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HomeMy WebLinkAboutCB Minutes 2019-08-01 Town of Ithaca Conservation Board (CB) August 1, 2019, 5:30pm Final Minutes Members in attendance: Jon Meigs, Eva Hoffmann, Mike Roberts, James Hamilton, Hannah George, Lindsay Dombroskie, Will VanDyke Staff: Mike Smith (Senior Planner) Guests: Mara Alper (afforestation group representative), Maria Stycos (Kendal resident) Meeting called at 5:41 PM. 1. Persons to be heard a. Mara Alper would like to know whether water prices went up for Town of Ithaca's Bolton Point water distribution. James noted that the rate structure has changed with a different minimum amount now being used. Mara is Chair of the Tompkins County Water Resources Council's Water Withdrawal Committee. Mara is requesting that DEC notify the county in addition to the municipality when water withdrawal permits are filed. b. A local afforestation group is looking at ways to sequester carbon by planting trees locally and is interested in finding a way to collaborate with the Town of Ithaca. They are currently collaborating with Greenstar, local property owners, Ithaca College, etc. c. Discussion ensued about Town lands that could be afforested, as well as the funding sources such as Trees for Tribs or Soil and Water Conservation Districts. This group may be looking to engage volunteers to conduct the tree planting once trees are secured, as well as follow-up maintenance &watering. Possibly the Town may be interested in promoting education about the benefits of trees. Tree propagation could be part of what the Town does, in order to reforest/afforest Town lands. 2. Member concerns a. Lindsay invited someone from the Sunrise Movement to a future meeting, so we will wait and see. b. NYSEG proposed line - Mike R will email NYSEG representative today about setting up a meeting with him and Hannah 3. Chair and Coordinator Reports a. Mike Roberts, Chair: i. none b. Mike Smith, Coordinator: 1 i. No planning board meetings in August. Next meeting September 3. ERC will get info on the Cornell Wrestling Center addition, to be sent out after final piece of info is received from Cornell. ii. September 17 meeting - new subdivision on Alex Way, an existing private road with 3 lots on it. Only 1 lot has been constructed, and they would like to modify the lots to create 6 total lots. iii. Several other projects are incoming, but there are no timeframes yet. iv. Discussion about whether addressing climate change was incorporated into Town zoning. Agreement that cluster development is better for maintaining intact blocks of undeveloped green space. Developers are allowed to pursue cluster development, but not required to. Cluster development is also more efficient and cheaper for installing utilities and roads. v. Town and City have been working together on the Ithaca Energy Code Supplement, which will be a supplement to NYS Building Code. It will apply to new construction that needs energy, in addition to new additions over a certain square footage. The code applies points to certain features, such as lighting, renewable energy, etc. in order to get a permit. Copies will be distributed to CB members for the next meeting. vi. Steve Williams, Code Enforcement, has retired and his position may or may not be replaced. Director of Code Enforcement is also retiring at the end of the year. 4. Minutes June Minutes: James moved to approve and was seconded by Mike R. Minutes were approved. 5. Invasive Species Awareness Week July 11 event at East Shore Park went very well. Ithaca CB members were tabling from 5-7pm alongside Community Science Institute and Cayuga Watershed Network. Finger Lakes PRISM provided free educational materials, natural insect repellent etc. to distribute to the public. It was estimated that approximately 25 people visited the tables or talked with CB members. Mike S will submit the organizer event report to PRISM. Compost a. Brainstorm for identifying a South Hill Compost Drop Spot: i. American Legion ii. South Hill Business Campus iii. Church near the Legion iv. Fire Station v. Sam Peter furniture store vi. La Tourelle vii. Courtyard Hotel @ King viii. Gas station next to Sam Peters 2 ix. Big Al's Discussion about a fall event - Streets Alive is September 15. Possibly get a table near Tompkins County Recycling and Materials Management and include composting. Discussing possible future trail construction would be appropriate. There was interest in teaming up with CSI and CWN in the future. Will will send an email. 6. Regular Reports & Updates. a. ERC: no update. b. Scenic Resources Committee: Town Maintenance will meet Jon Meigs on August 19 to finalize the sign location. However, they are waiting on a survey to make sure that the sign location will not interfere with any pipelines. c. Communications Committee: The direction has shifted to tabling at events, which is very effective, while also maintaining a strong and consistent social media presence. d. Tompkins County EMC: no update. e. Six Mile Creek Volunteer Monitoring Program: July 10 - volunteers took a synoptic water sample at 13 spots, though the creek was low. Adriana Hurtler, the biomonitoring coordinator hosted a biomonitoring family picnic on July 25 at Buttermilk, which gives children the opportunity to play with science in the creek. f. Natural Areas - On July 30, volunteers dug up swallowwort near the Deer Run neighborhood/the South Hill water tank. The swallowwort is less pervasive than it used to be. g. City of Ithaca - discussion about tree removal. 7. Other Business a. NYSI info website has been improved. b. Unanimous vote to buy a 1 0x1 0 foot tent for use at future tabling events. Mike S will purchase one for the CB. 8. Review 2019 work goals 9. Meeting adjourned at 7:15pm Minutes drafted by Hannah George. 3