HomeMy WebLinkAbout08-17-2017 CSAC Minutes Approved 1
Conservation and Sustainability Advisory Committee
DRAFT Minutes of August 17 meeting
Present: Roxanne Marino, Don Ellis, Andy Hillman, Bara Hotchkiss, Robert Oswald, Sue Poelvoorde,
Brice Smith
Roxanne called the meeting to order at 7:03 p.m.
Roxanne reported that David Diaz is stepping down from the CSAC due to David accepting a job with the
Otsego Land Trust.
Approval of Minutes
Sue noted that she was not able to prepare the draft minutes for the June 15th meeting in time to
submit them to the committee prior to tonight’s meeting. She will have them available for the
September meeting.
Updates on Town issues or Board actions relate to Sustainability/Conservation
l Clean Energy Communities grant application
Roxanne reported the Town received designation as a Clean Energy Committee and they will now apply
for grant funding for the projects discussed at the June 15th meeting. Town Planner Darby Kiley is taking
the lead to prepare the grant application and would like help. Roxanne will share the application form
with the committee and any comments/suggestions for responding to the grant questions can be sent
to Roxanne who will forward them on to Darby. Roxanne and Brice will assist with portions of the
application relating to energy savings and greenhouse gas emissions.
Old Business
B) Status of review and proposed revisions to the Town of Ulysses Solar Law
Roxanne reported that the CSAC revisions to the Town’s Solar Law were shared with the Planning Board
and the Agriculture Committee. Both committees had comments and Roxanne will share the comments
with the CSAC. She is not sure what the next step will be for the Town Board but will check.
Brice shared changes coming regarding net metering of solar energy generation and impacts of a new
tariff being put in place for the next two years, noting neither will be positive for encouraging growth in
the solar energy business.
A) Zoning update
Roxanne reported that the latest version of the draft Agriculture Zone document was emailed to her late
afternoon and she did not have an opportunity to forward it to the whole committee. Sue noted that
she too received it. Roxanne and Sue both briefly reviewed the document and found that it appears to
be the same draft document the committee received back in February.
The committee discussed how best to convey their concerns to the ZUSC and Town Board that none of
the concerns/comments provided by the stakeholder groups were addressed and that no feedback has
been given to the groups as to why changes were not made. Roxanne said she would be attending the
next ZUSC meeting (Aug 21) meeting, and would convey informally the sense of our committee’s
primary concerns from this discussion, since we do not have time to prepare and vote on a formal
statement by that meeting.
2
New Business
A) Discussion of ideas for possible committee projects
l Review summary document from June 2017 meeting, sent July 11
l Prioritization of projects and formation of subcommittees
The committee discussed the seven potential projects outlined at the June 2017 meeting and identified
the three top projects.
7) CSAC proposed Glare Standard for Large Solar installations: Brice noted that if the Town wants the
evaluation of the proposed Glare Standard for Large Solar Installations done, he will need to know soon
as it will need to be completed in September. He will need a letter from the Town Board requesting him
to complete the study. Roxanne will follow up with Liz Thomas.
3) Feasibility of developing a town-led/town-established water quality protection program: The
committee members interested in pursuing this project discussed potential resources to investigate
including the newly formed Finger Lakes Water Hub (New York State Department of Environmental
Conservation, Regions 7 & 8) and the Chesapeake Bay Watershed Program. The group also noted that
this project could be combined with elements of project 2) Tools for supporting Agriculture in the town
(beyond PDR and easements).
5) Develop a natural resource inventory for the Salo Drive Town-owned land: The committee discussed
how to proceed with the bio-blitz, particularly regarding timing with spring being the optimum time to
start, and who in the community can be engaged to help.
Agenda items for next meeting
l Schedule next meeting.
The next meeting of the CSAC is scheduled for Thursday, September 21st, 7:00 to 9:00 p.m.
Meeting adjourned at 8:51 p.m.