ဟံၣ်My WebLinkဘၣ်ဃးဒီး2019-11-14 EMC Final MinutesEMC Final Minutes 1 November 14, 2019 4:00 p.m. 2 TCAT, 737 Willow Avenue, Ithaca, NY 3 Attendance 4 Member Seat Member Seat Steve Bissen P Town of Dryden Amanda Champion E Legislative Liaison Maureen Bolton P Town of Enfield Susan Allen P Associate Member Cait Darfler P Town of Ulysses Karen Edelstein E Associate Member John Dennis P Village of Lansing Bill Evans A Associate Member Brian Eden P Village of Cayuga Heights Anna Kelles A Associate Member Pegi Ficken P Town of Groton Dooley Kiefer P Associate Member Michelle Henry E Town of Newfield Dan Klein P Associate Member Anne Klingensmith P Town of Danby Jose Lozano P Associate Member Vladimir Micic P Town of Ithaca Osamu Tsuda A Associate Member Steve Nicholson P Town of Caroline David Weinstein P Associate Member Susan Riley P At-Large Robert Wesley P Associate Member Tom Shelley P City of Ithaca Roger Yonkin A Associate Member Ron Szymanski P Village of Freeville Darby Kiley P Planning Staff Regi Teasley P At-Large Kristin McCarthy P Planning Staff Guests – Anthony Arce, Tom Stern, George Adams, Ava Darfler 5 Call to Order – Chair Brian Eden called the meeting to order at 4:05 pm. 6 Privilege of the Floor –None 7 Agenda Review/Changes – None 8 Approval of September 2019 Draft Minutes – A motion was made by Pegi Ficken, and 9 seconded by Cait Darfler, to approve the September 12, 2019 minutes. (The October EMC 10 meeting was the public outreach event, hence there were no minutes to approve.) Motion was 11 adopted. Anne Klingensmith abstained. 12 13 Presentation: Review of Proposed UNA Boundary Revisions 14 Robert Wesley provided background information on the UNAs included in this last batch of 15 boundary revisions. Many of the wetland-focused UNAs used the DEC-mapped wetlands 16 designation but now have been updated by using the GIS wetlands map created by Nick 17 Hollingshead. The Committee renamed UNAs after nearby local roads or some other significant 18 geographical feature. Some of the boundary changes involved land being moved into 19 agricultural production or had reverted to a more vegetated condition. Robert noted that 20 wetlands boundaries can be extremely geographically complex. Regi Teasley asked what 21 accounted for change to agriculture; Robert explained that it was likely the inaccuracy of earlier 22 boundaries which had been drawn with broad tipped highlighters. He drew our attention to 23 several UNAs of interest: Groton City Fen (lots of rare species and fens are supplied by 24 groundwater discharge so an adequate buffer must be included); Woodwardia Bog (peat bog; 25 has species of dwarf mistletoe, black spruce, tamarack); Groton Bank Swallow Colony (birder 26 could visit to check if bank swallows still nest there); and Caroline Woods (good example of 27 forested swamp). Tom Shelley inquired why a commercial site like Portland Point Quarry was 28 included as a UNA. Robert explained geologists find it unique because of the number of fossils 29 found on that site. Members commented that on the Route 222 Fen map it would be worth 30 noting that the “previous boundary UNA” on right-hand side is separate from this UNA and 31 covered elsewhere in the UNA Inventory. Brian thanked the UNA team for their hard work. 32 Action: Approve Resolution to Adopt UNA Boundary Revisions 33 Steve Nicholson made a motion, seconded by Steve Bissen, to approve “Resolution 2019-02 34 Recommending an Amendment to the UNA Inventory Document Consisting of Boundary 35 Revisions to 44 UNAs.” Motion carried. 36 Resolution 2019-02 Recommending an Amendment to the UNA Inventory Document consisting 37 of Boundary Revisions to 44 UNAs 38 1. Whereas, The Unique Natural Areas Inventory of Tompkins County, New York includes 39 an extensive database, GIS coverage, and report on 195 sites determined to contain 40 significant ecological, biological, geological, or aesthetic characteristics, and 41 42 2. Whereas, The UNA Committee proposes boundary revisions updates to 44 UNAs (listed 43 below), and 44 45 3. Whereas, These revisions are based primarily on updated aerial photography and GIS 46 technology, which greatly facilitates conforming these new boundaries to edge of 47 vegetation and /or land contours, and/or to changes in landcover observed during, or 48 since, the last field visit, and 49 50 4. Whereas, These revisions are also based on inclusion of the National Wetlands 51 Inventory data, Lidar mapping provided by Nick Hollingshead, and inclusion of newly 52 protected lands (e.g., nature preserves), and 53 54 5. Whereas, These revisions include the addition (where available) of avian information 55 based on the Ebird dataset, herpefauna censuses, large mammal census data, and 56 updated plant rarity status, and 57 58 6. Whereas, These boundary changes decrease the acreage of these UNAs from 3,526 59 acres to 3,350 acres, a net decrease of 5%, now therefore let it be resolved, 60 61 7. That the EMC approves amending the UNA Inventory to include these boundary 62 revisions to these 44 UNAs. 63 64 8. Also, That the proposed new names for the 24 UNAs previously known only by number 65 and “DEC Mapped Wetland” be approved. 66 67 68 UNA # Name (Proposed) DMW (DEC Mapped Wetland) Original Acres Revised Acres Percent change 03 DMW (Holden-Decamp Wetland) 40.145 32.28 -19.59 04 DMW (Breed Wetland) 48.433 24.21 -50.1 05 Hemlock Creek Swamp 78.083 52.18 -33.17 07 DMW (Devlen Wetland) 120.818 134.5 +11.32 09 Groton City Fen 27.191 26.96 -.85 UNA # Name (Proposed) DMW (DEC Mapped Wetland) Original Acres Revised Acres Percent change 12 Nubia Swamp 63.966 40.84 -36.15 14 Groton Bank Swallow Colony 3.332 2.15 -35.47 17 DMW (Sovocool Wetland) 42.828 45.54 -31.98 18 DMW (Spring Street Wetland) 165.719 122.46 -26.1 19 DMW (Munson Wetland) 76.467 87.97 +15.04 22 DMW (Davis Wetland) 20.302 22.57 +11.17 23 DMW (Lansing Station Wetland) 31.51 18.86 -40.15 26 DMW (South Lansingville Wetland) 23.353 14.7 -37.05 29 DMW (Buck Wetland) 36.741 27.75 -24.7 30 DMW (Van Ostrand Wetland) 26.114 20.13 -22.91 32 DMW (Sharpsteen Wetland) 129.028 60.54 -53.08 33 DMW (Smith Wetland) 70.436 41.55 -41.01 52 DMW (Benson Wetland) 60.217 63.22 +4.99 53 Portland Point Quarry (revised) 112.62 194.15 +72.39 60 DMW (Waterburg Wetland) 54.6 50.06 -8.32 65 Heads Corners Wetlands 57.189 66.56 +16.39 68 DMW (Bone Plain Wetland) 82.667 70.06 -15.25 69 Wood Road Swamp 213.293 113.34 -46.86 70 Caswell Road Swamp 88.379 103.27 +16.85 72 DMW (Freeville Depot Wetland) 11.44 23.94 +109.27 80 Woodwardia Bog 40.0966 36.28 -9.52 82 Etna Swamp 81.415 71.96 -11.61 83 DMW (Deibler Wetland) 33.3 30.15 -9.46 93 DMW (Sheffield Wetland) 34.687 49.01 +41.29 94 DMW (Van Dorn Wetland) 34.565 53.95 +56.08 95 DMW (Iradell Wetland) 46.572 83.29 +78.84 96 DMW (Hayts Wetland) 53.491 34.18 -36.1 107 DMW (Schwan Wetland) 56.812 45.89 -19.22 111 DMW (Dryden-Harford Wetland) 15.515 27.665 +78.25 126 Ellis Hollow Swamp 351.866 359.58 +2.19 141 Enfield Creek Swamp 158.592 151.31 -4.59 142 Weatherby Road Meadow 34.897 14.32 -58.96 147 Cayuga Inlet Flood Plain 181.591 185.661 +2.21 148 Cayuga Inlet Parnassia Fen 35.071 26.41 -24.7 157 Cooks Corner Gully 163.98 164.38 +.24 168 Cayuga Inlet Gorge, West Branch 130.258 138.6 +6.4 176 Willseyville Beaver Ponds 278.421 342 +22.84 192 Pony Hollow Creek Marshes and Swamp 18.717 32.95 +76.04 69 Next step is to mail notification postcards to adjacent landowners. 70 71 Committee Reports 72 73 Climate Adaptation: Regi Teasley 74 The Committee continues developing content ideas for its public outreach materials. The target 75 audience includes landowners, homeowners, and gardeners, with an eye to promote education 76 on ways to slow the flow of water into streams and the Lake and sequester carbon. They are 77 collecting and distilling information on sustainable practices such as rain gardens, bioswales, 78 and dense plantings. Steve Nicholson advocated for beaver ponds. John Dennis suggested 79 sending letters to highway and road departments of local municipalities regarding green spaces 80 being replaced by pavement (i.e. impervious surfaces). 81 82 Environmental Review: Brian Eden 83 The Legislature approved the amended County Comprehensive Plan. Several suggestions 84 made by the ERC were included, such as expanding Business Energy Advisors Program, 85 promoting stream corridor protection, updating greenhouse gas emissions inventory, and 86 developing a countywide HABs strategy. A meeting was hosted by the State Departments of 87 Environmental Conversation and Transportation, as well as NYSERDA, in Ithaca on November 88 7 to inform the public about New York’s participation in a multi-state program to reduce 89 greenhouse gas emissions from the transportation sector with the Transportation and Climate 90 Initiative. 91 The Tompkins County Energy Task Force is coming to an end, but a resolution to create a new 92 Climate and Sustainable Energy Advisory Board will be voted on by the Legislature in early 93 December. Brian commented on other salient topics, including the return of inlet dredging, 94 debate over accessory dwelling units in City of Ithaca, overflow issues at the wastewater 95 treatment plant for Cayuga Heights, and possibility of LNG (liquefied natural gas) tank cars 96 gaining Federal approval to be moved by rail and the potential impact of their traveling through 97 downtown Ithaca. Cargill’s approval to mine beneath the Lake expires at the end of December. 98 The Office of General Services with the assistance to us by Assemblywoman Lifton has been 99 requested to conduct a public statement hearing in Ithaca and accept public comment from local 100 municipalities and residents prior to that date. 101 102 Unique Natural Areas: Steve Nicholson 103 A draft report on the County Forestlands will come to UNA Committee for review soon and to 104 the EMC in December. EMC will review and vote to release the document for public comment. A 105 public presentation is planned for mid-December, with PEEQ receiving the report in January. 106 107 Waste Reduction: Tom Shelley 108 The Committee presented a proposed budget for $1,000 of County funds to support public 109 education and implementation of NYS plastic bag ban. They plan to order grocery totes printed 110 with EMC logo and distribute them with educational brochures at outreach events and targeted 111 public venues where people might not have easy access to free reusable bags. Members of 112 Committee spoke in favor of the 5-cent fee on paper bags at the last Planning, Energy, and 113 Environmental Quality Committee (PEEQ) meeting. Tom Shelley is attempting to coordinate 114 with Dominick Recckio of Tompkins County Chamber of Commerce on their reusable bag 115 initiative. Polystyrene Waste Reduction Act has been introduced in the NYS Legislature and is 116 something that the Committee might support in 2020. 117 Action: Pegi Ficken moved the proposed budget for $1,000 of County Funds Allocated for 118 Public Education and Implementation of the New York State Ban on Single-Use Thin Film 119 Plastic Shopping Bags. Regi Teasley seconded the motion, which passed. 120 Outreach/Community Education: Susan Riley 121 Roughly 60 people attended the fall outreach event in October. Susan gave a quick debrief of 122 the evening and asked for comments. Guest and prospective EMC candidate Anthony Arce 123 shared that he found it highly educational, and in particular, enjoyed learning more about zoning 124 and ways it can be used to address the prevalence of increasingly smaller household sizes in 125 the younger generation and retirees looking to downsize. Next program is scheduled for April 9 126 at Tompkins County Public Library. Barbara Eckstrom, Director of the County Department of 127 Recycling and Materials Management, and Tom Shelley will likely have an update on the state 128 plastic bag ban and County paper bag fee. Members should forward ideas for presentation 129 topics to Susan. 130 131 Executive – Brian Eden 132 Brian invited Jose Lozano to say a few words about the presentation he will provide at the 133 December EMC meeting on his work at the Ithaca Area Wastewater Treatment Facility. The 134 idea of submitting written committee reports for the agenda packet in advance of meetings was 135 proposed to members for consideration. Brian announced that he will be stepping down as 136 Chair of the EMC. Regi Teasley and Tom Shelley agreed to serve on the Nominating 137 Committee and will reach out via email before the December meeting to solicit nominations. 138 Brian distributed copies of the mid-year EMC committee reports. 139 140 Staff Report – Darby Kiley 141 The County Legislature adopted the amended Tompkins County Comprehensive Plan. Darby 142 shared two events of interest; on 11/21 WRC is hosting a stream buffer protection training 143 workshop and the Community Science Institute is presenting on HABs in Lansing. 144 145 Municipal Reports and Member Announcements 146 The Village of Trumansburg Planning Board granted preliminary approval to Ithaca 147 Neighborhood Housing Services (INHS) for its proposed housing development on Crescent 148 Way. In addition, INHS was awarded a $1 million grant from New York State for the Village 149 Grove Apartments, a 40-unit multi-family affordable housing project that is part of the larger 150 Crescent Way subdivision, for its green energy-efficient design. The Town of Caroline continues 151 to roll out its “Brighten Up Caroline” program, which distributes free LED lightbulbs in the 152 community (up to 12 per household). The lightbulbs are delivered in hand-sewn reusable bags 153 that have proven extremely popular with residents. Tom Shelley reported that dredging is 154 scheduled to take place in Cascadilla Creek this winter as soon as the Lake level is low enough. 155 The City Harbor development will hopefully be heated/cooled with energy extracted from the 156 effluent of the Ithaca Area Wastewater Treatment Facility. 157 158 Chair Brian Eden adjourned the meeting at 5:30 p.m. 159