The Common Council hereby affirms the City of
Ithaca's commitment and intent to protect and maintain the natural
areas of the City of Ithaca in a generally natural, undisturbed state.
The addition of human-made elements shall be as minimal as possible,
and shall be primarily in the form of hiking trails, educational aids
and measures necessary for the public safety, and in the case of the
Six Mile Creek Natural Area, measures necessary to maintain the water
supply system.
[Amended 7-5-2017 by Ord.
No. 2017-15]
The Parks, Recreation, and Natural Resources Commission shall
be the advisory body to the Board of Public Works (and Common Council,
when appropriate) that shall coordinate City and public concerns about
the natural areas.
[Amended 7-5-2017 by Ord.
No. 2017-15]
Ecologically informed general guidelines for Department of Public
Works maintenance activities within the natural areas shall be promulgated
and updated as necessary by the Department of Public Works, in consultation
with the Parks, Recreation, and Natural Resources Commission, and
subject to the approval of the Board of Public Works.
[Amended 7-5-2017 by Ord.
No. 2017-15]
Any significant disruption of a natural area by the City shall
be restored to as natural or compatible a state as practical, on the
basis of a restoration plan promulgated with the advice of the Parks,
Recreation, and Natural Resources Commission. If the Department of
Public Works and the Parks, Recreation, and Natural Resources Commission
cannot agree on the plan, the Board of Public Works shall make a final
determination.
The following activities are prohibited in all
of the natural areas of the City of Ithaca, unless expressly permitted
or carried out pursuant to a duly issued permit:
F. Rock and ice climbing and rappelling.
H. Motorized vehicle riding.
L. Consumption of alcoholic beverages.
[Amended 7-5-2017 by Ord.
No. 2017-15]
The position of Natural Area Ranger is hereby established to
advise users of regulations governing the natural areas and to demonstrate
the City's intention to protect said areas and enforce the regulations.
The Ranger(s) shall be provided with adequate equipment to communicate
readily with law enforcement agencies. The Ranger(s) shall work under
the direction of the Chief of Police and shall consult regularly with
the Public Safety and Information Commission.
The city hereby directs the Department of Works
to provide adequate and attractive signage to alert the public to
the rules and regulation covering trails and hazards in the gorge.
The violation of any of the provisions in this chapter shall be punishable as prescribed in Chapter
1, General Provisions, Article
I, Penalties, of this Code.