HomeMy WebLinkAboutCB Minutes 2013-03-07 Town of Ithaca Conservation Board
March 7, 2013
Final Minutes
Members Present: Chair, Kristine Shaw; V.C. James Hamilton; Andy Goodell,
Eva Hoffmann, Vladimir Micic, Susan Perri, Ellie Stewart; Jon Meigs
Staff: Mike Smith, Environmental Planner
Guest: Supervisor Herb Engman
1. Persons to be heard: none
2. Member concerns: none
3. Chair report: none
Coordinator Report: No significant new Planning Board applications up for
review. Workshops on woodlot management and home conservation are to be
held soon in Cortland.
4. Minutes of CB meeting of February 7, 2013, approved with minor editorial
changes.
6. Town Water Conservation Efforts: Discussion taken up next to accommodate
Supervisor Engman.
Vladimir reported on his follow-up on studies of actions undertaken by local
governments across the US to reduce municipal water consumption by means of
a tiered fee/rate structure. The studies showed that higher rates for increased
use resulted in overall reductions in water use of between 1% and 8% per
system, though costs per customer increased; Vladimir questioned whether this
outcome was fair or desirable. He commented that in Ithaca, a large portion of
users are students, who are probably less aware of the cost of water use since
they pay indirectly through rent to landlords who bear the costs directly; the
students, as end users, thus have limited incentive to conserve. He noted that
these various studies each approached the general issue in different ways,
depending on factors such as what they wanted to get out of it.
Herb explained that the term 'demand charge' for electricity means that users
get charged at a rate that should cover the cost of power at maximum demand,
even if average use is lower, since it is the system's goal to meet maximum
demand. He reported that in a committee of the Bolton Point authority, of which
he is a member, discussion of rate structure showed more support for the
concept of'fairness' in setting a rate structure, rather than either 'conservation' or
'cost savings' (which latter isn't as flexible as might be thought, because fixed
system costs like infrastructure and overhead are fairly constant and are greater
than the cost of power to operate). He asked what is the 'fair' share of fixed costs
(70% of the total), and what is the 'fair' way to charge for consumption?
James raised the issue of environmental costs, such as CO2 for pumping. He
noted that the present power provider, while inexpensive, is a heavy coal user.
Herb stated that he hopes Bolton Point will engage a consultant to look further
into the overall issue.
(Nick Goldsmith, Sustainability Planner, entered the meeting at this point via
speakerphone)
Herb noted that Bolton Point had seen decreasing demand for a few years
before 2012, possibly due to such factors as higher precipitation levels than in
'12, as well as increased customer use of means to reduce water consumption,
such as low-flush toilets.
Kristine asked Nick to try to determine the Town's share of the costs of
pumping water in the Bolton Point system, including pumping to Town water
tanks.
Eva stated that, regarding the matter of'fairness,' consideration should be
given to the facts of the proportion of small, low-water-use households, many of
which consist of low-income, elderly, retired people.
Herb commented that, in fact, the cost per gallon in Ithaca is actually relatively
low (compared to other areas).
James stated that, based on his experience in a 4-person household that
actively tries to limit water use, a 5000-gallon per quarter first-tier rate level may
be too low.
In conclusion, the Board asked Vladimir to continue researching the
experience of other water supply entities in addressing the matter of encouraging
water conservation through equitable rate structuring.
5. Town management of invasives/pests. Minor edits were made to the text of the
Draft White Paper which the CB intends to present to the Town Board in support
of development of an official Town approach to invasives management.
Jon reported that he had approached Anna Stalter, who is experienced in and
knowledgeable about invasives management, to look the draft over and to
provide comment. (Meigs represents the CB on the City of Ithaca Natural Areas
Commission, of which Stalter is also a member) She has not had time to provide
feedback, and he asked whether the Board would be willing to allow another day
for response, before the White Paper is finalized and sent to the Town Board and
Supervisor; there was tacit assent.
7. Discussion of CB outreach: tabled
8. Committee reports.
Scenic Resources: The Town's Public Works Department will emplace the sign
for the East Shore Park in late April or early May; an unveiling ceremony will be
organized.
Communications: The committee proposes, and the Board accepts, that the
Fischer Award for 2012 be given to the Cornell University Natural Areas
Program, whose continuing activities enhance the appeal of Cornell's natural
areas within the Town.
Work continues on updating the CB brochure.
The committee is drafting an article for the Town's Spring Newsletter; it
will publicize the East Shore Park sign and the recently launched CB Facebook
Page.
Conservation Zoning: The Southwest Glens and Creeks Conservation Zone
report has been reviewed by the Town Board, which gave the go-ahead for
proceeding. The next step is to hold a public information presentation and
evaluate resulting comments, before finalizing a conservation zoning proposal
that would be subject to a Public Hearing before presentation to the Town Board
for action.
Mike will prepare materials for public information and display. CB
members will need to take a major role in presentation, and help record public
comments. Possible dates for the presentation were suggested, but not finalized.
6-Mi.Creek Volunteer Monitoring: activity continues.
Cornell Plantations Natural Areas Commission: Hemlock Wooly Adelgid
monitoring continues; more infestation has been found in areas monitored by
Plantations, including around Beebe Lake. Various treatment measures are
being employed.
Community Energy Action Plan Advisory Committee: The committee is
working to set annual goals for energy use reduction (overall 80% by 2050), and
to identify actions to take to reach annual goals.
9. Other business: Supervisor Engman addressed an issue that had been
brought to his attention, concerning reimbursement of expenses incurred by
members of the CB in conducting Town business. There is no current system for
approving and processing expenses such as, for instance, baby-sitting and
parking. Some possibilities are per diem reimbursement, or allowances for
regularly-scheduled meetings, but incidental, occasional expenses are a different
matter. He asked for Board member input. The CB was generally in favor of a
small per diem reimbursement ($10 - $20 per regular meeting), but liked the idea
of being able to opt in or out, depending on how the program is set up.
10. April CB meeting agenda items: Continue discussion of water conservation
efforts, focusing on fairness, and where CB effort might be most effective; and
CB outreach.
Meeting adjourned at 8.55 pm.
Minutes submitted by Jon Meigs