HomeMy WebLinkAboutCB Minutes 2020-07-02 Town of Ithaca Conservation Board(CB)Meeting
July 2,2020, 5:30 p.m. (via Zoom Video Conference)
Final Minutes
Members present: Lindsay Dombroskie, Elizabeth Hageman,James Hamilton, Eva Hoffmann,Michael Roberts—
Chairperson.
Staff. Michael Smith, Senior Planner.
Guests: Joann Kowalski and Jacqualine Valentin.
Mike Roberts started the meeting around 5:40 PM, after waiting to see if enough members would be present for us
to have a quorum.
The guests were introduced and spoke briefly about why they were there. Jacqualine is in the Master's degree
program in Natural Resources and Management on-line at the University of Denver. She lives in Lansing. Joann is
from Trumansburg and has lived in Ithaca since last June. She found out about the CB through the Audubon
Society. She used to work with environmental issues at the Cooperative Extension at Penn State University.
1. Persons to be heard: None
2. Members' Concerns: None.
3. Chairperson and Coordinator Reports:
Chairperson: No report.
Coordinator,Mike Smith: Mike reported that the Planning Board has nothing new scheduled other than what the
ERC has already heard about. He asked if we would like to continue getting our paperwork for meetings in hard
copies or get them electronically. The responses varied. The Planning Department is beginning to have staff back
as usual by now.
4. Approval of minutes from June 4,2020: The minutes were not available yet.
5. Recap of the use of the CB Facebook page as part of NYS Invasive Species Awareness Week
Mike S.provided hand-outs showing the increased traffic and postings related to the information on this topic on the
Facebook pages. James mentioned a question posed on Facebook about problems relating to invasive species
growing on a neighbor's land and how to deal with it. He gave examples from his own experience of trying to deal
with such questions. He is not sure this Facebook way of providing information about invasive plants is that useful
or effective. He thinks a workshop showing live plants would be better. Mike S. mentioned about the low turnout at
some of the in person events that have occurred in the past, so this at least reached a lot more people. Mike R.
suggested using a combination of pictures and live plants and Eva agreed that could be easier for people to use.
6. Update on research of compostable/biodegradable take out containers: Eva reported that Lori had led the efforts
to further refine what direction we want to go in and what to do next to move ahead with this project. We have had
several email exchanges.
7. Regular ar Reports and Updates:
a. Environmental Review Committee(Mike R.): With reference to the application from the Montessori School on
South Hill and concern about rare species on its site, Mike R.raised the general question about the ERC doing
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piecemeal reviews of individual projects versus looking at a larger area on South Hill. Mike S. said that
detailed reviews of a site can only happen when an application comes in. Lindsay asked if there ever is a
cumulative impact study done. Mike R. also asked about the new Comprehensive Plan and how it works.
b. Scenic Resources Committee (Eva): Eva reported on finally being able to get in touch with Joe Talbut. He
reported that the person to talk to at the Tompkins County offices had been laid off during the Covid-19
pandemic. He now has to find someone else who would be able to give us the needed permission to put up a
view sign by the walkway at the northeast corner of Pine Tree and Snyder Hill Roads. In the meantime James
and Mike R. have provided photos trying to capture the elusive ridgelines of the hills in the center of the view,
so we can accurately show them on the sign. It's very difficult,but efforts continue. Mike S. mentioned the
question of use versus ownership of the land for the County or Town road right-of-way. James shared his
screen and displayed various maps and photos showing the view and its location.
c. Communications Committee(Will): Regarding the Fischer Award,there was a question about where to put up
a sign and plant a tree for the Cayuga Bird Club. Salem Park near the Lab. of Ornithology was suggested. A
suggestion was made to choose a tree like Juneberry,which birds like for the fruits. The tree species is usually
selected by the person in charge of the parks. Mike R. commented that for tree health it's important to choose a
planting time which is good for the tree.
d. Tompkins County Environmental Management Council(EMC), (Vladimir): No report.
e. Six Mile Creek Volunteer Monitoring Program(James): CSI has Six Mile Group taking a synoptic water
sample Wednesday morning,July 8; CSI is also,in partnership with Tompkins County 4-H, sponsoring three
Water Quality field trip trainings at Buttermilk Falls State Park July 11 for BMI, onboard the Floating
Classroom July 19 for lake sampling, and at Steward Park July 25 for HAB.
f. Cornell Botanic Gardens Natural Areas Program(James): CU's Botanic Gardens still has not got its volunteers
working in Natural Areas, though BG's volunteer coordinator polled us to see what we thought we might do
while the plague is still making social contact dangerous.
8. Other Business: Some questions came up. Jacqualine asked about the use of carbon offset of compostable
containers. Mike R. thinks it's a good way to deal with things in ways they are done in financial markets. He likes
the idea. Mike S. said the Town has Nick, our Sustainability Planner who might know more about this.
Jacqualine also asked if there was any discussion of the benefits of invasive species during invasive species week.
She mentioned that birds eat honeysuckle berries. James responded that invasive species are defined as only
harmful. Lindsay said that migratory birds need more fat in their food,not just the sweet candy of honeysuckle
berries. Mike R. said that the Lab. of Ornithology came out with a study on invasive species and it doesn't show
they do much good for bird or otherwise.
9. Review 2020 Work Goals/Discuss Au ug st Agenda: No report.
10. Adjournment: The meeting was adjourned at around 6:50 PM.
Respectfully submitted by Eva Hoffmann
July 29, 2020
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