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Home My WebLink AboutCB Packet 2025-06-05 DEPARTMENT OF PLANNING 215 N. Tioga Street, Ithaca NY 14850 607-273-1747 www.townithacany.gov TO: CONSERVATION BOARD MEMBERS FROM: MICHAEL SMITH, SENIOR PLANNER DATE: MAY 29, 2025 SUBJECT: UPCOMING CONSERVATION BOARD MEETING – JUNE 5, 2025 This is to confirm that the next meeting of the Conservation Board (CB) is Thursday, June 5th at 5:30 p.m. The agenda for this meeting is enclosed (see the back of this memo). The draft minutes from the May 1st meeting are attached. Please email me any spelling, grammatical, or other minor edits you have prior to the meeting. At this meeting we will finalize the plans for the Fischer Award tree planting event, scheduled for Wednesday, June 11th at 5:00pm at the Town’s Culver Road Preserve. James is signed up to take minutes at the June meeting. If you have any questions prior to the meeting or are not able to attend, please contact me at msmith@townithacany.gov or 607-273-1747. Conservation Board Members and Associates (*) Lori Brewer (Chair), Frank Cantone (Vice-Chair), Lindsay Dombroskie*, James Hamilton, Eva Hoffmann, Ingrid Zabel ░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░ TOWN OF ITHACA CONSERVATION BOARD 5:30 p.m., Thursday, June 5, 2025 ░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░ Aurora Conference Room 215 N. Tioga Street Ithaca, New York 14850 (The rear entrance is handicapped accessible) (607) 273-1747 Members of the public are welcome to attend in-person at Town Hall or virtually via Zoom (https://zoom.us/j/6750593272). AGENDA 1. Persons to be heard 2. Members comments / concerns 3. Environmental Review Committee Update (Lori) 4. Chair and Coordinator reports 5. Approval of minutes from May 1, 2025 6. Finalize plans for the 2024 Richard B. Fischer Environmental Conservation Award tree planting 7. Regular reports and updates (6:30 pm) a. Scenic Resources Committee (Eva) b. Communications Committee (Ingrid) c. Tompkins County EMC (Ingrid) d. Six Mile Creek Volunteer Monitoring Program (James) e. Cornell Botanic Gardens Natural Areas Program (James) 8. Other Business (6:50 p.m.) 9. Review 2025 Work Goals (Frank) / Discuss July Agenda 10. Adjourn (7:00 p.m.) Page 1 of 3 Town of Ithaca Conservation Board Meeting May 1, 2025, 5:30 p.m. (In Person at Town Hall and via Zoom Video Conference) Draft Minutes Members Present: Lori Brewer, James Hamilton, Eva Hoffmann, Ingrid Zabel, Frank Cantone Staff Present: Michael Smith (Senior Planner) Guests: Evan Ogata and Pete Loucks, prospective members, and Hilary Swartwood, Town of Ithaca Sustainability Planner 1. Update on Town Sustainability Projects: Hilary Swartwood reviewed the Town’s Green New Deal resolutions, approved in 2020. The resolutions emerged from a comprehensive energy and conservation plan, developed in 2014. The resolutions prioritize items for two years, which are periodically reviewed by the Planning Committee. Three goals of the resolutions: - Prioritize regionally sourced, renewable energy. The Town derives its renewable energy from Constellation Energy, though it is not yet 100% regionally sourced. - Reduce emissions by 50% from 2010 values. Purchase renewable energy credits. Working with the Town Public Works department to purchase electric, light duty vehicles. - Carbon neutrality, through the Tompkins Green Energy network. The new energy code seeks to reduce emissions in new construction, salvage demo materials. Make changes to set up for success. James- Regionally sourced energy is important so that one can keep an eye on the process. Pumping water to holding tanks is probably very energy intensive. Changed Bolton Point billing to a tiered structure to decrease water use a few years ago. Evan- A paradox- save energy in one area and use energy in another area. Pete- How do you prioritize projects? Hilary works closely with other departments to measure the project impact and derive the biggest bang for the buck. Frank- Changing energy codes (state and local) will impact developers and may make it more expensive to build housing resulting in unintended negative consequences on housing availability. Hilary stated that developers are already complying with the more stringent local codes and will likely be less impacted when the state changes their energy code requirements. Eva- What about building efficient, pre-fab housing? Eva also suggested that Hilary come to the CB more regularly. Page 2 of 3 2. Persons to be heard: Evan stated that he walks a lot and sustainability efforts impact him directly. Quality of life values here are important. He does have an academic sustainability background, experience with deer management, and watersheds. 3. Members comments/concerns: Ingrid received an email from Ed Dubovi, a member of the Town of Lansing conservation advisory council. Ed asked what it takes to convert from an advisory council to a board. Ingrid will invite him to one of our meetings. 4. Environmental Review Committee Update (Lori): a. The top three up and coming projects on the Town website (https://townithacany.gov/upcoming-current-projects/) will be presented to the Planning Board next week. b. NYS has three bills regarding plastic carpets. A new bill is going to the state legislature- no plastic carpet in schools and municipalities. c. Representatives Lea Webb and Anna Kelles have not been responding to Lori’s emails regarding plastic carpets. Lori/Mike will engage the Town Supervisor to encourage responses from our representatives. 5. Chair & Coordinator Reports: Coordinator report: a. Babcock Ridge trail project (Culver Road Preserve), 90% plan. Not sure when the bid will go out. Construction may begin next spring. b. The Town is submitting a grant to help replace the wooden play structure at Iacovelli Park, at the end of Juniper Drive, as well as expand the basketball court, and increase accessibility. c. Zero Waste has filed lawsuits against Cornell University and the City of Ithaca regarding the plastic carpet on Tower Road, and recently the court sided with Cornell and the City. d. The Town Zoning Board of Appeals denied the height variance request regarding Verizon’s planned cell phone tower on Wiedmaier Court. Verizon filed a lawsuit in federal court regarding the grounds for rejection. The Town has little flexibility in approving or denying cell tower projects. 6. Approval of minutes from April 2025 meeting: James moved and Ingrid seconded, all in favor. Frank abstained. 7. Planning for Fischer Award tree planting: Joe Talbut has been in touch with Rich Schoch. Rich would like a Shagbark Hickory planted in the Babcock Ridge Preserve. Rich is out of town most of May. Perhaps early June for the planting. 8. Conservation Board member recruitment: Lori manned a table for Earth Day with the Environmental Management Council (EMC) and spoke with a couple residents. Page 3 of 3 9. Regular reports and updates: a. Scenic Resources Committee: No new information. b. Communications Committee: On Facebook there were 245 views with four interactions. c. Tompkins County EMC: There will be an EMC meeting at the large pavilion at Stewart Park on May 8 from 4-6pm. d. Six Mile Creek: The German Cross Road site was the last sample to be analyzed for bio-monitoring. e. Cornell Botanic Garden: Green ash seedlings were grafted on the root stock of surviving ash trees. Lansing- cleared trails in the preserve. 10. Other business: none 11. Work goals/June agenda: Conduct our June meeting on the same day as the tree planting? We could meet in the Tutelo Park pavilion, which is down the road from the Babcock Preserve. 12. Adjourn: at 7:00 pm Minutes drafted by Frank A Cantone.