HomeMy WebLinkAboutCB Minutes 2016-06-02 Town of Ithaca Conservation Board
June 2, 2016 5:30 p.m.
Final Minutes
Members present: Ellie Stewart (Chair), Mike Roberts, James Hamilton, Vlad Micic, Jon Meigs,
Eva Hoffmann
Staff: Mike Smith
Guests: Martin Kelly & son (high school student earning credit for school and boy scouts)
1. Persons to be heard: none
2. Member Concerns: Eva mentioned the Ithaca Journal articles regarding the Maplewood
apartments and the number of opinion pieces recently posted regarding the environmental
impact of the project. We should take note of some of the points made in the opinion pieces
while making our CB comment to the project. Ellie agreed and suggested that be directed
toward the committee. James asked if the current buildings proposed were as disposable as the
last. Ellie mentioned that it appears more energy efficient but they aren't talking zero
emissions. James would like the board to be made aware of how long they expect the new
buildings to last. Vlad asked how high the buildings will be and Mike S and Jon answered that
they will be up to four stories.
Will volunteered to take minutes for the meeting.
3. Chair and Coordinator Reports: Ellie thanked the members of the board for their hard work
on the Fischer Award organization and presentation. Special thanks to non-members who came
out and pitched in planting the tree.
Ellie announced that Elizabeth Sanders has resigned from the board.
Mike brought up the Maplewood project but deferred the discussion to the committee portion
of the agenda.
The THERM expansion sketch plan came in to the Planning Board and has been distributed to
the ERC for review. There were no major issues or discussion from the most recent Planning
Board meeting, a few neighbors came but no issues either.
Vlad announced that he had to leave at 6:45.
4. Approval of Minutes: Mike S noted that he made the edits discussed before distributing April
7t" James moves to approve and Mike R seconds.
James moved to wait on the May 51" minutes edits.
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5. Discussion of Invasive Species Week: Ellie was concerned with the timing due to travel. Ellie
suggested picking the neighborhood first; Vlad suggested getting ideas from Rich Schoch. James
proposes Japanese knotweed as a focus. We discussed how to show how to remove the plant
and how to demonstrate the application of glyphosate. Eva worried about the public display of
herbicides and Vlad shared that concern. Vlad suggested we lean more toward the
demonstration of weeding like last year's event.
We discussed the issues picking an invasive like Japanese knotweed and how glyphosate is the
only way so perhaps we should focus more on a location. James suggested the Pew Trail
location which features swallow-wort, garlic mustard, buckthorn, knotweed and also
coordinate the event with our deer management efforts. James also suggested a focus on garlic
mustard to show that just pulling it up is the worst method and harvest the seeds can be quite
tasty. Mike S suggested the Glenside area and Ellie mentioned that that's already been a
location for the event. James would like to branch out and focus on other locations citing the
parks department invasive removal efforts.
Eastern Heights area was chosen as the location, the gazebo in the East Ithaca Nature Preserve.
The date was proposed changed to July 21"at 6:30-7:30 but stayed to July 141"
James volunteered to connect with Hilary Mosher from the Finger Lakes PRISM to help with
promotional items.
Ellie volunteered to reach out to the Ithaca Journal and other papers.
Ellie will fill in temporarily for the communications committee.
Eva wanted to make special mention of Frank Baldwin a former member of the board who
donated the land on East Hill.
6. Ad Hoc Deer Committee:
Ellie makes a note that due to an email mix up Jon, who expressed interest in the deer ad hoc
committee was not included in that committee.
Mike R provided the update that much of the committee has not done much.
The proposal positions the town as the broker between land owners and hunters by applying
for, acquiring and distributing nuisance permits.
Mike was stilling working on meeting with Bernd Blossey about his involvement in the
committee and the plans he's worked on previously.
Vlad asked about private citizens still being the main outreach and Mike R agreed that private
landowners as long as they have enough space for legal bow hunting.
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James made the distinction between nuisance permits which allow baiting and the sport of
hunting.
Will tried to think like someone who opposes deer management and wonders what someone
might think about the town brokering the relationship between land owners, hunters and the
nuisance permits. Ellie and James point out that most likely we're not going to change their
minds.
Mike R and James talks about the monitoring of success by siting the Trumansburg census
taking by aerial infrared and the monitoring of oak seedling browsing.
Mike R discusses that one of the data points we're still working on is the cost of the plan.
Will discussed the outreach to the agriculture committee as an important part of the deer
management plan and Mike R added that a draft resolution from the Agriculture Committee
(AC) to the town board supporting the plan might be a helpful action.
Mike S mentioned that 3 members of the AC would like to be a part of the ad hoc committee on
deer management.
Ellie mentioned the possible involvement of the Cayuga Heights mayor but she has resigned.
Cayuga Heights is working on a replacement.
Vlad volunteered to compile the articles on deer management as part of the new forms.
Eva gave a brief summary of"Nature Wars" by Jim Sterba.
Vlad asked about inviting the AC to the conservation board meeting but Mike R mentions that
they'll probably be at the next Ad Hoc Deer Committee meeting. Vlad asks who will be
compiling the budget and Mike R mentions that we will be doing that as well.
7. Regular reports and updates
Tompkins County EMC Report: Vlad reported that Joe MacMahon, the chair of the City of Ithaca
Natural Area Commission attended the meeting and spoke about the second dam area and how
it's being policed. They have worked on increasing the policing of it with funds by the town,
county and city.
Environmental Review Committee: Ellie asked about the Maplewood and the THERM expansion
projects as reason for setting up an ERC meeting.The possibility of drafting up a resolution
regarding the impact of both projects.
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Scenic Resources Committee: No new update but Eva proposes to meet after the CB to set up a
new time. Mike S updated the board that the scenic views tour brochure has been picked up
over 250 times as we've had to refill the first order of brochure paper.
Communications Committee: Ellie confirmed that she'll only be a temporary chair for the
committee until July meeting. Ellie will contact Carrie to discuss the possibility of taking on the
communications committee role.
Mike R wanted to make a special note about the event honoring the recent donated land that's
now part of the Fischer Old Growth Forest on Cornell Plantations. The donator, David Bandler
has also committed to donating another piece of land connected to this.
Mike R suggested that we think about a way to maintain the blue bird boxes around town.
Eva volunteer to look for one on Hungerford hill. Ellie suggested possible a project for a birding
group.
Mike S suggested that a planning intern might be able to facilitate updating the signage for the
Fischer awards, and will bring drafts to a future meeting.
Six Mile Creek Volunteer Monitoring Program:James reported on the regular synoptic sampling
analysis on June 16t"
City Natural Areas Commission: Nothing to report.
Cornell Plantations Natural Areas Program:James reported on planting a bunch of native trees
near the faculty tennis courts near Cascadilla Creek. They working on turning it into a natural
area.
July Agenda: Continuation on deer management proposal and invasive species event. Mike R
will be filling in for Ellie.
Meeting adjourned at 7:03 pm Minutes drafted by Will VanDyke 7/28/16
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