HomeMy WebLinkAbout1989-1991 Conservation Advisory Council Minutes (not complete)OFFICE OF
CITY ATTORNEY
CITY OF ITHACA
1OB EAST GREEN STREET
ITHACA, NEW YORK 14850
MEMORANDUM
TELEPHONE: 272-1713
CODE 607
RECEIVED JAN 13 16
TO: Mayor John Gutenberger
Carolyn Peterson
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FROM: L. Richard Stumbar, City Attorney !�-
'.
DATE: January 10, 1986
RE: Residency Requirements - Conservation Advisory Council
I have been requested to render an opinion visa -vis the residency
requirements of a member of the Conservation Advisory Council.
The Conservation Advisory Council is authorized and created pursuant
to Section 239-x of the General Municipal Law.
Said law, by itself, does not establish .a residency requirement.
However, residency requirements continue to be controlled by the
Public Officers Law of the State of New York - specifically Section 3.
Under the provisions of this law a distinction is made between employees
and "public officers". There is no requirement that a municipal employee reside
in the municipality in question. A public officer however must be a resident of
the political subdivision which he/she serves.
The question then is reduced,to whether or not a member of the Con-
servation Advisory Council is a public officer. My opinion is in the affirmative.
A public officer is one who is required to discharge duties for the
public and the duties entrusted to him/her are official and a public charge.
The courts have determined that the following positions are public officers
within the meaning of the law in various cases (this of course is not an ex-
haustive list): Legislators, District Attorneys, School Board Members, Bridge
Commissioners, Park Commissioners, Election Commissioners, Highway Superintendents,
Urban Renewal Agency Members, Library Trustees, Planning Board Members. This
I hope will give you an idea of the scope of the concept.
The City as for other offices can pass a local law changing the require-
ment. A resolution, however, is not sufficient.
LRS:bw
RECEIVED OCT 20 1989
Resolution to Common Council from
Conservation Advisory Council
on
Relieving traffic congestion
October 19, 1989
WHEREAS, traffic congestion and parking in the City of Ithaca have
become major problems, and
WHEREAS, every community bears a responsibility to reduce the causes
of global warming --brought on- in large measure by automobile exhaust;
and
WHEREAS, there are several ways the City could relieve these problems,
therefore
BE IT RESOLVED that the City adopt a multi -pronged attack on these
problems, including the following specific suggested solutions:
1. the City urge Cornell to charge students for owning cars and put
the money collected into a fund for subsidizing a free bus system for
all members of the public;
2. the City work with the County to immediately start working on ways
to improve mass transit, including looking into costs and feasibility
of light rail systems;
3. the City encourage Cornell, Ithaca College, TC3, the hospital, and
other large traffic generators to construct park-and-ride facilities
in Varna, on South Hill (in the Town of Danby or Ithaca), in Lansing,
and on West Hill (in the Town of Ithaca or Ulysses).
4. the City urge the large traffic generators to subsidize a public
transit system that would be free to all and would run more frequently,
to more places, and at predictable times. (Cornell could, for example,
divert the huge funds proposed for new parking lots on or near campus,
to the public transit fund.)
5. the City and County work together on setting up a ride -share program.
Comments: As we delay, congestion, air pollution, global warming,
and loss of open space to parking lots only become worse.
It should be noted that Mt. Holyoke, Smith, Amherst, Hampshire
College, and the U. of Mass. jointly subsidize a bus system that is
free for anyone, provides service within and between the five towns,
and is heavily used by the public.
The County Planning Dept. may be able to help resolve these problems,
and we urge the City to seek this help.
(Resolution 'approved unanimously, October 16, 1989.)
MINUTES
CONSERVATION ADVISORY COUNCIL
Meeting of December 11, 1989
Present: all members (Broberg, Darlington, Emilian, Farrell, Hotchkiss,
Jones, Tripp, Waldron, .Wertis), and CC liaison Carolyn Peterson;
guest: Will Burbank
Absent: Liaisons Joe Daley (BPW, P&D) and John Johnson (CC)
NEXT MEETING: MONDAY, JANUARY 8, 1990
1. Minutes for Nov. approved without change.
2. Letter to DEC in support of Common Council's resolution asking that
Hog Hole be recognized as of "unusual local importance" and be added to
wetlands maps: revised, then approved unanimously.
3. Letter asking Common Council to remain firm about being lead agency
for Treman Marina environmental review: approved unanimously.
4. Will Burbank came to discuss his concerns with the "bag -tag" (charging
people per container) proposal for charging for trash. Felt the idea
is unfair, unworkable, and arrived at through a horrible process. It
discriminates against low income people --a regressive tax, really. Those
least able to pay will be paying the highest proportion of their income
for trash removal.
At first glance, the tag system looks good because it would encourage
a conscious approach to minimizing waste; without a tag system what will
be the incentive to recylce? But tag system also a problem in terms of
illegal dumping (or dumping that is currently legal, on one's own property).
Country roads (e.g. in Shindagin Hollow) are already becoming degraded
by large amounts of trash. How could this possibly be adequately policed?
There is no master plan for waste disposal in the County. Community
should have an opportunity to address the various problems in public meetings.
CAC decided to ask BPW or Common Council to hold a public meeting to
discuss the problem and get ideas and alternatives. Carolyn will take
this recommendation to them.
Surveys show Americans want to recycle.
Some ideas:
a. Make recycling mandatory, with penalties for not doing so;
b. Use a tag system, but also give rebates for # of containers of recy-
clables (perhaps, with redeemable coupons stuck onto the containers by
the hauler);
c. Allow each household one free container of trash, and require a tag
for anything above that;
d. Make recycling as easy as possible, and include as many materials
as possible;
e. Education;
f. Encourage use of recycled materials--e.g. City Hall was asked by
Common Council to look into using recycled paper, but nothing has come
of it. CAC asked Carolyn to revive the idea.
g. Find out more about places that use a tag system. (Bara says quite
a few places do, and it's quite successful, but doesn't know if dumping
has increased.)
h. Have a trash exchange system;
5. Follow-up on our traffic recommendations: P&D Board and Paul Mazzarella
are talking with Cornell and the County (?) re improvements in mass transit.
Bill Wendt at Cornell is working hard at this, including pushing for a
free bus system.
6. Gun Hill site: Betsy walked the site with Mark Finkelstein, and reported
that considerable progress has been made in correcting the erosion problems.
Steepness of slope around parking lot has led to slumping; more than grass
is probably needed to prevent this.
Gift to the City of the woods south of the new apts. is now going through
channels.
7. Six -Mile Creek: 6 -Mile Creek Committee met and approved recommendations
of priority lands for acquisition. They'll send this on to Common Council.
8. New mayor, Ben Nichols, wants to set up an interim parks commission.
Applications being accepted. (In Jan., Common Council will be asked to
vote on reviving the idea.)
9. Feb. meeting: Betsy has a conflict, so discussed changing date. Deferred
decision till Jan. 8th meeting.
10. Continuing reports of bad smells from Wilcox Press, esp. in the night.
Betsy talked to Randy Young at DEC in Cortland. He agreed to come over
and test at night, but will call Mr. Arnold Singer (a resident of nearby
Parker St.) first, to see if smell is a problem. (Some nights it's ok.)
He said he'd keep us posted. We should check back if we don't hear anything.
11. Hudson St. project now going through environmental review.
12. Natural History Network: a loose assemblage of groups. CAC now part
of this. Met to discuss plans for Earth Day (April 22). NHN will "coordinate"
things insofar as possible, and get a schedule of events into local papers.
CAC may want to do something. Next meeting: Dec. 14, 5PM, City Hall.
13. Liaison from or to BPW: with Joe Daley going on Common Council, we
will need someone. Carol Reeves let Betsy know that, for the time being,
there is no one she can appoint. Maybe after new mayor fills the vacancies,
there will be someone. Otherwise, we should try to send someone to their
meetings. (Every Wed. at 4 PM) We also will need a liaison from P&D Bd.
14. Betsy read a thank you letter from Florence Hoard.
15. Agreed to give our commendations on a quarterly basis (one per season).
16. Bara hasn't had a chance to contact Dan Ramer. She will be getting
more info on Household Hazard Waste plans for the County. She will be
coordinating an HHW task force.
17. Bara will be providing City and County purchasing agents with info
on recycled paper products. Quoin Copy and Fine -Line have recycled paper.
18. Ithaca Scrap accepts paper: white ledger with black ink; and mixed --colored
paper and computer paper. No glossy paper. No envelopes. Will pay 3¢/lb.
Save glossy inserts in Ithaca Journal, for an action someone is planning
in the spring. No one knows how the Ithaca Journal is able to get this
recycled. It's treated with clay, one extra step to clean up.
19. Idea for Conserv-a-tips: start an office recycling program; where
to take paper for recycling.
@). Adjourned about 9:30 PM.
Respectfully submitted,
Keith Waldron and Betsy Darlington
Dear John:'� o t vdso,0 ?
At Monday's CAC meeting I got the feeling that you might have mixed
up two different things, regarding the Festival Lands. Last So'"'iec Council's
vote was on removing the Festival Lands from the alienation process, and
using instead land along Six -Mile Creek. I was torn to some degree evep
on that vote, but when you asked me what I thought, I said I thought it
made sense to take the Festival Lands out of that whole mixed-up package.
June 14, 1989
RECEIVED JUN 15 1989
The reason I was torn was that I realized that, doing this would also
free up the Festival Lands and perhaps hasten its transfer to the State --
something I have never supported. But, at the same time, I thought it
was important to get that land out of the alienation package. And if
we could simultaneously acquire land along Six -Mile Creek, that seemed
like a good fringe benefit.
My concern is that I think you may have forgotten what it was I supported
last fall, and thought I also supported giving up the Festival Lands to
the State. I am most emphatically opposed to this, for the following
reasons:
1. It would wipe out all of that lovely grassy area between the marina
and the Hogs' Hole,
2. and that would mean people walking to the lake would be virtually in
the Hogs' Hole --along with their dogs and their trash.
3. The park system's new roadway would also skirt through the edge of
the Hogs' Hole with further impacts on the latter.
4. The whole rationale behind the development planned for the north end
of the park is that it would be part of the marina expansion package. Yes,
the park system might go ahead anyway with their ill-advised development,
but without the marina expansion, they might not.
5. I am opposed to turning that one remaining quiet, public lakeshore
area into another Stewart Park. The latter is terrific. But we don't
need two of them. Andy Mazzella says he has to balance all the different
interests --the ball players, the people who don't want to walk more than
two feet from their car to their picnic bench, the wealthy boat owners,
the birders, and the walkers. The trouble is, to date, everyone has been
essentially ignoring the latter two groups as well as the "earth" and
its other inhabitants.
6. The Hogs' Hole has been whittled away at till there isn't a whole lot
left. Although the park system plans don't look too bad --and they're
better than what they originally planned (thanks to the EMC and others) --there
is no way the Hogs' Hole isn't going to be further impacted. People (and
their dogs) will be next to it, in it, and tossing their trash into it. Stuff
from their cars will drain off into it. What's really needed is a vast
restoration of what has been lost --and there could even be federal money
to do it. Thefederal gov't has suddenly realized that our wetlands --probably
the most biologically rich areas we've got --are disappearing at an alarming
rate, and it has started taking various actions to reverse this trend.
7. The marina is already HUGE! Do we really want to give up more park
space, open to everyone, to an elite group of people who can afford boats?
And do we really want to crowd the lake even further? Among other reasons
for avoiding the latter is the fact that it is the drinking water for
large numbers of people.
8. The exchange is unfair to the City. That land for short-term leases
on the Buttermilk ballfields?!
9. If the land remains in City hands it will continue to be free. Once
the state gets its hands on it, it can charge admission --and probably
will, if not immediately, eventually.
To me a vote to turn that land into more space for boats is a vote against
the environment and against the people.
I got the feeling the other night that you were beginning to rethink
your support for giving up this land to the state. I urge you to do so!
(In fact, I was surprised on Monday night to find that you did support
it.) Given that you hadn't known about the extensive plans to the north
and northwest, you hadn't had all the facts needed for giving an informed
opinion when you talked to Andy Mazzella.
I think the reason the original lease agreement on the Buttermilk ballfields
left the whole deal contingent on a vote of Council was because Council
at the time did not have any more idea than the park system itself of
precisely what its plans would entail. The Mayor has said that when he
signed that lease, he knew nothing could be finalized until Council voted ---
otherwise he wouldn't have signed it. In other words, while Council may
have supported in concept giving up the Festival Lands for marina expansion,
they could not have made a commitment to do so since they didn't even
know what the plans would be.
Next question that might arise: what if the park system decided to withdraw
its offer of the ballfields to "get back" at the City for not giving it
more land for the marina expansion? So be it! That would not be an unreason-
able price to pay. Andy Mazzella will be mad as the dickens. But what
else is new? Besides, he and we are only here for a short time. We've
got to leave that area alone for future generations --of people and wildlife._
Cc: Carolyn Peterson
Dan Hoffman
Ben Nichols
Dick Booth
Mayor Gutenberger
Best regards,
MINUTES
RECEIVED JAN 9.6 1990
CONSERVATION ADVISORY COUNCIL
Meeting of January 8, 1990
Present: Eric Broberg, Betsy Darlington (Chair), Cathy Emilian, Roger Farrell,
Bara Hotchkiss, Jill Tripp, Keith Waldron, John Wertis; Council liaison
Carolyn Peterson
Absent: Judy Jones (in France), CC liaison John Johnson (sick with flu)
1. Meeting called to order at 7:35. Minutes from December aproved.
2. Bara reported that Dan Ramer is no longer working at the N, WTP. The "head
person" suggested she call Supt. of Public Works. She talked to Acting
Supt. Larry Fabbroni re putting stencils on storm drains (saying that they
drain into .. CreeT He seemed more interested in the idea when Bara
told him about the tie-in with the Household Hazardous Waste collection
the County is hoping to have next Sept. Everyone on CAC continues to feel
the stenciling idea (borrowed from Olympia, WA) is a good one: John Wertis
suggested we make this our Earth Day project --greeted with enthusiasm.
Bara will look further into this--e.g. getting paint and other supplies
from DPW.
Bara also will talk to the new Supt. of DPW about putting an informative
message into people's tax envelopes, regarding where stuff poured down stprm
and indoor drains goes, and what's unsafe to, put down them. -
3. Conservation Overlay Zones: Betsy will write a memo to Dan Hoffman asking
that this be resurrected by P&D.
4. Packaging ordinance: Carolyn Peterson will ask County Bd. what's happening
with this at the County level. CAC members felt this shouldn't just drop.
Jill reported that Bd. of Educ. is having a meeting about use of styro trays
in school lunchrooms.
5. Betsy will write our thanks to Joe Daley.
6. Hydropower at Ithaca Falls: Cathy led a lengthy discussion about how
the City should proceed with this. Complicated problem --made more so by
the sudden departure of Helen Jones from the P&D Dept. Ralph Nash said
City could not develop hydropower solely for sale to NYSEG; some would have
to be used for the community! Considerable discussion of the financial aspects.
Plant would last 40-50 years.
At 6% interest rate, City would have neg. cash flow for 6 years, then
positive for 14 years. Paid for in 20 years;
At 7% -- 7 years neg. cash flow; paid for in 20 years;
At 8% -- 10 years neg.; paid for in 20 years.
Cost to build: about $5.3-5.5 million. Bond would be floated.
Price NYSEG would pay would be negotiated. 60kwh was figure NYSEG once
said we could get, but this has expired.
DEC (Vernon Husek) says Synergics' and Cornell's 401 certificates are
no longer valid. If Creek is designated, DEC would not give them new ones.
City has received some conflicting info even on this, however. Still,
designation seems to assure that hydro wouldn't be developed at Ithaca Falls.
Meeting with Fabrizio re boundaries this Thursday. Cathy, and probably Eric
and John W., will go to this. Assemblyman Marty Luster alsowants to have
another public meeting.
CAC concensus: City should push hard for designation of Fall Creek, but
City should not give up option to build hydro there until designation has
been approved. General agreement that if hydropower were to be permitted,
the City should do it, not a private party. Unclear as to whether or not
City would be able to exercise any controls over. how a private developer
would do things, but opinion was that City would have little or no control
since it's a federal license. (Gorge ordinance, Conservation Overlay Zones,
Site Plan Review probably would not apply.)
Five members (Broberg, Emilian, Farrell, Tripp, Wertis) (we went around
the table on this) are not opposed to having hydropower at Ithaca Falls,
if done right. One member (Darlington) is opposed, but if designation falls
through, would favor the City over a private developer. Two members (Waldron,
Hotchkiss) are ambivalent: wouldn't be too opposed to hydro there except
for serious misgivings about how well it would, in fact, be done. Intentions
and promises on other City projects have sometimes not been fulfilled. Roger
expressed some concerns about City operation, considering its tight budget: could
City tolerate 6-10 years of negative cash flow; would Common Council try
to squeeze every last dollar out of it? Cathy said that if the City does
it, the flow would be set at 62 cfs. (Private developer might get permission
to have it be only 31 cfs?)
Underground facility: not enough info, and too expensive to get info!
7. Natural History Network: Wertis will go (Jan. 11) for disc. on EarthDay.
8. CAC passed on to Carolyn a resolution asking the City to reserve Stewart
Park for Apr. 22 (Earth Day) and to let organizations use it for free, and
to cover any insurance costs for them.
9. Public meeting re City trash collection plans: Carolyn reported that
Fabbroni thought this was a good idea. She'll follow up as needed.
10. Northside planning meeting: Tripp will attend.
11. BPW meeting on Jan. 10: Broberg, and maybe Tripp, will attend.
12. SEQR: Booth and Darlington have finished their revisions of City ordinance
to incorporate changes in NYS law: Waldron and Emilian will look at this
and call comments to Darlington. Meeting of C&O Jan. 11: Darlington.
13. Use of recycled paper in City Hall: Carolyn will check into this.
14. Tree replacement law: Wertis will write a resolution. Peterson will
see what Site Plan ordinance says on this.
15. Woodstoves: discussion of a possible ordinance controlling use of woodstoves:
tabled until the City has an air testing program to determine if there is,
in fact, a problem with them.
16. Checklist for subdivision and Site Plan EAF's: Darlington will write
one up and send it to P&D as scan as Waldron gets more info on structural
IPM.
17. Hog Hole designation: Brad Griffin from DEC has written to say they
are moving forward on this.
Meeting adjourned at 9:30 PM.
18. Some good news: Carolyn Peterson and John Johnson will continue to be
our liaisons from Common Council.
19. C&O meeting, Jan. 11: Darlington will go. SEQR changes and smoking ordinance
are on agenda. (City's sm. ord. is weaker than State's in some respects
and must be changed to comply.)
20. Town of Ithaca, with new Supervisor, Shirley Raffensperger: probably
going to start a CAC.
NEXT MEETING: FIRST MONDAY IN FEB. (FEB. 5): 3rd flr. conf. rm. 7:30 PM.
(City Hall will be closed on Feb. 12 and 19).
Respectfully submitted, Bara Hotchkiss and Betsy lilington
-,MINUTES RECEIVED ' FEa io
CONSERVATION ADVISORY COUNCIL 1990
Meeting of February 5, 1990 •
Present: Betsy Darlington (Chair), Cathy Emilian, Roger Farrell ,(briefly),
Bara Hotchkiss, Judy Jones, Jill Tripp, John Wertis, CC liaison Carolyn
Peterson, BPW liaison Pat Connor
Absent: Waldron, Broberg, CC liaison Johnson
1. Minutes were approved with one change: Stewart Park may be needed for
EarthDay on April 21, not April 22. Apr. 22 is . EarthDay, but Cornell is
planning many events on that day, at Cornell. .(It's possible . that Ithaca
High School will be used on Apr. 21 rather than Stewart Park.) Pat Connor
reported that BPW has approved groups using the 'pavilions without, charge,
and also opening the park early, for the occarion. Note: after the meeting,
Betsy ran . into the Mayor who .told her thatinsurance coverage for the various
groups isno problem.
2. We welcomed our new liaison from BPW, Pat Connor.
Our guest, Charles Breckheimer, didn't make it. (Couldn't find room, maybe?)
3. EarthDay: Bara and John are .working on . CAC's plans --stencilling a message
on as many storm sewers as possible, saying something to the effect of,
"This .drains into nearest creek," or : "This drains into a drinking water
source.". We haven't heard yet from Steve Baker as to the wording used in
Olympia. WA. Bara has talked to Bill Gray (City Engineer) about our plans,
and will discuss with Narayan Thadani (Supt. of DPW) what wording. touse,
and what equipment DPW could supply. John will attend this week's meeting
(Feb. 8) of the Natural History Network, and will get the CAC's plans included
in their notices. Betsy said she would not be able to help organize things. . .
4. Building :.height: John Schroeder gave a brief presentation on his proposal
for limiting building heights on the Commons to 75 (or 70?) feet. Heshowed
drawings of the visual impact of 100 -foot buildings sandwiched in among
the current much lower ones. Possible to balance needs of development with
environmental and aesthetic concerns. Considerable room for development
in the downtown (e.g. along W. State St. and Elmira Rd.) without going • to
100 -foot buildings on and near the Commons. Historical character of the
downtown, views of E. and W. Hills --highly valued by Ithacans, and our "identity"
as a City would be significantly diminished by imposing 100 -foot structures
on the heart of downtown. If Common Council votes to go ahead with his
idea, there will be a public hearing and environmental review.
5. EAF's (when they come in): Cornell library addition --Roger, Cathy, Betsy;
Building height (if it goes to this) --John, Bara, Betsy.
6. Trash -tag public meeting: Tue. Feb 13, 8 PM Women's Comm. Bldg. Judy
will attend.
7. Hazardous household waste collection plans: Bara is putting together
the educational program but waiting for approval to move forward. Probably
will be limits on quantities and types_of materials to be collected.
8. Festival Lands mowing policy: Pat Connor will ask to have this put on
BPW agenda, and Betsy will write up our suggestions to the Board: No more
than once a year, and after August 1. (Or once every three years.)
9. -Hydropower: Cathy reported that the committee voted to wait on making
a decision about giving up license until end of April, to see how designation
of the creek is proceeding. At that time, options will be reviewed.. City
has been asked to appoint someone to work on designation. Dan Hoffman was
to ask Mayor to call a meeting with all involved parties (e.g. Dryden and
Town of Ithaca).
10. Northside .Park: Betsy reported receiving a request that we co-sponsor
an application; for funds. •to buy -Pogo Parcel for a park. Being just an advisory
group, we cannot do this; Betsy will so inform them, and also will suggest
they talk to .Leslie Chatterton.
11. Postponed action on a -possible resolution concerning tree : replacement,
etc. until we hear from Shade Tree Committee as to what they are planning
(on their agenda). Jill will try to attend their meeting, and will also
call Nina Bassuk, to see what they have in mind and - how we might help.
12. Smoking ordinance (changes in light of new State law): Bara will attend
C&O meeting on Feb. 13th when this will be discussed. . .._
13. Hudson St.: Concern among the residents about :the loss of the huge oak
trees :in :front of Oak Hill Manor if a sidewalk is put in there.' Certain
people..who wanted a sidewalk don't feel it is really needed, -given the trade-off
involved. Since DPW only put in this part of the project .because of residents'
requests for a sidewalk, it looks quite promising that it can - be deleted.
14. Recycled paper in City Hall: Carolyn reported that .City Purchasing ,+Agent,
Etta Gray, is working on this, and trying to sort through the rapidly changing
"scene." ;;i; .City Hall is now . using recycled paper for scratch • pads, . envelopes,
paper?, towels (?). Copy paper and computer paper --not yet. Bara .is working
at -getting • large buyers (e.g.: Co. and City) to order together since large
orders make using recycled paper more economically feasible.
15. Cathy has gone through the SEQR revisions and given her comments to
•Betsy,: who will .give them to Carolyn. When Keith : _Waldron is back in town,
Betsy ;will see if he's had .a chance _to go over it yet. .
•
ANNOUNCEMENTS:
IMPORTANT MEETING ON SOURCE REDUCTION: Maxiay, Feb. 26, 7 PM, Women's
Community Building
Next CAC Meeting: Monday, March 12, 7:30 PM
Respectfully submitted,
Cathy Emilian and Betsy Darlington
CONSERVATION ADVISORY COUNCIL'
MINUTES
MARCH 12, 1990
PRESENT: Betsy Darlington (Chair), Cathy Emilian, Roger Farrell,
Judy Jones, Bara Hotchkiss, Jill Tripp, John Wertis,
Eric Broberg, John Johnson (CC Liaison); Pat Connor
(BPW Liaison), Naryan Thadani (DPW Superintendent)
ABSENT: Waldron, Peterson (CC Liaison)
1. Introductions and discussions of the duties of the CAC. The
minutes were approved unanimously.
2. A mowing policy for the Festival Lands has been formulated.
the DPW will work out City property boundaries and the State
Parks Dept. will mow only on State land.
3. Jill Tripp reported that the Ithaca School District is now
recycling office paper. The school cafeterias are looking
into recycling single service styrofoam containers and
trays. The district maintenance offices have started
mulching brush and tree trimmings as well.
4. Jill Tripp also reported that the Shade Tree Advisory
Committee is looking into incentives for developers not to
cut down trees and possible restitution for cut down trees.
5. Earth Day will be celebrated on April 22, 1990 and the CAC
is participating by having an informational table on the
Commons and sponsoring a storm drain stencilling project.
The DPW has prepared a list of catch basins that are
continually being polluted and those drains will be
concentrated on. A final design and wording will be
completed as soon as possible. The DPW has graciously
agreed to provide paint, paint brushes and stencils for the
project which will involve students from three City schools.
6. A letter to Wegmans concerning their promotion of plastic
bags vs. paper bags will be drafted.
7. The trees on Hudson Street will most likely be saved. The
DPW has received considerable public input on this aspect of
of the project. The Elm Street repaving project has also
been delayed.
THE NEXT CAC MEETING IS MONDAY, APRIL 9, 1990 AT 7:30 P.M.
Respectfully submitted,
Eric Broberg
MINUTES
macho f s>
RECEIVED APR 13199
CONSERVATION ADVISORY COUNCIL
Meeting of April 9, 1990
Present: Eric Broberg, Betsy Darlington (Chair), Bara Hotchkiss, Roger Farrell,
Judy Jones, Jill Tripp, Keith Waldron; CC Liasions: Carolyn Peterson and
John Johnson; BPW Liaison: Pat Connor
Absent: Emilian, Wertis
1. Minutes of Mar. 12 meeting were approved with following corrections:
a. it 2 (second sentence) should read: The DPW will work out lawn -field
boundaries and direct the Finger Lakes State Parks staff that mowing of the
field area shall be no more than once a year, this mowing to be between July
15 and Sept. 1.
b. 116: Wegmans and the newspapers. (Add underlined words.)
2. Pat Connor will ask DPW if the Festival Lands mowing .map has been finished
and sent to FLSP, along with BPW's directive regarding number and timing
of mowings. (Larry Fabbroni was working on this just before resigning from
DPW.)
3. Earth Day: table on Commons, 11-4PM on Fri., April 19. Will use Judy's
table and Eric's samples of toxic stuff not to dump down drains. Jill will
see if Co-op Ext. has handouts listing toxics --paint, . oil, etc. or will prepare
a short handout for people. Betsy will coordinate with John W. re a press
release on our storm drain stencilling --if possible, with a reporter visiting
a class while they're doing the work. Table will be staffed as follows:
11-1: Johnson; 12:30-2: Waldron; 1-3: Bro_ berg; 3-4: Tripp, with Connor and
Wertis (?) as floaters. Tripp and Johnson will coordinate rounding up materials.
(Note: a possible handout about CAC is attached. Please call Betsy with sug-
gestions for improvement.)
Stencilling by fifth -graders will be done after Earth Day. CAC will schedule
a field trip so we can paint more drains, esp. in areas identified by DPW
as perennial trouble spots.
4. Hudson St. update: residents have agreed to a compromise: 30 feet wide
at bottom, less extreme curve -straightening, etc.
5. Fall Creek Designation update: passed CC 8-2. Includes Stewart Park,
but not the Golf Course.
6. Pogo Parcel update: City making an offer to buy it, for a park and affordable
housing.
6. Air quality problems: Complaints from the public. Winter road sanding
part of the problem. Could DPW clean streets a few times during the winter?
Haze of dust in the air along major streets. Pat will look into status of
our recommendation to CC re air quality testing. (CC referred it to BPW,
P&D, and C&O. Peterson and we agreed that C&O didn't seem to be a good committee
to send it to since no legislation is involved.)
Carolyn will look into possible legislation re vehicle idling. (Note:
Betsy has since learned that there is a State code regulating idling of diesel -
fueled vehicles. Carolyn will ask City Attorney about this.)
Right -on -red: Pat will ask Joe Daley if this is included in the traffic
study he is in charge of.
7. Pat reported from BPW that a fifth lane may be added to Meadow St. from
Maguire Ford, south, for turning.
8. We asked Carolyn to renew our request that our EQR ord. state that actions
that fit Type I criteria must be considered discretionary actions, and may
not be treated as ministerial.
9. We should let Pat know if we have ideas about the Parks Commission before
the interim commission's year is up.
10. Keith will write a letter to Ithaca Farmers' Market suggesting they set
up boxes for people to return bags and egg boxes, for use by vendors.
11. "Glossies" protest: Bara will call Betsy and Roger with info as to when
this will be. Betsy will call Jill, Pat and Eric; Roger will call Cathy
and John J.; Jill call Keith; Eric call Judy; John J call John W. and Carolyn.
12. Pat will find out what new structure on Golf Course is.
13. Betsy will write to DPW and Gary Lindenbaum (City Schools) re use of
pesticides. Draft will be circulated for comments; then she'll send it.
(Note: enclosed with these minutes.)
14. Keith reported that Cornell has finally started using IPM (Integrated
Pest Management). One person has been hired and another will be soon.
He also reported that, although the pesticide notification law was overturned
notification does still apply to lawn care. There are also some provisions
which apply to farmers, but they aren't detailed out.
Respectfully submitted,
Bara Hotchkiss and Betsy Darlington
Next meeting: Monday, May 14, 7:30 PM
„RECEIVED JUN J5 1999
MINUTES
CONSERVATION ADVISORY COUNCIL
Meeting of May 14, 1990
Present: Eric Broberg, Betsy Darlington (Chair), Bara Hotchkis, Roger
Farrell, Judy Jones, John Wertis; CC liaison John Johnson
Absent: Cathy Emilian, Jill Tripp, Keith Waldron; liaisons Carolyn Peterson
and Pat Connor
1. Minutes for April were approved without change.
2. City's pesticide application practices: DPW sent Betsy 'the list
for 1989. Judy suggested sending this to Norm Hummel, IPM coordinator,
for advice on IPM for golf courses and other turf areas.
3. The Chairs of the three area CAC's and the EMC are meeting soon
to discuss mutual concerns.
4. CAC and Interim Parks Commission want to have a meeting, with as
many from Common Council as can come, to discuss protecting the City's
waterways (and in particular, the green areas adjacent to them). Three
dates (June 11, 18, 21) picked to choose from --Betsy will set this up.
5. Request from a member of Unitarian Church for ideas of "environmental
good deeds” her group could do. Betsy gave • her some ideas and will call
with info that recycling center needs attendants.
6. Write to Marty Luster and Jim Seward if you oppose legislation
that would permit billboards along interstates.
7. Betsy read a nice letter of thanks from Beth Mulholland.
8. Note from Carol Reeves saying BPW never recd word from P&D or
C&O re air quality testing. Also said there's no money in budget.
9. Letter of thanks from Don Culligan for CAC's help with Hudson St.
10. John Wertis reported on 5th graders' storm drain stencilling.
Fall Creek will do it on May 22 at 12:45.
11. Discussion of EAF for subdivision along Flood Control Channel,
on Florai•Ave.--Wm. Benson's proposal. (See separate memo for recommendations.)
CAC's Conservation Overlay Zoning would have prevented this. Need to
get that back on track.
12. Summer commendation to fifth graders at Fall Creek, Belle Sherman,
and South Hill for their drain stencilling. Betsy will draft a press
release and letter of thanks to the papers for DPW's and the kids' help.
John W. will review these first, and also ask Ashley Miller about certificates.
13. Betsy went through Barbara Blanchard's proposal for planning the
Elm St. reconstruction. Approval for her ideas about CAC involvement.
14. Dennis Osika and Cliff Duda are doing IPM for Cornell Campus.
15. Alienation of 4 parcels on Inlet Island: brief discussion of the
two pieces that aren't involved with Rt. 89 construction. Concensus that
City needs to do more to protect land along waterways. (Hence meeting
with Interim Parks Commission.) Conservation Overlay Zoning needed!!
Respectfully submitted,
Bara Hotchkiss and Betsy Darlington
LL z 1 Lt) `-( —1130 -- �r�iii - ho . C l_C- i v., c .
MINUTES RECEIVED AUG 0 ? g
CONSERVATION ADVISORY COUNCIL
Meeting of July 9, 1990
Present: Eric Broberg, Betsy Darlington (Chair), Cathy Emilian, Roger
Farrell, Bara Hotchkiss, Judy Jones, Jill Tripp, Keith Waldron, John Wertis;
Liaisons: Pat Connor (BPW), Carolyn Peterson (CC)
Absent: CC liaison John Johnson
Guests: Peter Weed (P&D), Barbara Blanchard (CC), Doria Higgins, Jim
Houghton, Joe Daley, John Schroeder (CC), Kristin Graham (WHCU)
1. Minutes approved unan.
2. Cathy Emilian volunteered to take notes.
3. CAC's reviews of environmental reviews --discussion: Barbara Blanchard: -
a planning person; a "built environment" person; has interest in environmental
issues and . works in this area (writes DEIS's, e.g. the one for Sun Downs
Farm); expressed her concern that we (and the City) are not using SEQR,
Site Plan Review, etc. the way they're supposed to be used but to "keep
things from happening." She felt that we will do anything that needs
to be done to stop something. Gave example of Sun Downs Farm in Village
of Lansing. Felt we should take into account financial impacts .for developers
and the City.
Members' response: whatever may be happening outside the City is not
CAC's concern; asked for examples in the City; we act quickly; we do
not try to stall projects; we're only group in City charged exclusively
with looking at potential envir. impacts --not our role to integrate financial
situations ofapplicants into our comments; we're purely advisory; we
try hard to identify potential environmental problems so these can be
addressed early in the planning stages rather than after a project has
been completed and mistakes made; it's for Lead Agencies to look at all
aspects of a project, taking our comments just as one source of info. _
Peter Weed said he makes himself available to developer at a very ' early
stage, . and SEQR is a useful planning tool. On those rare occasions when
CAC has recommended a positive declaration, it's been, a good way of getting
the developer's attention re potential environmental impacts.
3. Smoking ordinance: quite a few small restaurants and bar -restaurant
combos aren't complying. What should be done? Betsy will talk to City
Attorney, Fire Dept., and Bldg. Dept.
4. Storm drain stencilling: Meet at John Wertis's house (111 or 106
W. York --he's moving from 111 to 106) at 5:30 PM on Mon. July 30 to do
drains DPW says are an especially big problem. Is it possible to have
the drains marked when they're being made??
John Wertis will get list of target drains from DPW.
Volunteers: Judy, Cathy, (Roger?), Bara, John W., Eric, Joe Daley, Jim
Houghton, Doria Higgins, (John S.?)
5. New parking garage for downtown: Joe Daley, Jim Houghton, John
Schroeder:. 600 cars; parking committee recommended a block along West
State St. (consultant rec. Woolworth's lot). Better to have one garage
than lots of surface lots. Important to keep business healthy in the
downtown. Competition from suburban malls a growing problem. Ground floor
could be used for commercial space.
Eric: mass transit and park -&-ride should be important part of the plan.
Discussion of need to promote/improve public transportation.
(Green St. garage --450 spaces, Seneca --700, C'town--200)
6. Fall Creek designation: who should administer it? (P&D Bd. or BZA)
No recommendation from CAC because we haven't hear the pros and cons on
each side. (Note: CC voted to have P&D administer it.)
7. Alienation of Inlet Is. parklands: John Schroeder (why maybe in
favor of moving ahead now): We're currently wasting the land; use the
procedure as a way to get a plan for Island; a . way to expedite getting
bike path along Inlet; alienation could begin while a plan is being developed;
alienation is years away; susbtit. lands is required.
Doria Higgins: plan and ident. of substitute lands should occur before
alien. process starts.
8. New bike path right next to Cascadilla Creek, from new foot bridge
to Farmer& Market, was built without any environmental review. Dirt
piled up at bases of many trees. Loose dirt next to path, on steep slope
leading to the water. Log supports for the fill for the path --what will
happen when these rot? Many bare areas on steep slopes. Betsy talked to
City Forester, Dan Schmohe, who said he'd go take a look. Betsy hasn't
heard if the loose dirt has been taken care or the banks planted to prevent
erosion. Carolyn will talk to Narayan and report back to Betsy.
---Cathy Emilian and Betsy Darlington
MINUTES
Htn 'QC -6o
RECEIVED OCT 25 199
Conservation Advisory Council
Meeting of October 1, 1990
Present: Eric Broberg, Betsy Darlington (Chair), Cathy Emilian, Roger .Farrell,
Bara Hotchkiss, Judy Jones, Jill Tripp, Keith Waldron, John Wertis. -
Liaison: Pat Connor (BPW)
Guest: Mayor Ben Nichols
Absent: Members --none. Liaisons --Johnson (until last 5 min.), Peterson, Schmohe
(IPC), Baker (DPW)
1. Minutes were aproved unan. Bara agreed to take minutes.
2. Pat will ask Barbara Blanchard to .ask BPW to start EAF's on projects when
the new budget comes out each year (as Blanchard proposed last month).
3. Discussed Interim Parks Commission's charter and method of operation:
a. Relat. with 6 -Mi. Cr. Comm., Circle Greenway, etc.
b. Will ask them about their idea . of having jurisdiction over street
R.O.W.'s, cemeteries and other private areas.
c. Relationship to CAC: agreed it should be the same as our relat. with
various other City bodies--i.e. advice and oversight
4. Discussed Conrail's semi-annual pesticide spraying along their R.O.W. Esp.
problematic next to and over waterways. Jill will call DEC (Reginald Louey) for
more info. Bara will call a friend who successfully fought such spraying by
Conrail in Mass. town.
.5. Mayor Ben Nichols: Rabid raccoons: one found in nearby county; presence in
Ithaca is inevitable, probably within a year. County Health Dept. (S. Stopen)
wants City to come up with a policy/program to address the problem. Co: is
having free inocul. clinics. For ideas: Judy will call Milo Richmond in Natural
Resources (Cornell), Eric will talk to Frank Chase at Health Dept., Pat will call
a vet. friend in Pa. for info, and Cathy gave us a name for it all: Evac-a-rac!
Bated vaccine doesn't work well, apparently. What about catching and
vaccinating them? Gordon Gabarese (nuisance hotline) might know.
6. Brainstorming (where are we and where are we headed?): Jill led discussion:
We should be more "proactive." Too much of what we do is reactive. General
agreement with this assessment. Ideas thrown out to work on: * packaging
ordinance; * conservation overlay zones (was on Pl. Dept. work plan for 1990
but got bumped to 1991); * vapor recovery nozzles on gas pumps; * toxics audit
(Emergency Response Committee --Jack Miller --might help)(EMC is doing one on
buried tanks --Roger will check where this is now); * amt. of lead piping left in
City water mains; * procedural recommendations for emergency responses;
* promote public access to waterways; * push bike paths; * better signage and
enforcement for non -biking areas (e.g. 6 -Mi. Cr. --write letters to paper about
this, following recent photo in IJ); * survey of local green spaces; tax on
student -owned cars; * how does DPW handle various environmental matters, and
do we have any suggestions?; * old City dump --what's in it?; * air quality --for
example, NOX's, CO, and particulates should be tested (ozone apparently ok!--
BTI testing this summer)
7. Idling ordinance: at C&O now. Will ask them to include all motor vehicles,
not just . diesel -fueled trucks .and buses. Public education needed. Cost to
consumer of leaving veh. idling would be helpful info to have. Bara will ask Bob
Amundson how much CO is emitted per min., on the average. Betsy will call
Carolyn, and also Jim Houghton (for a consery-a-tip on idling). State law says
diesel veh. may not idle for over 5 min., with some exceptions.
8. Discussion of Draft Resolution re construction on slopes. Eric reported that
County Health Dept. is about to restrict construction if over 15% slope (if
septic system). Eric will draft a new resolution.
9. Brief discussion of report from someone about pesticide use at Six -Mile
Creek Vineyard, with .drifting to Reservoir.
10. Pat reported on consolidated trans. facil. idea and on Linden Ave. gasoline
tank removal by City.
11. Cathy--transp. comm. report: Ithaca is said to have excellent transit system
for City this size. Incentives to ride bus: Cornell has a pilot project going.
Eric --parking comm. report: downtown needs 200 more spaces.(?)
Jill and John --nothing to report
Submitted by Bara Hotchkiss and Betsy Darlington
MINUTES
Conservation Advisory 'Council
Meeting of Nov. 5, 1990
Present: Eric Broberg, Betsy Darlington (Chair), Cathy Emilian, Roger
Farrell, Judy Jones, Jill Tripp, John Wertis
Liaisons: Peterson, Johnson, Connor
Guest: Blanchard
Absent: Hotchkiss, Waldron
1. Oct. minutes were approved unanimously. .
2. Rt. 13: DOT's proposals for changes. We discussed comments on these to
send to Common Council, with Darlington being charged with writing them up,
circulating the draft to members for comments, then sending it on to Council.
Topics covered: safety, traffic speed, wetlands, proposed bikeway, appearance
of entrance to City, construction practices along waterways.
3. Fall commendation: Ithaca Farmers' Market. Cathy Emilian will make
presentation to them at their Annual Meeting on Nov. 8..
4. CAC structure: agreed •(6 in favor,` 1 abstention) to have an EAF
subcommittee that would stay the same for 3 months, then rotate, starting in
January. At that time, the committee will be Roger Farrell, Judy Jones
(convener), and John Wertis.. After a couple of 'rotations, we'll evaluate the
new system and decide whether or not to continue with it. Whoever is serving
on the subcom. would not feel obliged to participate in other CAC projects.
5. Conrail spraying discussion: deferred to Dec.
6. Evac-a-rac.: Judy Jones passed out a draft memo for Mayor Nichols, and
reported on her calls to various experts on raccoon rabies.. She'll make a few
changes in the draft and will send this to him and Darlington.. (Note: done,
and sent to Common Council, the Mayor, Police Chief and maybe some others.)
Only one person in County deals with problem raccoons. Discussed training
police in how to deal with them. Recommend a "rapid response system."
7. Construction on steep slopes: Discussion deferred to Dec. (Broberg)
8. Paint removals (air pollution problems with power sanding of house
exteriors): Judy Jones will look into what Mass. is 'doing. John Johnson will
report from C&O. Will discuss in Dec.
9. Project for us to work on: Buried tanks are being looked into by the EMC,
so we decided not to duplicate. We'll work on pushing for walkway from IFM
past DOT to Cass .Park. John Wertis will talk to Beth Mulholland and DOT.
Will discuss at Dec. meeting.
10. Liaison reports: Wertis reported that consensus of the Inlet Island
Committee is to have a mixture of public. and business uses there; possibly
extend park to tip of island. Pat Connor reported from-BPW on Elmira Rd.
sidewalk' issue. (Merchants and that ward's alderpersons oppose putting in
sidewalks.)
11. Jan. we'll nominate people for Chair.
Submitted by Cathy Emilian and Betsy Darlington
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Ada- 686
CONSERVATION ADVISORY COUNCIL
MINUTES --Meeting of Jan. 14, 1991
Present: Betsy Darlington, Roger Farrell, Bara Hotchkiss, Judy Jones, Rob
Shapiro, Keith Waldron, John Wertis
Liaisons: Jill.Tripp (BPW), John Johnson & Carolyn Peterson (CC)
Guest: Barbara Blanchard
Absent: Cathy Emilian, Guy Girard
1. Dec. Minutes approved, with addition'of adjournment time: about 9:40
PM. Keith taking notes; Bara offered to take minutes each month after this.
2. Jill reported from Downtown Visions Task Force, and BPW: DVTF will
make suggestions re Commons vegetation maintenance and improvements to
gorge pathways from downtown up Cascadilla Cr.(?) and Six -Mile Cr.
Bus transit bldg. (B. Blanchard): architects and engineering firms have
been (or are being?) interviewed. 70 % of bldg. to be complete by July, '91.
3. John W. reported from Inlet Island Committee: will propose access to
N. tip of island, with a loop trail out to it. Open space needs to be better
utilized as park land. Probably will recommend restrictions on types and sizes
of commercial development. Looking into idea of cutting into bank on W. side,
to provide docking facilities for small boats. No current recommendation re
alienation. Development proposals hinge on there being adequate access under
new overpass. Committee's work nearly complete.
4. Roger reported from EMC: Town of Ithaca CAC proposal for 6 -Mi. Cr.
being sent to EMC. EMC discussed ConRail spraying --info to be sent to a
committee. EMC recommends naming Fuertes Sanct. as off-limits to spraying.
Mary Smith has replaced Jim Skaley as Env. Planner assigned as staff
coordinator to EMC. She maintains an env. library. Jim Skaley has report on
buried tanks (as does Roger who will get us a copy). Emphasizes need for
preventing leaks. Removal of tanks costs avg. of $184,000 if leaking; as low as
$800 if not. Zebra mussels now in barge canal no. of Seneca Lk. Expected in
Cayuga Lk. by spring. Conference on this pest on Feb. 1 at Cornell (Stater).
5. John W. presented resolution from CAC to CC re extension of trail
around Farmers' Market; we added extending it to Buffalo St., to link up with
proposed "inter -park" trail from Buttermilk to Taughannock. Passed unan.;
John Johnson will take -to CC.
6. Keith: ConRail spraying: field trip to identify sensitive areas not to
spray --end of April. (Schedule this at April meeting.) Invite Mark Walker (who
first contacted us about this) and man Keith spoke to at ConRail in Phila.
Keith will invite Reg Louey (DEC, Region 7 --Supt. for Pesticide Regs.)
to March CAC meeting to inform us on pesticide regs. re homeowners, parks,
etc. (THINK OF QUESTIONS FOR HIM.)
7. Keith: Vapor emissions at gas stations: talked to Roxanna Savino (Pres.
of Southern Tier Service Station Operators) and Marian Ragona (VP National
Assoc. of Service Station Operators): regs. to reduce air pollution a minimum
of 2% reduction in pollutants in NY air corridor. Included in regs.: installation
of vapor recovery systems that reduce emissions during fuel dispensing
operations (delivery to service station and from pumps). Regs. go into effect
1/1 /91 in NYC, and rest of NYS by 1992. "Stage 2 vapor recovery" (VR) refers
to capture of fuel vapors at the pump. Costs at typical service station
estimated at $40,000 for installation of VR sys. (underground tanks and pumps),
and $13,000 for diagnostic equipment! VR equip. in NYC area is leased from
major oil cos. at monthly cost of $250, and as much as $900 for replacing
1
damaged hoses and nozzles. High cost will hurt small operators especially.
Many stations are switching to fiberglas underground tanks --but these
aren't compatible with methanol. ,
8. Calder Award: Nancy Ostman at Cornell Plantations contacted Betsy
re this prestigious award and to see if CAC might be interested in nominating
Margaret Fabrizio for her work in getting Fall Creek designated. Award.
recognizes someone for successfully bringing 'together envir. and business
groups to protect terrestrial or aquatic ecosystems. (The "business" in this case
being Cornell.) CAC voted unan. to nominate her. Betsy and Nancy Ostman will
follow up.
9. Natural History Network wants toreprint the brochure and is asking for
donations of $35-40 to cover cost. Carolyn will check if City can.do this for us.
NHN's next meeting is Feb. 1 at 4H Acres, 4:30 PM following 3:30 walk.
10. Betsy read memo she sent relaying complaints from residents near silt
pond. Question raised --why was fish ladder built to begin with and would
anything be gained by repairing it? Betsy will call Ed Brothers and others to
get an opinion. (Note from Betsy: Ed doesn't know the situation there and
couldn't give an opinion. Various others she contacted also weren't sure, but
thought it probably wouldn't do much good. Large -mouthed bass (which
wouldn't use it) may be the only major fish in the 60' reservoir. Small -mouthed
bass and trout would use it, but probably aren't there to do so.) Discussed lead
from firing range. Question raised if City needed to continue to use this area,
or could it perhaps be converted to recreational use for the public? John
Johnson will ask Police Chief McEwen about possibility of moving it elsewhere
and of having a field trip with us. (Note from Betsy:.I called the Chief to
apologize for sending the memo without talking to him first. As you saw from
his and Chuck Baker's letters, the lead is periodically cleaned up --I don't know
how often --and the officers keep the place clean. He felt neighbors' complaints
were unjustified. He said a field trip this spring would be fine.)
11. Betsy read letter from Ray Nolan at DEC saying Hog Hole is in process
of being designated. Public hearing will be held before it's completed. Also:
material fromjim Houghton re parking garage siting was shared. Jim will keep
us up-to-date since we no longer have a liaison to that committee. Also: memo
from Linda Tsang (Pl. Dept.) re LoPinto project on Floral Ave. Also: paint
removal and construction on slopes are on Charter and Ordinance (C&O)
agenda. Also: no word as to what the DEC award was to CAC for its storm
drain stencilling which we heard about through the grapevine.
12. CAC library is currently in a box at Betsy's. Barbara B. volunteered to
see if Pl. Dept. could have a shelf for us, for people to borrow from. (Thanks,
Barbara!)
13. Meeting adjourned at 9:12 PM for discussion of selection of Chair.
(Betsy left.) Betsy was reelected unan.
Keith Waldron and Betsy Darlington
RECEIVED MAR 141991
CONSERVATION ADVISORY COUNCIL
ANNUAL REPORT
Feb. 1990 -Mar. 1991
Prepared by Betsy Darlington, Chair, on March 13, 1991
I. Larger projects:
Hudson St. recommendations;
Earth Day storm drain stencilling, continuing into July:
Fifth graders at 3 schools painted onto drains: "No Dumping,
Drains to Lake." DPW provided supplies, with BPW approval.
Festival Lands mowing policy --recommendation and implementation;
Fall Creek Designation as a "Recreational River;"
Treman Marina recommendations;
SEQR revisions (to City ordinance);
"Glossies" protest to Ithaca Journal;
Removal of lead-based house paint --ongoing consideration of how .to
address this problem, with Lew Durland and Doug Dylla.
II. Discussed, looked into, and/or made recommendations re:
Ithaca Farmers' Market --to have receptacle for bags and egg boxes
for re -use;
City use of pesticides;. and consulted with .Integrated Pest Manage-
ment coordinator on this;
Elm St. reconstruction (and toured site with DPW rep.);
Chemical odor below Therm, reported by a citizen: toured site with
DEC and DPW; toured plant with Pres. Sproull;
(With IPC) Process for alienation of Inlet Island parcels;
Met with Tk. Co. Affordable Housing Task Force (their invitation);
Smoking ordinance enforcement;
Proposed parking garage;
Mass transit improvements;
New bike path to Farmers' Market
Raccoons -and rabies;
DOT plans for Rt. 13 (south end)
Reviewed NYSEG plans for cleanup of toxic material at GIAC pool
site;
Met with State Dorm. Authority re SEQRA review for bond for
Cornell projects;
ConRail herbicide spraying --ongoing project;
Raw sewage problem on So. Cayuga St.;
Recom. to EMC re buried tanks (petroleum products);
Construction and site plan checklist for EAF's, to P&D;
Suggestions to Sciencenter re construction and design;
Suggestions to Cornell re use -of lawn pesticides;
Comments on about 30 EAF's.
III. Resolutions/recommendations to Common Council:
That anything meeting Type I thresholds not be ministerial;
Site plan review for construction within 100 -year flood zone;
Site plan review for construction within 200' of center of streams;
Site plan review for construction on slopes exceeding 15% in grade;
Vehicle idling ordinance (since passed);
Northside park (since passed, for part of Pogo Parcel);
Bike/foot path from IFM to Buffalo.
IV. CAC Commendations given to:
Beth Mulholland: Spring, 1990
Fifth grade classes at ,Fall Creek, South Hill, and Belle Sherman:
Summer
Ithaca Farmers' Market: Fall
None given for Winter
Recommended .Margaret Fabrizio for the Calder Award (a national
award given by the Conservation Fund).
V. .Mise.:
a) In Jan., 1991, started new system for review of EAF's (on trial
basis): subcommittee of three to change every three months. After first
such period, we switched to having Darlington chair each such committee,
and just have two of the members rotate every three months.
b) New members of CAC, appointed by Mayor and CC in Jan.,
1991: Rob Shapiro and Guy Girard, replacing Jill Tripp (who defected to
BPW but is now our liaison from BPW) and Eric Broberg.
c) Jim Houghton's Conservatips, in Grapevine, may be co-spon-
sored now with the City's Energy Commission.
d) Liaisons:
Jill Tripp - Downtown Visions Task Force (and now from BPW)
Cathy Emilian - Shade'Tree Adv. Comm. and Mass Transit
Committee
Eric Broberg = Parking Committee
John Wertis - Inlet Island Committee
Roger Farrell - EMC
Betsy Darlington - P&D Board
ANNUAL REPORT
CONSERVATION ADVISORY COUNCIL, CITY OF ITHACA+DECEI VED MAR 1 8 199
March 14, 1993
Members: Betsy Darlington (Chair), Cathy Emilian, Bara Hotchkiss, Judy Jones, Peter McDonald (as of April,
1992), Paul Salon, Rob Shapiro, Keith Waldron, John Wertis
Liaisons: from Common Council --Dan Hoffman; from BPW--Guy Gerard; from Planning Board --vacant (Betsy. serves
this purpose instead); to County Environmental Management Council--Bara Hotchkiss; to Solid Waste 'Advisory
Council --Judy Jones; to Shade Tree Advisory Council --Cathy Emilian; to Parks Commission --vacant (but Guy serves
this purpose); to Six -Mile Creek Committee --John. Wertis; Metropolitan Planning Organization --Betsy Darlington
and/or Guy Gerard (informally); Parking Garage committee --Betsy Darlington
Stream quality projects: Did projects with kids from Southside Community Center --the first week, stencilling storm,
drains, and the next week, testing water quality in Six -Mile Creek and Relief Channel behind Wegmans.
Exterior lead paint: • Booklet (done by Lew Durland and the CAC) finally ready for printing by about August.
Distribution of booklet (1500 copies) to painters, paint and building supply stores, Southside Community Center, etc.
took place in early fall. An additional 3500 copies were printed in Jan., with Town of Ithaca. providing $300 for 1200
copies, and County Health Dept. providing $25 for 100 copies, leaving 2200 copies for usto distribute. Half of
these are now being taken to a number of locations, in time for the spring painting season,
• Sent resolutions to Gov. Cuomo on proposed state legislation re lead paint remediation.
• EMC passed a resolution, commending the CAC for the booklet.
•
Festival lands/Treman Marina expansion: Reviewed State's plans and made recommendations to Common Council
that plans be scaled back in numerous ways.
EAF's: • Reviewed and commented on about 35 EAF's--fewer than average, but 5 more than last year. Mostly for
subdivisions but a few for City Code changes, parking lots, commercial construction, etc.
• Our most time-consuming project of the year was the environmental review for the Weisburds' West Inlet
subdivision which would put 27 houses on 5 acres of steep land, bisected by two intermittent streams. We identified,
and elaborated on, several potentially significant impacts. (Planning Board issued a negative declaration which was
subsequently overturned in the Court of Appeals --suit brought by neighbors.)
• Changed EAF subcommittee's meeting time :and place, to comply with open -meetings law and new ADA.
Recycling: 7 members manned ("humaned?") the new bins at Ithaca Festival.
Conservatips: This project, with.cartoonist Jim Houghton, unfortunately came to an end with the folding of the
Grapevine in mid -year. No substitute newspaper identified as yet.
Cluster ordinance: Made a number of recommendations for changes,to Planning Board.
Conrail spraying: Continued involvement with Conrail on its spraying practices along their r.o.w. through the City.
They have suggested coming for another visit this spring. Darlington attended a several-day session at DuPont's (at
latter's invitation) in Delaware, with Candace Cornell (Town of Ithaca) and five other citizens from around the
country.
MPO (I-TCTC): Just beginning to get involved with this new transportation planning organization. Hosted a
meeting in Feb. of EMC and other CAC's, to hear from County planners (Hanson and Mengel) re the MPO.
Neighborhood composting: As of this March, just beginning to explore ways to get more neighborhoods involved
with composting, to further reduce the volume of waste being trucked out of the County'.
Ancient forests: Met with rep. Heather Collis from Sierra Club--GreenCorps re campaign to protect the nation's last
remaining old growth forests (mostly in Pacific Northwest), of which only 10% remains. We signed her petition and
took post cards to send to Congressional delegation and Pres. Clinton.
Beavers: Investigated reported beaver problem along Six -Mile Creek above Giles St: bridge; visited site on several
occasions and with DEC's wildlife person, Roger Miner. Recommended that City take no action; damage minimal
(confirmed by DEC expert).
--Betsy Darlington
CITY OF ITHACA
108 East Green Street
Ithaca, New York 14850
Office of
Mayor
To: Conservation Advisory Council
From: Ben Nichols, Mayor
Date: January 27, 1993
Re: Inappropriate actions of the CAC
Telephone: 274-6501
Code 607
I regret having to write to you in this manner but I was shocked to learn from the City
Attorney that your Chair has asserted in the Supreme Court that you authorized her to become party
to a lawsuit against the City's Board of Zoning Appeals in the name of the Conservation Advisory
Council. The CAC is an advisory body and has no right to take action as a City body without
being given that authority by Common Council. (Individual. members are of course free to take
any personal actions they wish.)
It would of course be appropriate for CAC to advise Common Council and the Mayor on
its views of actions taken by other City bodies and to recommend action. I would hope that even
before taking that ldnd of step you would invite all interested parties to an open and announced
public meeting to hear their views before reaching a decision. That is the proper practice for all
City bodies:
Enclosed is an affidavit which is being filed in Court by the City Attorney. In my opinion
you should immediately withdraw your participation as the CAC or as Betsy Darlington for the
CAC in this case. By the action taken you are overstepping the bounds of your authority and by so
doing decreasing the credibility of the CAC.
cc: Common Council
BN/ta
OFFICE OF THE
CITY ATTORNEY
Ithaca City Hall
108 East Green Street
Suite 403
Ithaca, NY 14850
(607) 274-6504
FAX (607) 272-7348
AFFIDAVIT
STATE OF NEW YORK )
)SS:.
COUNTY OF TOMPKINS )
BENJAMIN NICHOLS, being duly sworn deposes and says:
1. I am the Mayor of the City of Ithaca, New York. In that
capacity I am fully familiar with the authority of the Mayor and
Common Council and the power given to the Conservation. Advisory
Council.
2. The Conservation Advisory Council is the creation of the
Common Council of the City of Ithaca. It has no independent legal
status from the City of Ithaca.
3. Neither the Conservation Advisory Council nor its
Chairperson, Betsy Darlington, have the authority to commence a
lawsuit in the name of the Conservation Advisory Council without
the authority having been given to them to do so by the Common
Council of the City of Ithaca.
4. Neither the Common Council nor myself, either by statute,
ordinance or resolution have given the Conservation Advisory
Council or its Chairperson, Betsy Darlington, the authority to
commence any lawsuit, including a lawsuit entitled "Darlington et
al vs. the BZA."
5. So far as I can determine, it has never been the practice
of the City of Ithaca to allow one Board in the City of Ithaca to
sue another as a method of resolving a disagreement about the
propriety of any Board's decision.
6. I have read the foregoing and swear under the penalty of
perjury that it is true.
Date: wt, d--1 1113
Sworn to before me this 27th
day of January, 1993.
Notary Public
CINDY1.. VICEDOMINI
Notary Public. State of New York
No.4961392
Qualified in Tompkins County
Commission Expires May 22,_
OFFICE OF THE
CITY ATTORNEY
Ithaca City Hall
108 East Green Street
Suite 403
Ithaca, NY 14850
(607) 274-6504
FAX (607) 272-7348
BENJN NICHOLS