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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMN-PEDC-2021-11-10 City of Ithaca Planning & Economic Development Committee Wednesday, November 10, 2021 – 6:00 p.m. Common Council Chambers, City Hall, 108 East Green Street Minutes 11-10-2021 Planning and Economic Development Committee Meeting Committee Members Attending: Joseph (Seph) Murtagh, Chair; Cynthia Brock, Laura Lewis, Patrick Mehler, and Donna Fleming Committee Members Absent: Other Elected Officials Attending: Mayor Svante Myrick, Alderpersons Kerslick and Alderperson Nguyen; Aaron Lavine, City Attorney Staff Attending: Lisa Nicholas, Deputy Director, Planning and Development Department; Luis Aguirre- Torres, Sustainability Director; and Deborah Grunder, Executive Assistant Others Attending: NextAmp – Ryan McCune Chair Seph Murtagh called the meeting to order at 6:00 p.m. 1) Call to Order/Agenda Review It was discussed to have the presentation after the action items were discussed and voted on. 2) Public Comment Ray, A disabled veteran transfer CU student. Is a tenant and has been evicted numerous times. He is currently homeless. a) Public Hearing Alderperson Mehler moved to open; seconded by Alderperson Lewis. Carried Unanimously. Due to the number of individuals wanting to speak, comments were limited to two (2) minutes. Alderperson Lewis moved to close the hearing; seconded by Alderperson Brock. Carried unanimously. Response from Committee: Alderperson Brock stated that the legislation shared in the September PEDC meeting was from the City of Albany. After that meeting, she received many comments which she used to edit the September legislation which became the October legislation. 3) Special Order of Business No special order of business. 4) Announcements, Updates, Reports a) Sustainability Update - Luis Aguirre-Torres stated refer to link above. b) Establishing a Solar Facility on City Property – Presentation and Q&A Ryan McCune, NextAmp, provided a presentation. Cynthia Brock’s questions – refer to link above. 5) Action Items (Voting to send onto Council) An Ordinance to Prohibit Eviction without Good Cause Declaration of Lead Agency WHEREAS, State Law and Section 176-6 of the City Code require that a lead agency be established for conducting environmental review of projects in accordance with local and state environmental law, and WHEREAS, State Law specifies that, for actions governed by local environmental review, the lead agency shall be that local agency which has primary responsibility for approving and funding or carrying out the action, and WHEREAS, the proposed ordinance is an “Unlisted” Action pursuant to the City Environmental Quality Review (CEQR) Ordinance, which requires environmental review under CEQR; now, therefore, be it RESOLVED, that the Common Council of the City of Ithaca does hereby declare itself lead agency for the environmental review of the proposal ordinance to prohibit eviction without good cause. An Ordinance to Prohibit Eviction without Good Cause Declaration of Environmental Significance WHEREAS, The Common Council is considering an ordinance to prohibit eviction without good cause, and WHEREAS, the appropriate environmental review has been conducted, including the preparation of a Short Environmental Assessment Form (SEAF) Part 1 & 2, and WHEREAS, the proposed action is an “Unlisted” Action under the City Environmental Quality Review Ordinance, and WHEREAS, the Common Council of the City of Ithaca, acting as lead agency, has reviewed and accepted as adequate the SEAF prepared by planning staff; now, therefore, be it RESOLVED, that this Common Council, as lead agency in this matter, hereby determines that the proposed action at issue will not have a significant effect on the environment, and be it further RESOLVED, that this resolution constitutes notice of this negative declaration and that the City Clerk is hereby directed to file a copy of the same, together with any attachments, in the City Clerk’s Office, and forward the same to any other parties as required by law. Chair Murtagh’s comments before discussion – refer to link above. Alderperson Lewis stated this is a very emotionally-driven legislation. This can be a costly legislation both monetary and emotionally. Refer to link above for her comments. Alderperson Brock stated refer to link above. Alderperson Mehler stated being such a new Council member he hasn’t had enough time to review, read the comments, and absorb it all. He doesn’t want it to die but needs more time. Alderperson Fleming stated she doesn’t believe the state should be involved in relationships between landlords and tenants. As a whole, she cannot support this. She does agree that a working group of staff, Council, landlords, and tenants . She cannot support voting this on to Common Council. Alderperson Brock stated she agrees with Alderperson Fleming’s suggestion to create a working group of multiple stakeholders. Alderperson Mehler stated that he would like Section 258 -10 be removed from this legislation. City Attorney Ari Lavine stated that the Council does have the authority to amend. Alderperson Brock requests that the statement in Section 258-17 No. 1 ‘for a dwelling not protected by rent regulation’ that was struck out to be put back in. Alderperson Lewis seconded. Attorney Lavine stated that the City is not legally required to circulate before the change is made. It is just the City norm to circulate. Alderperson Murtagh stated refer to link above Alderperson Murtagh moved to amend the legislation to read refer to link above; seconded by Alderperson Lewis. Alderperson Brock did not agree with that change. The original language should stay as presented. Alderperson Mehler moved to circulate with the changes made tonight and bring it back to the December meeting. Attorney Lavine agreed to help Alderperson Mehler to write the circulation materials. Mehler moved to table The Good Cause Legislation until next month; seconded by Alderperson Brock. Alderperson Brock stated that it is now November 10th, Thanksgiving break is coming up soon, and the next PEDC meeting is December 8th. Alderperson Lewis suggested that a COW meeting should be scheduled at the next PEDC meeting. 6) Review and Approval of Minutes a) February 2021 Moved by Alderperson Mehler; seconded by Alderperson Lewis. Car 8) Adjournment Moved by Alderperson Brock; seconded by Alderperson Brock. Carried unanimously. The meeting was adjourned at 9:25 p.m.