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HomeMy WebLinkAboutCB Minutes 2012-02-02 Town of Ithaca Conservation Board February 2, 2012 7:00 PM Final Minutes Members Present: Kristine Shaw (Chair), Ellie Stewart, Tony Ingraham, Andy Goodell, James Hamilton, Vladimir Micic. Associate Members Present: Jon Meigs, Diane Conneman, Aaron Donato Staff Present: Mike Smith(Coordinator) Guests: Two students from the New Visions Program. 1. Persons to be heard: None 2. Members concerns: Ellie was concerned with the news that Federal funding had been taken away all funding for the Rails to Trails program, which includes the Black Diamond trail along the old L.V.R.R track bed. Representative Hanna voted for removing funding, as well as funding for "Safeway to School"programs. The vote also allows states to build bridges that do not accommodate pedestrians and bikes. James mentioned a mailing list called "Walter Hang's Toxics Targeting"which keeps watch over various proceedings regarding hydrofracking. A recent e-mail sent out mentioned the NYS DEC, which has an advisory board which is made up partly of ecologists and partly of people working with the drilling industry. The industry people are pushing for a trial run of 300 wells in New York State, and Hang wants to get the message that this is not right to those advisory board members who represent the interests of the gas drilling industry. 3. Chair and Coordinator reports: Chair: Kristine will pass out a list of notetakers via email. Coordinator: Mike passed on some information from a recent Planning board meeting. - LaTourelle was up for a sign variance. - Conifer West Hill presented a site plan and subdivision with the plan of creating 72 more units of senior housing. - A sketch plan was presented by Ithaca Biodiesel, a company looking to have a start up location in the area close to the Ithaca Beer Company. If business goes well they may look to expand. -There will be a new water tank near Coddington Rd.; it will be larger and replace the old Northview Water Tank. Cayuga Lake Watershed news letter was passed around, as was a list of updated CB member's terms and appointments. Picture of Richard Fisher was lost in the redesigning of the new Town of Ithaca Website. It was noted that Cornell was likely to have a picture of him on file. There will be a presentation at Town Hall on green building code presented through NYSERDA on February 29th. It will be a chance to learn more about new energy codes and the benefits of green buildings and is open to all those who wish to attend. From the Codes and Ordinances Committee—Committee did not finish regulations on timber harvesting, decided to leave certain wording in place despite board suggestions. 4. Business: December Minutes —Approved with some minor changes. January Minutes —Sent out via email, and because not many people had the chance to read them; approval was postponed until the March 2012 meeting. 5. Prioritizing Work Goals for 2012: In prior years the goals have not been prioritized because priorities change. James spoke out against prioritizing them because the bottom issues may get left out completely. Jon feels it is important to give an idea of some of the most crucial issues. Diane suggested a division between top priorities and ongoing priorities. Certain issues can be tackled by ad hoc committees or special attention in certain months. Tony suggested highlighting major goals but still attending to the ongoing goals. It was agreed that goals need to get on the agenda to be addressed. Certain issues need to be discussed in certain months, and some were put on future agendas. The Comprehensive Plan will be coming into focus in April, the Fisher deadline is approaching in March, and certain work goals pertaining to invasive species should be handled at the time of year specific to those species. Most seemed pleased with this method, and James suggested that work goals should be checked at each meeting and used to set the next months agenda. 6. Reviewing C.B. Brochure: Revisions of who is on the board to include all types of people. The Comprehensive Plan Update section was revised to portray the board's relationship with the proceedings of the Comprehensive Plan more accurately. Diane suggested highlighting the input on policy, especially on fracking, both locally and on a larger scale. In this section "engaging"was changed to "reviews and recommends policies related to the environment and conservation". Vladimir suggested putting the seal of the Town of Ithaca on the brochure, to make it look official. 7. Reports: E.R.C: Conifer Housing and Northview water tank have been sent out for review, as has the Biodiesel project. Diane voiced concern over how the Biodiesel plant would fit in with the Comprehensive Plan and if it would be compatible with the existing and proposed surrounding uses. Scenic Resources: Tony had recently met with an NPS employee from the Erie Canal National Heritage Corridor, who had used Fossil Graphics and mentioned that he had problems with them in the past. There are few companies that specialize in waysides but opportunities are still being explored. Herb Engman saw information on a program that potentially can fund signs from room tax grants, that could help cover the costs. Communications: Press release out in papers for the Fisher Award. Town newsletter articles are due by February 27 h. Coy Glen: Has not met yet, but will be meeting soon EMC: The last meeting was mainly organizational. Six Mile Creek: Attempting to select the next sampling date. There was a symposium on January I Ph on the future of Ithaca's Drinking Water at the Tompkins Co. Library. It was well attended, and reported at the symposium that the state of the Creek was good. Check valves on the raw water lines need to be replaced. Data on the population of benthic macro-invertebrates as an indicator of stream health show that the stream is healthy. Such data can be used as red flags from fracking. City NAC: Gun Hill Citizens Advisory group states that the cleanup of the Gun Hill site (Ithaca Falls) is nowhere near complete. Comprehensive Plan: Diane shared information on the Natural Resources and Environment section of the Comp Plan and asked the CB to review it and bring comments back to the next meeting. Cornell Plantations Natural Areas Academy: James completed the program and is now a mentor. 8. Other Business: Coy Glen and the Comprehensive Plan will be featured on next month's agenda. Vladimir expressed interest in the Coy Glen Committee and the E.R.C. 9. Adjourned 8:57 PM Minutes were prepared by Aaron.