Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAboutMN-NAC-2003 City of Ithaca Natural Areas Commission Minutes of 3/10/03 Meeting Members Present: Dan Hoffman (chair), Linda Butte!, Roxy Johnston, Harry Littell, Zev Ross, Carolyn Peterson, Sarah Steuteville; ex-officio: Kate Mance (for Planning Director) Members absent: Elizabeth Mulholland, Claudia Jenkins (BPW liaison); ex-officio: Andy Hillman Others present: Wendy Wallitt Minutes. Minutes have not yet been submitted for January and February meetings. Announcements. Dan reminded the group that we still have 1 at-large vacancy and vacancies for the CU and town seats. Wendy has applied for the at-large vacancy. Dan provided a copy of the letter of support he wrote on behalf of the Commission's application for a beautification grant. Zev told the group that he had submitted the application. Roxy discussed the recent water quality warnings issued by the City. She said the substance in question is newly regulated by the federal government. High levels of haloacetic acid occur when chlorine and high levels of natural organic matter combine, making it a seasonal issue. Levels are expected to decline, but because reporting is cumulative, it may take a while for the City to be in compliance. 3. Trail Maps Zev asked the Commission to examine trail maps that he produced. We talked about discussing the maps in more detail at the next meeting but initial reactions were that street names would be useful. We need to include a warning about the dangers that can be associated with some or all of the trails. Some areas should be labeled better. We also had a preliminary discussion about if/how we should make the maps available. Most thought that they should be made available if clear warnings were included and perhaps adding other categories of trails (e.g., general trails, hazardous trails, non-trails). 4. Ithaca Falls Sarah gave an update on the lead clean-up at Ithaca Falls. It is expected that clean up near the raceway and vacuuming of soil in that area will begin sometime in April. EPA will use plants that we suggested for restoration and will have an archaeological observer as the project begins. Sarah will try to find out if there are still plans to create a "haul road" down the steep slope (to bring equipment down and/or haul soil out). Sarah will if Margaret Fabrizio, one of the neighbors concerned about health impacts of the clean up, will come talk to the Commission. Also, Sarah will see if the EPA would be willing to send a representative to a future NAC meeting. There was discussion of how to fund a design for upgrades/protection of the Ithaca Falls area. Sarah is not sure if the right time to start working on that will be in 2003 or 2004. We will invite Kathy Gleason to attend our April meeting. As for redevelopment of the Ithaca Gun factory site, Sarah is not sure if Wally Deihl has actually purchased the property. 5. Friends of Six Mile Creek We talked in depth about plans for this summer's "Saturdays for Six Mile" project. Zev shared the t-shirt design with the group and got several suggestions for improving the flyer. Folks suggested that we try to get Nancy Ramage, Peter Fortunato and Pat Vaughan to help out at the entrances. We also talked about putting some information on the City's web site. Zev mentioned the possibility of liability issues. We did not resolve this issue, but Dan said that he would help put together an information sheet. Roxy said that Water Week this year is May 9 and 10 and that we should probably have someone (or at least a table) at the event. She would look into the possibility of selling the t- shirts at the event. 6. Ecologically Informed Guidelines Linda shared with the Commission an information sheet she put together on ecologically informed guidelines (for doing work in natural areas). She said that not many places have produced them and that most likely we would have to create much of the guidelines ourselves. Nevertheless, there were some examples for some specific activities that she included on the sheet. Kate mentioned that the Adirondack Park Assn. (Agency?) had some guidelines and that she would try to get a copy. 7. Other We decided to delay discussion of the ranger hiring process and election of officers until next meeting. -- Minutes Taken by Zev Ross rah Myers- nac-agd.may03.doc Page 2 City of Ithaca NATURAL AREAS COMMISSION 4/14/03 Members present: Linda Buttel,Zev Ross,Jon Meigs,Beth Mulholland,Dan Hoffman,Wendy Wallitt,Harry Littell,Carolyn Peterson;Ex-Officio: Roxy Johnston(notes),Kate Mance. Members Absent: Sarah Steuteville,Claudia Jenkins(BPW liaison); Ex-Officio: Andy Hillman Introductions,Agenda Review, Designation of Notetaker Plant Sale(Garden Fair)added. Signage added to second part of item#5(Trail Maps). Approval of Minutes Minutes of 3/10/03 approved as submitted. Still waiting for minutes for 1/13/03 (Sarah)&2/10/03(Andy). Reports&Announcements Two new members have been appointed. Wendy Wallitt has been approved by Common Council. Jon Meigs has been named by the Town of Ithaca as its representative from the Town's Conservation Board (replacing Dick Fischer)—this appointment may not need further action. Zev Ross reported that the$500 grant he applied for was received,for sprucing up the lower Giles Street entrance area to the Six Mile Creek Natural Area. Annual Election of Officers The following slate was nominated and approved unanimously for the coming year: Chair—Dan Hoffman Vice Chair—Linda Buttel Secretary—Zev Ross Ithaca Falls Natural Area Kathy Gleason was not able to attend this meeting. Kate will invite Kathy to attend the May or June meeting. Kathy is organizing a design charette for the Ithaca Falls area,either around Memorial Day or the first week of August,with 2 graduate students who did thesis work on Ithaca Falls(John and Liska). She also hopes to have a new student focus on collating all the past and current information related to Ithaca Falls. From these efforts, she hopes to produce a plan that is minimalist(affordable),but still reveals some of the historic points of interest on the site. She is open to considering pursuing grants or directing research efforts to further this plan,in collaboration with the NAC. She suggests leaving parts of the plan undeveloped that relate to the Ithaca Gun factory site which Wally Diehl is purchasing. Dan and Kate suggested it might make more sense to develop proposals for the Diehl property than to wait to see his plans. For example,Kate said we could show a proposed easement for a public overlook. Question: where would this proposed plan go? Kate said that the NAC and/or the Planning Dept. would recommend the plan to the City. Dan brought Jon up to speed on this project. Several members have not been to the site at all or at least have not been there for a while. There may be a site visit happening on May 2". Dan will check with Sarah to find out more about this visit. We don't know whether the EPA has started clean-up work in the raceway area. The group would like to invite the EPA and the Fall Creek neighborhood organization to a future NAC meeting for updates. Zev will check with Sarah about inviting the EPA and Carolyn will invite the neighborhood group. Six Mile Creek Zev reported that a co-ed fraternity from Cornell picked up trash last weekend. Two piles were left on Giles St.,one across from Dan Hoffman's house and the other at the Columbia Street footbridge. Zev asked about having the City pick it up—Roxy agreed to arrange for this. (NOTE: The trash was collected by the City two days later.) arah Myers - nac-agd.may03.docPa•e 3 NAC Minutes,4/14/03 Page 2 Wood chips have been dropped off for 4/26 work day. Crew attempted to deposit chips across the bridge in grassy area,by mistake. Truck got stuck and some damage was done to the grass; an attempt was made to repair it. Perhaps some of the volunteers on 4/26 can improve the situation. A group of Alternative Community School students and preschoolers will be on site on 4/24,to start moving woodchips. It was suggested that after the preschoolers leave,the ACS students might start to lay out logs to define that part of the path for wood chip work on the 26th. Several groups will participate in the 4/26 effort. Wood chips and trash pick-up have been combined to insure enough work. Zev and Linda plan to stay near main entrances to let folks know about the effort;they passed around a sign-up sheet for NAC members willing to help out with this&5/10 event. Dan noted that often trail-narrowing materials(logs,branches)are purposefully removed shortly after being put in;he suggests using larger/heavier ones. There was a question about where to get the logs—from the immediate area or from Andy. There was no definite resolution to either of these comments. Wendy reported that an ACS group has requested a construction project—such as a kiosk. Kate noted that they are harder to design than they look. Roxy said approval should be given by Andy and Larry Fabbroni prior to starting(on project idea and location of kiosks). It was agreed that a kiosk similar to the one currently in the parking area—but about a foot wider and with a taller display area would be acceptable. Other suggested improvements included: 1)suggestion box; 2)doggy bag dispenser;and 3)attached trash bin/bag. Wendy will pursue City approvals and give ACS class our general requirements. Once they've submitted a design we agree upon,they can submit a materials list to the NAC. Once the materials have been provided to the class and the kiosk is finished,the committee can decide which kiosk is better suited to the parking lot and which is better for the access road entrance. "Weed pulling"at May 10t work party now focused on garlic mustard. No shrubs will be removed except maybe a few in entrance area that are non-native—and they would be replaced with native plants. It was agreed that a list of volunteers should be maintained,in the hopes of increasing the pool of folks who can be called on to help organize and run these events. Lauren Bishop is the Journal reporter who covers local events—Zev will contact her for press coverage of the work parties. The"Friends of Six Mile Creek"t-shirts are ready! They cost$7 and will be sold for$12. Zev is fronting this cost and Linda is opening an account for"Friends of Six Mile Creek"to process the revenues. Commission agreed to recommend to the City increased signage indicating the danger of certain parts of the Natural Area. It was noted that there have been several deaths in the gorge recently—from falling. Commission would like to assist the City in design,placement,etc,of new signs. Trail maps will be available on work days for reference,but not as handouts. NYSEG has sent notice that they will soon be clearing a powerline ROW near Burns Road,below the silt dam but above the 60'reservoir. Sarah previously volunteered to staff the NAC table for Water Week on May 9t°—Zev will confirm this with her. If she cannot,flyers for the weekend workdays and t-shirts will be given to Roxy,who will be attending Water Week for the City. Note: t-shirts cannot be sold at Water Week,but we can take names of those interested in purchasing some—they will be directed to the appropriate place/person. Jon wondered if the NAC addressed issues that might be more specific to the part of the Six Mile Creek Natural Area that are in the Town of Ithaca. Dan offered to elaborate more on that with Jon later—but the general response was that the NAC's work/jurisdiction covers the entire Natural Area. Garden Fair Beth said the annual Garden Fair(Plant Sale)will be happening on May 17th this year. Linda and Wendy indicated they were willing to staff a table for part of the time. Zev will contact Beth to get the registration information. Monika Roth from the CCE is the event contact person. Ranger Hiring Process Carolyn will contact Pete Rogers to see if he is interested in being a ranger again this year. She will also look into getting the process started to hire at least one additional ranger. NAC would like to have both rangers on board by end of May. More specifics can be addressed when Andy returns to work next week. saran Flyers - nac-agd.may03.doc Page 4 Meeting was adjourned at 7:04 p.m. Sarah A�rimers-nac-agd.augO3.doc Page 1 City of Ithaca NATURAL AREAS COMMISSION Monday, August 11, 2003 5 :15 - 6:45 PM City Hall, 108 E. Green Street SECOND FLOOR Conference Room PROPOSED AGENDA Estimated Time 5 min 1. Introductions, Agenda Review, Designation of Notetaker 5 min 2. Approval of Minutes 7/14/03 ENCLOSED [1/13/03 (Sarah) , 2/10/03 (Andy) & 5/12/03 (Wendy) not yet submitted] 10 min 3. Ranger's Report (Elizabeth Marland) 15 min 4 . Other Reports & Announcements 25 min 5. Six Mile Creek Natural Area - Beautification projects - update - More work days this season - late Aug/early Sept? - Repair of path at "first bend" 30 min 6. Ithaca Falls Natural Area - EPA/DEC clean-up - Update? - Ithaca Gun site rezoning/project - update - next steps? - NAC design ideas (report on charette?) COMMISSION MEMBERS: Please contact Chairperson Dan Hoffman if you expect to be absent or wish to see the agenda modified. 273-6933 (h) 273-2202(w) dan@lsss-law.com Lata Myers nac-agd.aug03.doc Page 2 Natural Areas Commission July 14,2003-Minutes Members Present: Linda Buttel,Dan Hoffman,Harry Littell, Carolyn Peterson,Zev Ross, Sarah Steuteville; Ex officio:Andy Hillman,Roxy Johnston,Elizabeth Marland(Ranger) Members Absent: Claudia Jenkins,Jonathan Meigs,Beth Mulholland, Reports: Ranger Elizabeth Marland reported that garbage is a growing problem. After hours partying is generating lots of trash. Elizabeth is removing up to three bags of garbage a day. Carolyn offered to alert the traffic dept.to ticket illegally parked cars on Giles St. and Rt. 79. The biggest problem areas are at the 30' dam and the Indian Encampment.Andy said he would try to take the new police chief on a tour of the problem areas. The committee would like to see quantitative reports on violations (as in past years). Six Mile Creek: Zev reported that much was accomplished at the recent workday including: painting the garbage can, putting up the new kiosk,mulching the trail,and weeding and mowing. The committee discussed how to repair and shore up the eroding first bend in the trail.Andy will talk to a stonemason(Kevin Riley?). Carolyn also will talk to a retired mason friend.Harry suggested an engineer such as Peter Novelli. The committee unanimously approved a request from the Planning Department for an NAC letter of endorsement of the City's application for State funding to purchase more properties in the watershed area. Ithaca Falls: Sarah reported that the EPA has finished working on the westerly parcel at the Ithaca Gun Factory site. The EPA is now working in the millrace. Sarah will make a list of recommendations for replanting. Sarah proposed that the NAC recommend to the City that the fence around the cleanup site be maintained for a year after the work ends. The committee unanimously approved this. Sarah will draft a letter to Bill Gray. Dan reported that as a member of the City's Conservation Advisory Council,he had received a memo from the Planning Dept discussing a proposal to rezone the Ithaca Gun factory site to "commercial"from"industrial,"to allow for the project Wally Diehl wants to build there. The committee is concerned that the rezoning extends beyond the factory site to include land west to Lake St. The committee approved a motion asking for more documentation of the potential visual impact of development which would be allowed under the rezoning(7 stories tall,rather than 4 stories),and that there be no rezoning other than of the property to be conveyed to Wally Diehl. Kathy Gleason will lead a small design charrette August 7 and 8 regarding the Ithaca Falls Natural Area. -- Submitted by Harry Littell 3 4c a d.sept03.doc Page 2 Natural Areas Commission August 11,2003 City Hall Present: Dan Hoffman(Chair) Linda Buttel Andy Hillman(ex officio) Roxy Johnston(ex officio) Harry Littell Jonathan Meigs Zev Ross Sarah Steuteville (Minutes) Wendy Wallitt Elizabeth Marland(Ranger) Absent: Beth Mulholland Carolyn Peterson Robert Wesley Claudia Jenkins (Board of Public Works) Minutes: Minutes for July 14,2003,were approved as submitted. 1) Ranger Report:Written report submitted by Elizabeth Marland.It was a busy month with the sheriff's k department called several times. A rope has been put in a tree hanging over the lower reservoir and Andy agreed to have his department remove it. 2) Reports and Announcements. Robert Wesley has been officially appointed as the Cornell Plantations representative to the Natural Areas Commission. Dan distributed an updated roster of the NAC. Two corrections were noted Zev Ross's email should be zev.ross@earthlink.net and Roxy's email should be roxannaj@cityofithaca.org 3) Six Mile Creek.Zev prepared a powerpoint presentation for the committee that approved the Beautification grant, showing them the work that was done for the new kiosk at the entry area. Volunteers are the main source of personpower for projects on Six Mile Creek. The Youth Horticultural Apprentice Program did a good clean up job of the area around the old kiosk. The sub-committee asked Andy if he could dig holes at the new site for the old kiosk and he said he might be able to,but there are many other priorities for his crew. Zev asked Andy to think about how much time his crew could give to the NAC. The Native Plant Society is willing to help plant the area and Chris Gardner has agreed to donate leftover native plants. There may be another work day this year; Zev is not sure yet. Linda noted that the Cornell freshman dorms open August 22 and there may be some student volunteers available.Andy also mentioned that IC might also have student volunteers. Funding for other projects was discussed.Harry mentioned that there was some money left over from the bench. First the amount needs to be determined and then the donors consulted as to what to put the rest of the funds toward.Roxy mentioned that Water& Sewer could pay for incidental related to watershed clean up. Tom Whitlow,the professor for the Ecological Restoration class will be walking the site at 8 am Saturday,August 16 with Linda Buttel,to learn more about the issues facing the natural area. Any NAC members who would like to are welcome to come along. Members are also invited to contact Tom or Linda with specific concerns that his class can research.Andy agreed to call Kevin Riley about repairing the path at the first bend in the ''ic agd.sept03 docP age 3 trail. 4) Ithaca Falls. Sarah reported on the current status. The rezoning proposal for Gun Hill that we received at our last NAC meeting was tabled at last month's Planning Committee meeting.We had noticed that the entire hill was going to be rezoned even though this was not described or explained in the rest of the memo.Upon more review,it was clear that the Environmental Assessment Form was also incomplete,missing any mention of the Natural Area or of the EPA clean up or of the history associated with the millrace. The Planning Department agreed to redo the Environmental Assessment Form and removed their proposal from the table so they could look at alternative ways to rezone the site. When Wally Diehl was here he emphasized that he would need a 70' height for his new building for it to be economically feasible.He did not have any renderings of his proposed building. Wally is coming back to Ithaca for the August 20 Planning Committee meeting. He will be having a public meeting at 8 pm on Tuesday,August 19 at the Cooperative Extension Building (615 Willow Ave.). He will be at the Gun Factory Site from 5:15 to 7:30 pm on Tuesday,August 19 prior to the public meeting and invites anyone who is interested in seeing the site to stop by.He will have preliminary renderings that will give an idea of the massing of the proposed building. Wally Diehl is interested in the NAC's ideas for the island and what we envision there. The EPA has been removing soil from the upper millrace and the result is pretty dramatic. The history of the millrace is much more visible without the soil. Soil has been removed from above the concrete slab and they are having to remove more because the area was very"hot".Robert Wesley,Nancy Ostman,Andy Hillman and Sarah have been preparing a plant list for the EPA for the restoration of the Natural Area. They will be meeting with the EPA tomorrow to see if the EPA will accept the list and planting recommendations. Roxy suggested the Soil and Water Conservation District as a possible source of plant material.The EPA is planning to start replacing topsoil next week. Sarah had spoken with Bill Gray about keeping the perimeter fence up for a year or so in order for the plants on the site to get established. He was concerned about whether the fence was leased and how the logistics work out. Sarah will find out the information and prepare a letter for the Board of Public Works. Kathy Gleason and two colleagues held a two day charette. Sarah agreed to ask Kathy to present to us her design ideas for the natural area. Adjournment lV ( 6 Project Name: Winter Village Trail Applicant: City of Ithaca Contact Person: Tim Logue Department of Planning and Development 108 E. Green Street Ithaca,NY 14850 607-274-6550 Project Schedule: If funded, the project will be built in 2003-2004 Project Description: The City of Ithaca, in cooperation with several other jurisdictions including the Town of Ithaca, Tompkins County, the Ithaca Tompkins County Transportation Council, and the State of New York, has been working on development of a regional trail system for the area. The Winter Village Trail is a vitally, if not critically, important link in this system. The Winter Village Trail will originate in the City of Ithaca's downtown center, the Ithaca Commons, from which it will follow Six Mile Creek gorge upstream to Van Natta's Dam, the Mulholland Wildflower Preserve and the many miles of unimproved trails which continue upstream on both sides of the creek. In doing so it will directly connect the urbanized heart of the city to an extraordinary natural area through a deep, spectacularly beautiful, glacially carved gorge. The Commons is roughly 4,700 feet from the entrance to the Wild Flower Preserve thus easily walkable in 20 or 30 minutes, depending on one's pace. Furthermore, the gorge floor is fairly level so that most of the trail could be made wheelchair accessible. The trail would serve recreational walkers, runners and bikers, in addition to commuters to downtown who live on Ithaca's East or South Hills. Because of the meandering course of Six Mile Creek in the gorge,the trail will have to work its way several times from one side of the gorge to the other as it makes its way upstream. In addition, construction will include the installation of three pre-fabricated bridges to carry the trail back and forth over the creek. The trail design would include a pea-gravel or similar walking surface, founded on a french drain sub-course. Parts of the trail will be on piers along the gorge wall. Construction of the Winter Village Trail will make it possible to build a spur connecting the Wildflower Preserve to the Town of Ithaca's South Hill Recreation Way, which is in turn to be connected to the proposed Black Diamond Trail via a spur down South Hill and across Route 13 on a bridge funded and constructed by a previous round of Multi Modal grant money. The Black Diamond Trail will connect the four major State Parks in the County, namely, Robert H Treman, Buttermilk Falls,Allan H Treman, and Taughannock Falls State Parks, in addition to several large city and town parks. The Winter Village Trail takes its name from Native American habitation in the Six Mile Creek gorge. A tribe of the Cayugas,part of the Iroquois nation, is believed to have wintered in the gorge just down stream of what is now Van Natta's Dam and the Mulholland Wildflower Preserve. Winter Village Trail Cost Estimate: $ 94,000 Edging, subbase and walking surface from downtown to Mulholland Wildflower Preserve(4,700 feet of 8'wide trail) $525,000 For three (3)pre-fabricated bridges $ 15,000 Mobilization $ 25,000 Replace wooden steps from Columbia Street to floor of Six Mile Creek $ 15,000 Interpretive Signs and miscellaneous other expenses $674,000 Subtotal $134,800 20% Contingency $808,800 Total Cost ki -_,"--.1 L_n --L--:1 , tr----=---_-__ ___ _-- I ------ v 1-A' lgmr7TiL On- 's in" 7-- 1":41 I/ LI-1- --:Mi — -9+11:117 --jEL. 1111 14...#4. '{:-- -1-*I --.. - :II Int 1 L:-- 3. ' 4 _ ..... I-r--_, 1 --•:r TAT 11 _,., • e •\_.,/,,,,),_ 711 1 . j • .7 Lir 1 _Ai _ iir low .. . ,, to': :.\.N_,,,,-; °""A":4111 - la I 1 4----1 , __ I --IliA -:_i I 1 TI II 1 li I 7 1 -- . II -‹k _4-,••-.1..• ,.... t: — ..!• _ :r-r_ _ --i_ _1 -:-.1::?,(2ikvi_i__I .7) , _II 1 _k_fi,, 1.,............ ..., . .:1....-„. : w 2; i. Imo-Tito-el 1-1 IMIlarli‘ .•;,\\:•:'kV:.v ' ' 'p - - -..„,,,„., ,,,,,--- --- -i• ' - • 111111H4CA,,,, it I.ifiew . :,:•. ••: lv.•:., • ?)°, ,a, 4., ' % 171 inarrn_tj ' Tc'f'--- - ' ..111 41411 :III A Lomming Ito 'Ir /ik,,,, ... :, ,,, . , • •...., , * - • .,\ --goo -4 1 .,.., . , .17 0, sj:lb WU*" 1111111111.1 1111/A\ 4. ...'N ‘itl• g.' t .... .4 - ii--1--- 1 ITHACA For "fr 0.: - _ _dil 1 yap el --00#* 1,- . _ :-......m.la i : ::-::-:.:\: '64:9' ' • N\ / .4 ,I .