ဟံၣ်My WebLinkဘၣ်ဃးဒီး05-16-16 WRC Final Minutes 1 May 16, 2016 2 FINAL Meeting Minutes 3 4 Members Attending: 5 Name Representation Jon Negley P Soil & Water Frank Proto P At-Large Elaine Quaroni P At-Large Marjorie Rinaldo-Lee P Environment Michael Thorne P At-Large Brad DeFrees P Associate Member Michelle Henry P Associate Member Roxy Johnston P Associate Member Jose Lozano A Associate Member John Mawdsley P Associate Member Todd Miller P Associate Member Steve Penningroth P Associate Member Joanne Trutko A Associate member Tom Vawter P Associate Member Linda Wagenet E Associate Member 7 8 Guests: Tom Knipe, Tompkins County Planning/Tourism; Niamh O’Leary, Wells College; Kristen Hychka, 9 URI/resident; Angle Hinickle, Soil and Water Conservation District 10 SPDES Permit Annual Report Public Comments - Chairperson Darby Kiley opened the public comment 11 period on the SPDES Annual Report at approximately 4:15 PM. Angel Hinickle presented 2015 activity 12 highlights. Angel shared two newspaper ads that addressed lawn care and dog waste. She reported that she 13 continues to give presentations to construction classes at TC3. 14 Angel also reported that NYS is looking to revise the SPDES permit in late 2016 and is now gathering input. 15 Elaine Quaroni asked about addressing failed septic systems and Angel responded that the Health Department 16 deals with them. 17 Chairperson Darby Kiley closed the public comment period, as there were no more comments. She called the 18 meeting of the Water Resources Council to order at approximately 4:25 PM. 19 Agenda Review and Approval of Minutes – There were no changes to the agenda. MOTION by Frank Proto, 20 seconded by John Andersson, to approve the minutes of April 18, 2016. Draft minutes were approved by the 21 unanimous vote of members present. WRC minutes are posted at: http://tompkinscountyny.gov/planning under 22 Advisory Boards. 23 Cayuga Lake Blueway Trail – Tom Knipe of the Tompkins County Planning Department gave a presentation on 24 the Cayuga Lake Blueway Trail, which is a joint effort of Cayuga, Seneca, and Tomkins Counties. The purpose of 25 the Blueway Trail is to enhance access to the lake for paddling activities. Efforts to establish the trail include 26 providing public launch and landing sites, marketing, and signage. The Blueway Trail has 14 established sites and 27 has the potential to add 30 more. Three sites in Tompkins County (one in Cass Park and two in Stewart Park) are 28 being established. In response to questions, Tom reported that NYS Parks is involved in the Trail; a consultant is 29 being hired to design signs, both directional and interpretive; and there will be opportunities to provide 30 educational information on invasive species and clean boating practices. 31 Name Representation Sharon Anderson P Cooperative Extension John Andersson P At-Large James Balyszak P At-Large Fay Benson P Agriculture Chris Bordlemay E Water Purveyor Cynthia Brock P Recreation Ed Bugliosi P USGS ex officio Liz Cameron P T C Environmental Health Sarah Dwyer E At-Large Bill George P Municipal Barry Goodrich P Watershed Organization Joan Jurkowich P TC Planning Dooley Kiefer P Legislature Liaison Darby Kiley P Municipal Lynn Leopold P Municipal Jim McGarry E EMC Liaison TOMPKINS COUNTY WATER RESOURCES COUNCIL 2 Potential Water-Related Grant Applications – Darby Kiley reported that the Cayuga Lake Intermunicipal 32 Organization is considering applying for a grant for agency support, and for demonstration road ditching projects 33 in conjunction with the Cornell Local Roads Program. 34 Hydrilla Update – by James Balyszak – The local task force advertised RFPs and received bids for treatment and 35 related monitoring; they are preparing the 2016 DEC permit applications; and NYS Parks has provided an 36 additional $60,000 in funding. 37 In response to questions, James reported the DEC will not be providing funding for his salary in the future. Jon 38 Negley reported there are funds to cover James’ salary for the remainder of 2016, but that additional funding will 39 be needed in 2017. Roxy Johnston reported the first Hydrilla intern has started; the second starts in June. 40 Committee Reports – 41 Watershed Assessments – by John Andersson - The committee is reviewing the completed assessments to 42 determine if the original purposes are still appropriate; to identify which recommendations have been 43 implemented; and to identify if any recommendations are no longer valid. 44 Nominating/Membership Committee – by Elaine Quaroni – The committee reviewed the application of George 45 Fowler for an At-Large seat. There is no vacancy in an At-Large seat but the committee recommended that he be 46 considered for the vacant Business and Industry seat. Council members discussed whether Mr. Fowler had the 47 appropriate background for an appointment to the Business and Industry seat, or whether it would be better to ask 48 him to serve as an Associate member. MOTION by Liz Cameron, seconded by Sharon Anderson, to appoint 49 George Fowler as an Associate Member of the Water Resources Council. The motion passed by the unanimous 50 vote of members present. The committee will follow up with George Fowler to see if he is interested in serving in 51 the Business and Industry seat. 52 Grants – by Jon Negley -- The committee shared a list of water-related grant opportunities earlier with Council 53 members. Lynn Leopold noted the Education and Outreach Committee may apply for funds for printing costs for 54 the clean boating brochure. 55 Executive Committee – by Darby Kiley – Budget requests for 2017 should be submitted to the Executive 56 Committee in time for the County budget review process.1 57 Soil Health – by Fay Benson – The committee continues to work to define potential tasks. 58 Education and Outreach – by Lynn Leopold -- The committee determined that the clean boating brochure will 59 probably require something more than an 8½ by 11 brochure. They are assembling information for it, and 60 exploring funding opportunities. The safe paddling brochure may need to be reprinted. 61 Chair and Staff Reports – Joan Jurkowich reported that Pam Pariso has been hired to, among other tasks, 62 provide support to the Water Resources Council, and will be at next month’s meeting. 63 Announcements – The Groton Town Board may provide support for an aquifer study, but their concern is 64 whether there will be restrictions placed on agricultural operations as a result. Roxy Johnston reported that 65 Cornell University won the annual drinking water taste test. Dooley Kiefer asked if anyone knew if Governor 66 Cuomo had taken a position on an application for water withdrawal from the Great Lakes Basin. Bill George 67 reported it looked like the Black Diamond Trail was being built on a stream; Jon Negley stated they have all their 68 permits from DEC. Cynthia Brock reminded members that public comments on the Generic Environmental 69 Impact Statement for the Chain Works District are due May 25 (see https://chainworksdistrict.com/geis/). 70 Adjournment -- The meeting adjourned at 5:47 PM. 71 Respectfully submitted, 72 Joan Jurkowich, Planning Administrator 73 Tompkins County Planning Department 74 Approved by Council on July 18, 2016 75 76 1 Editor’s note: The Planning Department needs to submit its budget request by July 22 and should receive the Council’s budget request by July 15.