Campus Planning Committee

CAMPUS PLANNING COMMITTEE
November 18, 2009
2:30 — 4:30PM
Room 121 Weill Hall
Meeting Minutes

Attendees

Jim Adams, Mina Amundsen, Todd Bittner, Bert Bland, Andrew Brokman, Mary-Lynn Cummings, David Cutter, Gilbert Delgado, Jessie Dimick, Ken Downey, Steve Erber, John Gutenberger, Marianne Krasny (Co-Chair), Leon Lawrence, Jason Moore, Don Rakow, Dagmar Richter, Pete Salino, Stephan Schmidt (Co-Chair), Gabrielle Voeller.

Stephan Schmidt opened the meeting followed by introductions of those present.

Gorge Management Issues - Presenters David Cutter and Todd Bittner David Cutter began his presentation with an overview of what the Campus Master Plan outlined for the Gorges which is to 1) Protect Natural Areas, 2) Restore historic gorge trails, and 3) Develop Gorge Management Plans.

This led into his discussion of the Fall Creek Gorge Management Plan, which contains;

1. Purpose
2. Planning Process
3. Goals & Objectives
4. Consequences of No Action
5. Management Recommendations

David walked us through a recommendations matrix which is contained in the plan, which had four key recommendations: 1) Implement a sustainable trail management program, 2) Implement a signage program, 3) Construct a water’s edge trail terminus area below Risley Hall and below Phi Gamma Delta, and 4) Implement an invasive species control plan.

Todd Bittner presented and discussed the Cascadilla Gorge Management. Currently the lower portion of the gorge trail is closed due to repairs. At this point it is uncertain when that portion of the trail will re-open, but they are hopeful for sometime in 2011.

A big challenge for this effort is finding the ongoing maintenance funding and the manpower to regularly assess the gorge for new issues.

Discussion

Swimming: Marianne Krasny stated, she works with a student group called Friends of the Gorge which discuss and focus on safety issues in particular. She cited an example of at the beginning of the academic year they had a group of students and parents which they took down the trails of the gorge to find students swimming despite signage indicating it was not allowed. She asked was it possible to provide swimming opportunities in safer areas of the gorges?

David Cutter responded, there is an area below Risley which would be possible for wading, Many have asked why not Beebe Lake? What are the next steps to move forward on this issue?

Bert Bland indicated that due to gorge/beach regulations, they would need to monitor the coliform content of the water as well as turbidity.

Andrew Brokman inquired if there was a city ordinance regarding no swimming in the gorges, to which the response was no.

Todd Bittner stated we recognize that we can’t keep people out of the gorge and swimming, but that safer areas could be identified. However, he was very adamant that the area under the suspension bridge was a very dangerous spot.

Marianne Krasny asked what is the process to bring forward and continue these discussions?

Mina Amundsen replied that the CPC could provide ideas and suggestions to the Gorge Management Plan Committee — regarding both the plan itself but also with respect to implementation and how projects should be prioritized. For example, the plan lists a range of projects with varying timelines and funding needs — these could be listed by ‘should do’, ‘must do’, ‘nice to do’, etc.

David Cutter also suggested alternative swimming options such an outdoor pool/water recreation area adjacent to either gorge, but where could that be located on campus?

• Funding: Todd Bittner stated that after the trail assessment of the Fall Creek Gorge, they put in funding requests to Cornell’s capital plan. The challenge is the ongoing maintenance funding.

Don Rakow stated they are in the early stages of discussions with the City of Ithaca about who will bear the responsibility of maintaining both gorges.

Gilbert Delgado inquired how much was the funding request put in for Cascadilla Gorge? Todd Bittner said the Cascadilla Gorge Management request was $1.8M total, and that did not include slope stability money. He estimates the Fall Creek Gorge Assessment would need ~600K for approximately 8–10 repair and infrastructure projects.

• Gorge Maintenance: Don Rakow reiterated the point one of the key issues is who will be responsible for the maintenance of the gorges.

Stephan Schmidt asked, What roll does the city play in gorge management? Todd Bittner replied that the Department of Environmental Conservation requires jurisdiction over maintaining recreational rivers. At this point the City of Ithaca is the primary agency, but their management has been non-existent. They have no management plan for the gorges, but are very involved in the emergency side of things. They are also active on the Gorge Safety Task Force.

Stephan Schmidt followed up with asking who bears the brunt of the financial responsibility for the gorges, Todd Bittner response was Cornell has been bearing most of it.

Leon Lawrence asked if we could try to tap Alumni for contributions towards this effort. Don Rakow responded that there have been some contributions in the past, but not significant enough amounts to aid in project costs.

• History: John Gutenberger gave a brief history of the role of the City of Ithaca in designating the Fall Creek Gorge as a recreational river — which was to stop Ithaca Falls being used for hydro power.
• Aesthetics: Gilbert asked what the current railings are in the gorges. Todd Bittner described most are steel posts with heavy duty chain link running through at two points on them. He also added they don’t serve the purpose of keeping people out. In addition, railings in the gorges are not held to the building code standards.

Dagmar Richter added in designing and planning for the new railings in the gorges, could it be a more elegant design? Perhaps something that blends more with the environment instead of jumping out in the foreground as it currently does. When people ask why did you come to Ithaca, many refer to the beautiful gorges as to one of the elements that drew them.

Referring to the lower portion of the Cascadilla Trail, Leon Lawrence asked whether any formal entity would inspect the trail before it gets re-opened, similar to the State Parks? Todd Bittner replied, no its basically up to those who maintain it to render it usable again.

Wrap-Up and Next Steps

Presentation will be posted on the University Assembly CPC website.