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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2019.04.24 WRC Final MinutesPage 1 of 2 TOMPKINS COUNTY WATER RESOURCES COUNCIL Monday, April 15, 2019 TCAT Main Conference Room Final Minutes Attendance Member Seat Member Seat Sharon Anderson P Cooperative Extension Brian Rahm P Environment Fay Benson E Agriculture Elizabeth Thomas P At-Large Chris Bordlemay Padilla E Water Purveyor Linda Wagenet E At-Large Cynthia Brock P Municipal Mara Alper E Associate Liz Cameron P Co. Environmental Health Annie Bastoni P Associate Amanda Champion P County Government Bill George P Associate Barry Goodrich P Watershed Organization Roxy Johnston P Associate Ed Gottlieb A At-Large Dooley Kiefer P Associate Michelle Henry P EMC Representative Jose Lozano P Associate Marina Howarth P At-Large Todd Miller P Associate Kristen Hychka E Municipal Government Niamh O’Leary P Associate Emelia “Mia” Jumbo P At-Large Steve Penningroth P Associate Darby Kiley P County Planning & Sustain. Elaine Quaroni P Associate Lynn Leopold P Municipal Government Marjory Rinaldo-Lee A Associate Jon Negley A Soil & Water Cons. District Joanne Trutko P Associate Frank Proto P At-Large Tom Vawter A Associate Guests: Tee-Ann Hunter Call to Order – Chair Cynthia Brock called the meeting to order at 4:16 p.m. Privilege of the Floor – None Agenda Review/Changes – None Presentation: Cayuga Lake Watershed Intermunicipal Organization (IO) – Tee-Ann Hunter Tee-Ann Hunter, chair of the IO and Town of Ithaca board member, spoke to the group about the IO’s history, current activities, and future needs and goals. The IO was formed in the late 1990s as part of the NYS Department of State’s watershed management planning practice. Its core documents include a Watershed Characterization (2000) and a Watershed Restoration and Protection Plan (RPP, 2001, updated in 2017), which were developed with the help of state funding. The Characterization is particularly helpful as it contains lots of information on the lake, which the IO tries to keep updated to identify emerging trends. During her presentation, Tee-Ann reviewed with WRC members the list of organizational goals for the IO as defined in the 2017 RPP. These include providing a forum for intermunicipal action, setting priorities from the RPP for an action plan, approving annual budget and work plan, and approving funding requests. The IO received a $128,000 three-year grant to redefine its organizational and financial structure. As part of that initiative, they will develop criteria for setting priorities for the 2017 RPP update, identify specific projects, and prepare the respective cost and design estimates. To accomplish these action items, the IO has contracted with the Cayuga Lake Watershed Network to research and present three to five examples of successful watershed governance structures, facilitate discussion and implementation of organizational restructuring, and coordinate Page 2 of 2 public outreach and education. They have also hired the Central New York Regional Planning and Development Board to review watershed governance models and lead on prioritizing projects, and are forming a Project Advisory Committee with representatives from the NYS Departments of Environmental Conservation, Health, Transportation, and Parks, Recreation, and Historic Preservation, as well as local government (e.g. County Health, Soil & Water Conservation, Planning, Public Works). The Town of Ithaca holds the grant, as it has done in the past, because the IO cannot apply directly due to its organizational structure. Tee-Ann and others on the IO would like to explore alternate ways to receive funding and administer grants. She gave as an example Cayuga County incorporating a $1/annual fee in public water bills as a mechanism to pay for a watershed manager. Possible ideas include having one of our state senators sponsor a member item and pursuing a shared services plan. Liz Thomas suggested bringing topic to TCCOG for consideration. Action: Approval of March 2019 Minutes – Frank Proto made a motion, seconded by Michelle Henry, to approve the March 18, 2019, minutes. Motion carried. Committee Reports (as needed) None Chair’s Report – City of Ithaca will present its Flood Hazard Analysis study to the public on April 30th at Tompkins County Public Library. The draft Owasco Lake Watershed Rules and Regulations are out for review by stakeholders and the public. Regarding a comment letter on the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency proposed revision of “waters of the United States” as defined under the Clean Water Act, the letter, which will be submitted during the public comment period, was approved with few minor edits that the Executive Committee will work on immediately following the meeting. Staff Report – Darby forwarded information about the Hollingshead Wetland Maps for comments to other advisory boards (e.g. Environmental Management Council, Agriculture and Farmland Protection Board), DEC, USGS, and other relevant bodies. As of yet, she has received no feedback. However, colleague Scott Doyle in the Planning and Sustainability Department confirmed the Ag and Farmland Protection Board would not be sending comments. She plans to bring the wetland maps back to the WRC for consideration in June. Member Announcements • The annual “Municipal Waters Taste Test” will take place at Streets Alive on April 28. City of Ithaca Water Plant will be scheduling tours of the plant to take place during National Drinking Water Week, May 5-11. • An educational tour on emerging contaminants and microplastics will be held June 19th on the MVTeal. • Todd will share PDFs of presentations given at the Owasco Lake HABs Symposium with Sharon to post on the CCE-TC website. Once posted, a link to the presentation on CCE-TC will be added to the WRC website. Adjournment – Chair Cynthia Brock adjourned the meeting at 5:40 pm.