HomeMy WebLinkAboutMN-NAC-2015-10-06
MEETING MINUTES
6 Oct 2015
In attendance: Joe McMahon (Chair); Members Anna Stalter (Co-chair); Dan Hoffman; Todd
Bittner (Cornell Plantations Liaison)
Absent: Ashley Miller, Robert Wesley, Jon Meigs
Guests: Matt Garron (City Planning intern), Mo Jarin (IHS student), Janet Edwards,
Notetaker: Anna Stalter
Reports and announcements: Giles St. paving has been completed, and the millings piled in the
Wildflower Preserve parking lot. Joe also reported that the creek was low but not lowest ever.
Ruoff memorial donations totaled $2905. A metal bench on the Waterfront Trail cost $3000. Joe
will relay this information to Jeanne and any others who should be in on the discussion.
Matt Garron –is seeking suggestions from NAC about a connector trail from downtown to SMC.
He is working on a report in support of funding for the Winter Village Trail, which would extend
the Creekwalk (behind the library and Gateway Commons building) to the Mulholland
Wildflower Preserve. A draft plan that Matt shared showed that bridges would need to be built at
3 locations; Joe pointed out that 5 would be necessary. The general sense was that construction
of such a trail would be too expensive and difficult to consider. Banks are unstable, equipment
hard to get in there, and maintenance would be costly. Todd has been involved in development
of the Tompkins Priority Trails Strategy, which has considered a connector trail from Stewart
Park to the Plantations to be of higher priority. There has been a previously voiced concern that
increased access to the Wildflower Preserve would only serve to attract bad activity, but the
converse might be true: a formal active trail might garner respect from users. Todd suggested
another option, that of constructing views at various access points rather than a through-trail.
Many other considerations were brought up: bridge specs – must they be ADA compliant (Matt
says no), would they be suspension bridges, and status of dams. Currently under inspection,
retrofitting of Second Dam could cost $4-5 mill. If the dam is removed, such a trail would not be
feasible.
Ailanthus trees in SMC driveway, parking lot. Joe has counted 6-8 behind Jim Sherpa’s house
that are small enough to remove, but what about larger trees? Todd indicated that a chemical
girdle can be effective, but there may be a seed bank to consider. Jeanne was not present, so the
discussion will be continued at the next meeting.
Ithaca Falls: EPA is nearly finished with vacuuming of soil. They will replace the barrier with
something more durable. Because the contamination will continue to wash down from above,
EPA will retest and return for clean-up periodically, as necessary.