Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAbout2019.01.28 WRC Final MinutesPage 1 of 3 TOMPKINS COUNTY WATER RESOURCES COUNCIL Monday, January 28, 2019 TCAT Main Conference Room Final Minutes Attendance Member Seat Member Seat Sharon Anderson P Cooperative Extension Vacant At-Large Fay Benson A Agriculture Vacant At-Large Chris Bordlemay Padilla P Water Purveyor Vacant Recreation Cynthia Brock P Municipal Vacant Biz & Industry Liz Cameron P Co. Environmental Health Mara Alper P Associate Amanda Champion P County Government Bill George P Associate Barry Goodrich P Watershed Organization Marina Howarth P Associate Ed Gottlieb E At-Large Roxy Johnston P Associate Michelle Henry P EMC Representative Dooley Kiefer P Associate Kristen Hychka E Municipal Government Jose Lozano P Associate Emelia “Mia” Jumbo P At-Large Todd Miller P Associate Darby Kiley P County Planning & Sustain. Niamh O’Leary P Associate Lynn Leopold E Municipal Government Steve Penningroth P Associate Jon Negley E Soil & Water Cons. District Elaine Quaroni P Associate Frank Proto E At-Large Marjory Rinaldo-Lee P Associate Brian Rahm P Environment Joanne Trutko P Associate Linda Wagenet P At-Large Tom Vawter E Associate Guests: Nathaniel Launer (CSI) Call to Order – Chair Cynthia Brock called the meeting to order at 4:19 p.m. Privilege of the Floor – None Agenda Review/Changes – Approval of December draft minutes as well as election of officers for 2019 and new member recommendations were moved to later in meeting due to lack of quorum. Committees discussion and sign-ups – Darby Kiley a) To prepare for 2019 committee sign-ups, Darby shared a list of key action items from the Water Quality Strategy, which is the basis for forming special committees. Cynthia had some questions regarding the mandate of the Grants/Finance (standing) Committee. She and Darby will connect with Jon Negley after the meeting (who most recently chaired the committee) to hear his thoughts. Darby recommended waiting until 2020-2021 to form a Water Drought Committee as it would align better with the update of the County Hazard Mitigation Plan. Darby mentioned that the responsibilities of keeping municipal and county officials informed of wetland regulations and changes may be more appropriately in the purview of the Cayuga Watershed Intermunicipal Organization. b) Members discussed merits of, and then voted on, creating a HABs committee. Action: Darby Kiley made a motion, which Sharon Anderson seconded, to create a HABs committee. Motion carried. c) 2019 committee sign-up sheet was circulated. Page 2 of 3 d) Cynthia explained her idea for piloting a new online reporting process for committees. In lieu of giving a verbal report at monthly meetings (which members would be welcome to do but no longer required), committee chair would enter the report via an online Google Form (https://goo.gl/forms/qdznDUysGNOtH8Nz2). These written reports would then be incorporated in the meeting minutes. WRC members were open, and in some cases enthusiastic, about trying this new system. Committee Reports as Needed Cynthia informed everyone that committee annual reports for 2018 need to be submitted by February 15th. Outreach & Education – Todd Miller Todd continues working on map. (The Planning and Sustainability Department’s GIS specialist might be able to plot a draft copy for members to view at the February meeting.) Joanne Trutko is compiling information on public access points on the lake, and a subgroup is researching and gathering data on invasive species in Cayuga’s waters. Watershed Rules & Regulations – Roxy Johnston Committee eagerly awaits the release of the new draft Watershed Rules & Regulations for Owasco Lake. Monitoring Partnership – Roxy Johnston Committee is still waiting to hear from DEC on the TMDL and comments its members submitted on the HABs Strategic Action Plan for Cayuga Lake. Members are wrapping up 2018 data collection for invasive species and HABs and working with DEC to set up schedule for monitoring HABs and other water quality issues later this year. Roxy recently attended a Finger Lakes Research Council conference, where Finger Lakes Hub staff reported on initiatives to collaborate with USGS on early HABs detection and bloom confirmation. Emerging Contaminants – Jose Lozano The committee did not meet. However, Jose updated group on developments related to emerging contaminants in general. A tour of Cayuga Lake with colleagues at Floating Classroom is tentatively scheduled for July. The intention behind this outing is to offer an update on microplastics and emerging contaminants. The tour is organized by the Ithaca College and the Ithaca Area Wastewater Treatment Facility, IAWWTF, with funds from the Park Foundation. Also, the board of the IAWWTF helped fund a large portion of the purchase of a state-of- the-art digital epifluorescence microscope, which is crucial for studying microplastics and treatment processes. Water Withdrawals – Mara Alper Environmental lawyer Rachel Treichler spoke to the committee via conference call about approaches local municipalities have taken in regards to water withdrawal regulation for private entities. The WRC Water Withdrawal Committee can summarize and develop these to share with county municipalities and the legislature. Action: Approval of December 2018 Minutes – Linda Wagenet made a motion, which Amanda Champion seconded, to approve the Dec. 17, 2018, minutes. Motion carried with one editorial insertion. Election of 2019 Offers/Board Recruitment Update – Membership & Nominating Committee Committee chair Marjory Rinaldo-Lee presented the 2019 officer slate for the Council’s consideration. Action: Amanda Champion moved the re-election of Cynthia Brock as chair, Frank Proto as first vice chair, and Liz Cameron as second vice chair. Christopher Bordlemay Padilla seconded the motion, which was approved unanimously by the members present. Page 3 of 3 Marjory presented the committee’s recommendations for the two vacant at-large seats as well as an associate member. Action: Linda Wagenet made a motion to recommend two at-large members: Elizabeth Thomas to fill the remainder of a one-year term and Marina Howarth to fill a three-year term and to approve Annie Bastoni for associate membership. Sharon Anderson seconded. Motion carried. Chair & Staff Reports • George Fowler and Joan Jurkowich have resigned from Water Resources Council. • Candidates are still needed for Business and Industry and Recreation seats. • A presentation of the City’s Flood Mapping and Mitigation Study will be held at public event later this spring. Cynthia will keep everyone posted on the timing. Adjournment – Chair Cynthia Brock adjourned the meeting at 5:32 pm.