HomeMy WebLinkAboutCB Minutes 2015-09-03 Town of Ithaca
Conservation Board
Final Minutes
5:33 p.m.,Thursday September 3, 2015
Members in attendance: Ellie Stewart (Chair),Jon Meigs, Eva Hoffman, Carrie Simon,Vladimir Micic,
Michael Roberts
Staff: Mike Smith (Coordinator)
Guest: Rena Scroggins
Member Concerns
Mike Roberts edited a draft of the Conservation Board's advertisement for new members. Some added
to this before the meeting. The draft was discussed briefly. ACTION—Mike R will post a copy on the
web in a format all can see and contribute to. Mike Smith will pull text, as it stands on the 18`"of the
month,to include in the Fall Newsletter.
Eva requested a list of listservs for the various neighborhoods of Ithaca. She wanted to know if there
was one for her neighborhood in particular, and wanted to know how to start one. ACTION—Mike S will
provide such a list to the board.
Carrie is interested in performing a site visit to St Catherine's to observe how the addition might impact
the surrounding area.
Persons to be Heard
Rena has many interests that align with the Conservation Board's purview: deer management, a regional
watershed plan, finding which municipal entities are responsible for what(vis a vis environment and
quality of life) and the Fischer Award. She also wanted to know what the nature of our interaction was
with the Town Board.
Jon pointed out that the City was responsible for the management of the Six Mile Creek watershed (this
was pertinent because Rena lives proximally to it).
Eva would like more details on the planned re-development of East Hill Plaza. She pointed out that the
citizens of Forest Home Drive were granted a meeting with University officials who had information on
the project, and wanted to know why only that constituency was informed. Ellie noted that it may not
have been Cornell that initiated that meeting.
Chair and Coordinator Reports
Ellie will be gone for November for familial reasons.
Mike Smith reviewed the current development plans the Town was considering; namely,the addition to
St. Catherine's Church and a new cell tower on Mecklenburg Road on West Hill. Details are scant on this
project at the moment, but we will be notified as Mike receives more information. There was some
discussion about coordinating a site visit for this project.
There is an Ithaca College Freshman who is interested in joining the Conservation Board as an Associate.
There is a Conference on the Environment for New York State County EMCs in Ithaca on October 15-17`h
Mike can take care of the entrance fee for any member interested in attending.
Mike shared photos of a few Ash trees he witnessed on a recent trip to Ohio that were succumbing to
Emerald Ash Borer.
Approval of Minutes
Jon pointed out that the approval of the July 41h minutes was mis-noted as there was not a quorum to
approve them. It was also noted that the minute-taker for any given month ought to sign the minutes.
MOTION—Mike Roberts moved to approve the minutes from both July and August. Ellie seconded the
motion. Eva abstained her vote as she was not here for the meetings.
Deer Management
Vladimir offered details of Bernd Blossey's presentation to the Conservation Board, which is planned for
the October 1S`meeting. The presentation will likely take the format of a power point presentation with
Q&A to follow, if Dr. Blossey is amenable. It is Vladimir's hope that individuals from other Town Boards
can make it to the talk, and asked Mike S. if there was anyone from the Town Board who might make it.
They have a meeting that night, and will not be able to attend. We are free to entertain the idea of
going to the Town Board after the presentation to lobby them with ideas and new information. Eva
asked if any Planning Board Member would be able to come. No answer was recorded.
Ellie would like to ask Dr. Blossey how we might move this issue forward with the Town. Vladimir
informed the Board that the deer management program in Trumansburg was fairly quiet,with private
landowners agreeing to let certain hunters on their property to take the deer.
Vladimir told the Board that he gave a copy of the report this Board drafted to Dr. Blossey to review. His
recommendations were to: make a stronger connection between deer populations and the incidence of
Lyme Disease; and,the strategies offered to address the over-population problem could have been
more robust.
Eva would like to ask Dr. Blossey what might happen to deer if everyone had a fence. Where would they
go?
The agenda item on utilizing teenage children as volunteers to tackle certain invasive species was tabled
as Elizabeth was not here to present her findings.
Regular Reports
Environmental Review Committee—There was a question as to the nature of the relocation/addition of
the St. Catherine's Church, and if it would at all impact a nearby stream. Mike Smith reported that it
was too far away from the stream to impact the waterway.
Scenic Resources Committee—Eva distributed copies of the sign destined for the overlook of Cayuga
Lake on South Hill. The following recommendations were made: center the map of the lake more in the
space left of the dark text box, removing the text regarding how one might join the TOI Conservation
Board, include distances to the points indicated on the view map, possibly adding an "inset" box to the
bottom of the lake map (showing where the enlarged map to the right is located), including a few other
roads at the bottom of the lake map to help orient the viewer to the area and attempt to make points
indicated on the lake map correspond to those indicated on the view map.
Everyone thought this was a getting very near completion, and were pleased with the progress. Eva will
return with a revised design in the future.
Communications Committee—Elizabeth is absent; no report
Tompkins County EMC—No meeting to report on
Six Mile Creek Volunteer Monitoring Program—James is absent; no report
City of Ithaca Natural Areas Commission—Nothing to report
Cornell Plantations Natural Areas Program—James is absent; no report
Other Business
The Town now has a new Comprehensive Plan. ACTION - Mike Smith will provide CB Members with
copies of the chapter on the environment for review. It is one of the CB's Goals for this year to aid in the
implementation of the Plan.
The Town of Dryden is spearheading plans to develop the trail from East Ithaca to Dryden.
The Town Park and Open Space Plan (1997) is in the process of being updated. It was noted that smooth
blacktop trails are important to maintain accessibility to users of all ability types.
MOTION—Eva moved to adjourn the meeting at 7:24 PM. Mike Roberts 2nded.
Minutes by Mike Roberts