HomeMy WebLinkAboutMN-NAC-2012-01-09G� o f Ithac�
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Jan 9 2012
Members Present: Robert Wesley, Jon Meigs, Sarah Steuteville, Anna Stalter, Joe McMahon
Members Absent: Aaron Donato, Ron Herring
Also attending: Roxy Johnston, Watershed Coordinator; Dan Hoffman, past and future member; Wade Wykstra, BPW Liaison;
Jennifer Karius, Ithaca Resident
Minutes of the Dec meeting were approved.
Announcements
Roxy -The Six Mile Creek Water Monitoring Group will give a presentation about the water quality of SMC on Wednesday, Jan
10 at 6:30, in the Borg Warner room at the library. Roxy will attend, and acknowledge the efforts of the group.
Joe gave a brief report on the work being done near the settling ponds. Eric Whitney had notified the NAC of the need to
remove a tree and a portion of a brick supporting wall where a water main crosses a drainage channel. The tree is leaning out
over the pipe and the supporting wall has been undermined. Joe reported that the tree had been cut but that no other work
had been done.
Joe also reported that he had attended the recent Common Council meeting, at which he described the activities of the NAC.
Chris Proulx (CC, Fifth Ward) has been appointed as CC liaison to NAC. Ellen McCollister (CC, Third Ward) expressed
awareness of the safety issues at SMC.
Joe is following up on request to add Tom Whitlow as CU liaison to NAC, with Robert shifting to the non- voting Plantations
liaison position on the commission. Tom has been attending meetings and would like to serve in an official capacity, but is not
a city resident. There are currently two vacancies to be filled by city residents; Dan Hoffman expressed an interest in filling
one of the vacant seats.
Dan Hoffman reported that a large tree fell across the trail near the Giles St. Parking lot. Mention was also made that there are
large, unsightly blocks of cement in the parking area and near the bench at the entrance to the wildflower preserve,
presumably to be used for creek bank stabilization. It was suggested that someone (Wade? Joe ?) ask Ray Benjamin when that
activity will commence.
Wade asked if there had been any move to designate the Six Mile Creek Natural Area a Critical Environmental Area, noting
that the Queen Catherine Marsh in Montour Falls had just been so designated.
Joe reported that the Church across from the newly acquired Quaker property is displaying a notice that it is seeking a
variance from the Town of Ithaca for some proposed project. Hopefully any activity there will not impinge on plans to improve
access to SMC from the Quaker property.
The meeting was adjourned at 6 pm to attend the Community Advisory Group meeting discussion about the Ithaca Falls /Gun
Hill cleanup. Nels Bohn, Director of Community Development at the Ithaca Urban Renewal Agency is the city contact person. A
draft Site Investigation Work Plan was presented by Barton & Longuidice, consultants. NAC is encouraged to ask
questions /submit comments as the project proceeds.