HomeMy WebLinkAboutCB Minutes 2017-11-02 Town of Ithaca Conservation Board (CB) Meeting
November 2, 2017, 5:30 p.m.
Final Minutes
Members present: Lindsay Dombroskie, James Hamilton, Eva Hoffmann, Jon Meigs, Vladimir Micic,
Michael Roberts —Vice Chairperson, Ellie Stewart—Chairperson and William VanDyke.
Staff: Michael Smith, Senior Planner.
Guests: Nick Goldsmith, Town of Ithaca Sustainability Planner, Greg Lischke, P. E., Director of Energy
Management& Sustainability, Ithaca College and three graduate students from the City and Regional
Planning Program at Cornell University.
1. What does Ithaca College have planned regarding sustainability? Greg Lischke mentioned that
Rebecca Evans, Campus Sustainability Coordinator at Ithaca College (IC), was not able to be here tonight
as scheduled.
Lischke stated that he has been in his present job at IC for one and a half years. He then proceeded to give
a slide talk about the sustainability history at Ithaca College from 2002 to 2011. It included a partnership
with EcoVillage in 2002, hosting an international summit in 2004,joining a Talloires Declaration in 2006,
preparing a Climate Action Plan in 2009 and becoming an AASHE Stars Member in 2011.
The college made a sustainability commitment in 2009. There are now two buildings made to LEEDS
platinum specifications on campus. Lischke brought up the concern about whether the goals in the 2009
plan are still viable today. He said they are now working on finding out where employees come from and
where students travel, as well as how great IC's carbon emissions discharges are in metric tons. The
latter, which was part of IC having joined Second Nature's sustainability efforts, is divided up into three
different scopes looking at discharges from 1: stationary sources such as for gasoline for plowing, lawn
care and heating; 2: electricity uses and 3: other indirect sources.
The data Lischke uses are from the period through 2015. The base line used is from 2007, rather than
from 2009, when the Climate Action Plan was adopted. He mentioned that the huge Athletics & Events
Center was finished and started being used in 2011 and it uses very large amounts of energy.
James asked if any work is being done relative to IC's use of water, since 40% of the energy used in the
Town is for pumping water uphill from Cayuga Lake to its water towers. Lischke said they are not
working on that now. But he said that a lot of water is being used by IC, mentioning a figure of 150 to
160 million gallons. It's not just for the pools and fountains and all the regular daily needs, but also
apparently leaks. They are trying to figure out where there may be leaks.
Lischke mentioned several current efforts by IC to reduce carbon emissions:
a. They replaced all the windows in the West Tower with more efficient ones last year. The other
tower will get new windows this year.
b. They are working on engaging students in community projects with themes to focus on energy.
C. They have a solar farm in Geneva, NY, which produces 2 Megawatts on about 12 acres of land. It
provides 10% of the total campus needs for electricity. You can see their solar farm information on the
Internet at pit.(ps //www._i'Lp aca._edu/sus,tai, abiIi,tv/.
d. Other future improvements or enhancements are likely to be in geothermal, solar and wind
generating technologies. They will install an electric charging station, make HVAC improvements and
improve sub metering.
Lindsay asked why 2007 was used as the base line year. Lischke said it probably came from the Second
Nature request. He said Constellation is their energy supplier. Ellie asked about their progress with
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reducing carbon emissions. Lischke answered that it's down by 20% and about 12 % for students.
Lindsay also asked how their targets compare to those of their peer institutions. Lischke said he hasn't
looked into that yet. He thinks IC can have the finances to get to a sustainable campus. Mike S. asked
about cars on campus and the large parking lots. Lischke said TCAT buses go to some IC locations and
he would like to get students who live at College Circle to walk to campus instead of driving as they often
do. But the student population is getting smaller, so the college administration may not want to prohibit
cars and risk losing students because of that.
2. Persons to be heard: None
3. Members' Concerns: Eva donated a copy of The Teacher-Friendly Guide to Climate Change,
published by the Paleontological Research Institution (PRI) of Ithaca, to the Town and suggested that it be
circulated among CB members, before it was given to others in the Town offices. Eva's daughter, Ingrid
Zabel, was one of the authors and Eva mentioned that she could ask Ingrid, if she would be able to come
and talk to the CB about the climate change work she does at PRL The board members requested that she
ask if this could be planned for our next meeting. Eva passed around information about a project Ingrid
has been working on: the New York Climate Change Science Clearinghouse, which one can access at
www.n chinatescience.org .
4. Chairperson and Coordinator Reports:
Chairperson: No report.
Coordinator, Mike Smith: Mike reported that there was nothing new and that the November Planning
Board meetings have been cancelled. He also stated that the Town's email system is being transitioned to
another server and that it has been out of order several days. There is hope that it will be back in working
order by early next week.
5. Approval of minutes from October 5, 2017: James moved to approve the minutes with two minor
corrections. Ellie seconded and the minutes were approved as corrected. Apropos the mention of Eva's
informal photographing of the Maplewood construction site over time, Mike mentioned that the project
sponsor, EdR Trust Collegiate Housing, is documenting the building process on their Web site
h"s_;// laa.oxblue.com/open/EDR/cornell . The June 1, 2017 minutes were not yet available for approval.
6. Regular Reports and Updates:
Environmental Review Committee (Ellie): No report.
Scenic Resources Committee (Eva): The finished South Hill view sign and its support structure have
arrived at the Town's Highway Department. Eva and Jon have looked at them and approved them with
Rich Schoch. Jon and Rich have almost completed the Work Permit Form to be sent to NYSDOT for
approval. It is expected that the process will be finished in time for the sign to be installed at the Rt 96B
site in the spring. Mike mentioned that Rich is planning to retire November 2018.
Communications Committee (Will): Will reported that the committee has documentation for the Town to
be able to set up an Instagram account. This will allow sharing information about what we do in pictures.
They will review and update the Scenic View pamphlet and include pictures of views. James stated that
the CB brochure, and indeed, all CB documents need updating. Traditional media need to be included as
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well when information is shared on Facebook and Instagram sites. Eva would like to see the Town's
Newsletter return and go to all Town of Ithaca residents, especially to those who are not connected to the
more recent media requiring computer hook-ups.
Tompkins County Environmental Management Council (EMC), (Vladimir): Andy Zepp from the Finger
Lakes Land Trust(FLLT) gave a presentation at the last EMC meeting. It was very similar to the one he
gave at our meeting recently. The FLLT will sell some lands in the Six Mile Creek area to private owners,
but will only do so with conservation easements attached to the land. He also spoke of the concern about
algal growth in the Finger Lakes and the importance of efforts to buffer waterways leading into them to
protect lake waters.
The EMC has two new committees: a climate adaptation committee and an outreach committee. The first
one will show sites with land erosion, etc. and will use volunteers to do work with James Knighton and
Michelle Henry. The second one will do two events: 1. a general update annually about what the EMC
does, and 2. timely updates to students about what the EMC does. Students will join the EMC as interns.
Six Mile Creek Volunteer Monitoring Program (James): James passed out a new CSI brochure. There
has been lots of water and flooding in Six Mile Creek, with the bottom of it getting stirred up and lots of
objects being carried by the water. For the first time in 13 years it was possible to get a sampling at peak
flood stage. The BMI teams are still working on samples saved since summer.
City of Ithaca Natural Areas Commission (Jon): No report.
Cornell Botanic Gardens Natural Areas Program (James): The volunteers have worked on new trails in
Park Park East. Robert Wesley had them go out to collect seeds from fringed blue gentians, but they
didn't find much.
Deer Management Committee (Lindsay): Lindsay stated that she has sent an email about this topic to
Town Supervisor Bill Goodman, but hasn't received a reply yet. She wondered if she should contact
others. Ellie asked if the committee has a chairperson and Mike S. said not yet. There was a suggestion
that Lindsay contact Bill by telephone to get a response.
7. Other Business: Will mentioned that he has listened to Outside-In, pod casts about land conservation
in New Hampshire, on National Public Radio.
We need to discuss membership matters. Mike S. will contact Carrie Simon to find out if she is interested
in continuing as a member. Ellie has stated that she is not interested in continuing as chairperson of the
CB, so we need to select a new chairperson.
8. Review 2017 Work Goals /Discuss December Agenda: Nothing noted.
9. Adjournment: The meeting was adjourned at 7:21 PM
Respectfully submitted by Eva Hoffmann
November 28, 2017
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