HomeMy WebLinkAboutCB Packet 2022-11-03 TOWN OF ITHACA
DEPARTMENT OF PLANNING
215 N. Tioga St 14850
607.273.1747
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TO: CONSERVATION BOARD MEMBERS
FROM: MICHAEL SMITH, SENIOR PLANNER
DATE: OCTOBER 27, 2022
SUBJECT: UPCOMING CONSERVATION BOARD MEETING — NOVEMBER 3, 2022
This is to confirm that the next meeting of the Conservation Board (CB) is Thursday,
November 3rd at 5:30 p.m. The agenda for this meeting is enclosed (see the back of
this memo).
As a reminder, all full voting Conservation Board members will need to attend in-person
at Town Hall (Aurora Conference Room) for this November meeting. The Zoom link will
still be available for associate members and members of the public.
The draft minutes from the September 1st and October 6th meetings are attached.
Please email me any spelling, grammatical, or other minor changes you have prior to
the meeting, as we will not be spending time at the meeting editing the minutes.
At this meeting will continue the discussion regarding a potential 2023 initiative related
to "Your Yard Could be a Wildlife Sanctuary."
Eva is signed up to take minutes at the November meeting.
If you have any questions prior to the meeting or are not able to attend, please contact
me at msmith(o).town.ithaca.nv.us or 607-273-1747.
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TOWN OF ITHACA
CONSERVATION BOARD
5:30 p.m., Thursday, November 3, 2022
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Aurora Conference Room
215 N.Tioga Street
Ithaca,New York 14850
(The rear entrance is handicapped accessible)
(607) 273-1747
Members of the public are welcome to attend in-person at Town Hall
or virtually via Zoom (https:Hzoom.us/i/6750593272).
AGENDA
1. Persons to be heard(5:30 pm)
2. Members concerns
3. Environmental Review Committee Update(Lori)
4. Chair and Coordinator reports
5. Approval of minutes from September 1,2022 and October 6,2022
6. Continue discussion of a 2023 initiative related to: Your Yard Could Be a Wildlife Sanctuary
7. Regular reports and updates (6:30 pm)
a. Scenic Resources Committee (Eva)
b. Communications Committee (James)
C. Tompkins County EMC
d. Six Mile Creek Volunteer Monitoring Program(James)
e. Cornell Botanic Gardens Natural Areas Program(James)
8. Other Business(6:50 p.m.)
9. Review 2022 Work Goals/Discuss December Agenda
10. Adjourn(7:00 p.m.)
C;onservadon Board Members and associates
Lori Brewer(Chair),L ndsay 17carnbroskQ1,Elise Edwardst James I lamiltorn,
Eva 1 Conin ann,Joann Kowalski(Vice-Chair), Michael Roberts
Town of Ithaca Conservation Board Meeting
September 1, 2022 5:30pm
(In Person at Town Hall and via Zoom Video Conference)
Draft Minutes
Attending: Lori Brewer, Elise Edwards, James Hamilton, Eva Hoffmann (Zoom), JoAnn
Kowalski, Mike Roberts (Zoom).
Staff: Mike Smith, Senior Planner
1. no Persons to be heard
2. Mike R's concern about Town mowing its property less was forwarded by Mike S to Joe
Talbut. Joe knows now that less mowing is less work and more conservation, but has not got
back to Mike S or us about our advice that less mowing is best. Lori wondered how our CB
attendance payment was working out; Mike S explained we'd get paid at end of year $40 per
meeting attended in one lump sum.
3. no news from the ERC.
4. Chair reported thanks to Elise and JoAnn for tabling CB PR effort at the East Hill Farmers
Market. Elise enjoyed going. JoAnn noted folks really liked the feral hog on a poster they'd
brought to focus attention on our invasives management work goal. A contact with a
professor, Karen Saffee, promised interest in getting Textile and Apparel grad students
involved with the CB. Lori hoped members could attend some webinar sessions of the
upcoming Oct 6 New York State Association of Conservation Commissions before our next
meeting, though she hasn't yet seen what the topics will be. She liked the Tompkins County
"Green Scene" email newsletter and hopes we all read it. Mike S reported the Town was
replacing 270 old streetlights with LED lamps that can be individually controlled to meet
residents satisfaction if they're too bright or dim. The Town is also hoping to save energy with
a new electric mower and Public Works staff has tried out a $35,000-dollar model that some
other municipalities are satisfied with.
5. James moved, and Eva seconded that July 7th minutes be approved, movement passed
promptly.
6. No one was free to run a table at the upcoming Streets Alive! festival 9/18. JoAnn felt the
table at Cornell Service Fair might not be worth the effort, as her last participation in that affair
had no satisfactory results. Lori noted that it seems Cornell at least includes references to our
CB in their various attempts to get students engaged in their Ithaca community now. Mike R
thinks a solo CB recreational event might have more impact than our too-easily overlooked
participation in larger events. James noted that our annual invasives management even rarely
gets more than a very few attendees. Eva suggested a topic different from invasives might be
more engaging: global warming, for instance. JoAnn thought we might sponsor a film party at
Cinemopolis. Elise noted she'd found very little clue that the CB was actively recruiting when
she sought us out: we need to headline our need for new members more. And to promote
public awareness of the Town of Ithaca as distinct from the City: we are the Donut around
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Ithaca City. Or bagel? Maybe all the Town Boards that need more members could join
together for a concerted recruitment effort? We especially could use members residing on
South and West Hills, as we're mostly all from the east side. The October 1 st tree planting
event at East Ithaca Nature Preserve has not yet got the Arbor Day Foundation grant, though
we're still hoping. It will meet at the gazebo to help replace the many ash trees that have died
up there. Lindsay and JoAnn will run a table there, Lori hopes we can all attend. We should
invite Fischer Award winners. The PRI might also want to attend; Lori showed us a PRI-
handout graph showing how much carbon dioxide trees keep out of the atmosphere. She'd
got that at Ithaca's Reggae Fest in June; we need handouts like that for good PR. JoAnn
noted that Douglas Tallamy's book, Nature's Best Hope, explains how teaming up with your
neighbors is the best way to get the public involved in conserving nature.
7. Discussing how "Your Yard Could Be a Wildlife Sanctuary," a 2023 initiative we could
tackle, we got back to the waste of lawn mowing. Native species instead of lawn are better in
all ways! Elise wondered if Town has any regulations on resident lawns. Lori noted that an
unmowed lot in her neighborhood indicated not, and Mike S knew of no local laws on lawns,
but only perhaps a state law regulating plant growth that might cause safety hazards close to
built structures. He noted that the National Wildlife Foundation for instance, can help provide
info in improving private property as wildlife habitat. We should form a committee to address
this topic further, with possible public events that would be fun and possibly result in a raffled
rain barrel prize for example.
8. Regular Reports and Updates:
a. SRC: Mike S showed us the SRC's pages on the new Town Website, which has much
benefited by a summer intern's work on digitizing the Scenic Tour Map and Guide info on a
Google Maps platform. There are many more beautiful photos of the Best Views available
there now. Perhaps we could get a Quick Code generated to get folks with smartphones onto
our scenic resources programming? Maybe folks could upload their own photos into our Tour
Map site? Still no news yet on Cornell's permitting us to post the view sign at Snyder Hill/ Pine
Tree intersection. Eva and James are working via emails on view-sign draft revisions. Eva
notes that Codes and Ordinances will soon have a new Town Law regulating cell towers
aesthetic values so as not to ruin town's scenic views. Though these microwave antennae
have not got legal regulation for their possible health effects, they have had legal precedent
for municipalities requiring them to look nice.
b. Communication Committee: James asked JoAnn to post a FB link to new chapter on a
successful biocontrol program for purple loosestrife, which is now a fine example of biocontrol
managing an invasive pest. (See: Il�.ttp://www,.in iisri,.orcJ/wp content�uplloads/2022/08/Ch 27
plle����Iloosestrife �SBE.. df) JoAnn thanked Mike S for his good FB posts on our page. James
is still locked out of FB by supposed security requiring two-factor authentication, which he
doesn't have hardware for.
c. From Lindsay via email: EMC update: The guest speaker (Anna Kelles) was not available
once again, so the meeting was a "working meeting." Executive Committee reported on letter
of support submitted for increased funding for conservation advisory commissions and
environmental management councils in the NYS Climate Leadership and Community
Protection Act. Comments dovetailed into exchange of ideas regarding improved
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communication between municipalities, schools, and EMCs. Communications/Outreach team
is working on plans for fall outreach event (Oct. 18 is tentative date). Climate
Adaptation Committee is working to define content (most likely related to flooding) and
identify guest presenters and target audience for October public meeting. Possible ideas
include panel discussion on flood mitigation and prevention, lakefront versus watershed
flooding, landscaping measures and home safety tips. Municipal Reports: Town of Danby is
working on a logging ordinance. Cait shared that the Town of Ulysses Conservation &
Sustainability Advisory Council discussed getting all the conservation advisory councils in the
county together to network.
d. 6MC: 3 volunteer Benthic Macroinvertebrate (BMI) sampling teams each took 2 replicate
samples from riffles in Slaterville Springs, Brooktondale, and below Potters Falls during the
last weeks of August when a few light rains got the flow high enough for kick-netting. The
upstream samples are now preserved in alcohol for future analysis in the Community Science
Institute's Langmuir lab. The samples below Potters Fall were analyzed live in James' kitchen
and show the creek's healthy, though the population of midges was unusually low, possibly
due to unusually dry conditions recently. In September, the Community Science Institute held
family field trips for BMI sampling at Buttermilk State Park and a water quality cruise on
Cayuga Lake.
e. Cornell Botanic Gardens Natural Areas volunteers weeded swallowwort on South Hill using
GPS, finding a few new plants and some persistent little pests in previously mapped
locations. This area is now largely free of that invasive, though it needs annual monitoring.
Seedlings of native woody perennials, trees and shrubs that had sprouted in flats from
volunteer-collected seeds were potted up in larger containers for eventual transplanting from
the Plant Propagation Facility by Flat Rocks on Fall Creek to Natural Areas that need such
plants. The trails in the Poison and Frost Ravine Natural Areas were trimmed and blazed.
9. Other Business: Lori wished there could be a trail from Stewart Park to East Shore Park, as
the current roadside connection now along Rte. 34 is so nasty. Maybe when the railroad to
salt mine becomes a Rail to Trail?
10. JoAnn reviewed our Work Goals, finding we've done some decent work this year, and
have either met most of our goals, or at least given them attention. She notes more
discussion of the Wildlife Sanctuary in Your Yard project should be on October's agenda.
11. We adjourned at 6:49.
Draft minutes submitted by James Hamilton September 6, 2022
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Town of Ithaca Conservation Board (CB) Meeting
October 6, 2022 5:30 pm
(In Person at Town Hall and via Zoom Video Conference)
Draft Minutes
Members Present: Lori Brewer, Chair;James Hamilton, Eva Hoffman, JoAnn Kowalski, Mike
Roberts (Zoom) and Elise Edwards (Zoom)
Staff: Mike Smith, Senior Planner
Guests: Zan Gerrity, Carl Gelderloos, Ingrid Zabel and Emily Kim (Zoom)
1. Persons to be Heard: None
2. Members Concerns: Mike Roberts indicated that Cornell University hired contractors to
work on and repair the wall at Cascadilla Gorge so it is passable now.
Eva Hoffman offered information about a former Board member, Tony Ingraham, who has a
show on Channel 13, "Walk in the Park". One of his videos is on our CB website highlighting
our scenic views.
3. Environmental Review Committee Update: For 2022, the committee has reviewed 15 plans
so far. Half of them have been subdivisions. A recent plan submitted is for an expansion of
the Learning Farm. The Learning Farm project will be discussed by ERC members on October
24 at 5:30 pm. Anyone is invited to attend the meeting via Zoom.
4. Chair and Coordinator Reports: Lori attempted to attend the NYS Conservation Board
Annual Conference, but was late in joining the session about engaging students in
Conservation Boards. The platform that was used was not user-friendly. Eva Hoffman also
attempted to join the conference and had similar difficulties and was not able to join at all.
Mike Smith, CB coordinator, reported that the Town has opened a new park, Saunders Park,
corner of Ridgecrest and East King Road. Town has had the property for 25 years and
recently a Town resident gave a donation and so a trail, parking area and a playground were
constructed. Scenic Views are a definite plus from this location.
The Town has a solar law and the law limits solar fields up to 10 acres. The planning
department is looking to update the law to include possibly larger areas, with development
mostly on agricultural land. It was mentioned as to whether the law considers noise the
inverter makes. Mike mentioned he would need to look at the current law to see if that's an
aspect that's included.
S. Approval of Minutes: Minutes from September were not able to be approved since there
was not a quorum present in person at Town Hall.
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6. Discussion of 2023 Initiative: Your Yard Could be a Wildlife Sanctuary: Many resources are
available to access the information to be presented for residents to reduce lawn and limit
mowing. Lori met two professors from the Environmental Sciences at Ithaca College, Ann
Stork and Paula Turkon, indicated they would be interested in working with the CB along
with students to present the information to residents.
Are there any Town laws or ordinances that prohibit lawns from being reduced or
eliminated. Also need to consider neighborhood associations as potential resources. Provide
answers to objections for residents to educate them.
7. Regular reports and updates
a. Scenic Resources Committee: Because of guests being present, Eva explained the
purpose of the committee and the reason the Town has such great views because of
being on a hill. The one Drive jpg of latest draft of Pine Tree/Snyder Hill Rds view
sign was shown; text still too wordy.
b. Communications Committee: JoAnn provided information regarding some of the
recent Facebook posts and how popular they were with followers. Metrics were
provided as to number of interactions with posts.
c. Tompkins County EMC: Lindsay did not attend the EMC meeting in September and
the October meeting will be an outreach event about flooding.
d. Six Mile Creek Volunteer Monitoring Program: Six Mile Creek volunteers took BMI
samples upstream and downstream of the CUBO well site in Cascadilla Creek
9/19/22; critters are preserved in alcohol and will be analyzed as time permits to see
if the drilling had any effect on stream health.
e. Cornell Botanic Gardens Natural Areas Program: CU Botanic Gardens volunteers
enjoyed an "appreciation" party this afternoon, 10/6/22, with tasty catering and
plants to take to their home gardens. Natural Areas Stewardship volunteers trimmed
and blazed the red trail in Fischer Old Growth Forest; widened the Cascadilla trail
downstream of Collegetown; weeded buckthorn, bittersweet, privet, honeysuckle
etc around Beebe Lake, and surveyed the Finger Lakes Trail in Lick Brook with
representative stewards from Finger Lakes Trail and Finger Lakes Land Trust for
invasive Japanese stilt grass, which is particularly bad near the RR bridge over brook.
8. Other Business: None was presented.
Next meeting is scheduled for Thursday, November 3.
The meeting was adjourned at 7:01 pm.
Minutes drafted by Joann Kowalski, October 24, 2022
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