HomeMy WebLinkAboutCB Minutes 2017-04-06 Town of Ithaca Conservation Board
April 6, 2016 5:34 p.m.
Final Minutes
Members present: Ellie Stewart (Chair), Vladimir Micic, Eva Hoffmann, Will VanDyke, Lindsay
Dombroskie, Elizabeth Hageman, Jon Meigs
Staff: Mike Smith
Guests: Lance Ebel (Newleaf Environmental, LLC), Rob Geiszler(interested community
member), Two local high school government students
1. Lance Ebel, New Leaf Environmental LLC presented his company's findings on the Town's
Tree Inventory and Forest Assessment Grant project.
2. Persons to be heard: none
3. Member Concerns: Lindsay raised a concern about a recent logging permit that was granted
on Conservation zoned land and whether the Town would consider changing the permitting
process to include a requirement on timing of the harvest. Mike S recommended making a
comment to the Town Board if we wanted to recommend different qualifications. We noted to
add it to the agenda for May's meeting.
4. Chair and Coordinator Reports: Ellie shared concerns about the ongoing budgeting process at
the state level and the uncertainty surrounding it.
Mike S updated the CB on the next Planning Board meeting, which will address the final
approvals for the communication masts after that project received the proper zoning board
variances for the height.
Mike S also noted that the Planning Board is reviewing a water supply issue as it relates partially
to the Maplewood project on Cornell's campus. They are reviewing plans for a water tank on
the corner of Ellis Hollow Road and Hungerford Hill Road to accommodate the demand.
Mike S also noted the Cornell Peterson parking lot project, a subdivision project and the Ithaca
Estates subdivision project were on the Planning Board's agenda for May 2nd
5. Approval of March 2, 2017 Minutes:
With the edits James provided by email, Will moved to approve, Elizabeth seconded.
6. Planning for the 2016 Fischer Conservation Award tree planting ceremony:
Will has been talking to Jan of the Black Diamond Trail Enthusiasts Network. May 131" at 10:30
am was the preferred weekend by the Conservation Board. Mike S worked with the city
forester for a site to plant the tree just off the trailhead in Cass Park. The Town's Public Works
Department is working with the nursery on the correct tree for the space.
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7. Town Bluebird Boxes: Elizabeth and Lindsay mentioned that they would be putting up six
new boxes this month that were provided by the Town's Public Works Department, with a
focus on the East Hill Rec Way. Mike provided them with tools to help place the new boxes.
Lindsay presented a trail camera in order to catch some footage of blue birds actually using the
blue bird boxes.
Mike S commented that there is no town policy or issue on using the camera, but will alert the
parks department regarding the camera locations.
8. Ad-Hoc Deer Management Committee: Lindsay presented the most recent version of the
document to collect notes for final revisions on the paper before it is presented to the Town
Board. Anyone with additional comments should get them to Lindsay or Mike within the next
week.
9. Discussion of ideas for an Earth Day activity/table:The CB agreed to table at the People's
Climate March event on April 291". Elizabeth and Lindsay agreed to participate in planning the
table and Will agreed to coordinate with Sustainable Tompkins on booking the table. Mike S
will help provide copies of brochures and display material that is needed. Vlad will put together
a general CB sign and will have it printed at Cornell or get it to Mike S for printing.
10. Regular Reports and Updates:
• Environmental Review Committee: Nothing to report
• Scenic Resources Committee:Jon updated that he's been in contact with the DOT
regarding the installation of our next sign.
• Communications Committee: Nothing to report.
• Tompkins County EMC: Vlad updated the board about a meeting regarding the Earth
Source heating project on Cornell's campus.
• Six Mile Creek Volunteer Monitoring Program:James provided his update by email
(attached).
• City of Ithaca Natural Areas Commission: Nothing to report.
• Cornell Botanic Gardens Natural Areas Program:James provided his update by email
(attached).
11. Other Business: Elizabeth asked about the social media policy for the board and Will
mentioned the CB's intention to add an Instagram account. Mike S reminded the CB that they
need to discuss this with the Town Board before starting anything new.
12. May Agenda: A continued discussion of the final deer management plan. The social media
plan and updates from the various committees that were cut due to the meeting running long.
13. Elizabeth moved to adjourn the meeting. Eva Seconded.
Meeting adjourned at 7:38 pm Minutes drafted by Will VanDyke 4/29/17
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From email from James Hamilton—4/3/17:
4) for my Regular Reports and Updates:
e. Sixmile Creek: I attended a Thursday Night at the BMI lab March 16th. The lab was full of
volunteers working on various creek BMI samples, and four volunteers almost finished a
September 2016 preserved sample from the best riffle in Sixmile Creek (next to 600 Rd in
Slaterville Springs). I haven't seen the metric analysis yet, but the drought didn't seem to have
too much effect on species richness and diversity there. The annual CSI Volunteer Symposium is
this Saturday, April 8th, 12:00 to 3:00 pm, at the library's Borg Warner Room, and will be about
Citizen Science and the Management of Local Water Resources.
g. The NA volunteers have transplanted planted dogwoods from the Edwards Lake Cliffs NA to
the Fall Creek South NA near the pedestrian suspension bridge upstream of Flat Rocks in Forest
Home. Those shrubs, which were not valued in Lansing, will help to restore the woods in Forest
Home after 8 afternoons of volunteer weeding eradicated a huge amount of woody invasives
there. Volunteers also hunted for Hemlock Wooly Adelgids in Eames Memorial Bog, a NA in
Freewill, also known as Mud Creek Swamp. Again, there were no HWA to be found there.
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