ဟံၣ်My WebLinkဘၣ်ဃးဒီး2019.10.21 WRC Final MinutesPage 1 of 3 TOMPKINS COUNTY WATER RESOURCES COUNCIL October 21, 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 P Agriculture Elizabeth Thomas P At-Large Chris Bordlemay Padilla E Water Purveyor Linda Wagenet E At-Large Cynthia Brock P Municipal Mara Alper E Associate Liz Cameron P Co. Environmental Health Annie Bastoni P 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 E 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 P Associate Emelia “Mia” Jumbo E At-Large Steve Penningroth P Associate Darby Kiley P County Planning & Sustain. Elaine Quaroni P Associate Lynn Leopold P Municipal Government Marjory Rinaldo-Lee E Associate Jon Negley P Soil & Water Cons. District Joanne Trutko P Associate Frank Proto P At-Large Tom Vawter P Associate Guests: Anthony Arce, Andrew Snell, George Adams, and Dondi Harner Call to Order – Chair Cynthia Brock called the meeting to order at 4:18 p.m. Privilege of the Floor – None Agenda Review/Changes – None Action: Approval of September 16 Draft WRC Meeting Minutes Action: Frank Proto made a motion, which Amanda Champion seconded, to approve the September 2019 meeting minutes. Motion carried. Frank reiterated his thanks to everyone who worked diligently to revise the language of the resolution so that it addressed the concerns expressed by him and other members and enabled them to support it. Presentation: 2019 TC Soil and Water Conservation District Projects – Jon Negley Jon Negley highlighted projects undertaken by the Tompkins County Soil and Water Conservation District (TCSWCD) in 2019. These included four projects funded through the Finger Lakes Lake Ontario Watershed Protection Alliance: agriculture BMP implementation (roof water and barnyard runoff improvements in the Owasco Lake watershed), non-agriculture BMP implementation (Salmon Creek Streambank Stabilization), water quality monitoring (Community Science Institute and USGS Gauging Station at Brooktondale in cooperation with the Town of Caroline), and soil health initiatives (composting BMP applications). Other projects included the Eastern Finger Lakes Cover Crop Pilot Grant funded through NYS Ag and Markets, NYSDEC Water Quality Improvement Program – Stormwater Mapping project, and more. The Q&A discussion covered multiple topics, including the Six Mile Creek resiliency project, possible tie-ins with City of Ithaca Flood Hazard Mitigation Study, mechanisms for local municipalities to help off-set funding costs, and outreach to prospective project managers and municipal applicants. Jon’s presentation can be found on the WRC website. Page 2 of 3 Action: Approval of Letter Sent in Support of TCSWD Over Target Requests in 2020 County Budget for Staff Funding – Executive and HABs Committees Action: Darby Kiley made a motion to accept a letter sent on behalf of the WRC Executive and HABs Committees to the County Legislature in support of TCSWD’s over target requests for funding in the 2020 budget for a water engineer and part-time outreach specialist. Lynn Leopold seconded the motion, which passed. Jon Negley and Liz Cameron abstained. Amanda Champion reported that the water engineer position made it on to the amended budget; however, the outreach specialist position did not. Action: A made was motion by Frank Proto, and seconded by Michelle Henry, to approve the WRC penning a letter to the County Legislature thanking its members for approving the Soil and Water Conservation District’s over target request for the water engineer position. Motion carried. Jon Negley and Liz Cameron abstained. Action: Recommendations for 2020 Reappointments – Membership & Nominating Committee On behalf of the Membership and Nominating Committee, Jon Negley recommended the following WRC voting members for reappointment: Lynn Leopold, Jon Negley, Emelia Jumbo, and Elizabeth Thomas. Two new candidates for membership, Steve Riddle and Anthony Arce, will likely be interviewed by the committee before the November WRC meeting, and their applications will be considered at that time. Current associate members will be approved for reappointment at the November WRC meeting as well. Action: A motion by Jon Negley, which was seconded by Frank Proto, recommended Lynn Leopold, Jon Negley, Emelia Jumbo, and Elizabeth Thomas for reappointment to the Water Resources Council. Motion carried. Committee Reports Cynthia thanked everyone for doing their best to use the electronic form and also reminded members to reach out if their committee ever wants time on the monthly agenda to report something or solicit input. HABs Committee Darby requested that the WRC form an ad hoc committee to fine-tune a job description and goals for the Water Resources Manager position proposed to the County. Members interested in volunteering for this committee should contact Darby. Steve Penningroth reported that Community Science Institute (CSI) hopes to complete the HABs monitoring project by Thanksgiving. Cynthia inquired if someone from CSI could report on it at the January meeting. Education/Outreach Clean boating map and brochure will go out soon to external reviewers for comments on content. Printing and design will happen in early 2020. Committee is considering emerging contaminants and consumer-based habits as a possible future topic. Watershed Rules and Regulations Liz Cameron relayed that NYS Department of Health is revising its source water assessment program. The state representative and the regional contact are coming to Tompkins County to meet with the big three water purveyors, members of the Watershed Rules and Regs Committee, and Tee-Ann Hunter of the Cayuga Lake Watershed Intermunicipal Organization. Stream Buffer Training The committee is hosting a riparian management workshop on November 21, 5 to 8 pm, at the Tompkins Center for History and Culture. Page 3 of 3 Staff Report – Darby Kiley Draft five-year review of the County Comprehensive Plan will be going up for a vote at the Legislature in November. Darby will share document once it is approved. Funding for clean boating map and brochure was included in the 2020 budget. Jon and Darby will be giving a presentation on wetlands and the wetlands mapping project to the Town of Groton. Depending on interest, they could give it to other municipalities as well. Darby updated group on aquifer studies in the County. She is hoping to get Cornell and Town of Dryden to collaborate on the Lower Fall Creek study. Member Announcements Ed Gottlieb gave an update on the implementation of NYS Drug Take Back Act. The State Department of Health issued draft regulations for the act, with a 60-day comment period commencing October 2. Ed is working with colleagues from New York Water Environment Association, Riverkeeper, and elsewhere on a sign-on letter in response (Ed presenting on this in November). Jose Lozano, Marina Howarth, Roxy Johnston, Liz Thomas, and other members shared feedback on their experiences at the recent “water conference” hosted by Environmental Advocates of New York. Roxy reported that, per Tony Prestigiacomo at the Finger Lakes Watershed Hub, the DEC hopes to release the TMDL before the 2020 funding cycle starts up in March. Cynthia relayed that New York State recently passed the Food Donation and Food Recycling Recovery Act, which as of January 1, 2022, would require large generators of food scraps (e.g. grocery stores, college campuses, and other entities that produce an annual average of 2 tons per week or more) to donate excess edible food and recycle all remaining food waste if they are within 25 miles of a composting facility, anaerobic digester, or other organics recycler. Ed added details on the food recovery hierarchy, which the act codifies into law. Frank asked if Ed could email information about the hierarchy to WRC members after the meeting. Frank asked Roxy about contacting Mike Thorne about giving WRC an update on the City Flooding Hazard Plan. Adjournment – The meeting was adjourned at 5:45 pm.