HomeMy WebLinkAboutCB Minutes 2018-01-04 Town of Ithaca Conservation Board
January 4, 2018 5:42 p.m.
Final Minutes
Members present: Michael Roberts (Chair), Will VanDyke (Vice-chair), James Hamilton, Eva
Hoffmann, Lindsay Dombroskie, Elizabeth Hageman
Staff: Mike Smith
Guests: N/A
1. Persons to be heard: N/A
2. Member Concerns: Eva passed out materials regarding the New York Department of
Environmental Conservation's information on how conservation advisory councils and
conservation boards like ours operate as well as information on Westchester County's
Environmental Management Council's guide for our reference.
Will noted the extended deer tag season for the beginning of the year(Deer Management
Focus Area).
James noted state senator Tom O'Mara's newsletter"Ticking Timebomb: An update on the
Lyme and Tick-Borne Epidemic in New York State" made no mention of deer's involvement in
the rise in tick-borne disease.
Elizabeth noted that the City of Ithaca's new committee structure needed to be considered
when appointing a member of the Conservation Board to attend a relevant committee.
3. Chair and Coordinator Reports: Mike R had assigned some reading for board members to
refresh their knowledge of the history of the board.
Lindsay noted that she took it very seriously and made many notes about long-term goals. A
focused idea was to add to the Environmental Review Committee (ERC) our own conservation
value queries in conjunction with the Natural Heritage Commission.
Mike Roberts started a discussion about the ERC role specifically and Eva provided some
historical perspective about what resources exist for the ERC members to base comments and
recommendations on.
Mike R asked for a list of criteria that we could apply to all potential projects presented to the
ERC for comment that can be used as a guide. Mike S stated that he'll provide the two
environmental forms that applicants for projects need to fill out when applying for project
approval. He also directed the CB to the SEAR website for more materials on what applicants
need to cover prior to it reaching the ERC.
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Mike R resolved to establish a more formal structure to how the ERC reviews project proposals.
Eva noted that there is supposed to be a very formal process about notification from the
planning board and that notification process sometimes comes too early, during the sketch plan
where there isn't much opportunity for ERC comment.
Mike S reviewed the process which the Planning Board sends an email notifying the entire CB
about a submitted plan within a day or two no matter what stage it may be in. Mike R would
like to establish a better process for those document reviews and would like the board all to get
out to a site for a review.
Lindsay noted that we should continue to review rules that the CB can make and particularly
member meeting participation.
Mike R proposed a work goal of banning plastic shopping bags. Mike S noted that the
Environmental Management Council also worked on that in the past.
Mike S noted that the Planning Board has been slow and they cancelled the January meeting.
Mike S went on a ride along with Rich Schoch to look at all the invasive species management
the Town has done of the last year. Mike shared the map that was created from all of those
efforts. Mike mentioned that this is the third year this has been in the town budget.
We discussed the importance of keeping this work in the budget and the successes of all the
projects and where they'll go next.
4. Approval of December 7, 2017 Minutes:
Will moves to approve with changes. Mike R seconded.
5. Discussion of:
- Town of Ithaca Conservation Board Activities &Accomplishments for 2017
- We discussed the tabling at the Earth Day event for Sustainable Tompkins
- The Richard B Fischer Award tree planting for the Black Diamond Trail
Enthusiasts Network
- Members attending the Hemlock Wooly Adelgid identification hike with the
Cornell Botanic Gardens for New York States Invasive Species Week event.
- Conservation Board 2018 Work Goals
- We discussed creating a new process for the ERC
- We discussed the addition of banning plastic shopping bags
- Mike proposed a strategic planning process for future CB development
- We amended 2018 Work Goal 'a)' to read: Develop a checklist with elements of
the Town's Comprehensive Plan that enables us to promote environmental
conservation.
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Will proposed an amendment to 'e)' to read: Continue outreach projects,
including Facebook page and traditional media press releases to encourage and
foster public participation in conservation of our resources and environment.
Find new ways to physically and digitally reach town residents.
Will proposed moving work goal 'i)' to be a part of work goal 'g)'. Work goal 'g),
should read: Continue ongoing activities such as Fischer Award, Environmental
Review and participation in Earth Day events. In addition to core activities like
provide Environmental Review Committee reports to the Planning Board and
respond with comments to all Town Board requests.
Lindsay proposed that 'j)' now read: Find public groups to support the ongoing
refurbishment, maintenance and annual cleaning of bluebird boxes along South
Hill and East Ithaca Recreation Ways and in Eastern Heights Park
- James proposes a change to 'f)' to be more focused on Ithaca College's water
consumption and public education.
- James proposed adding participation in Bike Walk Tompkins events to 'h)'
Conservation Board Committees 2018
- Lindsay would like to be a member of the ERC
- Elizabeth would like to be the on the Communication Committee, Mike removed
himself.
- Mike R volunteers to chair the ERC
- Elizabeth might attend city committees as well when they become more formally
established.
6. Regular reports and updates:
- Environmental Review Committee: No update
- Scenic Resources Committee: Eva reported that they have the initial sketch of the third
sign which will be located on Pine Tree Road and Snyder Hill Road. They noted that the
location of will take some more discussion with Cornell. James noted that he'd like to
see the pamphlet updated on the town website. Eva mentioned an additional issue with
the town website that there is a city view picture where a town view picture should be.
- Communications Committee: Will mentioned a press release that he drafted regarding
Bolton Points 2017 changes to the water consumption tiers and subsequent rates. Mike
S requested we review the press release regarding nominations for the Fischer Award
for 2017.
- Tompkins County EMC: No Update
- Six Mile Creek Volunteer Monitoring Program: The most recent Benthic
Macroinvertebrate (BMI) testing was cancelled due to inclement weather.
- City of Ithaca Natural Areas Commission: No update
- Cornell Botanic Gardens Natural Areas Program:James reported that the volunteers
have been weeding woody invasives, mostly buckthorn out of a fen on the north side of
Fall Creek. Mike R noted that they have been spreading seeds in the same area.
- Deer Management Committee: Lindsay has been pushing for a January meeting. Mike R
appreciated her persistence in trying to get a meeting started. Mike S added that the
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City of Ithaca forester is very interested in the committee as well and offering to attend
when a meeting is scheduled.
7. Other Business:James would like the CB to spend time identifying potential recipients for the
Fischer Award. Mike S will share a running list he's collected of community members that have
been discussed in the past but have not been awarded.
Mike R would like to make sure the review of the work goals continues.
Will moved to adjourn. Elizabeth seconded.
Meeting adjourned at 7:34 pm Minutes drafted by Will VanDyke 5/21/18
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