No preview available
HomeMy WebLinkAboutCB Minutes 2009-01-08 Town of Ithaca Conservation Board January 8, 2009 7:30 p.m. Final minutes MEMBERS PRESENT: Diane Conneman, James Hamilton, Eva Hoffmann, Tony Ingraham, Susan McCutcheon, Jon Meigs STAFF: Darby Kiley GUESTS: Andrew Goodell, Nirav Patel PERSONS TO BE HEARD: None Members' Concerns: James wanted to know if the Conservation Board (CB) might be able to help the Village of Cayuga Heights (VCH) with its project to reduce overpopulation in the white-tailed deer herd. He believes that viewing the problem as a "human-deer conflict" misses the damage that too many deer are causing the natural environment. New York's DEC recommends removing deer to reduce the harm they cause by over-browsing, but attempts by VCH mayor and a Deer Remediation Committee to propose a bait and shoot program have been met with considerable political opposition. Could the Town offer adjacent land farther from the VCH dense housing where deer could be more safely killed? Diane noted that the Town Supervisor was not likely to support deer killing. Eva believed that deer management required a larger area of control than the village could provide, and recalls a game warden doing a good job where she used to live. Jon thought the problem was too politically complicated for the CB to manage helping. Tony doubted that a bait and shoot problem would work anyway. Diane wanted to see if Cornell's program promoting hunting would have any effect, and didn't think the Town could get helpfully involved in VCH politics. Chair and Coordinator Reports: Chair: Diane enjoyed Tony's "Nature Nearby" TV show. She noted that the Town's Public Works staff have not developed a plan to address issues related to ditches and culverts channelizing storm-water flow. Our understanding of the importance of swales and other hydrological methods of storm-water retention to reduce pollution and erosion needs to be addressed by the public works department. Coordinator: o Carrowmoor—The Planning Board designated itself as lead agency and made a positive declaration of environmental significance. The next step is to approve the scoping document for the Draft Environmental Impact Statement. o Plantations Welcome Center—The final site plan was approved on Dec 16. o IC Wetland mitigation—They will be doing a Supplement to the EIS and a public hearing will be held on February 3. o Northeast Ecological Study/Moratorium —no update 1 Business: As we checked to approve the minutes from Nov 6 and Dec 4, Jon asked whether Verizon's proposed cell phone tower on Five Mile Drive might be too tall. Plans for that tower were not approved. The minutes from Nov and Dec meetings were approved, however, with minor corrections. A brief discussion of the annual year-end Town Lunch revealed Eva's role in getting the CB invited. Few members were able to attend, though Tony much appreciated the opportunity to interact with town staff and board members. It seems the CB should be regularly invited from now on. A discussion and listing of Work Priorities for the CB in 2009 developed (See Work Priorities document Attached). Regular Reports and Updates: • Environmental Review Committee: no news • Scenic Resources Committee: Tony is new chair; he welcomes new members, intends to get Interpretive Signs installed at three of the best viewing sites. • R. Fischer Award Committee: James is new chair. Approved new deadline for nominations be Feb 28th, since that has been de facto extended deadline for years now anyway. • Tompkins County EMC: No Town rep on that committee; members are encouraged to consider volunteering for an important liaison with them. • Sixmile Creek Volunteer Monitoring Program: James reports that weather did not cooperate with an attempt to monitor a high-flow storm event in the creek this fall. A scheduled winter sample on Jan 6, 2009 did take place. The annual Water Quality Monitor symposium for Sixmile Creek and other Cayuga watershed creeks will take place Thursday, January 22 from 5 to 7 pm at the Human Resources Bldg, 320 W. State St. • City of Ithaca Natural Areas Commission: No report. • Comprehensive Plan: a survey of public opinion on the Comp Plan was designed and scheduled to begin in December. Eva was recently contacted and didn't want to be surveyed by phone; she asked that the survey allow participants to participate by mail. Other Business: • Stream Setback Law: Codes and Ordinances Committee finished discussion and Attorney for the Town is finalizing draft. Town will hold a public information session on the law and the CB members are encouraged to attend. Darby will send out the law when it is available for the CB to review. • 2009 Vice Chair: Eva and Jon refused nomination; Jon enjoys his associate status and does not intend to change it. James, nominated by Tony, seconded by Eva, agreed to be Vice Chair and was voted Vice Chair by all present except himself abstaining. • 2009 Committee selection: Final composition is deferred until February. Diane will send out an email with committee descriptions. Tentative membership now suggested: SRC: Tony chair, with Jon, James, Eva 2 ERC: Eva chair, with Jon, Nirav, Andy, Tony R Fischer: James chair, with Susan, Diane Nirav suggested recruiting fellow graduate students at Cornell for the available positions on the CB. He was encouraged to do so. Adiournment: The meeting was adjourned at 9:00 p.m. Minutes generated by James Hamilton 1/12/09 Approved at February 5, 2009 meeting 3