HomeMy WebLinkAboutCB Minutes 2017-08-03 Town of Ithaca Conservation Board
Thursday, August 3rd, 2017
Final Minutes
Members Present: Ellie Stewart, Lindsay Dombroskie, Elizabeth Hageman,James Hamilton, Eva
Hoffmann;Jon Meigs
Staff: Mike Smith (Senior Planner)
Guests: Rich Schoch (Parks Maintenance Manager),Jacob (Rich's grandson)
1. Rich Schoch (Town of Ithaca Parks Maintenance Manager): Overview of Town tree cutting and
pruning practices. Rich described the various contexts for tree management, specifically emergency
scenarios and regular maintenance. Regular maintenance includes opening the canopy over roadways
where it is particularly dense, mowing to maintain meadows and trails in preserves areas, or to clear the
line-of-sight in ditches.The work is typically contracted out, or a lift is rented and work is completed by
the Town. For contract work, town employees are often involved and used in traffic control.Tree-felling
often occurs in stages, with tree sections removed in stages for improved safety.The techniques used
are standard for the trade but may vary by contractor. Often trees are trimmed around power lines by
the power company, provided the trees themselves are still safe. Storm drainages are kept clear, and
flooding is a capacity issue not a maintenance issue.
There is no formal policy regarding how or when to conduct tree felling/pruning. A list of hazard trees is
maintained by the Town, and dealt with in batches.The hazard trees identified by Newleaf
Environmental LLC as part of the tree inventory project have been incorporated. Some minimum (not
set) number of hazard trees are needed before regular maintenance action is taken. Rich noted that the
City of Ithaca may have a different approach.
Where saplings are planted, tubing/protection is used to exclude deer from browsing them. Rich noted
that deer herbivory is a problem for revegetation activities. Where seeding occurs, native mixes are
used, or at a minimum certain invasive species are not included (e.g. crownvetch). Rich confirmed that
there are many invasive plants on town land, including natural areas.The Town does not have staff that
have herbicide applicator licenses, as it is often more cost effective to contract-out that work. Some
treatment of pale swallowwort has been completed in the East Ithaca Nature Preserve area, but not in
the Glenside or Westhaven Preserves yet.The Conservation Board mentioned the 'glove of death' as
well as a gel-type herbicide as possible treatment methods for small infestations. In addition, there is a
lot of poison ivy in certain preserves.
Rich met with Elizabeth Salon who was concerned with road widening and potential water impacts near
her property. Rich spoke to Elizabeth about the successful revegetation in the area, though there are
still other issues (no specifics mentioned).The Preserve trees that were adjacent to the project area
were removed to provide work room for creating the road shoulder. A lack of work space is a safety
issue.The area was rock-lined and reseeded. Rich noted that compromise is needed when infrastructure
maintenance is required near Conservation Zones or Preserves.
2. Persons to be Heard. None
3. Members Concerns:
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a.4-lot subdivision located on Elm Street Extension and Coy Glen Road. The applicant
currently owns 4 lots totaling approximately 20 acres. Two of the existing lots are currently landlocked
with no road access. They are proposing to consolidate parcels and re-subdivide into four new lots, each
having road frontage. The properties are currently vacant and they are not currently proposing any
construction on any of the new parcels at this point.
b. Development on 13A. It's taking so long because the development has a lot of planning board
conditions on it to move forward.They have not all been met.
4.Chair and Coordinator Reports:
a.Chair Report. Updates contained within Regular Reports.
b.Coordinator Report.The next meeting regarding development of the 'East Hill Village' has
been tentatively set for mid-September, with the date and location TBD. Ithaca Townhomes
Development(formerly Holochuck Homes Subdivision)located off Trumansburg Road (NYS Route 96)
will be on the August 151" Planning Board Meeting Agenda.The Planning Board can't require a change in
energy types (to air heat pumps or other), can only encourage it unless the Environmental Impact
Statement(EIS) changes.The house on Kendall Avenue is applying for a building permit, but has no road
access.This requires a permit from the Town Board for an `Open Development Area'to move forward.
Other projects underway are renovations, nothing of concern.
5.Approval of Minutes. None
6. Deer Management Update.The Town Board will move forward on August 71"with the creation of a
Citizen's Advisory Committee related to deer management. The Committee will be composed of six
members, one of which will be from the Conservation Board. Mike Roberts was an obvious choice, but
indicated he would prefer not to participate unless no other member was available. Lindsay Dombroskie
volunteered, and was voted in as the Conservation Board's Representative.Jon is interested in an
associate status with the Advisory Committee.
The Finger Lakes Land Trust has shared a photo series with us that clearly demonstrates the effects of
deer herbivory through imagery of an exclosure.The Town Board will be going on a field trip and may
stop at Sweedler and Thayer Preserves at Lickbrook to observe deer impacts.
There was a Freedom of Information Law(FOIL) request regarding deer management.The Conservation
Board Meeting minutes and the Deer Management Report were sent to fulfil the request. If a
Conservation Board Member should receive a verbal (or other) FOIL request, refer them to Mike Smith
or the Town Clerk.
7. Regular Reports:
a. Environmental Review Committee. Ithaca Townhomes Development(formerly Holochuck
Homes Subdivision) located off Trumansburg Road (NYS Route 96) is progressing, though funding for it is
still needed.
b.Scenic Resources Committee.A sample for the new sign has been made, but unfortunately it
is too yellow. A second sample was requested that seemed to be good. A request to commence with
printing the sign was made, but an oddity in the formatting was noticed.The printer has been notified
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and the problem is in the process of being sorted out. The Conservation Board noted that the URL for
the Conservation Board has changed, so it's now outdated on all signs and should be changed for the
new sign.The Conservation Board website is also behaving strangely and needs to be fixed.
c.Communications Committee. None
d.Tompkins County EMC. None
e.Six Mile Creek Volunteer Monitoring Program.Synoptic sampling occurred at 13 locations.
There was not much water volume in the creek at this location at the time of sampling. 13 locations
were sampled. In general, the Community Science Institute (CSI) seems to be receiving community
support. Outreach regarding benthic macroinvertebrate (BMI) sampling (through CSI)was conducted at
the Grassroots Music Festival and Reggae Fest. CSI has been monitoring at least 3 sites for BMI for 12
years.
f.City of Ithaca Natural Areas Commission.The city is interested in deer management and
would like to participate in discussions going forward.The Commission should receive the Deer
Management Report.
g.Cornell Botanic Gardens Natural Areas Program. 13 people participated in the 41"Annual
New York State Invasive Species Awareness Week(ISAW) at Lick Brook.The stand of eastern hemlock
trees at this location provided a good demonstration of trees that have succumbed to hemlock woolly
adelgid (HWA), those that are currently infested, and those that have been treated and seem to be
recovering. Cornell has rapid response protocols that seem to be effective for combating HWA, in
addition to research on biocontrol insects (flies, beetles). There is also a success story for pale
swallowwort at one of the natural areas. A patch near the Teton Court water tank received herbicide
treatment and manual removal previously and would appear to be under control and nearly eradicated
at this location.
8.Other Business:
a. Eastern Bluebirds. Likely we should make the boxes more accessible (bottom with removable
nail) so we can incorporate volunteer monitoring in the future.This hinge/nail style is common in new
box designs such as those that will be distributed by New York Office of Parks, Recreation, and Historic
Preservation at the upcoming New York State Fair. We missed out on monitoring the Town boxes this
year, but did a lot of necessary preliminary work. Monitoring boxes can also be made easier by using a
phone app such as Cornell's NestWatch.This way a monitor does not need tools or data recording
implements to check the Town nest boxes.
9. Review 2017 Goals/Future Agenda. None
10.Adjourn.—7:10 pm
Drafted by Lindsay Dombroskie
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