HomeMy WebLinkAboutCB Minutes 2015-06-04 Town of Ithaca Conservation Board
June 4, 2015 5:40 p.m.
Final Minutes
Members present: James Hamilton, Eva Hoffmann,Jon Meigs, Elizabeth Sanders, Ellie Stewart
Absent: Vladimir Micic, Mike Roberts, Carrie Simon
Staff: Mike Smith
There were about 18 guests from Ithaca High School Environmental Resources and Government classes,
attending for a class requirement.
After waiting for enough members for a quorum,the meeting opened without that quorum at 5:40.
1. Persons to be heard:Though invited, no one wished to speak or to ask anything.James explained the
"Persons to be heard" concept, and hoped some of the students might feel free to speak at some point
later in the meeting, as they're Ithaca citizens,welcome to be heard here.
2. Long term water planning:Though Mara Alper was expected to participate in a discussion of long
term water planning for the Ithaca area, she didn't attend.
3. Members' concerns: Despite Ms. Alper's absence,James wished to explain what the water issue
involved. He complained that he found the current fixed rate billing structure for Ithaca's water was not
fair to his family, or to any consumer who used less than 10,000 gallons of water per quarter.James' last
quarter bill charged him the minimum rate for 8,000 gallons of sewer and 10,000 gallons of water, even
though his family used only 3,700 gallons of water between February and May. His water-thrifty family
is forced to subsidize other less thrifty water consumers by paying for 4,300 gallons of sewage treatment
he did not require, and for 6,300 gallons of water treatment and delivery that he did not consume.
James explained to the students how the CB had tried to convince the Town that water conservation
would reduce the town's greenhouse gas emissions.Though the greenhouse gas problem was "solved"
by the Town's getting its electricity from a "green" source, the CB still believed that conservation would
be promoted and waste reduced by adopting a three-block billing structure. Supposedly a water and
sewer bill is "fair" to all, but if anyone tries to use less than 8,000 gallons per quarter, he's billed for
more than he uses.And there's no penalty at all for wasting water.
4. Chair and Coordinator Reports:
Chair: Ellie had nothing to report.
Coordinator: Mike reported that E &V Energy, a propane company that proposed a new facility near the
old Turbacks on Elmira Road, has withdrawn its application.At the next Planning Board meeting,
Longview Retirement Community's plan to put more parking spaces along the entrance drive would be
considered.James noted this would be right in the foreground of a view the Scenic Resources
Committee hoped to promote with their second View Sign project. Also at the next meeting a mini golf
and/or driving range is proposed for the Elmira Road/Seven Mile Drive area. Mike explained that Rich
Schoch, our Town Parks manager, had volunteers remove two pickup trucks full of garlic mustard from
along the East ithaca Rec Way between Judd Falls and Game Farm Rd. Mike noted the New York State
Association of Conservation Commissions was holding its next convention on Community Collaboration
in Ithaca from October 15 to 17, and that CB members should attend. He and Nick Goldsmith attended
last year's meeting and found it worthwhile. NYSACC gave our SRC's View Sign project an award a couple
years ago, so we ought to take advantage of their coming to our area.
5. Minutes: Minutes for the May 7, 2015 CB meeting contained a sentence James thought was
inaccurate, and proposed a change to reflect that"The past very cold winter was [not really] deadly for
adelgids." As Mike R was absent, we might wait to find exactly just how severely effected adelgid
populations really were by the cold.James also wanted to revise the last sentences in the SRC report, to
reflect the way"the possibility of a scenic view" in the Clare Bridge Crossing lot development has been
identified as one of the 10 best scenic views worth saving along public roads in the Town. He also
thought there was an error in the ERC report that claimed that the biogas from sewage treatment at the
Ithaca Wastewater plant could produce "Twenty megawatt hours/day." We'll have to wait for a quorum
to accept a final draft of these minutes next month.
6. NY Invasive Species Awareness Week: Members present agreed that it would be good to host a NY
Invasive Species Awareness Week event sometime between July 12th and 18th if at least four members
can attend and we can get it planned in time.James thought the Communications Committee might
manage to arrange a visit to the vicinity of the water tank near the end of Deer Run on South Hill,where
swallow wort has been a problem for many years now.
7. Deer management and pest management policy:There was no attempt to address the pest
management policy problem.
8. Regular Reports and Updates:
Environmental Review Committee: No news.The ERC had found no problems with the Clare Bridge or
E&V proposals.
Scenic Resources Committee: No news.
Communications Committee:James announced his retirement from the chair of this committee, and
hoped Elizabeth would be able to take it over with his help.
Tompkins County EMC: No news.
Sixmile Creek Volunteer Monitors:The next scheduled synoptic sampling of 13 sites in the creek for
chemical analysis is June 17th.
City of Ithaca Natural Areas Commission:Jon reported two public field trips coming soon in the Sixmile
Creek watershed, meeting at the Mulholland Wildflower Preserve parking lot off of Giles St by the creek.
On June 6, a guided tour of birds would start at 8. On July 11, a tour focused on insects would start at 9.
Jon noted that safety in the Sixmile Creek watershed was frequently addressed by the city's NAC, and he
hoped students would stay on trails, not trample fragile terrain, not swim in the gorge, and help clean
up litter there. Ellie noted that City administration hoped to acquire a lot on Fall Creek's north bank just
downstream from Ithaca Falls for an expansion of city parkland there.
Cornell Plantations Natural Areas:James explained the NA stewards had a new protocol for garlic
mustard management, which they believe should no longer be pulled up with the roots leaving
disturbed soil. As this seems to promote the growth of more mustard, a new procedure that removes
the blooming or seeded plants by cutting stems near the ground is believed to be more apt to prevent
weed proliferation in the disturbed soil, and to allow the natural allelopathy of this invasive to
eventually choke itself out of its infestations.
9. Other Business: Elizabeth wondered if piling raked leaves along a creek bank is good practice, one she
noted in some places in Forest Home. Probably such procedures should be discouraged, as it might
prevent healthy plant growth for controlling soil erosion in such locations.
10.July Agenda: Last minute arrangements for the South Hill Invasive Awareness event; further in
future, a visit to the Ithaca Area Wastewater Treatment Plant should be arranged. We might want to
visit the Chainworks project if it's able to help us understand how they intend to address persistent
pollution problems up there.
The high school students were invited to ask any questions that might have come to mind. Some good
discussion of deer population management problems and invasives control ensued.
We adjourned at 7:12 pm Minutes written by James Hamilton 6/4/2015