HomeMy WebLinkAboutCB Minutes 2018-12-06 Town of Ithaca Conservation Board
Thursday December 6,2018
Final Minutes
Members Present:James Hamilton, Elizabeth Hageman, Hannah George, Mike Roberts, Eva Hoffmann,
Lindsay Dombroskie
Staff: Mike Smith (Senior Planner)
1. Persons to be heard: None
2. Member concerns: Eva discussed composting at Kendal. Hannah and Eva will try to work on a
brochure/instructions to make it easier for residents. Mike R. suggested Hannah and Lindsay
work on making community education available for residents.
Mike R. updated the board on the plan to initiate a deer management program starting
February 1. A deer damage permit will be granted to the town to allow private landowners to
shoot over bait. More to come over the next month.
3. Chair and Coordinator reports:
Planner-Mike Smith
i. An EIS review is still happening for the Chainworks project.
ii. No determination for an EIS for the Cornell Campus dormitory expansion yet.
iii. The Conservation Board (CB) decided to support a ban on single use plastic bags
and will work on a support letter to be sent to Tompkins County. James will
draft the letter and send out by email.
iv. Finger Lakes Research Conference is rescheduled for Jan. 23.
v. The town was awarded a grant to work on removing invasive species and
replanting natives on the South Hill Recreation Way. There may be
opportunities for the CB to participate in some of the outreach and replanting
events.
4. November minutes were not available for review.
5. Agriculture, Food & Environmental Systems In-service held at Cornell University. Mike R.
reported on some interesting examples of how other communities combat invasive species. In
addition, there was an interesting presentation on how to engage community members to make
behavior changes in regard to how they view environmental issues.
6. Reports/Updates
a. ERC- Nothing to report
b. SRC-Still awaiting copies of the papers for the sign on 96B. A"Use and Occupancy'
permit must be approved by the NYS Department of Transportation.
c. Communications Committee- Nothing to report
d. Tompkins County EMC- Nothing to report
e. Six Mile Creek- BMI sampling may lose another team member;Joane due to statistical
analytics mishap had to count way too many Identified Organisms in her late summer
sample and doubts she'll want to do it again. We had 4 teams in '17, lost one to
retirement in VT, of the 3 teams sampling in '18, we may have only 2 for'19. Lab is still
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hosting BMI Thursdays for the preserved sample ID&analyses. CSI is presenting
"Drinking Water Wednesdays", starting Dec 12 at Brooktondale Community Center 5:30-
7 pm with lab and Health Dept staff explaining basic info on safe drinking water,
including cyanobacteria in Cayuga possibly contaminating that water source.The Six
Mile water samplers Sept 18th flood sample data still hasn't been entered on CST's
website.
f. Cornell Botanic Gardens-Volunteers weeded woody invasives on south bank of Fall
Creek upstream of Flat Rocks, below Arboretum; rabbit fenced trees and perennials in
PPF; collected rare fringed gentian seeds along Neimi Rd fish ponds; planted &deer-
caged native perennials and trees on Cascadilla Creek bank SW of new Game Farm Rd
bridge and partied to celebrate volunteer work 11/30.
g. Deer Management Committee-see above (members concerns).
7. Other Business
a. 2019 meeting schedule was approved with a motion by Elizabeth and a second from
Eva.
b. Mike R. was nominated and approved to continue to chair the board in 2019 (moved by
James, seconded by Elizabeth).
c. Hannah was nominated and approved to be Vice-Chair for 2019 (moved by Elizabeth,
seconded by James).
8. Work Goals-
a. Some bluebird boxes were recently cleaned out. May need to add little doors to ensure
mice do not inhabit the boxes.
Adjourned at 6:52 pm.
Minutes drafted by Elizabeth Hageman.
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