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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMN-NAC-2010-11-08e city o f Ithac� Na tu,Ya.G Areas GoHtWVYYtow Nov 8, 2010 Present: Joe McMahon (acting chair), Gerry Cox, Ron Herring, Anna Stalter, Jon Meigs Absent: Robert Wesley, Sarah Steuteville, Todd Miner Also Attending: Dan Hoffman, City Attorney; Addisu Gebre, City Bridge Engineer Minutes of the October meeting were approved with minor corrections. Announcements: A presentation of Ithaca Falls /Gun Factory study by Kathy Gleason's class will be on view at the Farmer's Market on Saturday November 13. NAC members are encouraged to stop by and add comments. Joe removed some pink ribbons from trees above the settling ponds and was approached by the South Hill vigilante (a citizen who has been cutting and girdling invasive shrubs and trees along the SH recway) when he did so. While in conversation with the individual, Joe expressed concern that unauthorized girdling of trees could prove to be hazardous to passersby and could add to the fuel load in the understory. He advised the individual to cease and desist. This activity is illegal and the well- intentioned citizen could be arrested if it continues. Joe obtained a new copy of the trail map from Zev Ross and replaced it in the kiosk while also repairing the broken hasp and affixing a new lock. Joe has the keys; will give one to the personnel at the water plant. Joe will also look into designing a take -away pamphlet that includes trail maps and other information about the natural area. Columbia St. Bridge Project A Plan of Work for the Columbia St. Bridge project has been submitted to NAC. According to Addisu Gebre, they are now working on the abutment and checking utilities. Most of the work will be done in 2011. Joe asked if tulip poplar seedlings from around the settling ponds, which will eventually be bulldozed as the water supply project proceeds, could be dug up now and used to revegetate the area around the Columbia St. Bridge. Dan expressed concern; fox dens near the siltation pond are threatened by any activity there. Removing trees constitutes work in the natural area and as such a plan of work would be required. Addisu indicated that as a result of discussions with Jeanne Grace (acting city forester), the design for the Hudson St. access has been changed. The existing access will be maintained and used as the basis for a new trail. Addisu will forward the plan for the bridge project to Joe for distribution to NAC members. Water Supply According to Dan H., the filtration system for the water plant will be selected soon, and it is expected that other aspects of the project will then begin to move quickly. NAC needs to be in the loop; Ron will contact Wade Wykstra to ask if he knows when the work plan will be developed. YouTube videos Because the Mayor has chosen not to sign the letter to YouTube requesting they pull the videos of jumpers from their site, the NAC will do so. Garden Club The Liberty Hyde Bailey Garden Club has asked that if the NAC would support the installation of a bike rack at Ithaca Falls, since the railing that the club had installed is being used for that purpose. They have already begun discussions with Ray Benjamin. The NAC will support this project as long as the bike rack is placed closer to the sidewalk and in a location that will not block the view or access to the falls. A suggestion was made that they consider the new bike racks at the Farmer's market as a model. Tim Logue and Kent Johnson are contacts for bike related issues in the city. Work Activity at Six Mile Into the Streets brought 25 Cornell students to Six Mile Creek on Oct. 30. Eager and enthusiastic volunteers spread wood chips along the trail and cut invasive blackberries from the area around the kiosk. In addition the New Roots service group has just completed another semester -long volunteer effort. A dozen students volunteered at Six Mile for an hour once each week. The teacher expressed interest in continuing to volunteer in the spring. Collegetown Terrace Environmental review is complete and the site plan review is in process. A height variance is being requested for larger buildings. The visual impact of these from the Six Mile Creek gorge should be examined. The simulations provided in the EIS are not sufficient (views provided are from the west end, not the east) to determine extent of impact. If the height variance is denied, a parking area will replace the planned catchment basin area near the gorge rim. Comments are due by November 17. Joe will draft a letter expressing NAC's concerns and send to members for comments before forwarding it on to the planning board. Membership In light of the expiration of the terms of three current NAC members (Ron, Anna, Robert), Ron suggested NAC members should consider how to broaden the knowledge base of the commission. Though all agreed that having a more diverse board would be welcome, previous calls for applications have not brought forward anyone with expertise in e.g., engineering, construction, planning. Furthermore, it appears that renewing members are not likely to step down at this time.