HomeMy WebLinkAboutCB Minutes 2014-04-03 Town of Ithaca Conservation Board
Final Meeting Minutes
5:32 p.m. April 3, 2014
Members Present: Ellie Stewart,Jon Meigs, Vladimir Micic, Mike Roberts, Eva Hoffmann
Staff Present: Mike Smith
Guests Present: Carrie Simon and Mike Bennett
1. Persons to be heard: None
2. Member concerns:
a. Vladimir is going to miss the next two meetings
b. Eva will be gone for the June meeting
c. Ellie will be gone for the May meeting
3. Chair and Coodinator Reports
a. Ellie: Save the Rain Event 4.10 4pm at the Borg Warner Room Ways to reduce storm
water runoff
b. Prism Stakeholder meeting April 291", Regional conference on invasive species
management(time and date). Gas money may be available to CB attendees.
c. A presentation by Rod Howe: "You, your neighborhood, your town's trails and parks"
6:30-8 p.m. (April 291"see email for details)
d. Mike S.:The minutes from the town website that were missing have been restored.
e. Scenic Inventory document will be posted to the website soon.
f. From the Planning Board (4.15 meeting): couple small subdivisions, sign, larger projects
will be presented with the water tank replacement plans for approval
g. Sketch plan for greenways (adj. Eastwood Commons) development
h. La Tourelle "glamping" (glamorous camping) proposal, needs approval for a semi-
permanent tent. In addition, they wish to convert tennis cottage for showers and
facilities to accommodate glamping guests.
i. DGIS for Comprehensive Plan is accepting comment until early May. We could submit
comments individually or as a group. Natural Resource section starts on page 64. Time
will be set aside in next month's meeting to discuss concerns. ACTION—All members
should read through sections relevant to you and bring comments.
j. Jon asked about the environmental mapping websites, and Mike Smith replied that we
would wait to present such information until the next meeting.
k. The question was raised about a timeline for approving new members. Namely, with so
many upcoming absences (see Member Concerns) how will Mike B. and Carrie be voted
in as members? Mike S.: We can recommend people to the Town Board for
membership at any time, even if it is not a formal recommendation.
4. Approval of minutes: No quorum
a. Corrections: Under Chair and Coordinator Reports—replace "improve"with "reduce and
mitigate"; insert"negative" in front of"impacts"
5. Deer Management Planning
a. Carrie:would like to see a more concise report. Information presented should be easily
digestible. What is the feasibility of the TB acting on our recommendations?
i. Ellie:The issue is likely to be that the board will not want to move for political
reasons. We could invite them here. It has become such a hot topic politically
that they will not want to move on it. One of the health concerns is that Lyme
Disease may become resistant to drugs.
b. Mike R: a survey could be circulated to test the waters locally
c. Jon: Suggests that a public education campaign roll out first. This sentiment was
supported by Mike R.
d. Vladimir: Points to educate on could come from the report to the board and packaged
into a mailable postcard.
e. Ellie:ACTION—will get numbers for Lyme disease
f. Carrie: Couldn't we publish something in the Town newsletter to begin a public
awareness campaign. It would be a good first step to take before a survey. Link to
survey in newsletter.
g. Eva:A longer version of a report could be posted on the website. The newsletter article
could reference the online article. Our works are not readily accessible through the
town website.
6. Pest Management Policy Research
a. No report tonight
7. DGEIS
a. See the above Action item
8. Regular Reports
a. Environmental Review Comm.
i. Went to 5 mi. drive development(Amabel).
ii. Vladimir will look for rare plants.
iii. Ellie was concerned about the use of space. Would like to see more space left
for green space.
iv. The Committee did not note any red flags in what they saw.
v. Eva does not believe that the location is as pedestrian-friendly as the developer
claims, and is concerned.
vi. There was some discussion [by the developers] on installing another bridge to
tie into the Black Diamond Trail.
vii. The development meets the regulation on setbacks from flood zones.
b. Scenic Resources Comm.
i. James helped develop text for the Scenic Views of Ithaca Brochure. The text
may need to be edited periodically. Pictures for the same will need to be
updated. Second sign at route 98 overlook was discussed, but nothing was
decided.
c. Tompkins County EMC
i. Vladimir was not present at the last meeting and will not be able to make the
next. ACTION—Eva will see if she can go in his place (April 101n)
d. Six Mile Creek Volunteer Monitoring Program
i. James (via email) Volunteers took water samples for chemical analysis on the
morning of March 19th, when creek was running moderately high. On 4/3/14
they're attending the annual water monitors' symposium at the library, 5:30-
8:30 titled "From Hydrilla to Hydrofracking:Why Community Science Matters."
Another volunteer Hemlock Wooly Adelgid survey the morning of 3/29/14 by
Jean Grace, City Forester, brought 15 naturalists to the City watershed south of
60-ft dam to find various hemlock stands in the initial stages of low infestation,
none yet severe enough to merit attempts at experimental biocontrol.
e. Communications Comm.
i. James (via email) Fischer Award tree planting ceremony will be held 11 AM to
noon at the Juniper Drive Trailhead of South Hill Rec Way near Vincenzo
lacovelli Park in May. Herb and FLNPS can come on May 4 or 10. May 4th is the
FLNPS's 1st choice. When can the most CB members attend?
ii. The 41"was tentatively decided on. The wording of the FCA needs some touch-
ups. Instead of"annual plant sale" preserving, propagating and making native
plants available to the public". Omit some of the specifics and insert more
"meta" accomplishments. ACTION—Mike R will communicate to James the
following ACTION—James is going to edit the text of the FA, email it to the CB
for comment and approval.
f. Cornell Plantations Natural Areas Academy
i. James (via email) Volunteers watched the Aldo Leopold Foundation's "Green
Fire" documentary of Leopold's Land Ethics, which included a good illustration
of the need for predators to keep herbivore populations from ruining forests.
Good discussion followed.
ii. Guest speaker Lynn Leopold stressed the need for "ecological literacy"to guide
responsible citizens in lowering deer population in our natural areas. Deer need
apex predators; in absence of wolves and big cats, that job falls to humans here
now.
iii. A NAA mentor suggested I should watch George Mombiot's TED talk on "trophic
cascades," and I'd advise B members to see it, too: at www.monbiot.com/ted-
talk .Volunteers cut and poisoned invasive autumn olive, honeysuckle,
multiflora rose and buckthorn at the Salt Road Fen in Groton and the Fitzpatric
Fen in McLean.
g. ACTION—Mike R will enter Regular Committee reports into the minutes
9. Other Business
a. The members present discussed the candidacy of Carrie and Mike B as members.
Members were supportive of them.
b. May Agenda - Invasive Species Week, Deer Management, Pest Management
Notes by Mike Roberts