HomeMy WebLinkAboutCB Minutes 2017-06-01 Town of Ithaca Conservation Board (CB) Meeting
Thursday, June 1st, 2017
Final Minutes
Members Present: Mike Roberts,James Hamilton,Vladimir Micic, Elizabeth Hageman, Eva
Hoffmann and Will VanDyke
Staff: Mike Smith (Senior Planner)
Guests: Master student from Cornell City and Regional Planning Department, Osamu, and
group of students from Ithaca High School government participation class: Griffin,Andrew,
Matthew, Caleb and Josh
1. Persons to be heard: None
2. Members Concerns: Elizabeth talked about the community forum that was organized
by Cornell University with regards to the new development at East Hill Plaza. She said that
herself, Eva and Lindsay attended the event and that event organizers have split the
audience in three groups and posed three questions: what do you like about the plaza,what
do you not like, and what would you like to see happen? She described the communication
that ensued as interesting, educational and stressed the need for the Conservation Board to
follow up on some of the issues that were mentioned, especially on the issue of water
runoff.
3. Chair and Coordinator Report:
a. Chair-Mike R said that he had nothing to report considering that he was asked to
step in for Ellie as substitute Chair on a short notice.
b. Coordinator-Mike S said that there is nothing to report from the last Planning
Board meeting. However, he mentioned discussion about some slight modification
to the Westview subdivision that is on the agenda for the forthcoming June 6tn
meeting. Similar modification to this property has been approved back in 2004, and
since then the owner has been gradually developing a couple of lots each year.
c. Mike S. also reminded everyone that the town was a recipient of the grant for Inlet
Valley Economic Development Study. He enthusiastically reported that the Town
has already signed the contract with hired consultants, and that they are scheduled
to be in town next week to start interviewing some of the main stakeholders in that
area. He added that those consultants will also hold some public meetings with aim
to determine what type of business that corridor can support.
4.Approval of Minutes: The May 2017 minutes were approved without any edits and
Elizabeth was commended for excellent work.
S. Update on Deer Management Report presentation at the Town Board meeting:
Mike R. said that the Town Board was supportive and open to have public hearing on the
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issue of deer management and that they can hopefully make a decision on the next meeting
scheduled for June 121h. Mike asked CB members to attend this meeting and make their
comments during public comments period, at the beginning of the meeting.James
suggested that some of the Board members were open to making a field trip so that they
could review some of the areas mentioned in the report.James suggested that CB members
attending the June 121h meeting should advocate for such field trip so that the board
members could see to what extent the Town's natural areas are ruined by deer. James
mentioned the Pine Tree Wildlife Preserve as an example of a completely dilapidated
natural area that has been utterly devastated by the deer, claiming that the only remaining
vegetation there are now invasive species. Mike R. suggested that we should try to keep our
(CB) comments at the next Town Board meeting short and let the citizens living in, or near
of some of these areas speak. Mike R. also added that we could offer to be guides during
those potential field trips. Mike mentioned that he received some editing suggestions to the
Conservation Board's Deer Report and that he will send an updated copy of the report to
everyone after the meeting.
6. Ideas for 2017 New York Invasive Species Awareness Week, July 9 - 15: It was
suggested that the CB attend the Cornell Botanic Gardens event at Lick Brook, and not hold
a separate event. Eva, suggested that it may be good idea to warn some people that the
event on July 12th is scheduled at the Lick Brook trail,which is a very strenuous trail.
James expressed hope that as many of the Board members will be able to come and attend.
7. Timber Harvesting Requirements in Town's Conservation Zones: James mentioned
that Lindsey was worried about timing of timber harvesting in conservation zones,which
may cause problems to wildlife.James quoted some segments from the Town Conservation
Zone harvesting regulations concluding that those regulations provide adequate protection
from overharvesting,but that the board needs to be cognizant about peculiarities and
particularities of each case.
8. Committee Reports:
a. Environmental Review Committee: No report.
b. Scenic Resources Committee: Mike S. mentioned that we have a quote for the
sign,which will be located in the scenic pull-off on Route 96B,by the Longview
retirement community. The quote was for $935. Mike will bring the quote to Town's
supervisor to sign. Eva said that quote came in much lower than anticipated. The
last time quote was over $1000.
c. Communications Committee: Will said that this committee has been working on
organizing the event during the forthcoming invasive species week. He said that he
would be posting some photos of the Fisher award trees on the CB Facebook page.
d. Tompkins County EMC: No report.
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e. Six Mile Creek Volunteer Mentoring Program: James mentioned that on the
14th of June synoptic water sampling will be done at 13 sites along Six Mile Creek.
This is a regularly scheduled analysis and there are 5 of those done every year.
James also mentioned that Community Science Institute (CSI) is looking for
volunteers with boats to help take people doing some deep-water sampling in
Cayuga Lake. This sampling is done in conjunction with the New York Citizen's State
Wide Lake Assessment Program.As part of this program the samples will be taken
every other week between June and September.
f. City of Ithaca Natural Areas Commission: No report.
g. Cornell Botanic Gardens Natural Areas Program: James said that volunteers
did some trail maintenance on the north side of the Fall Creek near the golf course.
James mentioned that they have also been weeding wild parsnip along Beebe Lake.
In addition,James mentioned the initiative to do some garlic mustard weeding with
20 cub scouts was very successful.James also attends forest-connect webinars
online. He attended one on the topic of regenerating hardwood forest.James will
also go to Ithaca Tompkins Hunting and Conservation Meet-Up.
9. Other Business: Mike S. asked whether the July meeting should be canceled, as many CB
members are not in town in July. The CB has agreed to cancel the July meeting,but keep the
August meeting. Mike S. Mentioned that Andy Zepp from the Finger Lakes Land Trust, Rich
Schoch and the new sustainability coordinator at Ithaca College were interested in coming
to one of the future meetings. The CB has agreed to have Rich visit the August meeting and
the decision about the other guests will be made at the subsequent meetings.
Meeting adjourned at 6:34pm.
Minutes drafted by Vladimir Micic