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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMN-NAC-2012-02-13m i "U1'04 `i J February 13, 2012 Members Present: Jon Meigs, Anna Stalter, Joe McMahon, Dan Hoffman, Ron Herring, Aaron Donato, Sarah Steuteville, Robert Wesley Members Absent: Also attending: Jennifer Karius, Ithaca Resident; Tom Whitlow; Chris Proulx, Common Council liaison; Jeanne Grace, Forestry Technician Designation of note - taker: Ron Herring Minutes of the January meeting were approved. Announcements and Comments: Joe reported that there are some students at the high school who are willing to do volunteer work at 6 mile NA. We need to harness their energies. Joe is in the paper again. He has presented some cautions on the plans for a trail to Giles Street from Gateway Plaza. His letter to the Ithaca Times concerned off -leash dogs. People fear dogs off leash and there is too much dog poop. Joe announced that Cornell Plantations makes available workshops for those wishing to become Natural Area Mentors. The course runs from March to October or November. 40 hours of classwork is required. [The Cornell Plantation Website has information on how to get involved: http:/ /www.cornellplantations.org /NAA . March 31 is orientation. For more information, email Nikki Cerra hnc24 @cornell.edu.] Sarah Steuteville noted that there has been more information from Dan Harmon about the clean -up of the area around Ithaca Falls. He will come to the Fall Creek Neighborhood Association to discuss ground water results; there is evidently some TCE. Jeanne reported that Richard Southworth has been denied his request to carry on his volunteer eradication of invasive plant species in the 6 -mile NA. Secondly, the washed out bank in the NA is to be replaced with rip ra p. Dan Hoffman reminded Jeanne of the process now in place for work in Natural Areas. The Guidelines produced by the NAC should be on the webpage under the section on the NAC, but it was unclear that they are. [A search under the section of the City's webpage for the commission http: / /www.ci.ithaca.ny.us /boardscommittees /nac /index.cfm for guidelines did not turn up any results for guidelines to work in natural areas on the city site.] Jennifer made a point of the threat of the invasive aquatic plant hydrilla to Cayuga inlet. This is a serious issue, but the management scenarios are a bit opaque. Tom notes that doing samples for tubers would be a good idea now, but he can't get a response from relevant authorities. Cornell Outdoor Education Spring trail project in Mullholland Preserve Consideration of a COE Spring project proposed by Todd Miner was the first agenda item. Todd notes that they do both Spring and Fall projects. For this Spring, a project to divert foot traffic from a fragile trail to a more stable substitute trail was proposed. A map was presented to show a suggested project, essentially the widening of a deer trail. No trees would need to be moved, but there would need to be a few steps. We supposed that Todd was requesting permission to do this in May. Robert warned of some sensitive plant communities in that area at the east end of the deer trail. Discussion raised the issue: Will this new trail divert traffic from the unofficial trail that we've been unable to keep people off despite repeated efforts? That unofficial trail is well established on fragile terrain. Dan Hoffman suggested an alternative from Rt 79 down to the trail. Should members want to get a feel for the terrain, Joe offered to walk the trail any afternoon. Robert suggested marking the trail to see what effect there might be on plants. Letter concerning gorge clean up Joe reported on dumping and efforts to alleviate trash build -up in the Six Mile NA. There are two sources of building materials and yard waste, and generic trash, on the Six Mile Creek bank below 116 -118 Ferris Place. The trash is in sight of the pedestrian bridge, marring the visual experience of the natural area. This problem is long- standing. There are two major sources. One is trash from residents of 116 -118 Ferris Place and the garbage storage practices at this residence. During a clean -up of the NA, refuse was found on the ground below the porches of this residence; full bags that had been thrown off the porches were also found on the ground. The second source has been the historic practice of contractors and landscapers of pulling into the parking lot and dumping materials down the bank. Neighbors of the property have also noted uncovered, overflowing garbage cans on the property. Joe proposed sending a letter to the property owner urging better management of refuse from the apartments and a request to the Building Department to work with the owner to address the causes and remove the materials too large to be moved by volunteers. Secondly, a solution to the landscapers' dumping might be a fence at the rear of the parking lot. But it was unclear who owns this land: is the dumping legal? Joe's letter to the owners was circulated and approved. Conservation Advisory Committee [CAC] Anna Stalter: Conservation Advisory Committee of Ithaca is important because it is the first committee in the city to see proposals, makes reports to planning board. It is concerned with new projects that could have consequences for conservation. We should have a liaison. It has limited power, but is in on the beginning of the process. Committees and Vice Chair issues Fall Creek Committee: There is an opening on the NAC, and it would be good to have a Fall Creek person on the commission. A Fall Creek Committee will be chaired by Sarah, with Robert and Ron as committee members. Six Mile Creek committee: Joe will Chair; members are Dan and Anna. Vice Chair: Anna will be Vice Chair, accepted by acclamation. Meeting adjourned at 7 PM.