HomeMy WebLinkAboutCB Minutes 5-4-06 Town of Ithaca Conservation Board
May 4, 2006
Draft Meeting Minutes
PRESENT: Diane Conneman, James Hamilton, Jon Meigs, Larry Sallinger, Brent Katzmann
STAFF: Sue Ritter
Visitor: Andrew Sleeper
The meeting was called to order at 7:35PM by Diane Conneman, Chair
There were no persons to be heard or member concerns.
Chair Report: Diane presented a report submitted by Lenore Durkee entitled Watershed from
Farming Operations for review by interested Board Members. Diane also presented literature
she picked up on her recent trip to Japan which described the Miyako Ecology Center, an
education center focused on the environment. She was struck in particular by the lack of a
parking lot indicating the high reliance on public transit and discouraging automobile use by
visitors. Lastly, Diane announced the meeting dates for upcoming Tompkins County
Comprehensive Plan Focus Meetings open to the public. Included in these meetings will be
discussion of a reported doubling of storm water runoff into streams due to the widespread use of
roadside ditches in Tompkins County.
Coordinator Report: Sue reported that the annual report to the State DEC on the Town's progress
for a Storm Water Management Plan was complete. Since the Town has no stormwater
management ordinance of its own, it follows the State DEC regulations regarding storm water
management. Discussion of the Town's current practices ensued, including concerns expressed
about the Wiedmaier property and the need for the Town to establish an ordinance regarding
storm water management. It was suggested that the Town should consider a public education
campaign or newsletter article to build public awareness and enlist public support for improved
storm water management strategies on private and public lands.
Business: Minutes from the April 6, 2006 meeting were reviewed for corrections, but not
approved due to lack of a quorum of Board members. Minutes will be reviewed again at the June
Board meeting.
Appointing of Interview Committee: Diane Conneman, Jon Meigs, James Hamilton, and Lenore
Durkee (in absentia) agreed to participate on the Interview Committee for new Conservation
Board members. Tentative interview dates were set as May 15 & 16, 2006.
A general discussion of the draft Natural Heritage Preservation Program was held. Much of the
focus was on the apparent overlap of strategies for land preservation among various agencies and
initiatives including the Purchase of Development Rights Program initiated in 1999 targeting
agricultural lands in the Town, Conservation Zone and Unique Natural Areas easements and
regulations, the Town Park Plan and the Finger Lakes Land Trust which enables land owners to
donate conservation easements for their property. Jon Meigs also pointed out that there are
several additional ordinances and encumbrances either being instituted or considered that further
affect landowner rights and cautioned that there may be a point at which well intended
protections can begin to discourage appropriate development and use of private and public lands.
While the Natural Heritage Preservation Program was developed around specific criteria and
identified particular tax parcels that would qualify, there seemed to be general agreement that a
broader review of all land protection strategies may be appropriate for Board action. James
Hamilton expressed an interest in pursuing a strategy of utilizing long term incentives for
property owners who wish to protect their lands, including tax breaks and upfront purchase of
development or use rights. Diane Conneman requested that Sue coordinate information for the
Board regarding lands in the Town which are currently protected and information on Town and
County property assessment to aid in further discussion by the Board. Sue also agreed to ask
Mike Smith to bring the Town's Anticipated Land Use Plan and Park and Open Space Plan to
the June Conservation Board meeting.
Regular Reports and Updates:
ERC: None
Scenic Resources: Diane reported that the committee had met and in their draft proposal have
identified 11 select sites, the top five of which have been recommended to include roadside pull-
offs and benches for viewing. Next committee meeting is scheduled for May 17, 2006.
Fischer Award: Diane presented a draft of the letter to be sent under her signature to Warren
Allmon at PRL The letter was approved with modifications. The presentation to PRI is
tentatively targeted for the June 12, 2006 Town Board meeting.
EMC: Larry Sallinger reported that the April 12 meeting of the ERC include a presentation by
Paul Curtis, Cornell cooperative Extension wildlife specialist on deer impact. The report
indicated that natural predators had minimal impact on deer populations and concluded that the
best method for deer population control involved a larger annual doe harvest. Black Bears are
having some effect in southern New York/northern Pennsylvania, but this also means the black
bear population is growing as well.
Six Mile Creek Monitoring: James reported that while samples were taken 4/25/06 following a
light rain, the creek level was below normal. Lab report forthcoming. Next meeting will be
5/22/06.
Natural Areas Commission: Jon reported that there is a campaign underway to reduce the
presence of invasive species in the City of Ithaca watershed targeting specifically garlic mustard,
Japanese knotweed and forsythia in the Six Mile Creek watershed. He also presented a map
showing three parcels in the Six Mile Creek watershed that the City is planning to acquire to
further protect the City's water supply.
Codes and Ordinances Committee: Diane reported that the COC is currently at work on four
issues including the Town Noise Ordinance, Outdoor Lighting Ordinance (public meeting to be
scheduled), Dock Ordinance, and discussions of appropriate modifications to the Town Zoning
Ordinance regarding the installation of solar electric and solar hot water systems. Diane agreed
to discuss with the other COC members the idea of inviting outside counsel to this latter topic
from area renewable energy system designers and installers.
Meeting was adjourned at 9:15pm.
Brent Katzmann