HomeMy WebLinkAboutCB Minutes 2018-04-05 Town of Ithaca Conservation Board Meeting
Thursday,April 5th, 2018
Final Minutes
Members present: Mike Roberts (chair), Eva Hoffmann, Ellie Stewart, Elizabeth Hageman, Lindsay
Dombroskie,Jon Meigs (associate member)
Staff: Mike Smith (Senior Planner)
Guests: Students from Lansing and Ithaca High School government participation class (Hannah, Maddie,
Jason, Hunter, Mark, Eli), Hannah George (prospective CB member)
1. Persons to be heard: None
2. Member Concerns
a. Hannah visited Babcock parcel— it's beautiful
b. Lindsay will no longer be a resident of the Town of Ithaca come May 2018. CB can move her
to associate status. Mike S. can investigate how this might affect the Deer Advisory
Committee.
c. Elizabeth cleaned 15 eastern bluebird boxes. No old nests were found.
d. Ellie mentioned that emerald ash borer (EAB) is in the City of Ithaca, and emphasized not
moving firewood to help control the spread of EAB. Elizabeth mentioned Cornell
Cooperative Extension (CCE) has an ID/confirmation program, and an event on May 10th at
6pm at the CCE building. Eva and Hannah mentioned it's worth leaving some trees on the
landscape in case they are resistant, as opposed to removing all ash before they've died.
3. Chair and Coordinator Reports
a. Mike R.
i. The ERC has responded to a few applications. The Babcock parcel is being reviewed
currently.
ii. Attendance rules are that there should be no more than 2 missed meetings per year
including health-related absences. Should we re-evaluate?
-Ellie suggests than maybe productivity is more important than attendance
-Mike R. suggests the CB could try recruiting more members, as we have a
vacancy currently
-Mike S. confirms that Carrie has moved to associate member status
-Hannah suggests a good faith agreement could help with attendance
-Mike R. says he will draft an agreement and circulate it for a vote next
meeting
iii. The EMC Update event was not really about climate change,but it was still
informative
-The National Wetland Inventory (US Fish and Wildlife Service) wetland data
could be a useful resource for the ERC
b. Mike S.
i. An email was circulated that contained upcoming East Hill Village development
public consultation events
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-Elizabeth will try to go to one of these
ii. A few 2-lot subdivisions have been sent out,but nothing bigger has come in
4. Minutes
a. The June meeting minutes were approved.
i. Ellie moved to approve, Lindsay seconded.
b. The March meeting minutes were approved with minor edits.
i. Mike R. moved to approve, and Eva seconded.
S. Finalizing CB Work Goals
a. Pest Management
i. Boot brushes at start/end of trails.Available through FL PRISM
ii. Tabling
1. E.g. Earth Day
iii. Assist with planning for EAB at Town Preserves (if needed)
b. Scenic Views
i. Eva will email —3 action items to Mike R.
c. Mission Statement
i. Initial thoughts "safeguarding scenic and natural resources for all Ithacans"
-Eva suggests we should include Ithacans and visitors
-Ellie and Eva suggest emphasizing education
-Mike R. suggests using the term "promoting" and/or "safeguarding" to cover
education
-Hannah suggests the ending "...of Ithaca for all"to cover visitors and
residents
-Mike R.will finalize and send to Mike S.to start using
6. Discussion of 2017 Richard B. Fischer Environmental Conservation Award
a. Trying to set a day in May that works for the recipients
b. CB needs a date and location
i. CB has offered a list of sites to recipients to see if there is a preference
7. Discussion of Earth Day Activity/Table
a. Elizabeth suggests we cover EAB (DEC website has good material).Jon suggests an EAB
postcard
i. We should guide people to the CCE for ash or EAB identification
ii. The international theme for Earth Day is plastics. Do we want to do anything?
b. Use our scenic views large poster and brochures again,borrow easels
c. Some other invasive species handouts. TBD. Mike R. and others investigate fact sheets to
use
d. Print the Deer Management Report, refer people to the Town Board public outreach event
on May 22na
e. Elizabeth will register for a table at the Sustainable Tompkins event. Ellie,James, and
Lindsay can work it.
8. Regular Report and Updates
a. ERC
i. Submitted comments on 2 applications.
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ii. Reviewing 2 more applications, including Babcock parcel.
b. SRC-
i. More work is being done on the Pine Tree Road view sign. Deciding on final format.
c. CC- No update.
d. Tomkins County EMC- No update
e. Six Mile Creek Volunteer Monitoring Program
i. March 3, 2018: Benthic Macro invertebrate (BMI) sampling teams from 3 sites met in
James' kitchen to identify the preserved samples from replicate two,taken at the
600 Rd riffle in Brooktondale last summer. More than 300 invertebrates were
identified to family in two subsamples, and the raw data was given to Adrianna
Hirtler, CST's BMI specialist, for mathematical analyses and a "tier three" (highest
statistical significance) independent identification of the preserved critters
identified.
ii. March 21,volunteers took a scheduled synoptic water sample from 13 established
sites along Six Mile for chemical and bacteriological analyses at CSI lab.
iii. On April 14th,the annual CSI symposium will be held at the Green Space, 700 W
Buffalo St, from 11:30-2:30. Five speakers have planned presentations on Harmful
Algal Blooms (HAB), non-point pollution, Total Maximum Daily Loads, Importance
of Long-term Datasets,Value of Collective Action.
f. Cornell Botanic Gardens
i. Volunteers were invited to "sow their own seeds" in the Plant Propagation Facility
greenhouse on March 16th. CU staff will keep the flats watered till plants are ready
to move to volunteers' gardens.
ii. Though twice called off due to rains,Volunteer Hemlock Wooly Adelgid (HWA)
hunters searched for adelgids in Eames Bog and Ringwood Preserve. No adelgids
found in Eames Bog; two more trees were found infested at Ringwood,where the
Natural Areas Program is trying to see if girdling infested hemlocks might reduce
spread of HWA around a gorge on the west side of the preserve.
g. Deer Management Committee
i. Next meeting is April 171h,with a public outreach day on May 22nd. The committee is
still looking for more information regarding where to place bait stations,what the
economic impact to local farmers is of deer overabundance, and what the City of
Ithaca thinks about the town managing deer. Bernd Blossey will be attending the
next meeting to answer questions.
ii. Lindsay can inquire with the group on the 17th about sharing deer info at the Earth
Day event.
9. Other Business
a. Jon contacted the City of Ithaca regarding committee representation
i. Hannah might also apply for one of the City of Ithaca committees
10. Review Goals/May Agenda: no comments
11. Mike R. moves to adjourn and Ellie seconds; meeting closes — 7:16pm.
Minutes drafted by Lindsay Dombroskie
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