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HomeMy WebLinkAboutCB Minutes 2022-04-07 Town of Ithaca Conservation Board (CB) Meeting April 7, 2022, 5:30 p.m. (via Zoom Video Conference) Final Minutes Members present--Lori Brewer (Chair),James Hamilton, Eva Hoffmann,Joann Kowalski, Mike Roberts Staff: Michael Smith, Senior Planner Guests: Elise Edwards (incoming Associate Board member) and Rhea Kaw (freshman at Cornell in microbiology) 1. Persons to be heard: none 2. Members' Concerns: Mike Roberts asked about the status of the crossing on Game Farm Road connecting the Dryden Rail Trail to the East Hill Recreation Way. He is concerned about the time that has lapsed since the connecting rail trail portion was completed with no crossing in place. Mike Smith indicated he didn't have more information than what Mike R. had reported he received from a supervisor at Cornell Botanic Gardens. Game Farm Road is a county road, so the county must be involved in whatever needs to takes place. Mike R. said a safety review had been conducted due to visual obstacles for people crossing because of a small rise in the road. Solutions for people to be able to cross the road safely will have to be considered. Mike R. proposed putting together a letter of support and circulating it to Board members. The letter would be sent to the county as notice that we are concerned about the prolonged time lapse and to inquire as to what is holding up the progress. Mike S. indicated that the Town of Ithaca and Town of Dryden contributed funds for a study; he was unsure if this is the same study Mike R. referred to or possibly a second one. They are looking for outside help and advice. 3. Environmental Review Committee (ERQ Lori Brewer, Chair— Lori reported there were three projects forwarded from Mike S. for review by the committee for the April 19t" Planning Board meeting agenda—West Haven Road homes project which is for eight sublots, the Town of Ithaca Water Booster station, and the Strawberry Hill Development. This project is at the sketch plan/preliminary phase and is presented to gather comments before the project advances into development. Lori asked if Mike S. could explain the steps when a plan is submitted. Most developers start with Town planning staff. Depending on the scale, planning staff may also include engineering or code enforcement to meet with the applicant where they hear about the project and inform the applicant about requirements. For larger projects, like the Strawberry Hill Development, it is suggested they start with a sketch plan review to introduce the project to the planning board which doesn't require a lot of details. The board will provide initial feedback and guidance on different issues. The applicant takes that information and works with their consultants to develop more detailed plans, environmental studies, and engineering reports in preparation for a preliminary review. 1 Lori mentioned there would be an ERC meeting on Sunday at 4:00 p.m. on Zoom. She invited anyone interested to join. 4. Chairperson and Coordinator Reports Chairperson, Lori Brewer: Lori attended the DEC Conservation Overlay webinar on March 23. The information was for the Hudson Valley but she realized that unique natural areas and critical environmental areas are incorporated as layers on Town of Ithaca maps. The webinar also introduced a guide to use in creating conservation overlay zoning-- tt.Ili.s..:. .:. ..Y...g.gYl.d,gc /rem ,iatu.q.�?....._ha,d,so,n........ Lo.es.:..p Archived presentations and a recording of the webinar can be accessed at Lori followed up on the cryptocurrency mining debate in New York by emailing the Town of Ithaca Sustainability Planner, Nick Goldsmith. He said at this time, there are no discussions that he's aware of related to town policy in this area. He pointed Lori in the direction of the Tompkins County Climate Protection Initiative ttps,; wyuvytp.o„ gfor information. The town is a member of the TCCPI. Lori previously sent a link for a presentation on the topic by TCCPI. Coordinator, Mike Smith: Mike discussed the result of the deer management program for 2022. In February, 31 deer were culled and nine more in March for a total of 40. Last year, the number was 42, a comparable harvest. Mike showed a map with numbers and the associated areas where the deer were culled. A question was raised as to whether there would be more sites added next year, specifically in the Six Mile Creek area since there was one site that was disabled due to a resident's complaint. Mike S. said the City of Ithaca will look at some of their city-owned properties in the watershed as a possibility. He indicated that the program would most likely be continued next year and potentially some private landowner sites might be added with approval from the property owner. At one point, Mike was asked by the CB about having a digital location to store documents for the board to access. It was suggested to staff that One Drive be utilized since they have One Drive. Mike will send a link for all board members to access a Conservation Board folder where documents can be added to share and work on. It is expected the updated Town website will go live in the next week or two. OpenGov, a cloud-based software program will be used to manage internal projects. This will allow the public to access permits to apply for environmental and project review. Applicants will be able to create a free account and after applying they can track the status and see notes about the application. This is to go live on April 13. In terms of status of future meetings, New York state renews the Executive Order monthly so it's hard to know direction forward in terms of in-person or zoom meetings. In polling members, hybrid was suggested as a preference with one person preferring in-person. Most 2 boards and committees will have the zoom option available, particularly for the public in the future. 5. Approval of minutes from March 3, 2022: A motion to approve the minutes was made by James Hamilton; seconded by Mike Roberts. 6. Plan for the 2021 Richard B. Fischer Environmental Conservation Award tree planting: Lori suggested she follow up with Diane Cohen at Finger Lakes ReUse since she indicated in her response that ReUse had a short list of tree planting ideas. James said that although the Conservation Board queries the awardee about planting site and ideas for trees to be planted,Joe Talbott with the town Parks Department has the final say. Mike S. said Joe may have some ideas about where to plant trees to replace ash trees that have been taken down recently. James suggested planting at the NE Ithaca Walkway site in Tareyton Park. Eva suggested planting long-lived trees that last a long time and provide shade. At the next meeting dates will be suggested for either a spring or fall planting. 7. Discussion of potential upcoming tabling events (Earth Day, Streets Alive!, etc.) Mike S. said he did not find Earth Day events when he searched for local events online. JoAnn confirmed that after a thorough Facebook search, nothing local was found to be planned for the Ithaca area. Lori asked if anyone is available to set up a table at Streets Alive! in downtown on May Is'. No one volunteered to do so. The first week of June is Invasive Species Awareness week and last year we did a series of virtual activities on Facebook. It was discussed that this year we could possibly host an in-person event the week of June 6— 12t". JoAnn volunteered to look into whether the CB might be able to have a table at the Wednesday Farmers Market on East Hill. 8. Regular Reports and Updates: a. Scenic Resources Committee (Eva): Eva said she had no report. Mike S. reported that the town attorney has forwarded a license agreement to him for review which would be forwarded to Cornell. An agreement is necessary to place a sign at the scenic view located on Cornell property at Pine Tree and Snyder Hill Roads. Eva inquired about reviewing the draft and Mike said he would forward if there were any questions. b. Communications Committee (James):James reported that Facebook has locked him out of his account until he gets a mobile phone to receive text messages or a physical security key; he reported he is not willing to get either to allow "Facebook protect" to control his computer's browser access to Facebook webpages. Winter Storm Quinlan did not prevent Lori, Lindsay, Elise and her partner, Ed and James from a snowy bluebird box mouse eviction tour on the East Ithaca Nature Preserve on March 12th. The Cornell Botanic Gardens staffer who printed the hangtags for our Fischer trees, Sarah McNaull, has retired; they should still be available through Carrie Dillon, a new hire there. c. Tompkins County Environmental Management Council (EMC), (Lindsay): 3 EMC Meeting March 10, 2022 --There was a guest speaker discussing the salamander crossing at Thomas Road and Ellis Hollow Road. If the road was to be closed for migration, it would need to be coordinated between Caroline, Dryden, and Ellis Hollow communities. Questions came up about who to close it to (e.g. only through traffic), how long keep it closed? It was determined to be a policy/political question that can be informed by the guest speaker's research. Individuals can sign up for volunteer list by contacting— Lean Kanda, Ithaca College. -discussion of Earth Day activities the EMC could support/participate in (thinking of a clean-up activity); considering one or two dates for such an activity so members can meet. -idea for CBs like us to coordinate with public works if undertaking our own clean-up activity (e.g. to pick up the removed invasives or litter). -EMC is still curious about the Community Choice Aggregation progress. Lindsay relayed what had been discussed via email, but Regi (EMC chair) said she will investigate and knows who to talk to. -various other municipalities provided updates, but since Lindsay was driving, she did not get all the details. d. Six Mile Creek (6MC) Volunteer Monitoring Program (James): Volunteers had a zoom meeting March 4th to schedule 2022 sampling dates. 10 volunteers met 3 CSI staff. The group met Community Science Institute's new executive director in training, who'll be replacing Stephen Penningsroth in July. She's Grascen Shidemantle, a PhD candidate at SUNY Binghamton, researching aquatic environmental toxicity in amphibians. CSI is refuting a NY DEC notion that 61VIC is an "Impaired Waterbody" based on some unusually high pH readings they made in 61VIC at the Plain St bridge in 2011 and 2012. Volunteers took synoptic samples at 16 sites along 61VIC on Wednesday morning, March 30, for chemical and bacterial analysis at CSI's lab. Those interested in that analysis could see results for our 11/3/21 water sample at: .u�.y ue,o. .: rg/ v , t ,/ . .The regular biomonitoring open lab nights continue, for volunteers to help identify BMI on Thursday evenings 6-9 pm at the lab.Those interested in the BMI monitoring in Cayuga Lake's watershed might visit: http....//www...communutyscgence caEg/vp-content/uapVoadsf 202�/06/CSV-2020-�4.D�.V. 6�.�.S.V�.1��"5.. f though that biological assessment may be difficult to interpret due to its complicated nature. g. Cornell Botanic Gardens Natural Areas (NA) Program (James): Volunteers weeded woody invasives from CU's campus Fall Creek south NA in Forest Home, pulling the usual weeds as well as a species of Asian maple that was new to the group. Volunteers also hunted Hemlock Woolly Adelgid in the McLean Bog National Natural Landmark, finding the first evidence of a slight infestation beginning there just north of the border with the Elm Tree Golf Course. The usual spring cleaning of the trail through Cascadilla Gorge had 4 volunteers shoveling rocks, mud, &fractured shale off the path. There's some masonry repair still in progress, but the popular trail will open soon. 9. Other Business: It was overwhelmingly agreed by all present (Mike Roberts had left the meeting at 6:30)to send Elise Edwards' name to the Town Board to be placed on the April meeting agenda for appointment. 10. Review 2022 Work Goals / Discuss May Agenda: Joann mentioned that we are making progress on one of our work goals—placing the sign at the scenic view at Pine Tree and Snyder Hill Road on Cornell property. An agreement has been generated by the town's attorney, so the approval process has begun. 11. Adiournment: The meeting was adjourned at 7:00 PM. Minutes respectfully submitted by Joann Kowalski 4/10/2022 5