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Home My WebLink AboutCB Minutes 2020-09-03 Town of Ithaca Conservation Board Thursday, September 3,2020 (via Zoom) Final Minutes Members Present: Mike Robert,Eva Hoffmann,Vladimir Micic, Lori Brewer,James Hamilton, Carolyn Lee Associate Members Present: Lindsay Dombroskie Staff. Mike Smith, Senior Planner Guests: Joann Kowalski 1.Persons to be heard-none 2. Members concerns -none 3. Chair and Coordinator reports a.Chair—none b.Coordinator—Mike—Project on South Hill Rec Way. Coming up with plantings of native shrubs +invasives removals. Moving forward with contractor.Part of the volunteer piece has fallen through. J Talbot was working with Trees of Tompkins group, so no volunteer group. May try to invite Town Board members. Bigger volunteer effort doesn't look like it will happen now. • Mike R: when was planned? • Mike S: no specific date yet. Guess is end of Sept/October. Will not do a public press release,but may go out to Town boards and committees. [James Hamilton volunteered as did Carolyn Lee.] 4.Approval of minutes from August 6,2020—none yet. 5. Continue planning for the fall 2020 Richard B. Fischer Environmental Conservation Award tree planting at Salem Park a. Mike R: emailed R Howe and B Goodman and Rod had accepted the invitation. So Sept. 20, 1 lam, Salem Park(up Hanshaw Rd from Community Corners,left on Salem,right on Birchwood Dr.North,main entrance few lots east of Birchwood-Salem; South edge of Sapsucker Woods). Storm date: Following Sunday, Sept. 27. Mike S. will send directions. • Mike R: Shade or wet feet concerns? • Lindsay D: What species? • James H: Amelanchier arborea.Plus anything else with bird berries. Maybe better idea to plant a mix. • Mike R: BYO refreshments. James H: bring lightweight hand tools. 6.Update on research of compostable/biodegradable take out containers a. Lori B: Eva, Carolyn and Lori had a conference call in August and spoke about next steps. One of the things we're exploring is what's happening at the Recycling Center already. • ReBusiness Partner Program https://recycletompkins.org/other-programs-and- services/rebusiness-partners/ • Our approach would be to learn what they've done already and see how we may dovetail with whatever may be happening. ReBusiness program seems to recruit Tompkins County businesses and help them set up programs related to recycling—e.g.,bins, flyers, 1 to get their customers on board. Businesses are broad. Kendall is one of them; includes restaurants;lengthy list. Want to learn a bit more about that. Lori contacted Recycling Materials Management folks (Barb Eckstrom). She responded that they couldn't meet with us until October. We'll have a conversation with them in October to learn more what they've already done. Don't want to re-do or reinvent their wheel. Trajectory from the point of purchase to where they were ending up. • Eva: impressed to see the list of members and variety. Town of Ithaca,itself is not listed but Bolton Point is listed.Not a universal,widespread membership yet,but could be. • What else should we ask about: • Mike R: would be curious about result of membership—e.g., saving in amount of trash. Whether of benefit to be a part of this program. One of the benefits is the recognition,but not widely known. So perhaps an improvement to the incentives program. • Lori: we could think about businesses in the Town of Ithaca,but first gathering what metrics they've gathered if any. Understanding the history of the program. • Carolyn L: can we get a google doc going for CB members to post questions? • Lori;Also would be good to know whether they're in regular communication with the"members". Could start the google doc with the questions. We'll create and circulate google doc. • Lindsay: if they're asking programs to buy certain containers under the pretext that they're more environmentally friendly but they can't really be composted or have a positive effect,would be good to know. If there's a brand that they can compost,would be good to know. • Lori: When it comes to recycle/compostables at the County level,it's driven by who will take those materials. So one of the things on the educational end is to remind businesses that those"compostable"containers go to the landfill. If anyone has any ideas on the ongoing education front,would be good to ask them. Cayuga compost won't accept any of them; won't actually even take paper plates! https://recycletompkins.org/whatdoidowith/ • Mike R: Action can be local but can also be taken further up, e.g., state level. • Eva: Think a lot of education is needed; Cayuga Compost will take lawn waste but not takeout containers. • Lori: Recycle Center has been generous, so sure can have ongoing conversations once started. 7. Regular reports and updates a. Environmental Review Committee(Mike)— • 2-lot subdivision located at 221 and 227 Dubois Road—Seems not a major transaction. • Lindsay:Note:there is a stream; so should be aware of that.Transfer of stream from one owner to the other,so should be aware of the setback restriction. • Eva:Does staff make the applicants aware? • Mike S:yes,zoning,set backs.Etc. • Lori: Would agree. Opportunity to remind people what's already on the books re: management of property. b. Scenic Resources Committee(Eva) • Eva:Pine Tree Road sign language. some confusion about who has any say re: that spot of land.Joe Talbot will continue to work on it.Last time,James gave us a markup for the sign and requested comments. 2 • Lindsay: Like Eva's language • Carolyn: Liked Eva's language.Any action need to be taken? • Eva:it's not ready to be voted on;no drawing ready yet. • Mike S: CB will have many rounds of comments on this. c. Communications Committee(Will) • Mike S:Fisher Award is really the only thing now.Maybe photo and media release after the fact. Should avoid more than 20 people. d.Tompkins County EMC(Vladimir) • Vlad: Up for renewal for EMC membership,but not sure can attend. Let Vlad and Mike R know if anyone else is interested. • Lindsay: need to be a full CB member? [General: sense is no such restriction.] • Mike S: Town Board makes a recommendation. To check: town resident and citizenship. e. Six Mile Creek Volunteer Monitoring Program(James) • James H: Three sites in Six Mile Creek have been sampled for Benthic Macroinvetrebrates: near 600 Road in Slaterville Springs,just above German Cross Road in Bethel Grove,and below Potters Falls in Ithaca.Another sampling will happen in the City.Very dry season. Lowest creek level in last 25 years; seems to have affected population—of midges,mayflies, for example. Had enough water for sampling. • James H: The other news—Community Science Institute activity:harmful algal blooms program doing well.90-some volunteers monitoring shorelines.43 blooms sampled on 21 days,most in Northern part of the lake. Of the 43 blooms,29 exceeded the safe recreational contact. South half only 11 blooms,and only 1 of those was above the recreational limit at Stewart Park. • Report:http://www.coinmuniiyscience.org/2020/08/28/ca�uga-lake-cyanobacteria-habs- monitoring-program-continues-to-grow-in-its-third- year/?fbclid=IwAR38mtU211-J&VASyOEZQIMsxM8z6KLsi kSQiB6A163bd6VUATyz2rf LdbO f. Cornell Botanic Gardens Natural Areas Program(James) • James H:volunteers have been zoom trained in"plague rules." Area is looking pretty— comer of Dryden Road and Forest Home—visit the park and have a picnic! • James H: Bernd Blossey—has been busy with Japanese knotweed control.Plant louse study— has been used in Canada and UK,approved for use in the US to use the biocontrol to control knotweed. 8. Other Business -Nomination and Election of a Vice-Chair for the remainder of 2020 a. Mike R: in need of Vice Chair. Requested/nominated Lori Brewer James H: nominates; Carolyn L seconds. All in favor-Passes. Lori B: Accepts. 9. Review 2020 Work Goals/Discuss October Agenda a. James H: suggested creating a committee for compostable project. Mike R: agree room for sustained engagement. 10. Adj ourn at 6:49 pm. Minutes by Carolyn Lee 3