield, Massachusetts.

CRB Workshop Project Team

AcknowledgementsMany thanks to the MVP Core Team members, CRB workshop participants, and to Becky Manship whoacted as the local Project Coordinator. Thanks to the City of Pittsfield for providing a meeting space for theCore Team Meeting and CRB Workshop.

Funding for the CRB Workshop was provided through a Massachusetts MVP grant.

Name Organization RoleBecky Manship Recreation Activities Coordinator, Community

DevelopmentProject Coordinator/Core Team Member

Kayla Donnelly-Winters Public Health Nurse Core Team MemberCaptain Michael Grady Pittsfield Police Department Core Team Member

Chief Robert Czerwinski Pittsfield Fire Department Core Team MemberRob VanDerKar Conservation Agent Core Team Member

Jim Clark Council on Aging Director Core Team MemberNate Joyner Permit Coordinator, Community Development Core Team MemberConnie Scott Pittsfield Housing Authority Assistant Executive

DirectorCore Team Member

Roberta McCulloch-Dews Director of Administrative Services, Mayor'sOffice

Core Team Member

Jake McCandless Superintendent of Pittsfield Public Schools Core Team MemberEric Saydlowski Berkshire Medical Center Core Team Member

Allison Egan Berkshire Regional Planning Commission -Senior Planner

Core Team Member

Ryan Grennan GIS Coordinator Core Team MemberRicardo Morales City Engineer Core Team MemberMary Monahan Fuss & O’Neill MVP Lead FacilitatorJulianne Busa Fuss & O’Neill MVP Facilitator/Scribe

Dan Delany Fuss & O’Neill ScribeHelena Farrell Fuss & O’Neill ScribeJamie Caplan Jamie Caplan Consulting Scribe/HMP Process

CRB Workshop Summary of Findings –City of Pittsfield B-1

Appendix A

Final Risk Matrix

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thes

e ar

e cu

rren

tly co

vere

d on

ly b

y po

rtab

le b

ack-

up p

ower

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The

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man

y ex

istin

g in

fras

truc

ture

stud

ies

that

pro

vide

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elin

e in

form

atio

n on

wat

er a

nd w

aste

wat

er sy

stem

s.

The

City

ben

efits

from

the

effo

rts

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vers

ourc

e, w

hich

inve

sts t

ime

and

mon

ey in

to cl

eari

ng h

azar

d tr

ees a

nd im

prov

ing

the

robu

stne

ss o

f the

elec

tric

al sy

stem

.

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focu

ses

on L

ow Im

pact

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elop

men

t for

stor

mw

ater

man

agem

ent,

rath

er th

an tr

aditi

onal

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eyan

ce st

ruct

ures

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ttsf

ield

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orki

ng to

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mov

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perv

ious

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aces

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ss fe

asib

ility

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sing

per

viou

s pav

ing

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ew ro

ad co

nstr

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n.

Cont

inue

ass

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ng w

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ticul

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ions

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lect

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nd tr

eatm

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lant

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stab

lish

prio

rity

act

ions

for

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cing

pot

entia

l flo

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pact

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dres

sing

infil

trat

ion

and

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re st

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har

deni

ng a

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rote

ctiv

e st

rate

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for s

truc

ture

s and

equ

ipm

ent,

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udin

g el

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g ba

rrie

rs to

flow

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astr

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ritic

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cilit

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mer

genc

y ba

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feas

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ty o

f gre

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bat

tery

stor

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litie

s

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lop

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use

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ese

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by

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spec

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prio

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iden

tifie

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Pitt

sfie

ld’s

Scho

ols

have

em

erge

ncy

resp

onse

and

eva

cuat

ion

plan

s in

pla

ce.

City

City

Com

mun

icat

ions

Syst

ems

Scho

ols

Polic

e w

ill h

ave

acce

ss to

loca

l bro

adca

stin

g eq

uipm

ent f

or li

ve T

V an

d ra

dio

tran

smis

sion

s, an

d Pi

ttsf

ield

has

its o

wn

911

call

cent

er.

The

City

has

man

y or

gani

zatio

ns th

at se

rve

vuln

erab

le p

opul

atio

ns in

clud

ing

Serv

iceN

et, S

oldi

er O

n, a

nd T

he S

alva

tion

Arm

y, a

nd re

ligio

us g

roup

s, in

clud

ing

the

Chri

stia

n Ce

nter

.

The

Athe

naeu

m se

rves

as a

n in

form

al s

helte

r, he

atin

g, a

nd c

oolin

g ce

nter

, and

pla

ys a

con

scio

us ro

le in

cari

ng fo

r the

City

’s ho

mel

ess a

nd v

ulne

rabl

e re

side

nts.

Berk

shir

e Ga

s

City

/Pr

ivat

e

Pitt

sfie

ld re

cent

ly re

conv

ened

the

Hom

eles

s Pr

even

tion

Com

mitt

ee to

serv

e ho

mel

ess r

esid

ents

.

The

City

has

a C

omm

unity

She

lteri

ng P

lan

and

faci

litie

s and

pla

ns a

re in

pla

ce fo

r em

erge

ncy

pet s

helte

ring

; the

re a

re se

vera

l she

lters

in p

lace

and

add

ition

al o

ptio

ns a

vaila

ble

atlo

cal i

nstit

utio

ns. T

he C

ity a

lso

has

shor

t-te

rm h

eatin

g an

d co

olin

g ce

nter

s.

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City

ope

rate

s a C

ODE

RED

Emer

genc

y Al

ert s

yste

m th

at c

an b

e us

ed to

sha

re in

form

atio

n re

leva

nt to

shor

t-te

rm h

azar

ds o

r exp

ecte

d lo

ng-t

erm

haz

ards

, and

Pitt

sfie

ld h

as a

nex

istin

g Ci

ty F

aceb

ook

page

that

serv

es a

s an

info

rmat

ion

hub

for r

esid

ents

.

Berk

shir

e Co

mm

unity

Col

lege

has

shel

teri

ng a

nd co

mm

erci

al k

itche

n fa

cilit

ies a

vaila

ble

to th

e co

mm

unity

dur

ing

emer

genc

ies.

Expa

nd th

e Ci

ty’s

emer

genc

y co

mm

unic

atio

ns sy

stem

to e

stab

lish

loca

l TV

and

radi

o ac

cess

for l

ive

upda

tes;

enr

oll m

ore

resi

dent

s in

the

City

’s CO

DE R

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stem

and

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eboo

k pa

gefo

r em

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tes.

Enga

ge so

cial

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cha

rita

ble

orga

niza

tions

in d

evel

opin

g co

mm

unic

atio

ns n

etw

orks

to re

ach

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erab

le p

opul

atio

ns. E

ncou

rage

resi

dent

s to

hav

e cr

ank

orba

tter

y-po

wer

ed ra

dios

in e

mer

genc

y ki

ts.

Dam

s

Impr

ove

acce

ss ro

ads

at d

ams

and

othe

r cri

tical

faci

litie

s an

d pu

rcha

se a

ppro

pria

te v

ehic

les

or e

quip

men

t to

ensu

re a

cces

s.Be

rksh

ire

Gas

has a

n Em

erge

ncy

Man

agem

ent P

lan

and

Mut

ual A

id A

gree

men

ts in

pla

ce a

nd is

in th

e pr

oces

s of i

mpl

emen

ting

ongo

ing

line

repl

acem

ents

and

upg

rade

s.Ci

ty-W

ide

Berk

shir

eGa

s

City

-Wid

e

Pest

s and

Dis

ease

Cont

rol

Prov

isio

ns,

Med

icin

e, a

nd F

uel

Berk

shir

e M

edic

al C

ente

r has

bac

k-up

pow

er a

nd it

s ow

n ph

arm

acy.

City

-Wid

eAc

quir

e re

mot

e m

onito

ring

equ

ipm

ent t

o en

able

con

tinuo

us m

onito

ring

of c

ritic

al s

truc

ture

s su

ch a

s hig

h ha

zard

dam

s.

Cont

inue

repl

acem

ent a

nd u

pgra

de o

f nat

ural

gas

line

s thr

ough

out t

he C

ity to

incr

ease

the

resi

lienc

y of

Ber

kshi

re G

as in

fras

truc

ture

, with

par

ticul

ar a

tten

tion

to a

reas

like

bri

dge

cros

sing

s.A

mic

rogr

id fe

asib

ility

stud

y is

und

erw

ay in

the

City

.M

icro

grid

Coor

dina

te e

ffort

s am

ong

loca

l par

tner

org

aniz

atio

ns p

rovi

ding

supp

ort f

or e

mer

genc

ies a

nd v

ulne

rabl

e po

pula

tions

. Sh

are

info

rmat

ion

rega

rdin

g av

aila

ble

reso

urce

s; e

xplo

refu

ndin

g op

tions

for u

pgra

des t

o th

ese

orga

niza

tions

’ veh

icle

s; o

rgan

ize

info

rmat

ion

on e

vacu

atio

n ro

utes

and

em

erge

ncy

com

mun

icat

ions

equ

ipm

ent.

Deve

lop

a co

mpr

ehen

sive

stra

tegy

for s

helte

ring

. Inc

lude

a p

lan

for c

omm

unic

atio

n to

resi

dent

s ab

out s

helte

r loc

atio

ns, a

men

ities

, and

ava

ilabi

lity.

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in a

dditi

onal

per

sonn

el to

open

the

City

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elte

rs.

Shel

ters

Vuln

erab

lePo

pula

tions

Deve

lop

part

ners

hips

with

loca

l bus

ines

ses t

o di

stri

bute

info

rmat

ion

and

help

faci

litat

e ou

trea

ch e

ffort

s, pa

rtic

ular

ly to

vul

nera

ble

popu

latio

ns su

ch a

s sen

ior r

esid

ents

.

Ther

e is

a w

ide

arra

y of

org

aniz

atio

nal s

uppo

rt fo

r sen

ior r

esid

ents

in P

ittsf

ield

, inc

ludi

ng fr

om th

e Co

unci

l on

Agin

g, Y

MCA

, Silv

er S

neak

ers,

and

the

Seni

or C

ente

r.

The

City

is p

art o

f a re

gion

al m

osqu

ito co

ntro

l dis

tric

t.

Asse

ss m

osqu

ito/t

ick/

pest

con

trol

opt

ions

, inc

ludi

ng c

ost/

bene

fit a

naly

sis o

f mem

bers

hip

in a

mos

quito

con

trol

dis

tric

t ver

sus

optio

ns fo

r the

City

to m

anag

e co

ntro

l ind

epen

dent

ly,

inte

grat

ed p

est m

anag

emen

t app

roac

hes,

dete

rmin

atio

n of

futu

re ri

sks

due

to in

crea

se in

type

and

qua

ntity

of p

ests

/dis

ease

vec

tors

due

to cl

imat

e ch

ange

, and

dev

elop

men

t of a

ned

ucat

ion

and

outr

each

pro

gram

. Inc

lude

pro

gram

s ta

rget

ed a

t med

ical

pro

vide

rs to

incr

ease

aw

aren

ess o

f new

dis

ease

s and

enc

oura

ge e

arly

test

ing.

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elop

loca

l fun

ding

and

reso

urce

s to

mak

e it

easi

er fo

r res

iden

ts to

hav

e tic

ks te

sted

.

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cate

for s

tate

and

fede

ral p

olic

ies t

hat i

mpr

ove

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City

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silie

nce

to a

var

iety

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azar

ds, i

nclu

ding

incr

ease

d ac

cess

to fu

el a

ssis

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atth

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utua

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ld in

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g of

pot

entia

l iss

ues

rela

ted

to in

sura

nce

and

unio

n co

ntra

cts.

Acc

ess t

o cr

itica

l res

ourc

es su

ch a

s ch

ildca

re a

nd p

rovi

sion

s sh

ould

be

cons

ider

ed. P

rom

ote

publ

ic tr

ansp

orta

tion

to h

elp

redu

ce c

ars o

n th

e ro

ad d

urin

g in

clem

ent

wea

ther

and

redu

ce g

reen

hous

e ga

s em

issi

ons.

Deve

lop

a Ci

ty-w

ide

Busi

ness

Impr

ovem

ent a

nd E

cono

mic

Dev

elop

men

t Pla

n to

supp

ort l

ocal

bus

ines

ses a

nd in

crea

se re

silie

ncy.

Ide

ntify

are

as w

here

clim

ate

haza

rds c

an b

eav

oide

d/m

itiga

ted

and

targ

eted

impr

ovem

ents

, suc

h as

a m

icro

grid

, cou

ld b

e em

ploy

ed. E

ncou

rage

reus

e of

bro

wnf

ield

s and

exi

stin

g bu

ildin

gs, w

here

app

ropr

iate

. Sim

ulta

neou

sly

iden

tify

area

s fro

m w

hich

bus

ines

ses w

ould

be

enco

urag

ed to

div

est t

o av

oid

haza

rds.

Incl

ude

a pl

an fo

r att

ract

ing

clim

ate-

frie

ndly

bus

ines

ses.

Cond

uct s

trat

egic

pla

nnin

g to

supp

ort r

egio

nal a

gric

ultu

re in

the

face

of c

limat

e ch

ange

. Pla

nnin

g sh

ould

add

ress

haz

ard

resi

lienc

y an

d ap

proa

ches

to c

onne

ct g

row

ers w

ith lo

cal

buye

rs.

Deve

lop

and

impl

emen

t an

Illic

it D

isch

arge

Det

ectio

n an

d El

imin

atio

n (I

DDE)

Pro

gram

to m

eet t

he re

quir

emen

ts o

f the

City

’s M

S4 P

erm

it fo

r sto

rmw

ater

man

agem

ent a

nd a

ddre

ssw

ater

qua

lity

prob

lem

s th

at a

re e

xace

rbat

ed b

y he

avy

prec

ipita

tion.

Deve

lop

a Ci

ty-w

ide

plan

to m

aint

ain

open

spac

e co

rrid

ors a

nd a

ppro

pria

te h

abita

t for

sm

all a

nd la

rge

mam

mal

s (c

oyot

es, b

ears

, fis

her c

ats)

.

The

City

is p

art o

f the

Mas

sach

uset

ts G

reen

ing

the

Gate

way

Pro

gram

whi

ch e

ncou

rage

s tr

ee p

lant

ing

to im

prov

e th

e Ci

ty’s

stre

etsc

ape

for r

esili

ence

and

aes

thet

ics.

Tran

spor

tatio

n

Stre

ss o

nEm

erge

ncy

Serv

ices

The

City

is w

orki

ng to

upd

ate

its H

azar

d M

itiga

tion

Plan

.

Upd

ate

and

impr

ove

City

regu

latio

ns a

nd b

uild

ing

code

to re

duce

vul

nera

bilit

y an

d pr

omot

e re

silie

ncy

of n

ew d

evel

opm

ent.

Impr

ove

cons

truc

tion

stan

dard

s an

d re

quir

emen

ts.

Incr

ease

enf

orce

men

t of r

egul

atio

ns re

late

d to

mai

nten

ance

of d

eten

tion

pond

s. E

nsur

e th

at th

e zo

ning

enf

orce

men

t offi

cer h

as a

list

of a

ll pr

ivat

ely

and

publ

ical

ly o

wne

d st

ruct

ures

.

Pitt

sfie

ld’s

Em

erge

ncy

Oper

atio

ns C

ente

r can

ope

rate

out

of m

ultip

le re

dund

ant l

ocat

ions

, inc

ludi

ng th

e tr

aini

ng ro

om a

t Ber

kshi

re C

orre

ctio

ns fa

cilit

y fo

r lar

ger-

scal

e em

erge

ncie

s.Th

e Ci

ty h

as in

vest

ed in

new

equ

ipm

ent,

vehi

cles

, and

trai

ning

to h

elp

with

em

erge

ncy

resp

onse

and

resi

lienc

y. T

he C

ity h

as a

com

preh

ensi

ve e

mer

genc

y m

anag

men

t pla

n in

pla

ce,

as w

ell a

s mut

ual a

id a

gree

emen

ts fo

r pol

ice

and

fire

serv

ices

.

Pitt

sfie

ld h

as tw

o va

ns to

pro

vide

tran

spor

tatio

n to

shel

ters

; the

City

ow

ns it

s ow

n sc

hool

bus

ses,

mak

ing

them

ava

ilabl

e fo

r use

in e

mer

genc

ies.

The

Cou

ncil

on A

ging

als

o ha

s tw

oha

ndic

ap-a

cces

sbile

veh

icle

s for

pro

vide

ing

shop

ping

and

care

serv

ices

for s

enio

rs, a

nd th

e Sa

lvat

ion

Arm

y ha

s a sm

all d

isas

ter v

ehic

le a

vaila

ble

for p

ublic

use

dur

ing

emer

genc

ies.

Park

s and

Ope

nSp

ace

Impl

emen

t the

des

igns

for t

he W

est S

ide

Rive

rway

to cr

eate

add

ition

al o

pen

spac

e an

d flo

od re

silie

ncy

alon

g th

e H

ousa

toni

c Ri

ver.

The

Wes

t Sid

e Ri

verw

ay P

roje

ct is

crea

ting

new

pub

lic p

ark

spac

e an

d ad

ditio

nal f

lood

stor

age

alon

g th

e H

ousa

toni

c Riv

er.

Wat

er Q

ualit

yEv

alua

te o

ppor

tuni

ties f

or im

prov

ed w

ater

shed

pro

tect

ions

to p

rese

rve

or im

prov

e w

ater

qua

lity

in th

e Ci

ty’s

rese

rvoi

rs a

nd w

ater

way

s.

Eval

uate

the

need

for a

bac

k-up

wat

er p

urifi

catio

n sy

stem

at t

he fo

rmer

GE

site

to e

nsur

e th

at st

orm

wat

er ru

noff

is tr

eate

d be

fore

leav

ing

the

site

.

Deve

lop

a co

mpr

ehen

sive

tree

and

fore

sts m

anag

emen

t pro

gram

that

bui

lds o

n th

e Gr

eeni

ng th

e Ga

tew

ay P

rogr

am, t

o id

entif

y, re

mov

e, a

nd re

plac

e pr

oble

m tr

ees,

pres

erve

inta

ctfo

rest

s an

d st

reet

tree

cov

er, a

nd p

rovi

de g

uida

nce

and

reso

urce

s for

gra

dual

ly m

ovin

g to

war

d m

ore

clim

ate-

resi

lient

tree

s an

d fo

rest

com

mun

ities

(e.g

. spe

cies

that

will

tole

rate

war

mer

tem

pera

ture

s).

Tree

s and

For

ests

CRB Workshop Summary of Findings –City of Pittsfield B-1

Appendix B

CRB Workshop Base Map

CRB Workshop Summary of Findings – City of Pittsfield C-1

Appendix C

CRB Workshop Outputs: Participatory Mapping Exercise & Risk Matrices

CRB Workshop Summary of Findings – City of Pittsfield D-1

Appendix D

CRB Workshop Presentation Materials

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Municipal Vulnerability Preparedness ProgramMVP Workshop

City of PittsfieldDecember 6, 2018

Boston Firefighters, January 4, 2018 (Reuters) Train Trestle, West Housatonic Street

Community Resilience Building Workshop

Agenda• CRB Team and participant introductions• Introduction to Massachusetts Municipal Vulnerability Preparedness Program (MVP)• Introduction to Climate Change and the City of Pittsfield• Discussion by Pittsfield participants on status of current planning and risks• Introduction to CRB Workshop process

• Large group• Review top four hazards

• Small work groups (Using Risk Matrix)• Identify Pittsfield’s vulnerabilities and strengths• Prioritize response actions

• Lunch

• Large group• Report out from small groups• Determine overall priority actions for the City

• Discussion on next steps• Conclusion

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Fuss & O’Neill Overview

Fuss & O’Neill is a leading MVP consultant in assisting Massachusettscommunities secure grant assistance, achieve designation as aMassachusetts Municipal Vulnerability Preparedness (MVP)community, and execute their MVP priority projects.

The MVP team is experienced in local government, environmentalservices, civil site engineering, stormwater management, andemergency management.

Fuss & O’Neill assisted new MVP communities secure more than$700,000 MVP Action Grants in the program’s first funding round.

MVP Project Team

Mary Monahan Julie BusaMary is a municipal public worksspecialist well-versed in issues relatedto stormwater management;wastewater collection and treatment;drinking water supply, treatment, anddistribution; solid waste management;and sustainable operations. Maryserves as a liaison between the publicworks project owner and the designteam.

Julie is an environmental scientist in theWater Environment and NaturalResources group of Fuss & O’Neill. Shehas over 10 years of experience in theareas of global biodiversity and forestconservation, sustainability, andecological modelling. Julie worksextensively with municipalities on MS4compliance and the MVP program.

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5

Jamie Caplan Consulting LLC

• MA Mitigation Plans– MA State Plan– Blandford– South Hadley– Ludlow– North Reading– UMass Amherst

Pittsfield’s MVP and HMP Program - $40,500

Grant Supports Climate Change Vulnerability Assessments andResiliency Planning and Local Hazard Mitigation Planning

MVP Comprehensive ApproachInfrastructureSocietyEnvironment

HMP Comprehensive ApproachAssessmentParticipationPrioritization

MVP Designation Leads to EnhancedStanding in Future Funding Opportunities

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MVP Action Grant NEW

• Grant supports priority actions identified at CommunityResilience Building Workshop

• $10,000 - $400,000 available• Local match of 25% - can be in-kind• Next funding round anticipated Fall 2018

Only those communities which have completed the CRBworkshop are eligible to apply

TerminologyClimate ChangeThe Change in Usual Climate Conditions

– Rising Temperature– Changing Precipitation/ Rainfall Amount and

Intensity– Sea Level Rise

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Rising Temperature

City of Pittsfield– Housatonic Basin

HousatonicObservedBaseline

1971-2000

Projected Changein 2030s

Projected Changein 2050s

Projected Changein 2070s

Projected Changein 2090s

Average AnnualTemperature (°F) 44.32 2.24 to 4.61 3.09 to 6.72 3.69 to 9.29 4.28 to 11.30

Annual Days withMaximum Temperatureover 90°F (Days)

1.33 2.89 to 10.27 4.43 to 20.21 5.59 to 38.75 7.19 to 56.83

Annual Days withMinimum Temperaturebelow 32°F (Days)

172.97 -10.88 to -28.16 -19.40 to -38.83 -22.42 to -53.75 -23.77 to -63.13

Changing Precipitation

City of Pittsfield– Housatonic Basin

HousatonicObservedBaseline

1971-2000

Projected Changein 2030s

Projected Changein 2050s

Projected Changein 2070s

Projected Changein 2090s

Total AnnualPrecipitation (Inches) 47.43 0.21 to 4.41 1.09 to 6.42 1.57 to 6.85 1.56 to 7.66

Annual Consecutive DryDays (Days) 15.98 -0.07 to 1.00 -0.06 to 1.94 -0.19 to 1.89 -0.08 to 2.26

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• Economic- Winter Recreation- Snow and Ice

• Agricultural- Longer Growing Season

• Health- Increased Pests- Heat Stroke

• Infrastructure- Road Buckling- More Potholes- Power Outages

• Environment- Change in Habitat

Climate Change Impacts - Temperature

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• Economic- Dangerous Floods- Lost work time

• Agricultural- Excessively Wet Spring- Drought

• Health- Flood/High Water-related Deaths- Emergency Response Delays

• Infrastructure- Road Washout- Environment- Sewer System Overflows- Compromised Bridges

• Changes in Habitat

Climate Change Impacts - Precipitation

Stakeholder Updates

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Risk Matrix – Determine Top Four Hazards

• Identify Top Four Hazards

• Review MVP Sectors• Maps as tool• List infrastructure, societal,

environmental feature• Determine whether a vulnerability or

strength• Identify actions to reduce vulnerability

or reinforce strength• Prioritize actions• Report Out

• Finalize Prioritization Plan

MVP Program

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• Flooding• Extreme Precipitation Events• Heat Waves• Drought• Snow/Ice• Wildfire• Tornadoes• Hurricanes• Nor’easters• Other

Climate Change Hazards

• Infrastructure– Evacuation routes– Schools– Roads, bridges, dams– Water and wastewater– Septic systems– Hospitals– Commercial Buildings, churches– Utilities: electric, gas– Factories– Emergency management facilities

MVP Sectors

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• Societal– Emergency shelters– Senior housing– Schools and campuses– Economically challenged populations– Evacuation plans– Animal shelters– Hospitals, pharmacies– Grocery stores– Utilities: electric, gas– Homeless– Other

MVP Sectors

• Environmental– Drinking water supply– Rivers and streams– Parklands– Agriculture– Title V systems– Stormwater management– Open spaces– Flood plains– Forest– Other

MVP Sectors

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Next Steps:Public Review of PrioritiesMonitor and UpdateAnnual Review

Community Resilience Building Workshop

Questions?

Community Resilience Building Workshop