HomeMy WebLinkAboutMN-GPA-2013-04-16GOVERNMENT PERFORMANCE AND ACCOUNTABILITY COMMITTEE
CITY OF ITHACA, NEW YORK
Regular Meeting 6:00 p.m. April 16, 2013
PRESENT:
Alderperson Mohlenhoff - Chair
Alderpersons (3) Murtagh, McCollister, Smith
OTHERS PRESENT:
City Clerk — Conley Holcomb
City Attorney — Lavine
EXCUSED:
Alderperson Proulx
Approval of the Minutes of the February 20, 2013 GPA Committee Meetings -
Resolution
By Alderperson Smith: Seconded by Alderperson McCollister
RESOLVED, That the minutes of the February 20, 2013 GPA Committee meeting be
approved as published.
Carried Unanimously
Charter and Code Revisions:
A Local Law to Assign the Building Commissioner's Powers and Duties to the
Director of Planning and Development, the Director of Zoning Administration, and
the Director of Code Enforcement
City Attorney Lavine explained that a large piece of legislation has been drafted that will
codify the changes made to the Planning and Building Departments during the 2013
budget process. The legislation will change the current Code and Charter references to
the Building Commissioner and Deputy Building Commissioner to the appropriate new
title (Director of Planning and Development, Director of Zoning Administration, Director
of Code Enforcement).
Discussion followed on the floor regarding separating the law into two pieces of
legislation; a local law that will incorporate all of the revisions needed to the City Charter
and code pursuant New York State law and provisions of legislative equivalence, and
an ordinance that will incorporate all of the revisions needed to the City Code. City
Attorney Lavine and City Clerk Holcomb highlighted the operational advantages of this
option. The local law will be subject to a mandatory referendum and will be placed on
the ballot for the November 2013 General Election as the position of Building
Commissioner (and Deputy Building Commissioner) will cease to exist, and thereby the
powers of the Mayor will be diminished. If the local law is approved by the electorate,
the ordinance will be considered by Common Council at the December meeting so that
both pieces of legislation will become effective January 1, 2014.
GPA Committee
April 16, 2013
City Clerk Holcomb and City Attorney Lavine will collaborate on the separation of the
legislation and the local law and ordinance will be brought back to the GPA Committee
for consideration at a future meeting.
City Attorney Lavine thanked Director of Planning and Development JoAnn Cornish,
Building Commissioner Phyllis Radke, and Deputy Building Commissioner Mike
Niechwiadowicz for all of their work on this legislation.
Analysis of Boards /Committees /Liaisons:
Chair Mohlenhoff led a brainstorming session about how to frame the upcoming
Common Council / Senior Staff retreat discussion regarding the restructuring of
boards /committees and liaison /staff assignments. She suggested a needs assessment
activity such as a SWOT or Gap Analysis to identify potential improvements and ways
to align a new committee structure with the City's strategic themes.
Further discussion followed on the following issues:
• The creation of a formal process for how ideas from advisory committees get
forwarded to standing committees, staff, and Common Council.
• How to balance committee, Council, and staff time and workloads
• Expanding the use of concept memos for legislative changes
• Improved training and education for committee volunteers
Common Council Training and Development
Council, Committee, Staff Training Program Development
Chair Mohlenhoff shared a tentative training program framework with sessions on the
following topics:
Land Use /Zoning 101
Site Plan Review Process
Organizational Structure & Labor Relations
Public Information & Meetings
Charter & Code
Legal Issues
Financial Issues
The goal is to have these sessions videotaped so they are available at any time on -line
for people who cannot attend the sessions, and to also develop inter - active training
sessions using Adobe Captivate.
Common Council Rules of Procedure — work session
Chair Mohlenhoff inquired about creating a sub - committee to work on revisions to the
Common Council Rules of Procedure. Alderpersons McCollister and Smith volunteered
to work with the City Clerk on this project. An alternative approach would be to
schedule one item month on the GPA Committee agenda and work on the revisions at
the meeting as a full committee.
Adjournment:
On a motion the meeting adjourned at 7:10 p.m.
Julie Conley Holcomb, CIVIC
City Clerk
GPA Committee
April 16, 2013
Deborah Mohlenhoff
Chair