HomeMy WebLinkAboutAG Minutes 2019-11-19 Town of Ithaca Agriculture Committee Meeting
November 19, 2019, 6:00 PM
Final Minutes
Members Present: Claire Forest, Christianne White, Debbie Teeter, Matthew Stocker (A.J.
Teeter Farm), Lisa Ferguson
Town Representatives: Bill Goodman (Town Supervisor), Mike Smith (Senior Planner)
Guests: Robert Shields (Indian Creek Farm), Lisa Ripperton (3 Story Farm), Liz Coakley
(Groundswell), Naomi Crimm (Cornell Student)
1. Naomi Crimm, Masters of Regional Planning Candidate, Cornell University
Research on the rural implications of the City of Ithaca's Green New Deal and how farmers
could potentially contribute.
Ms. Crimm has worked with Nick Goldsmith, Sustainability for both Town and City of Ithaca, in
planning. The City of Ithaca has passed the Green New Deal, with aggressive goals of reducing
carbon emissions to be carbon neutral by 2030, and she is especially interested in hearing rural
voices and farmers. Farmers preserve open space and could be partners in offsetting carbon,
possibly. Would it be good to pay farmers to practice regenerative farming? Maintain woodlots,
decrease tillage, increase fertility by means other than petroleum-based fertilizers. Ms. Crimm is
aware there are Town v City dynamics.
Claire Forest commented that the City should pay farmers to maintain green space.
Debbie Teeter mentioned farmers are always looking at ways to be more efficient. People in
attendance do not represent some of the largest farming operations in the Town. Jamie Baker,
from Sweyolakan Farm (not present) practices field rotation, cover cropping, no till
agriculture. Our Town farms have a lot of forested area which are already offsetting a lot of
carbon.
Claire Forest mentioned she had purchased 13.6 acres that came up for sale next to her
existing property, in order to keep it from development. The owner and realtor wanted to sell it
for development, assuring her a variance could be obtained. Discussion that it may be
beneficial for her to combine parcels.
The book, "Farming in the Shadow of the City" may be informative to us.
There is a dilemma, that the city is surrounded by rural land, there is a housing shortage,
especially for affordable housing, and development on agricultural land is limited. Realtors are
not knowledgeable about closings in Ag Districts.
The Town is considering a Green New Deal. The Sunrise Movement in the City has
approached the Town as well. City is reducing 20% by 2020, 80% by 2050. 2020 will be
another inventory. Does the Town know how many acres are sequestering carbon currently?
TCAT used $ from VW settlement to purchase electric buses. The City wants to reduce
emissions from their city fleet 50% by 2025.
NYS has goals: By 2030 70% of the electric grid should be renewable.
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The Town of Ithaca has plenty of land that could support wind, but no wind law at this time.
Farmers can:
- Reduce runoff
- Plant strategically to filter water
- Maintain cover and forest to sequester carbon.
What is the financial incentive/reward to keep land in grassy cover? Enough to offset costs of
fencing/mowing/maintenance? Preserving forest health is as important as planting more
trees. Current forests are threatened by lack of regeneration due to deer browse of new
hardwood growth, and unchecked invasive understory growth. Hemlocks on stream banks
require remediation to fight the hemlock wooly adelgid before they are lost, and ecosystems
change drastically.
Robert Shields said that Indian Creek Farm received grant funding to install solar panels on a
south facing barn roof.
Erie Canal Development $ might be available. Where will funds from Green Energy
Development come from?
Lisa Ferguson was able to install heat pumps to replace propane.
Claire Forest would like $ to help clear invasives from her peach orchard.
Debbie Teeter mentioned that planners generally were unaware that most dairy farms already
have installed heat exchangers.
Bill Goodman mentioned that only 1% of emissions come from agriculture in our area, 45%
come from transportation, 49% from heating our buildings. How can more places use electricity,
as our electricity sources become greener this is a good source of useful energy.
Kestrel Perch Berry Farm at Ecovillage is still for sale, West Haven has sold to Carlos Aguilera
and Lorena Mendoza.
2. Persons to be heard: none
3. Member announcements and concerns: none
4. Chair (Debbie) report (none) and Coordinator (Mike) reports / updates:
Mike mentioned that he has spoken with Jon Negley from Soil & Water, and he will come to the
January meeting.
The Town Deer Management program will occur again in February and March. Three locations
from last year will repeat. One landowner in Coy Glen will be added and possibly part of the
City's Six Mile Creek Natural Area. Ideally there will be 6-7 sites in 2020.
5. Ithaca Town Board (Bill) report/ update:
Zoning/rezoning can be expected in the Inlet Valley area. An economic feasibility study might
recommend more activities be allowed than currently are allowed. The Town hired a consultant
to come up with a draft. People who own property in the Inlet Valley will be kept up to date.
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The first phase of form-based zoning, coming from the 2014 Comprehensive Plan, there was a
public meeting in October. Phase 1 is wrapping up soon, Phase 2 charrettes to enunciate the
basic outlines of development will be next.
Growth in the Town has meant the tax rate has not needed to increase. Sewer and water fees
have been increased. The Town is replacing lots of water tanks, and the water fee on the tax
bill supports this. Water fees from Bolton Point have gone up also.
The Town plans to pay $20,000 to create inventory of carbon emissions offsets.
The Town is still discussing short term rental law (especially regarding non owner-occupied
Airbnb rentals). Changes proposed for low/medium/high density residential would not apply in
agricultural zoned land. There may be special considerations in dealing with area along shore
of lake.
Ithaca Energy Code supplement law will require energy efficient building, changes in
code. There will be a 6-month grace period. This would apply to major renovations or new
construction. No one has outlawed gas stoves...yet. By 2030 there will be no new gas-powered
heating in new construction.
Town is applying for funding for feasibility study for new existing building law. There will be a
working group to come up with recommendations. To increase incentives in existing buildings
may have to offer incentives.
Yes, there will be another January Tompkins County Deer Management Focus Area special
season in designated areas.
Noted that the Groundswell Farm incubator is on Town water because of proximity to
Ecovillage. They would like to install a pond however.
6. Approval of minutes: March 26, 2019 and July 30, 2019
Motion by Clare Forrest to approve both, seconded by Debbie Teeter, all approved.
7. Regular reports & updates: Debbie didn't have any update on these organizations and
suggested removing this item from future agendas. She will still provide updates on these when
available.
8. Other Business:
- Recommendation of chair and vice-chair for 2020: Debbie Teeter made a motion and Claire
Forest seconded that Lisa Ferguson be appointed as Chair and Matthew Stalker be appointed
as Vice-Chair for 2026, all approved.
-Approval of the 2020 meeting schedule: Meeting schedule proposed: January 28@ 6 PM,
March 31 @ 6 PM, July 28 @ 7 PM, November 17 @ 6 PM. Debbie Teeter moved for approval
of proposed schedule of meetings, seconded by Lisa Ferguson, all approved.
9. Admiourn: 7:38 pm
Minutes were drafted by Christianne White.
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