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Home My WebLink AboutTB Minutes 2018-09-24 Meeting of the Ithaca Town Board Monday, September 24, 2018 at 4:30 p.m. Agenda 1. Laserfische Municity presentation 2. Discuss request from Cornell Botanical Gardens for a variance/access license through the Town's Culver Rd property for various activities 3. Committee Reports Budget Planning Public Works Personnel and Organization Codes and Ordinances Other or Intermunicipal 4. Report of Town Officials 5. Consent Agenda a. Town of Ithaca Abstract 6. Executive Session—to discuss the possible acquisition of real property where open discussion may affect the price Meeting of the Ithaca Town Board Monday, September 24, 2018 at 4:30 p.m. Minutes Board Members Present: Bill Goodman, Supervisor; Pamela Bleiwas, Pat Leary, Eric Levine, and Rich DePaolo Absent: Rod Howe and Tee-Ann Hunter Staff Present: Susan Ritter, Director of Planning, Bruce Bates, Director of Code Enforcement; Mike Solvig, Director of Finance, Paulette Rosa, Town Clerk, and Jasmin Cubero, Deputy Town Clerk 1. Laserfische Municity presentation— Ms. Rosa and Ms. Cubero gave a brief presentation and answered questions from the Board. Ms. Rosa stated that this is still a work in progress but the time savings has been incredible for research purposes by replacing the clunky green folders that were stored downstairs. Mr. DePaolo asked about the search capabilities and Ms. Rosa demonstrated on his address. The more information you know about your desired document, the faster it will get there, but there are multiple ways to search; tax parcel, address, type, building permit number etc. Mr. DePaolo asked where the servers reside and Ms. Rosa responded that Laserfische is located at the County and Municity is here at Town Hall; the County is updating their server and the Town just updated our server. Ms. Hunter asked about scanning and if we can apply for a grant to get further documents scanned and Ms. Rosa responded that the County Shared Services Group is the only avenue for grants in this area but they are adding more and more municipalities and whenever she is able to she adds our documents to the plan. Ms. Rosa reminded the Board that the plan is to go to public access through the TSSER website portal which allows research but no changes or additions to documents. The desktop Laserfische allows us to make changes and additions whenever they are needed which is very useful when a tax parcel number changes or an address and the documents are linked to Municity so when a change occurs, everything follows. Ms. Cubero added that staff can access Laserfiche through the portal now with our own password for research out in the field or at home. 2. Discuss request from Cornell Botanical Gardens for a variance/access license through the Town's Culver Rd property for various activities —Mark Roberts (Attachment 1 — memo) TBS 2018-09-24 Pg. 1 Mr. Roberts gave an overview of the request and answered questions from the Board. The Board was mainly concerned with allowing firearms on the preserve and Mr. Roberts noted that the hunters allowed on the Cornell lands they are seeking access to are thoroughly vetted and can access through an existing easement through the preserve to the West and this is simply a request for access through a more accessible lane. Ms. Rosa noted that the west access is along her property line and her dogs do bark at them and probably scare their intended deer away and she is in favor of deer culling so she is in favor of alternate access and/or multiple access points. Mr. DePaolo asked about hunting seasons and how active the program is and Mr. Roberts explained the different seasons and that only two hunters are allowed on each section of their land and both are very large. Hunters usually enter pre-dawn and exist after dusk. Mr. Levine would like to see this allowed but narrowly drawn up out of concern for similar requests in other preserves so it should be very specific to the Cornell land. Ms. Hunter was concerned about the closeness of hunting to the preserve but Ms. Rosa reminded her that access is still possible through the current right-of-way near her house. Mr. DePaolo was concerned about October when people may still be in the area and he was in favor of granting the license for a limited"trial"type of basis to allow for changes if issues arise. Mr. Roberts noted that more than hunters may be accessing this point of entry but Mr. Goodman responded that anyone can be in the public land for the passive activities allowed so that would cover the students or educational purposes unless they wanted access outside of the stated hours of a town park. Mr. Goodman summed it up by saying that the Board seems to be generally in favor and he will move the item to a future meeting when a draft is ready. Mr. DePaolo noted that the memo implies that the Town "has an intention to control deer" and that hasn't come through committee yet or been implemented, so the statement is a little misleading. 3. Committee Reports Budget—Mr. Levine reported that the tentative budget was discussed and he called out the excellent highlights before each section. They also discussed a typical tax for a property will go up $6.11 of.44%which is quite low, however we will not be within the tax cap because of the water and sewer increase. Sales taxes are up a 107% from last year. TBS 2018-09-24 Pg. 2 Mr. Goodman added that in Mr. Weber's absence, he has asked Public Works Department Heads to be at the Budget Meeting and he asked Board Members to look through the budget for those departments for any questions for them. Planning—Mr. DePaolo reported that they did not meet this month but the next meeting will be to review the Chainworks PDZ documents and an appraisal for potential development rights on a certain property. Public Works —Mr. Goodman reported that the meeting was canceled and reviewed the agenda items that will be moved to next month. Personnel and Organization—Ms. Bleiwas reported that they discussed the Sexual Harassment Policy, the lease for the Post Office, and a draft Parental Leave Policy Codes and Ordinances —Mr. Goodman reported that they did not meet this month due to a lack of a quorum, but the next meeting they will continue to look at the noise ordinance and draft changes to the stream setback to allow for certain subdivision surveying and revisiting the outdoor burning issue. Other or Intermunicipal SJC —Mr. Goodman reported that we discovered the figures we have been using might have been inaccurate due to a portion of the NE that sends sewer directly to the plant so essentially we have been for a larger percentage than we should have in the past. He added that he is trying to schedule a meeting of the Group of Six to discuss this and other issues associated with increased development and associated capacities. Mr. Goodman also reported to the SJC on the Ithaca Beer issue with the pretreatment requirements which are going to be expensive; $600K. Mr. Mitchell is looking for grants or loan programs to come up with that amount. STR—Mr. Goodman reported that they continue to discuss un-hosted short-term rentals. There was an article in the Ithaca Times saying that Ithaca is rated one of the top three Air B&B areas in the State and he is trying to work with the city to leverage that to get some data from them. Sidewalks —Mr. Goodman reported that they did not meet this month but he continues to work with Mr. Franklin at Assessment but educational institutions may be exempt from certain improvement area fees. 4. Report of Town Officials —Mr. Goodman talked about the bus tour as it relates to Mr. Weber's absence and he will send out an invite for another date. TBS 2018-09-24 Pg. 3 Mr. Goodman reported on a notice from Racker required by the State notifying the Town that they are looking at establishing a group home at 1488 Trumansburg Rd for four adult men who have been living together for a few years at another location. The residence will be remodeled to have four bedrooms; the house sits well off the road and is in a residential area. The Board had no issue with the location of the residence being used for this purpose at this location. It was noted that they are exempt from the Town's occupancy regulations. Mr. Solvig noted that we have collected a little under$90K for temporary certificates of occupancy and building permit extensions. This will help with the additional staff time that has been needed for the multiple re-inspections that have been needed. Mr. Bates added that they are shooting for October but he thinks December at the earliest given what has happened so far. Mr. Goodman reported that TCOOG has decided to do away with the municipal grievance boards and handle them in-house. 5. Consent Agenda The only item on Consent was the Abstract. Mr. DePaolo asked about the City parking permits for our three employees. Mr. Goodman responded that that is the main reason for excluding the Post Office parking spaces for the next lease. Ms. Leary asked if the City has been asked for a discount or intermunicipal cooperation and Ms. Rosa thought she had to no avail. TB Resolution 2018 - 126: Town of Ithaca Abstract No. 14 for FY-2018 Whereas the following numbered vouchers have been presented to the Ithaca Town Board for approval of payment; and Whereas the said vouchers have been audited for payment by the said Town Board; now therefore be it Resolved that the governing Town Board hereby authorizes the payment of the said vouchers in total for the amounts indicated. VOUCHER NOS. 1224 - 1300 General Fund Townwide 61,526.52 General Fund Part-Town 11,153.03 Highway Fund Town Wide DA 1,256.92 Highway Fund Part Town DB 183,903.95 Water Fund 55,795.86 Sewer Fund 23,911.56 Ellis Hollow Water Tank—H10 32.23 Risk Retention Fund 2,480.00 Fire Protection Fund 255,000.00 Forest Home Lighting District 35.04 TBS 2018-09-24 Pg. 4 Glenside Lighting District 10.50 Renwick Heights Lighting District 17.70 Eastwood Commons Lighting District 24.48 Clover Lane Lighting District 3.24 Winner's Circle Lighting District 4.89 Burleigh Drive Lighting District 11.42 West Haven Road Lighting District 45.28 Coddington Road Lighting District 26.35 TOTAL --+595,239.06 Moved: Rich DePaolo Seconded: Eric Levine Vote: Ayes—DePaolo, Levine, Leary, Goodman and Bleiwas 6. Executive Session—to discuss the possible acquisition of real property where open discussion may affect the price Mr. Goodman moved to enter executive session as stated at 6:18p.m.: Mr. DePaolo seconded, unanimous. Mr. Goodman moved to re-enter open session and adjourn with no further discussion or action being taken by the Board. Unanimous. Submit o by, Paulette Rosa, Town Clerk TBS 2018-09-24 Pg. 5 �-B ME,EAing 2019-09-24, From: Michael Roberts Sent: Thursday, September O6, 2O189:49AM To: Paulette Rosa Cc: Bill Goodman; Shirley Katherine Egan; Subject: Cornell Botanic Gardens Application for Access, Variance Dear Mrs. Rosa, Please find attached an application from Cornell Botanic Gardens Director, Christopher Dunn, to the Town Supervisor and Town Board seeking access across Town property to the Coy Glen natural area, as well as requests for variance from certain Town Codes. It is our understanding that Supervisor Goodman wishes that the Public Works Committee review the enclosed materials before the Town Board. Please direct copies of the attached documents first to the Town Public Works Committee. Thank you for your time and services. Sincerely, Michael Roberts Natural Areas Project Manager Cornell Botanic Gardens Cornell University 124 Comstock Knoll Drive Ithaca, NY14OSU 845.905.5872 N E L�� / � i �w��i�sid iJ�naw ity -- 1,,4 f:omi,IQicL (moll lYi nr� m 2= " lthi ;a NovOKoik 11 50 '1111 B 0"' a sr iii r'ta' Ik`4kt �� ruu iru ��V�etauriu� gird it s org GARD �� T. 607.255.2400 , E: botanicgardens@corne0i.edu Dr. Christopher Dunn E.N. Wilds Director of Cornell Botanic Gardens 607.255.6139, cpd55@cornell Mr. William Goodman,Town Supervisor Town of Ithaca Town Board 215 N. Tioga St. Ithaca, NY 14850 Dear Supervisor Goodman and Town Board Members, Cornell Botanic Gardens was pleased to learn of the Town's impending acquisition of a portion of Coy Glen abutting land the Town already owns on Culver Road to establish a Town Preserve. Cornell Botanic Gardens has a long history of caring for the portion of Coy Glen that was gifted to Cornell by the late John Babcock as a natural area in 1996. We believe the Town's and Cornell's stewardship goals for Coy Glen's protection will be in close alignment and that our cooperation in certain programs and areas may prove mutually beneficial. Like at many of the Cornell Natural Areas, access to Coy Glen is challenged by extreme topography, and when necessary we have worked to secure agreements with neighbors to expand our ingress/egress options. It is to this end that we are contacting you. Our request is two-fold. First, we would like your permission to use the currently unimproved lane approximately shown in red on the attached aerial map. This route would give Cornell Botanic Gardens improved access to portions of Coy Glen for purposes of education and research including but not limited to class field trips, the study of rare botanicals and investigations into Hemlock Wooly Adelgid treatment efficacy. Second, if such access permission is granted, we would like to be able to allow hunters, whom we selectively permit to hunt deer at Coy Glen through our deer management program, also to use this lane under our management, as described below. For such access we request variances from selected provisions of Town Code §§ 200-3 General regulations and 200-5 Prohibited activities. As you probably know, managing the deer population can be critical to ecological stewardship of natural areas, and for preserving the unique educational and research opportunities this site affords. This is most definitely the case at Coy Glen. Cornell Botanic Gardens has managed and overseen a deer hunter program on 5,300 acres of land for the University, including Coy Glen, always putting public safety first. Relevant to this request, hunting at Coy Glen has been safely and effectively implemented there since 2009. The program is open to the members of the public who meet our rigorous standards. We perform background checks, ask applicants to read and agree in writing to a comprehensive set of rules, regulations and a code of conduct, on which they must subsequently pass a test before being admitted to our program. All of this information, as well as an overview of the University's Deer Management Program, is available on our webpage (https://www.cornellbotanicgardens.org/our-gardens/natural- areas/stewardship/deer), which we invite and encourage you to review. For your convenience we have attached a paper copy of the most relevant extracts from the webpage. You may know that Cornell Botanic Gardens has an existing right-of-way on the extreme western end of the Town property (shown in green on the attached aerial map). However, the topography makes this single access point insufficient for the purposes of educational and stewardship activities as well as hunting across our site. We are aware that Town Code §200-5.E. prohibits the possession of firearms on Town property designated as a park, trail or recreational facility. If our request for general access is granted, then we request that the Town Board grant us a variance allowing vetted participants in the Cornell hunting program to transport their unloaded firearms (including archery equipment, shotguns and muzzleloaders) over this lane for the purpose of reaching and hunting in selected areas of Cornell's portion of the Coy Glen. We are also aware that access to public parks is limited to those times in between % hour before sunrise, and % hour after sunset (Town Code §200-3.A.). Given the importance for hunters to access their stands well before sunrise, and as deer hunting-related activities (but not actual shooting) may keep a hunter in the field well beyond the allowed evening time, we also request a variance from this provision. As described below, we believe the requested variances meet the criteria set forth for variances at Town Code §200-9 Variance, for approval by the Town Board and respectfully request that this letter serve as our application for the same. Granting the variances requested will benefit the Town. The benefits of a safely managed deer population reduction program at Coy Glen extend beyond the boundaries of our property and support the Town's intention, as we've been given to understand it, to manage deer within its bounds by reducing the negative effects of deer over-population on the landscape, and by providing proof of concept for institutions and municipalities who wish to establish their own management programs. Safe and responsible management of deer herds in the Town, as performed on Cornell University-owned lands, is compatible and complementary to the Town's goals for managing deer. In addition, it has a spill-over benefit to citizens' privately-owned parcels of land and their driving safety. We do not believe there is any detriment to the community. Adequate numbers of deer are always left for repopulation and for the deer-watching enjoyment of the community. Indeed, not granting the variance would be more likely to cause a detriment to the community due to over-browsing of ornamental plantings, greater risk of car-deer collisions, even health risks to the herd itself from over-population, than granting it would. Additionally, Coy Glen is a Tompkins County Unique Natural Area due to its significant floral, faunal and geologic features. It has also been designated by the State of New York as a Critical Environmental Area for these same features. As such, we feel it warrants the requested variance in order to provide this prescribed stewardship.The variance requested is limited to a single location, for use by a strictly limited number of pre-qualified individuals. The variance itself would not allow hunting to occur on the Town's property. Cornell Botanic Gardens only requests a variance for this narrow access lane. Our management program carefully limits the number of users at a site by restricting reservations for discrete time periods.To the managed, Cornell-owned portion of Coy Glen that is the subject of this variance request, only two hunters will be allowed on site at any given time. Thank you for supporting our efforts to protect and preserve Coy Glen by considering our request for access for general purposes and for variances of the relevant Town Code provisions that would facilitate selective access by the hunters who are vital to our safe and effective deer management program at Coy Glen. If you have any questions or wish to discuss this further, we hope you will contact Mike Roberts, Natural Areas Project Manager, mr586Ca7cornell.edu (845) 905-5872. Sincerely, Dr. Christopher Dunn Extracts from Cornell University's Deer Management Program Webpage Cornell University is addressing chronic deer overpopulation on its lands through an Integrated Deer Research and Management Program (IDRM). The program is designed to reduce unacceptable damage to University resources and plant collections, promote the teaching and research mission of the University, and to reduce associated human-health and safety risks such as Lyme disease and deer-vehicle collisions. To successfully implement the IDRM program, Cornell relies on the assistance of dedicated volunteers, stewards, neighbors, and other conservation partners to participate and support our highly managed hunting program. Rules and Regulations All hunters are expected to follow all Cornell University Lands Hunting Program Rules and Regulations, and to conduct themselves in a safe and ethical manner. Hunters that meet these criteria will remain eligible for annual renewals. In addition to these general Cornell University Deer Hunting Program Rules and Regulations, all hunting activities must be conducted in accordance with the conditions stated on the approved permit and for program and hunting zone specific rules and regulations. Permits& Licenses • A Cornell University issued permit is required to legally hunt on University-owned lands. Hunters must possess a valid NYSDEC big game license before applying for a Cornell University Hunting Permit. • The Cornell University Hunting Permit is specific to the hunter, and may not be used by or assigned to any other individual.The permit must be presented upon demand to any Cornell official or Law Enforcement officer.The University reserves the right to revoke this permit at any time. • Online permit applications will be accepted in mid to late August through October 15. Applications will not be accepted after this date.To apply, hunters must agree to a Cornell University Police criminal background check. • Hunters shall comply with all state and local laws and ordinances governing hunting activities. Access • Note that many archery sites remain open to the public during hunting season, but firearm sites are closed to the public during respective firearm seasons. Please be aware of hiking trails, do not hunt within 30 yards of trails, and be courteous to other users. • Hunters must visibly wear their Cornell hunting program identification tag(supplied with permit) on their person, and display their parking permit in their vehicle dashboard at all times while hunting. • Use of vehicles on University owned lands is prohibited. Hunters must hike into and out of all hunting areas from designated parking areas. Hunters who possess a NYSDEC Non- Ambulatory Hunter Permit should refer to program websites for exceptions. • To keep on good terms with our neighbors, do not enter a neighbor's property to track deer without their permission. • Hunters are required to wear 250 square inches of solid or patterned blaze orange or fluorescent pink hat and/or vest at all times while deer hunting during firearms seasons in areas where firearms are permitted. Archery only areas are exempt from this rule. Hunting Activities • Only white-tailed deer may be hunted. • It is the hunter's responsibility to know the hunting seasons and legal hunting implements for New York State and for each Cornell Deer Management Program site. Firearm use is prohibited in bow and crossbow management zones. • A hunter may be accompanied by no more than one non-hunter (e.g., spouse, child, friend,etc.).The non-hunter 1) must stay with the hunter at all times, 2) may not carry a weapon, and 3) may not trade roles with the hunter while in the field. The hunter agrees to take full responsibility for a child, to keep the child within sight and reach, and to directly supervise the child at all times. • Tree stands and ground blinds are allowed. All tree stands and ground blinds must be legibly marked with owner's first and last name and phone number. Any tree stand or ground blind that pierces the bark on a tree is PROHIBITTED. No permanent tree stands or screw-in tree steps may be used. Cornell is not responsible for stolen tree stands or ground blinds. Small tree limbs (< 1 inch diameter) may be trimmed to set up the tree stand or ground blind, but not for clearing shooting lanes. Only commercial ground blinds may be used.To preserve Cornell lands, hunters may not collect and use surrounding wood, brush, or vegetation to further blend in their commercial blind. Hunters may install temporary tree stands and ground blinds two weeks before archery season and must remove them no later than one week following the conclusion of the hunting season. To cover the cost of removing stands that do not comply with these regulations, hunters will reimburse Cornell Botanic Gardens$75. • Hunters must make reservations through the deer hunting reservation system to hunt. Reservations must be removed if hunters are not able to hunt on the reserved day. Repeated failure to remove unused reservations will result in the hunting permit being revoked. • Hunting and harvest activity must be reported within 3 days of hunting. You will not be able to make additional reservations until reporting activity is completed. Completing hunting activity and harvest reports for unfilled/non-hunted reservations is also required. • All participants are expected to initiate proactive communications with the University deer management program administrator should problems arise in the course of their activities at cudeerhunting@cornell.edu. • Rifle hunting is prohibited. • If you harvest an antlered deer, you will be required to harvest an antlerless deer within two years to maintain eligibility in the program for future years. • No fires, camping, or littering. • Use of drugs and alcohol will not be tolerated. Failure to comply with any of the above rules will result in a warning or immediate termination of hunting privileges. Blatant disregard for Deer Hunting Rules and Regulations will result in permanent loss of hunting privileges on Cornell University lands. X 14 0 f w v