ဟံၣ်My WebLinkဘၣ်ဃးဒီး2019.09.16 WRC Final MinutesPage 1 of 3 TOMPKINS COUNTY WATER RESOURCES COUNCIL September 16, 2019 TCAT, 737 Willow Avenue, Ithaca, NY Final Minutes Attendance Member Seat Member Seat Sharon Anderson P Cooperative Extension Brian Rahm P Environment Fay Benson E Agriculture Elizabeth Thomas P At-Large Chris Bordlemay Padilla P Water Purveyor Linda Wagenet E At-Large Cynthia Brock P Municipal Mara Alper P Associate Liz Cameron E Co. Environmental Health Annie Bastoni E Associate Amanda Champion P County Government Bill George E Associate Barry Goodrich P Watershed Organization Roxy Johnston P Associate Ed Gottlieb P At-Large Dooley Kiefer P Associate Michelle Henry P EMC Representative Jose Lozano P Associate Marina Howarth P At-Large Todd Miller P Associate Kristen Hychka P Municipal Government Niamh O’Leary E Associate Emelia “Mia” Jumbo P At-Large Steve Penningroth A Associate Darby Kiley P County Planning & Sustain. Elaine Quaroni P Associate Lynn Leopold E Municipal Government Marjory Rinaldo-Lee E Associate Jon Negley E Soil & Water Cons. District Joanne Trutko P Associate Frank Proto P At-Large Tom Vawter P Associate Guests: John Mawdsley Call to Order – Chair Cynthia Brock called the meeting to order at 4:17 p.m. Privilege of the Floor – None Agenda Review/Changes – At the request of Amanda Champion, with support from Sharon Anderson, an action item was added to the agenda to reconsider passage of the resolution to adopt the Tompkins County 2012 Wetlands Map, which had appeared before the WRC at its June monthly meeting as a motion but failed to pass. Presentation: Conservation Easements – Hannah George, Finger Lakes Land Trust Hannah spoke to the WRC about her work as a conservation easement steward for the Finger Lake Land Trust (FLLT). Her presentation included an overview of FLLT as an organization, the easement procurement process, two statewide sources (Source Water Buffer Program and Water Quality Improvement Project Program) available for funding such projects, and other land management strategies employed by FLLT to safeguard water quality in our region. Liz Thomas recommended that Hannah give a similar presentation to the Tompkins County Council of Governments to raise awareness of the Land Trust’s efforts in this area of conservation. Action: Water Withdrawal letter – Mara Alper Mara gave an overview of the committee’s work over the last couple of months, much of which is covered in detail in their June written committee meeting report. Among other decisions, the members opted to focus on water withdrawal permitting vis-à-vis the NYS Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC), the process for which is based on, mandated by, and in agreement with the Great Lakes Compact. Page 2 of 3 Action: A motion was made by Frank Proto, and seconded by Christopher Bordlemay Padilla, to approve a letter sent on behalf of the WRC to the Region 7 permit officer for DEC requesting that notifications of water withdrawal permit applications be sent to the chair of the WRC at the same time they are delivered to the respective local municipality. Motion carried, with minor editorial changes. No abstentions. Action: Motion to Reconsider the Wetlands Mapping Study – Amanda Champion After discussing the parliamentary protocol for bringing a motion back for reconsideration by the full Council, as well as a semantic fine-tuning of the language comprising said motion, the members present worked together to approve Resolution 2019-02 – Adopting the “Tompkins County 2012 Wetlands Map.” The resolution affirms the Council’s support for the adoption and endorsement of the “Tompkins County 2012 Wetlands Map” as a planning tool for municipalities, agencies, landowners, and developers to consult for planning, environmental resource management, and land development activities, with the exception of site-specific purposes, for which a detailed, on-site wetland survey done by a qualified expert would be needed. Action: Motion by Amanda Champion, seconded by Elizabeth Thomas Resolution 2019-02 – Adopting the “Tompkins County 2012 Wetlands Map” WHEREAS, the Tompkins County Water Quality Strategy Reports from 2002 through 2019 include goals and objectives (a) to protect and restore wetlands, (b) to identify and map wetlands not regulated by the state or federal government (2002, 2005, 2009 and 2012), and (c) to propose and support local regulations and programs for wetland protection (2002, 2005, 2009, 2012); and WHEREAS, in 2008, a report titled “Wetland Protections in Tompkins County: Existing Status, Gaps, and Future Needs” was completed for the Water Resources Council (WRC); and WHEREAS, in 2016, a report titled “Wetland Mapping for Tompkins County, New York” and a map referred to as “Tompkins County 2012 Wetlands Map” were produced based on the most recent data compiled in 2012; and WHEREAS, the WRC has reviewed the report and map and determined that they would be a useful resource for municipalities, agencies, landowners and developers in their planning and evaluation efforts; and WHEREAS, it is the hope of the WRC that the “Tompkins County 2012 Wetlands Map” will alert citizens, agencies and units of local government to the need to protect these valuable resources; and WHEREAS, it is understood and expressed by the WRC that the “Tompkins County 2012 Wetlands Map” is useful only at the planning stage of land development activities, and should not be a replacement for in-field review of wetland boundaries by qualified wetland delineators: now therefore be it RESOLVED, that the Tompkins County Water Resources Council adopts and endorses the use of the “Tompkins County 2012 Wetlands Map” as a planning tool for municipalities, agencies, landowners and developers to consult for planning, environmental resource management, and land development activities, but let it be known that for site-specific purposes, a detailed, on-site wetland survey done by a qualified expert would be needed. Motion passed by the members present with no abstentions or opposing votes. Page 3 of 3 Action: Water Resources staff person letter to Legislature – Executive and HABs Committee Since the last full WRC meeting in June, the HABs Committee developed a letter to the County Legislature requesting the addition of a dedicated Water Resources staff person to the Tompkins County budget for 2020. The Executive Committee edited and approved the letter, which per WRC Bylaws requires ratification by the full Council. Action: Darby Kiley made a motion to ratify a letter of request from the Water Resources Council Executive Committee, originating with the HABs Committee, to include funding for a dedicated Water Resources staff person in the Tompkins County budget for 2020. Frank Proto seconded the motion, which was approved by the members present. Action: Approval of June 17th Minutes Frank Proto made a motion to approve the June 2019, meeting minutes. Barry Goodrich seconded. Motion carried. Committee Reports The Municipal Training Workshop Committee plans to host a workshop on riparian buffer management in late November and will coordinate once again with colleagues at Cornell Cooperative Extension-Tompkins County to develop the program. Chair’s Report In concert with other partner organizations, the Community Science Institute is hosting “Nutrients in the Cayuga and Seneca Lake Watersheds, Unusual Weather, and Harmful Algal Blooms: A Public Conversation,” on September 28 at South Seneca School in Ovid, New York. Member Announcements Michelle Henry shared that the Tompkins County Environmental Management Council will be hosting its fall outreach event on October 17. Adjournment – The meeting ended at 5:45 pm.