Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAboutMN-IURAED-2025-11-18108 E. Green St. Ithaca, NY 14850 (607) 274-6565 MEETING MINUTES ITHACA URBAN RENEWAL AGENCY Economic Development Committee (EDC) 3:30 P.M., Tuesday, November 18, 2025 Common Council Chambers, 108 E. Green St., Ithaca, NY 14850 Present: Robert G. Cantelmo (Mayor); Derek Adams; Siobhan Hull, Chair; Donna Fleming; Leslie Ackerman, Vice-Chair Excused: Chuck Schwerin Vacancies: 0 Staff: Nels Bohn; Charles Pyott [virtual] Guests: Rod Rotondi, Shared Kitchen Ithaca, Inc. (SKI) I.Call to Order Acting Chair Fleming called the meeting to order at 3:34 P.M. II.Agenda Additions/Deletions None. III. Public Comments (3-minute max. per person) None. IV.Review of Meeting Minutes: August 12th, 2025 (postponed) V.New Business A.Steamboat Landing Sublease: Request from Ithaca Farmers Market Cooperative, Inc. to Authorize Parking Agreement with Cayuga Medical for Up to 75 Parking Spaces Bohn explained that he received a written request from Ithaca Farmers Market Cooperative, Inc. (“the Farmers Market”) for permission to enter into a Parking Agreement with Cayuga Medical to lease 75 spaces for parking to serve its nearby facility. The income would help the Farmers Market pay off the remaining funding gap. The agreement would require that the spaces be open to the public for low-impact recreational uses when the market is not in session, and leasing 75 of the 225 total spaces would leave plenty available for casual, public use. He noted that any change in the sublease would require approval by the Common Council. Hull asked where the 75 spaces are located. Bohn explained that the spaces are closest to Cayuga Medical’s sites, and a defined location has not yet been identified. Hull asked if the proposed agreement would interfere with other public events. Bohn responded that he believed the Farmers Market coordinates those events. Approved/Adopted: 2/10/26 EDC Meeting Minutes November 18, 2025 Page 2 of 5 Adams asked how much the Farmers Market would charge for parking. Bohn responded that many details are not known because they are seeking permission to proceed with negotiations, but he would invite them to attend the IURA Board meeting to provide more information. Fleming moved, seconded by Adams: Authorize Parking Agreement with Cayuga Health at Steamboat Landing WHEREAS, the Ithaca Farmers Market Cooperative, Inc. (“IFM”) seeks approval for a 75-vehicle parking agreement with Cayuga Medical at the City-owned Steamboat Landing site, and WHEREAS, as of 2010, the City leases the 5.8-acre Steamboat Landing site (“Leased Property”) to the Ithaca Urban Renewal Agency (IURA) and the IURA subleases the Site to the Ithaca Farmers Market Cooperative, Inc. to operate a producer-to-consumer market of locally grown and crafted goods, and WHEREAS, the Leased Property contains a large market pavilion, a dock, and over 300 parking spaces developed and maintained by IFM, and WHEREAS, the Leased Property is authorized for (1) A producer-to-consumer market featuring local grown and crafted goods at least two days per week for at least six month of the year, (2) rental of the pavilion to others for occasional events, (3) a 50-vehicle park’n’ride operation, and (4) any other, additional use by IFM subject to the consent of the IURA and Mayor; however the Leased Property shall remain open at times the market is not in operation for use by the general public for passive, non- exclusive, low impact and low intensity recreational uses, and WHEREAS, IFM currently operates a farmers’ market on weekends, April through November and recently completed a project to upgrade the 225-space parking facility, and WHEREAS, the leases specify that neither the City, nor the IURA is under any obligation to maintain any internal roads and parking areas, including snow removal, and WHEREAS, the Economic Development Committee considered this matter at their November 18, 2025 meeting and recommended the following action; now, therefore, be it RESOLVED, that the Ithaca Urban Renewal Agency Ithaca hereby approves an amendment to the IURA sublease of the Steamboat Landing site to the Ithaca Farmers Market Cooperative, Inc., to authorize their requested use of up to 75 spaces in the existing 225-space parking lot by Cayuga Health to support parking needs at 401 Cayuga Park Lane facility and financially support the investment in the parking facility, and be it further RESOLVED, that the IURA Chairperson, subject to review by the IURA legal counsel, is hereby authorized to execute any and all documents to implement this resolution. Carried Unanimously: 5-0 EDC Meeting Minutes November 18, 2025 Page 3 of 5 B. HUD Entitlement Grant 1. Shared Kitchen Ithaca (Project #11, 2023 CDBG): Request for Time Extension Rotondi remarked that Shared Kitchen Ithaca (SKI) overestimated the number of new members eligible for the IURA grant. It took time to recruit a sufficient number of members, but the goal was to reach 16 by the end of the first year of operation, and it was reached in the fifth month. He stated that it took a while to get operations going, but they now have approximately five qualified members, and he believed they would be able to disburse the grant by the end of June 2026. Bohn added that the operation did not open until spring of 2025, but they are now operating, and $9,000 in vouchers are pending from a $32,500 award. If the deadline is not met by June 2026, staff could approve up to a 90-day extension. He reported that the project is making good progress, and he acknowledged that the agency is working with its accountant and SKI on how best to document a discount on services, since the contractual agreement requires that 51% of participants be City of Ithaca residents, and currently, none of the participants are City residents. Rotondi added that all beneficiaries are doing business in the City of Ithaca. Hull moved, seconded by Adams: Contract Modification — Time Extension for 2023: Project #11, Shared Kitchen Ithaca WHEREAS, the City of Ithaca 2023 Annual Action Plan (AAP) allocated $32,500 in Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funding for Project #11 “Shared Kitchen Ithaca to provide discounts to ten (10) eligible low- and moderate-income microenterprise participants, and WHEREAS, the contract expiration date was September 30, 2025, and WHEREAS, SKI requests a time extension until June 30, 2026 due to delays in start-up of the new enterprise, and WHEREAS, SKI opened in May 2025, and WHEREAS, SKI is currently assisting 5 LMI IURA-eligible microenterprises and has over a dozen member businesses, and WHEREAS, SKI has vouchered for over $9,000, but anticipates full expenditure of CDBG funds will require approximately 12 months from initial start-up, and WHEREAS, any extension over 120 days must be reviewed and approved by the IURA Board, and WHEREAS, the URA Economic Development Committee reviewed this matter at their November 18, 2025 meeting and recommended the following action; now, therefore be it, EDC Meeting Minutes November 18, 2025 Page 4 of 5 RESOLVED, that the IURA hereby authorizes the Director of Community Development to modify the contract via a letter agreement to extend the expiration date of 2023 Project #11 “Shared Kitchen Ithaca” to June 30, 2026. Carried Unanimously: 5-0 2. CDBG Timeliness Work Out Plan, Options for Reprogramming – Review Bohn explained that the agency was not on track to meet the grant spenddown requirements and that a workout plan was created to address the issue. The internal goal to spend $75,000 per month on average is not on target, and reprogramming of funds was needed since some project sponsors declined funding. He noted that $30,000 was available for reprogramming for the Public Services category, which would be split among multiple projects and, if less than $25,000, would not require a public hearing, a 30-day comment period, and Common Council approval. Projects included as Alternative Projects were in the categories of housing, Public Facilities, or Economic Development, for which funding would exceed $25,000 and would require a public hearing, 30-day comment period, and Common Council approval. He reported that the Neighborhood Investment Committee (NIC) reviewed the list of five proposed Projects and ranked the top replacement projects as the SSCC Fire Panel Replacement, 215 Cleveland Avenue, and the Cass Park Restrooms + Pavilion. Two additional projects under consideration are Homeless Services Enhancement and Handicapped Parking near TC Mental Health. Adams asked about the distinction for Review Status on the Alternative Projects list. Bohn responded that the distinction was related to identifying well-defined projects, which do not have implementation issues and would not trigger an extensive NEPA (National Environmental Policy Act) Review. Hull asked how the Homeless Services Enhancement project could be completed by January 2026. Bohn responded that an expenditure to purchase the unit could be made and disbursed, but the installation and public benefit could take longer. Hull commented that she would be in favor of the Homeless Services Enhancement (HSE) even with uncertainty around how the project would be implemented. Adams asked whether the agency would distribute funds among all five projects. Bohn responded that they may or may not. Fleming asked if there was a specific number of units to be purchased for the HSE project. Bohn responded that the City’s Advisory Committee, working on the project, proposed that a shelter facility be built, of which the $75,000 enhancement would be a part. Fleming asked whether the funds could be reprogrammed for completed or existing projects, rather than as a small part of something new, such as the Code Blue Shelter. Bohn responded that the shelter is opening soon, and County resources were used to upgrade the facility. VI. Old/Other Business A. IURA Grant Disbursement, Loan, & Lease Receivable Reports: March 2025 EDC Meeting Minutes November 18, 2025 Page 5 of 5 Bohn reviewed the Grants Summary, explaining that the left-hand “On Schedule” column calls out any projects (with a ) that are not progressing on schedule and may need attention, noting that Anisa Mendizabal is closely monitoring them. He reported that all loan and lease payments are current as of today. Bohn shared that Historic Ithaca had decided to exit the job placement activity due to staffing changes. B. Staff Report None. C. Executive Session to Discuss Proposed Acquisition, Sale, or Lease of Real Property When Publicity Would Substantially Affect Value Thereof (no action requested) — EXECUTIVE SESSION — VII. Adjournment The meeting was adjourned by consensus at 4:45 P.M. — END — Minutes prepared by S. Dean, edited by C. Pyott/N. Bohn.