HomeMy WebLinkAboutMN-NAC-2011-10-17City of Ithaca
Natural Areas Commission
Approved Minutes
Monday, October 17, 2011, 5:30- 7:OOpm, City Hall, 108 East Green St, Second Floor
Conference Room
In attendance:
Members: Joe McMahon (Chair), Todd Miner, Anna Stalter, Sarah Steuteville,
Ronald Herring (notetaker), Aaron Donato, Tom Whitlow, Gerry Cox.
Other: Dan Hoffman (City Attorney), Wade Wykstra (BPW liason), Wendy Wallit
(NAC Emerita); Jean Grace (City Forestry Technician)
Absent:
Members: Jon Meigs, Robert Wesley
Minutes from September Meeting were unanimously approved with minor changes.
1) BRIEF REPORTS AND ANNOUNCEMENTS
Joe McMahon reported on a meeting concerning the water plant, where the plan and
design were presented. There is to be a radio reception tower, fenced, but access is
uncertain at this point. There is a great deal yet to be decided: eg settling ponds.
Dredging of the inlet to allow channel deepening and removal of spoils is planned.
Police training at the firing range, which is in the watershed for unclear reasons,
evidently has involved pepper spray. There have been complaints about irritation of
citizens by dispersal of the spray.
A decision has been taken at Common Land to close down parking on Penny Lane.
The status of this restriction is unclear: can this be done, for example?
Dan Hoffman reported on potential sale by the city of the Quaker property purchased
some months back for about $90k. the purpose was to stop Common Land road
building and extension and protect the area from development. There is now the
possibility of recouping some of the purchase price by selling segments of the
parcel: the West leg of the property and perhaps some of the field buffering forested
areas to the South.
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Anna Stalter reported that volunteers removed all the Japanese stilt grass they
could find in the 6 -Mile NA. However, the invasive is spreading and will has shown up
in different locations over time.
2) City Comprehensive Plan:
Wendy Wallit reported on the City Comprehensive Plan. She is a member of the
committee planning futures for land use, transportation and sustainability. They are
in the process of hiring consultants: Clarion Associates from North Carolina.
Questions were raised and discussed. There was some lament for the lack of
consultants closer to Ithaca, in respect to the carbon footprint of consulting and
perhaps the value of a bit of local knowledge. Primary issues will be connectivity,
relations with surrounding towns, and sustainability. Dan Hoffman reminded the
group that interests are already forming around these issues; if natural area and
conservation concerns are not organized in parallel, this perspective will remain
unrepresented. November 14 is to be the first date for public input.
3) Invasive Species Removal:
The mysterious 'invasives vigilante' of 6 -mile was unveiled. A letter from Richard
Southworth to Jean Grace asked permission to carry out a continued attack on
invasive species in the NA. She brought the letter to the Commission. The letter was
discussed, with general reluctance to endorse any acts by individuals to remove
flora from the NA. Girdling trees could present safety hazards and problems of tree
removal after death. Killing trees —even noxious invasive trees — violates the city's
tree ordinance and the NAC does not have authority to permit anyone to break the
law, in a NA or anywhere else. Numerous suggestions were made for enlisting the
energies and commitments of Mr Southworth in organized volunteer efforts to
remove invasives from 6 -mile and other NAs.
4) Sale of city properties:
Dan Hoffman presented information on the city's consideration of property to sell to
meet fiscal demands. The city seeks to raise $125,000 in revenues from such sales.
Of the properties designated as likely possibilities, by far the largest was parcel from
the Cherry Street parcel. This is land that the NAC has previously discussed in
connection with plans for an affordable housing complex and development. The
Commission then wrote the Mayor about our concern that an emergent floodplain
forest in the area had ecological function and value, particularly the vernal pools
which enhance biodiversity seasonally. Some of this area is to be used for spoils of
dredging the inlet to Cayuga Lake. Discussion followed. The decision taken was that
we should reiterate our objections to development of the parcel as explained in our
previous letter to the Mayor and Common Council. If properties are to be sold, this
one should not be let go without thorough consideration of its contribution to the
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natural areas of the city. In addition, it would be prudent to have the Natural Area
designation for the Southwest Natural Area established formally.
Meeting adjourned after 7 PM without a chance to discuss the final agenda item:
Creation and Blockage of Trails in Six -Mile Creek Natural Area.
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