HomeMy WebLinkAboutCB Minutes 2016-12-01 Town of Ithaca Conservation Board
December 1, 2016 5:37 p.m.
Final Minutes
Members present: Ellie Stewart (Chair), James Hamilton, Vladimir Micic, Eva Hoffmann, Will
VanDyke
Staff: Mike Smith
Guests: Lindsay Dombroskie (Prospective Member)
1. Persons to be heard: No public comments
2. Member Concerns:James was concerned that there was no Communications Committee
chair. Ellie suggested that January's meeting be used to settle committee appointments.
3. Chair and Coordinator Reports: Ellie announced that prospective member Lindsay has an
interview setup for the following week.
Mike S announced that the Sleep Inn Hotel got their variances granted at the November Zoning
Board of Appeals (ZBA) meeting.
Mike also announced that the Town received a grant for an economic study for the inlet valley
corridor area in which the Sleep Inn Hotel will occupy. The grant's purpose is to look at the type
of businesses that the area could handle and work with the Town's economic development
committee to assess how those types of businesses compare to the Comprehensive Plan. The
grant is a $30,000 matching grant for a total value of$60,000.
Planning Board announcements included a proposal by Cayuga Medical for an expansion
project and continued discussion on the Maplewood redevelopment project.
4. Approval of Minutes:
Oct 6- minutes. Approved with changes.
5. Town Bluebird Boxes: Mike S and Elizabeth have discussed that she'd like to be a part of the
project and Elizabeth had called some organizations about possible participation.
The committee continued a discussion on what methods are best for repairing the current
bluebird boxes.
6. Ad-Hoc Deer Management Committee: No update on the document. We discussed the
potential timeline of completion and potential blockers for implementation.
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7. Town Grant for Tree Inventory: Mike S gave a report on the town grant for doing a tree
inventory along all town roads, a forest assessment in parks and natural areas and a hazard tree
assessment for trails and walkways.
The bulk of the work was completed in the summer and the data input is still ongoing.
Mike S provided two draft assessments to the Conservation Board (CB) for review and
comment.
The CB would like further discussion about including data regarding deer browse and other
assessments regarding deer impact in the assessments.
Mike S specified that the next round of funding could include plans for management which
might include pests, ie. deer, ash borer, etc.
8. Regular Reports and Updates:
• Environmental Review Committee: Maplewood comments were submitted. The Sleep
Inn comments also submitted but as noted earlier in the meeting the variances were
approved despite ERC objection.
• Scenic Resources Committee: Nothing new to report.
• Communications Committee: Nothing new to report.
• Tompkins County EMC: Vlad reported that the EMC is looking into reorganizing itself to
better align with Tompkins County Comprehensive Plan. Vlad encouraged members of
the committee to come to a CB meeting to hear and discuss the CB's efforts toward
deer management. There are looking at potential chair replacements as the current
chair is stepping down.
• Six Mile Creek Volunteer Monitoring Program: Dec 71", the Synoptic Water Sample will
take place in 13 different places on the creek. On Dec 71", the Cornell Cooperative
Extension is holding a 'What's in your Watershed' event, this event will focus on salt.
• City of Ithaca Natural Areas Commission: Nothing to report
• Cornell Botanic Gardens Natural Areas Program:The volunteers have been weeding
quite a lot. There is a volunteer party for all volunteers on Dec. 71"
9. Other Business:James attended a few webinars from Cornell. Dr. Elizabeth Page Benton
regarding the stream health of the great Smokey Mountains National Park where hemlocks
have been dying out due to the woolly adelgid. In the presentation, they noted that the use of
soil drench and bark spray on the hemlock population did not have adverse effects on the
benthic macro invertebrates in the nearby creeks. He also attended a Partner for Regional
Invasive Species Management (PRISM) webinar and learned about what scientists are doing to
track the efforts for invasive species removal and what gets the biggest bang for the buck.
James gave a report about the extension of the South Hill Rec Trail. There are two land owners
who are reluctant about sharing their driveway with the trail.
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The CB approved the 2017 meeting scheduled. James moved, Will seconded.
The CB approved Ellie Stewart as Chair for 2017. Will nominated, Vlad seconded.
The CB decided to table the vote on Mike Roberts as Vice Chair until the January meeting due
to his absence.
10. January Agenda: We will discuss the bluebird box maintenance plan, new members and
opening for communication committee chairmanship.
Meeting adjourned at 7:25 pm Minutes drafted by Will VanDyke 2/13/17
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