HomeMy WebLinkAboutCB Minutes 2017-01-05 Town of Ithaca Conservation Board
Thursday January 51",2017
Final Minutes
Members Present:James Hamilton, Eva Hoffmann, Elizabeth Hageman,Jon Meigs, Mike Roberts,
William VanDyke
Staff: Mike Smith (Senior Planner)
Guests: Lindsay Dombroskie
1. Persons to be heard: none
2. Members concerns:
Mike Roberts proposed to dissolve the ad hoc committee for deer management. Reasons stated
were time concerns and questioning the Town of Ithaca Boards lack of movement on the issue.
Questions raised by the CB were related to how/when to complete the Management Plan
proposal, how to incorporate the committee into the entire conservation board and how to
support the Town Board moving forward.The Conservation Board has presented a white paper
in the past to the Town Board. However, the Town Board has made no decisions to date
outlining a plan for deer management.The purpose of the new document currently being
worked on is to recommend a more concrete plan the Town Board can use to moving forward if
they so choose to address this issue. Member present discussed the importance of completing
this Management Plan and then leaving decisions to the Board.The group decided to dissolve
the ad hoc committee. Mike states about 20-40 hours of work will need to be done to complete
the Management plan. A goal of completing it by February 14 was discussed.
3. Planning Board updates
Mike updated the group on the Sleep Inn plan due in February and the substation antenna
proposal on Rt 96. Chainworks is moving forward to a joint meeting with the Town and City
Planning Boards on the Final Environmental Impact statement.
It was suggested by committee members that it may be beneficial to have a visual component to
accompany these projects so members can better understand the stage each project it at.The
Environmental Review Committee often has time constraints to give feedback to the board due
to timing of meetings. It was proposed to have Mike S review the function of the various Town
boards at a future meeting so that each member of the conservation board has a better
understanding of the roles and responsibilities.
4. Awaiting minutes from November and December 2016
5. Discussion of activities and accomplishments for 2016- No comments for changes
Conservation Board Work Goals 2017-
c. Consider adding a third sign near Pine Tree Road and Snyder Hill intersection
e. Continue to work on using Facebook as a platform for information. Other members of
the board will be given administrator rights to add posts to the facebook page. It was discussed
to use other platforms such as twitter and instagram to share information. Mike S will check on
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any approval process to be able to use twitter and Instagram. All members encouraged
continued use of written material as a way for communication.
h. Add that the board would like to back the proposal of the South Hill Rec Way
expansion
I. remove this work goal about lighting code
Add a work goal of an Earth Day booth and updating the Conservation Board Pamphlet.
6. Blue bird boxes. Lindsay and Elizabeth worked on documenting boxes on the two trails,
conditions and ideas for rehabbing boxes. A spreadsheet was presented with a summary of the
information as well as a map with the boxes.Twenty five restrictors were purchased. Most
boxes can be salvaged with only a little work. However, the end goal is to create a plan to
maintain the boxes yearly since the Public Works Department no longer has the time. Mike S will
check to see if the town facilities can help with cutting some wood pieces to adhere to the box
and restrictors.
7. Deer management-see above
8. ERC- nothing to report
Scenic Resources Committee- nothing to report
Communications Committee-discussion of Will taking over as chair. He will consider and discuss
at next meeting.
Tompkins County EMC- nothing to report
Six Mile Creek-Thursdays from 5-8 pm volunteers are needed to review water samples. Go to
communityscience.org for more info. "What's in your watershed?"found high salt amounts in
the nearby watershed areas. Discussion included possible sources such as roadways being a
major source. In addition, a pond near IC was found to have high salt due to a nearby water
softener that was being drained into a pond.
City Naturals Area- nothing to report
Botanic Gardens-Volunteers had a party in December. Surveys have recently been done on the
Hemlock trees near Beebe Lake. Seven years after injections of an insecticide it has shown to
have worked to manage the Hemlock Woolly Adelgid. Fall Creek area (near cable bridge)
recently had a group removing woody invasives.
9. Mike Roberts was nominated and elected as Vice Chair for 2017. Lindsay D will be presented to
the Town Board as a potential member on Monday.
10. Review of 2017 work goals. See above
February Agenda- Nominations for Fischer Award, Earth Day Table
Adjourned at 7:29 PM
Minutes drafted by Elizabeth Hageman
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