HomeMy WebLinkAboutCB Minutes 2022-03-03 Town of Ithaca Conservation Board(CB)Meeting
March 3, 2022,5:30 p.m.
(via Zoom Video Conference)
Final Minutes
Members present: Lori Brewer(Chairperson), James Hamilton, Eva Hoffmann,Joann Kowalski(Vice
Chairperson)and Michael Roberts.
Members absent: Lindsay Dombroskie(she filed a report electronically).
Guests: Elise Edwards and Justin Heitzman. We had already met Elise at the February 2022 meeting.
Justin grew up in the Town of Ithaca and is a sophomore at Cornell University.
Staff. Michael Smith, Senior Planner.
1. Persons to be heard: None
2. Members concerns: Mike R.brought up the subject of the Russian invasion into Ukraine and the
concern about his neighbors who are Ukrainians. He offered to send any one of us who was
interested,links with information about how to send donations to Ukraine at this difficult time.
Joann reported on two training events coming up:
a.NYSDEC is offering a conservation overlay zoning Webinar and introducing a new guide to how
to use overlays to protect sensitive environmental areas, Creating Conservation Overlay Zoning, on
March 23 from 1 —2:30 PM.
b. A listing from the Town of Gardiner states that the Indigenous Environmental Network will give a
talk about indigenous land zoning protection. The tentative date is Apri16.Yrt�s://www.ienearth.c�rg
3. Environmental Review Committee update(Lori): Lori had questions about recent cell tower
applications and Mike S. explained how the Town has to work on a different schedule because of
FCC regulations.
4. Chairperson and Coordinator reports:
a. Chairperson: Regarding the email from Simon Skolnik of NYSACC about setting up a group
to deal with cryptocurrency and its potential negative effects on the environment,Lori asked
if anyone on the board would like to get back to Simon about this. The response was that we
don't have anyone who can serve on such a group,but we are interested in information and
strategies one can use to deal with these problems. A link to an informational program about
cryptocurrencies by the League of Women Voters of Tompkins and Cortland Counties was
posted by Joann(lzttps;//www ycutube ��r/w zt�h ry c�tuMc:�1�2QSA4).
b. Coordinator,Mike Smith: Mike S.reported that in-person meetings may be coming back
soon. There will be a new system(OpenGov)that people can use to get Town permits, all
online, starting in mid-March. The Town's new Web site will be live in early April. The
deer program started Feb. 1 and goes to March 31. 31 deer have been killed so far, a big
improvement over last year when the total was 11 at this time. Mike will have a final report
in April. The Town is looking to plan an event for Tutelo Park,probably in September or
October,with Tutelo Indians participating. It could be something similar to what we had
there before,with the CB taking part if interested. Mike R. asked if data was still collected
about deer collisions to show the efficiency of the deer culling program. Mike S. said he has
1
kept it updated as"Vehicle collisions with deer"from 2015 to 2019. There were a total of
367 accidents over those 5 years. Mike R. said Berndt Blossey at Cornell has funding for
deer browse studies.
5. Approval of minutes from February 3,2022: The minutes were approved as written(moved by
James, seconded by Joann).
6. Finalize plans for the Bluebird Housewarming Walk March 12r'at 2 pm): Lori has sent out
invitations to Ecovillage, Sunrise Movement and Joann will send to Susan Strickler. Lindsay is
ready to come out with all the right equipment to show the locations of the bluebird boxes to be
cleaned and tended to.
7. Discussion of the 2021 Richard B. Fischer Environmental Conservation Award nominations and
selection of the winner: Lori shared her screen and James put up his information about the award,the
criteria used for selecting a candidate and how the program works. He presented a summary of
reasons to give the 2021 award to Finger Lakes Reuse or to Hilary Lambert. A discussion of the
candidates followed, as well as of cryptocurrencies,the use of the power plant on Cayuga Lake,its
past and possible future. James and Eva both remembered being at hearings in 1972 when there was
a proposal to use of the plant as a nuclear power plant. The vote taken tonight yielded Finger Lakes
Reuse as the winner with 3 votes and Hilary Lambert with two votes. Lori will write an official letter
to the winners on Town letterhead. James strongly urged us to remember for another year,that
without a written nomination, an award will not come about.
8. Regular reports and updates:
a. Scenic Resources Committee (Eva): No report.
b. Communications Committee (James): Facebook posts were created for National Invasive
Species Awareness Week this week,Feb 28 to Mar 6. CB asked for landowners to "whack
woody invasives" on their property,with links to the Ott.( s://www.nisaw.org/ site. The
Bluebird Housewarming Walk on March 12 also got a post inviting participation.
c. Tompkins Count: Lindsay reported electronically that she was added to the UNA
(Unique Natural Areas)committee,but there was a lapse in follow-up from the committee
head so she missed the first meeting in February. She feels she should be able to attend the
next one. Guest speaker about regenerative agriculture to combat climate change,is looking
to connect with agricultural groups. This is probably easiest to do through local
governments/CB. Perhaps we can help connect to the Town's agriculture group. Ideas for
facilitation? Info: Tim Woods wwo.c ..s (cr),earthliiik iiet. Similarly, can we connect this
grant opportunity with local groups 1Ottps://www.usda.Yov/media/press�
releases/2022/02/07/usda-iivestI:.. biIIion climate ;mart conirnoditieti ex2 dn.g markets.
EMC is looking to work closely with Town representatives to learn more about the local
government structure in order to better coordinate between all towns in Tompkins County.
New FEMA flood maps are being shared with municipalities. Note: It's really FEMA's first
"pen to paper"map. They'll dig into questions from municipalities next and then true draft
maps will be out in the fall with greater detail.
d. Six Mile Creek Volunteer Monitoring Program(James): Water Quality Monitors in the
Benthic Macroinvertebrate sampling teams finally finished identifying and analyzing larvae
in preserved samples from last summer's late August riffles near 500 Rd in Slaterville Springs
and upstream of German Cross Bridge in Caroline. Though an August 18th flood washed out
2
the smaller critters, samples still showed the creek to be healthy at these sites.
e. Cornell Botanic Gardens Natural Areas Prog am(James): Though CU staff could only work
on two of the usual Tuesday afternoon sessions,volunteers helped cut and paint glyphosate
on woody invasive plants around Beebe Lake shore and on Werly Island in the lake.
Buckthorn,privet,honeysuckle,multiflora rose, oriental bittersweet, and Japanese barberry
flourish in spaces where deer eat all the native plants not caged in enclosures to protect them.
Werly also has a new invasion from European black alder trees.
9. Other Business: We will continue to meet by Zoom next month.
10. Review 2022 Work Goals/Discuss April Agenda: Joann suggested the following: getting the
permission from Cornell to put up the next view sign on Pine Tree Road and to update the view
guide/brochure; to update the social media sites like Facebook and perhaps add Twitter and
Instagram,if allowed to do that;prepare for Earth Day on April 22.
11. Adjournment: The meeting was adjourned at 6:48 PM.
Respectfully submitted by Eva Hoffmann
March 30, 2022
3