HomeMy WebLinkAboutMN-NAC-2008-10-06 MEETING MINUTES
City of Ithaca Natural Areas Commission
(Oct. 6,2008)
5:30-7:00 pm
City Hall, 108 E. Green St.
In attendance:
Zev Ross (Chair)
Members Gerard Cox, Joe McMahon, Todd Miner, Anna Stalter (CAC Liaison), Ron Herring,
F. Robert Wesley(CU Natural Areas), Jon Meigs (Town of Ithaca), Wade Wykstra (BPW
Liaison)
Absent: Wendy Wallitt (vice-chair)
Announcements
Zev announced that he will resign at the end of 2008.
Invasives: Payment to Robert Wesley for SMC Survey is being held up because of an insurance
issue. The City Controller will look into it a little more. Otherwise Zev's company will
subcontract to Robert. Anna will pursue application for DEC invasives eradication grant.
Stewart Park meeting upcoming Tues., Oct. 7. Unfortunately most NAC members are unable to
attend this meeting (in the middle of the day). According to Rick Manning, the 3 pm session is
likely most pertinent to NAC. Ron volunteered to attend, saying that although he suspects the
project will not go far, he knows if it does proceed, there will be consequences and it is thus in
NAC's best interest to stay in the loop.
Citizen Advisory Group (Ithaca Gun) Gerry reported that CAG is hung up on "how clean is
clean". They are considering two sets of EPA standards for lead: Track 4 at 400 ppm (a standard
considered ok for bare dirt playgrounds) versus Track 1 at 63 ppm. There are concerns that if the
bar is set too high, the project may not be economically feasible. DEC favors Track 4; O'Brien
and Gere says Track 1 is too expensive. Some members of the CAG think NYS will be able to
come up with more money to support the Track 1 cleanup. DEC and DOH will make the final
decision. Gerry will report NAC's preference to CAG. Gerry says Ithaca Journal is doing an
accurate job in reporting the meetings.
Water Plant DEIS—NAC will review DEIS at Nov. meeting. Zev asked Wade for best strategy
to get through the large document. Wade suggested a thorough read of pages 1-142 (most of the
rest is supporting materials).There will be a public meeting sometime in October; the 60 day
comment period ends in early Dec..
Ithaca Falls to Stewart Park link: First suggested by Joe at Sept. meeting; Zev provided photos
for discussion. All concur that it is an excellent idea that should be pursued. Ron will bring it up
at Tuesday's Stewart Park meeting.
As the meeting was adjourned, Jon asked about the Richard Fischer Plaque agenda item. Zev
had an e-mail from Nancy Ramage, who was concerned about bird droppings on the plaque. Jon
reminded us that the plaque is stainless steel, and should be impervious to damage.