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HomeMy WebLinkAboutCB Minutes 2013-01-03 Town of Ithaca Conservation Board January 3, 2013 7:00 p.m. Final minutes Members present: Diane Conneman, Andrew Goodell, James Hamilton, Jon Meigs, Kristine Shaw Staff: Mike Smith As there were no persons to be heard in attendance, nor enough members for a quorum, we waited till 7:07 to open the meeting. The few members present signed a list for taking minutes in 2013. We'll have to hand this around again at next month's meeting. James volunteered to take minutes tonight. Chair and Coordinator Reports. Chair: Kristine had nothing to report. Coordinator: Mike reported that there were two projects for Planning Board review: 1) The Town of Ithaca wants to build a big road-salt shed on the Public Works property that will allow 18-wheeler salt delivery trucks to unload right inside the shelter instead of dumping a load that then needs to be moved again. 2) E. Monkmeyer has a sketch plan for Hawk's Nest at Springwood on East King Rd. that proposes a 50 unit development. Business: Minutes for the 12/06/12 meeting could not be approved, as they had not been submitted yet. The Pest Management "White Paper," now in its 3rd draft, was reviewed and discussed. Kristine noted that the deer pest problem needed better integration in the document. James wanted us to keep the document focused on "pest management," and not just on herbicides and invasive plants, as described on the meeting's agenda. Mike noted that resistance to harming deer in any way would probably provoke many animal lovers into disregarding the rest of the important message we want to make about the Town's responsibility for managing a healthy ecosystem. Diane noted the sentence on Knotweed propagation needed revision, to make it clear how "people" are "accidentally propagating" that weed. James thought the paper should end with a section defining specific action the town should take to put policy to work. Insecticides might be appropriate treatment for large ash trees to protect them from the Emerald Ash Borer. Herbicides would help control swallow-wort along the recreational trail at Helen's Way in Westhaven Preserve; without pesticide application, constant ripe seed harvesting will be needed. James would like residents to be allowed to trap deer for consumption on their property; a "Clover trap" can do this humanely. Intermunicipal cooperation will be needed to manage the swallow-wort invasion along East Shore Drive in the Village of Lansing, downhill from the intersection with Cayuga Heights Rd. The swallow-wort invasion at the Teton Ct. water tank needs continued supervision. Kristine will work on a 4th draft to incorporate our suggested improvements. Considering the water conservation issue, we were glad to hear that Herb Engman thought a consultant should be hired to look into revising water rates. Nick Goldsmith has also indicated he's still working on it, and should have more to tell us by February's meeting. Diane brought an informative article, "Driving them to Drink," by Stephen Ursery in the October 2011 "American City and County" magazine, in which the complicated problems of assuring sufficient revenue while promoting conservation is discussed (see http://americancityandcounty.com/water/operations mgmnt/declining- water-demand-201110 ). We revised last year's "Work Goals" list with suggested changes as follows: Draft Conservation Board 2013 Work Goals a) Continue participating in the review of the Town's new Comprehensive Plan, to make sure it promotes environmental conservation. b) Install finished View Sign at East Shore Park; design the next one in that project series at Longview's Danby Road scenic pull-off. Promote awareness of importance of scenic resources. c) Encourage enactment of Southwest Glens and Creeks and East Shore Conservation Zones by working with Planning Staff. d) Investigate proactive pest management on Town properties. Submit final draft of white paper on pest control. Continue monitoring Emerald Ash Borer, Hemlock Woolly Adelgid, Japanese Knotweed, and Swallow-wort. Educate residents and municipal staff on need for pest management action. e) Continue to monitor and comment on regulations to prevent environmental damage from gas drilling. Provide outreach to residents. f) Continue outreach projects, including Facebook page and newsletter articles. g) Attend to Bolton Point's greenhouse gas emissions from water pumping; help implement action to reduce Town's GHG via new water pricing structure or by any other suitable means. h) Continue ongoing activities such as Fischer Award and Environmental Review Committee reports to Planning Board. Respond to Town Board requests. i) Make sure something actually gets done in real world; consider how our advice leads to results. Committee Assignments for 2013: James noted he'd like to hand over the chair of the Communications Committee to another interested member, and hoped Susan might take over, especially as she's done such a great job with the Facebook page project. The few of us attending realized we'd have to review committees next month, when we hope more members will be present. Regular Reports and Updates: Environmental Review Committee: no report. Scenic Resources Committee: we now have the new East Shore Park interpretive view sign, and plan to install it after spring brush cleanup in late April or early May. Communications Committee: the Conservation Board's Facebook page now has 49 "likes." Mike noted that the Spring Town Newsletter could use a Conservation article in April. Southwest Glens and Creeks Conservation Zone Committee: the Planning Committee has referred the project to the full Town Board, which will consider it in its next scheduled "Study Session" meeting. Tompkins County EMC: no report Sixmile Creek Volunteer Monitors: no report City of Ithaca Natural Areas Commission: no report Comprehensive Plan: Diane noted Comp Planners had a party to celebrate its completion. The next stage of this process will involve public review, so we don't need to include it any more in our "Regular Report" session. Diane also informed us that this would be her last meeting with us on the Conservation Board. We'll miss her! Cornell Plantations Natural Areas: James reported the Natural Areas Volunteers enjoyed a party, too. Two short presentations on the Plantations sustainability plans and on sustainable gardening were presented then. There was no Other Business. For February's agenda, we plan to revisit the Pest Management White Paper, revise the draft Work Goals for 2013, discuss water conservation again, and consider an earlier meeting time. Andy and James would like a 5:30 meeting, which would make for a much easier commute to Town Hall. We adjourned at 8:00 PM. These draft Minutes written by James Hamilton 1/4/13.