HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes 2021-01-07 Town of Ithaca Conservation Board (CB) Meeting
January 7, 2021, 5:30 p.m. (via Zoom Video Conference)
Final Minutes
Members: Eva Hoffmann, James Hamilton, Joann Kowalski, Lori Brewer (Chair), Mike Roberts
Associate Members: Lindsay Dombroskie
Staff: Michael Smith, Senior Planner
1. Persons to be Heard: none
2. Members' Concerns: none
3. Chair and Coordinator Reports
a. Chairperson (Lori):
i. Lori participated in the web-based New York State Association of
Conservation Commissions Annual Meeting December 15, 2020. More
information about the organization and who are members at:
s://nysacc.orq/whai-is-ncc On the topic of"How to have a
successful conservation advisory council"
1. Have protocol on what specifically comes to conservation
board, including revisions.
2. Focus on providing excellent recommendation including
supplemental education materials.
3. Do site visit (Town of Bedford shared their visit guide sheet, Mt
Kisco use drones to collect videos). Perhaps our
Environmental Review Committee (ERC) could use this.
4. Send members to other municipalities and have liaison on all
other significant boards
5. Recruit a student representative (e.g., Ithaca College [IC], or
Cornell). Who to reach out to? Perhaps Environmental
Sciences Department at IC and Cornell, Sunrise Movement?
6. Self educate (Research how to build a wetland boardwalk,
Invite professionals to provide education). We've had speakers
before, could try to continue.
ii. Municipal Conservation Boards in NY need an Open Space Index. Might
now or in a future meeting Mike Smith provide a little more about what
this is and details about the Town of Ithaca's or what currently is used?
The Town of Blooming Grove uses this Preservation Plan
https://www.townofbIoominggroveny.com/Portals/5/documents/BG%20Preser
vation%20PIa n%20Draft_WAppend ices_2020_1_17-com pressed.pdf?ver=2020-
01-21-153122-720. Perhaps Mike S. could give an overview of Town
approach, indicate what is being used now for guidance in place of the
1992/3 Index.
iii. Solar farms: Pollinator-Friendly Solar Act (A08083A/S06339A) on June
11, 2018. This establishes a statewide vegetation standard for the ground
under and around solar arrays to be planted with low-growing flowering
plants and native grasses—instead of traditional turf grass or gravel—that
provide urgently needed habitat for pollinators and birds.
iv. DEC Conservation and Land Use Webinars
.�.tps://www.dec.n�.gy/n rn. s/120 3 . .tI-_V
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b. Coordinator (Mike Smith):
i. Conference information was shared via email (Reimagining Connections:
The Stewardship Network Conference 2021 Wednesday, January 27th,
2021 - Friday, January 29th, 2021) if anyone is interested in attending.
There are funds for attendance fees and accommodation if needed
ii. Deer management program update: new DEC application in for Deer
Damage Permit for 2021 was submitted. A map of locations for 2021 was
shared. There are nine in total; we had six last year and dropped two, so
have added five new for the upcoming season. There is a good
distribution of sites throughout the town, generally located closer to the
City of Ithaca.
1. James: It would be good to space the sites out that are located in
the Six Mile Creek area, some sites further away from the City
would be great. It seems like the deer are getting driven further
out from city but toward outer town. Mike S. says they are fairly
well spread.
2. In general, we're focusing on an - 1.5 mile buffer around City of
Ithaca because DEC asked for a target area, and farms located
further toward edge of Town can apply for their own Deer Damage
permits. We can modify the boundary if desired.
iii. Two projects came in to the Planning Board:
1. 116 Woolf Lane located within a clustered subdivision would like
to build a garage, but needs a waiver to build within a 30-foot
setback from the road. Mike S. will send the project plan to the
ERC.
2. 308 and 309 Saranac Way (Deer Run subdivision). Two
properties next to Deer Run Homeowners Association (DRHA) are
going to acquire a small portion of land from the DRHA that they
have been maintaining and landscaping over an extended period
of time. The DRHA will still have many acres of land, the
properties are each acquiring - 5-ft strip. Mike Smith will send the
plans to the ERC.
4. Approval of Minutes: James moved, Eva seconded to pass the August 2020 minutes.
They were approved. The December 2020 minutes received minor modifications, and
Eva moved to approve and Lori seconded. They were approved.
5. Discussion of:
a. Vice-chair Nomination: Joann was nominated for one year. James moved, Eva
seconded the motion. Voting proceeded and Joann was approved.
b. Tompkins County EMC (Environmental Management Council) member
representative from the Town of Ithaca: Undecided. Lindsay will go to the next
EMC meeting to make sure someone from the Town CB will be there.
c. Town of Ithaca Conservation Board Activities and Accomplishments for 2020:
Modified the first point regarding the COVID-19 safe aspects and multiple shrubs
planted. Added the assistance with planting of South Hill Rec Way restoration
project.
d. Conservation Board 2021 Work Goals
i. Lindsay volunteered to convert the environmental action calendar into a
monthly or weekly FB post. She will also convert the list to a calendar
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overview document that we can pin to the page for people to reference.
Make sure is accessible on the town webpage. Joann will assist on the
social media posting goal as well too.
ii. The CB pamphlet should get updated, is a communications committee
job.
iii. Do we need to update the membership (Will, Vlad)? Then do we need to
recruit once again? Lori will reach out to confirm membership.
iv. Discussion of goals is to be continued...
e. Conservation Board Committees 2021: To be continued. Scenic resources
committee looking for new membership. James volunteered to chair
communications committee.
6. Regular Reports
a. ERC—Mike S. mentioned some projects that came up that he hadn't forwarded,
asked if interest in forwarding (included details in Coordinator Report). ERC said
they'd be interested in seeing both
b. Scenic Resources Committee: working on an issue with the parcel the current
sign is planned to be placed within. Mike S. is working on a license agreement
with Cornell.
c. Communications Committee: James suggests for 2020 Fischer Award: consider
Primitive Pursuits again; also Finger Lakes ReUse. (ReUse Community
Hardware, ReUse Caboose, Ithaca ReUse Center, ReSET job training program
in Computer Tech, Retail & Customer Service; Construction/Green Energy). Mike
S. will send out a press release next week.
d. Waste Awareness Committee: Lori has continued talking with TC material
management and there is a material purchasing policy that will be voted on at the
County level.
e. EMC: Joann attended meeting, mentioned that the EMC is going through a
restructure, and that they seem to have formed a Waste Reduction Committee
that might be a common interest with us. Lindsay volunteered to go to the next
meeting, but suggested other CB members also attend (Elizabeth, Carolyn?) so
we can determine our Town representative.
f. Six Mile Creek: CSI is processing BMI (benthic macroinvertebrate) samples on
Thursdays while being Covid safe.
g. Cornell Botanical Gardens: volunteers still unable to assist, but staff are felling
ash trees.
7. Other Business: we will continue to discuss work goals with committees. Start thinking
about Fischer Award nominees!
8. Review goals: going to continue working on them. Committees (and those interested in
committees) should chat to confirm goals.
9. Adjourn: 7:16 pm
Minutes drafted by Lindsay Dombroskie
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