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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMN-CA-2012-07-01CITY ADMINISTRATION COMMITTEE Regular Meeting July 25, 2012 Members Present: Alderperson Brock, Alderperson Fleming, Alderperson Kerslick, Alderperson Clairborne, Mayor Myrick Members Excused: Alderperson Proulx Council Members Present: Alderperson Dotson, Alderperson Murtagh Staff Present: JoAnn Cornish -Epps (P &D Director), Steve Thayer (Controller), Scott Andrew (Deputy Controller), Schelley Michell -Nunn (HR Director), Denise Malone (HR Executive Assistant) Others Present: Nels Bohn (IURA Executive Director), Members of the Public, Members of the Media Chairperson Clairborne called the meeting to order at 6:05 p.m. 1. Chairperson Greeting & Opening Statement Chairperson Clairborne welcomed everyone to the meeting and explained the evacuation procedures. 2. Announcements. None. 3. Agenda Review and Amendments Chairperson Clairborne stated that the following item has been removed from the agenda: 12.1 Attorney's Office - Proposal to Explore Consortium for Time Warner Franchise Agreement. 4. Approval of Minutes The Committee agreed to table the minutes from the June 27, 2012 meeting until the August meeting. 5. Statements from the Public The following people spoke about Project Growing Hope's Community Gardens, the benefits to the community of keeping the gardens in its current location and locating new sites for the gardens: • Gail Blake — Project Growing Hope Board Secretary • Elizabeth Aldridge —Project Growing Hope Attorney • Quadira Garber — Ithaca Resident • Ron Liso — Ithaca Resident • Susan Nassar — Project Growing Hope's Board Member • Joshua Dolan — Ithaca Resident City Administration Committee Meeting July 25, 2012 Page 2 • John Graves — Ithaca Resident • Glen Robertson — Challenge Industries • Will Parker — Ithaca Resident • Sheryl Swink — Ithaca Resident • Sandy Ferreuer — Advocacy Coordinator for Loaves and Fishes • Pat D. — Ithaca Resident • Marty Blodgett — Ithaca Resident • Cedric Mason — Graduate Student at Cornell • Anne LaFex — Ithaca Resident (in an e-mail read by Chairperson Clairborne) • Monika Roth — Ithaca Resident (in an e-mail read by Alderperson Fleming) The following people spoke in support of, and moving forward with, the "Resolution Directing the Mayor to Proceed to a Closing on Carpenter Business Park Tax Parcel 36 -1 -3.4 in a Timely Manner After Receipt of Option Holder's Notice ": • Wade Wykstra — Ithaca Resident • Robert Morache — Ithaca Resident • Mike Wheeler — Ithaca Resident • Tom Hanna — Ithaca Resident (in an e -mail read by Alderperson Brock) 6. Employee Comments. None. 7. City Administration Members Response. None. 8. Workforce Diversity Advisory Committee (WDAC) Update Alderperson Brock reported on the WDAC meeting that was held on Monday. The WDAC heard a presentation about the Disability Advisory Council (DAC) and the work the DAC is doing; talked about the diversity & inclusion goals put forth by the Mayor and wants to move forward with department heads reporting to their respective committee; wanted to ensure that the contents on the City department's websites be monitored by the respective department head or his /her designee; and discussed the racist postings on Craigslist about GIAC and how the negative comments affect City staff. 9. Mayor's Report. None. 10. 2013 Budget Topics/Updates Labor Contract Comparison: Information comparing the different benefits between union contracts was distributed, and briefly explained, to the Committee by the Mayor and the HR Director. 11. Common Council Resolution Directing the Mayor to Proceed to a Closing on n Carpenter Business Park Tax Parcel 36 -1 -3.4 in a Timelv Manner After Receipt of Option Holder's Notice City Administration Committee Meeting July 25, 2012 Page 3 Moved by Alderperson Fleming. Seconded by Alderperson Kerslick. WHEREAS, Aeon Development, LLC, agent for the owners of almost eight acres of undeveloped land zoned I -1 located in Carpenter Business Park (CBP) and for Building Links, Inc., the holder of an option to purchase CBP City -owned property, has publicly stated the readiness and intent of the owners and option holder to move forward with the development of the Carpenter Business Park for local business purposes, and WHEREAS, the Purchase Agreement for the above - mentioned CBP land executed in 1999 between Building Links, Inc. and the City of Ithaca /IURA gave the purchasers an option to purchase additional land, more specifically, City -owned CBP Tax Parcel 36- 1 -3.4, and that option to purchase was further defined in another agreement executed in 2002, and WHEREAS, City Tax Parcel 36 -1 -3.4 was leased for a 20 -year term in 1993 by the City to Project Growing Hope, Inc. for community gardens purposes and that lease will expire on December 31, 2013, and WHEREAS, the agent for the CBP owners and option holder has publicly stated that both the ownership and control of City Tax Parcel 36 -1 -3.4 and NYSEG's underground relocation of the high- voltage power lines located on that parcel over the Community Gardens have always been a critical part of their development plan for CBP, and WHEREAS, NYSEG has expressed willingness to cooperate and provide funding for such an underground relocation, and WHEREAS, new sites for community gardens, including scattered sites within walking distance for gardeners in City neighborhoods, can be found since the City owns many vacant, unused parcels within the City, and WHEREAS, community gardens are recognized by the New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation as an appropriate use of parkland, and WHEREAS, the agent for the CBP owners and option holder has expressed interest in and is engaged in assisting with a new community gardens program; now, therefore, be it RESOLVED, That Common Council hereby authorizes the Mayor and the Director of Planning and Development to create a Community Gardens Initiative and develop a list of possible sites appropriate for community gardens throughout the City, and be it further RESOLVED, That Common Council hereby authorizes the Mayor, upon the advice of the City Attorney, to proceed to a closing with the option holder on the sale of Carpenter Business Park Tax Parcel 36 -1 -3.4 in an expeditious and timely manner after receipt of Notice of Intent to exercise the Option and further directs the Mayor not to execute a new lease with any party for that parcel. City Administration Committee Meeting July 25, 2012 Page 4 Presentations were done by Project Growing Hope in opposition to the resolution and by the developer or people in support of the resolution. After the presentations, the Committee had a lengthy discussion about this resolution. After discussion, Alderperson Fleming made a motion to table this item until next month to allow time for Members on both sides to meet and to come to a mutual agreement on how they want to proceed with the Carpenter Business Park Tax Parcel; The Mayor to work with the appropriate City staff to discuss the issues /concerns and to create a plan on how the City should proceed with the Carpenter Business Park Tax Parcel; • All questions to be answered by the appropriate content expert. Seconded by Alderperson Kerslick. Motion passed 4 -0. 2. Mayor Chief of Staff Position: The Mayor mentioned that the Chief of Staff position has been created by the Civil Service Commission as an at -will position (not elected); that he has shared the creation of this position with Senior Staff, and that, in light of budget concerns, Common Council is looking at resources, benefits and salary for this position. 12. Attorney's Office Proposal to Explore Consortium for Time Warner Franchise Agreement - Resolution This item was removed from the agenda. 13. Human Resources (HR) Department Director's Report. HR Director Michell -Nunn reported on the following: City of Ithaca's Retirement Incentive: The City passed the "Retirement Incentive Program — 2012" for employees. To participate in this incentive program, employees must submit a letter by September 1, 2012, stating their intentions to retire between October 1, 2012 and December 28, 2012. To help employees with the transition to retirement (or being laid off), the HR Dept is working with Workforce NY. This group offers assistance with unemployment, resources for education & training, etc. The HR Dept is also working with the NYS Retirement System to provide individual phone consultations. The dates scheduled for these consultations are July 25, 2012 and August 8, 2012. 14. Finance /Controller Approval of Corrective Action Plan for NYS Audit Report Moved by Alderperson Brock. Seconded by Alderperson Kerslick. WHEREAS, the City of Ithaca recently had a New York State Audit performed on Financial Operations for the period January 1, 2010 — April 14, 2011, and City Administration Committee Meeting July 25, 2012 Page 5 WHEREAS, said audit report number 2011M194, requires an improved corrective action plan to be submitted to New York State; now, therefore be it RESOLVED, That Common Council hereby approves the attached Corrective Action Plan and directs the City Controller to submit the plan to the New York State Office of the State Comptroller as required. A vote on the resolution resulted as follows: Passed unanimously. 2. Approval of Budget Amendment Moved by Alderperson Brock. Seconded by Alderperson Kerslick. WHEREAS, during 2012, City of Ithaca departments have received revenue from various unanticipated sources including reimbursement, grants, donations and sale of material, that need to be accounted for in the 2012 budget, and WHEREAS, the reimbursements total $28,400 as follows: Tompkins County Celebration Grants $13,895 Insurance Recovery 9,300 Donations 500 Restitution/Reimbursement 600 Sale of Scrap /Equipment 4,125 now, therefore be it RESOLVED, That Common Council hereby amends the 2012 authorized budget as follows to account for said receipts and expenditures of funds: Increase Revenue Accounts: A1012 -2379 Community Celebrations $13,895 A3120 -2770 Police — Unclassified 2,333 A3311 -2680 Traffic Control — Insurance Recovery 8,600 A5010 -2655 Streets Minor Sales 1,539 A5132 -2655 Garage Minor Sales 253 A7111 -1710 Parks & Forestry 500 A7111 -2680 Parks & Forestry — Insurance Recovery 700 A7111 -2690 Parks & Forestry — Other Compensation 100 A7111 -2705 Parks & Forestry — Donations 500 Totals $28,420 Increase Appropriation Accounts: A1012 -5435 Celebrations Contracts $13,895 City Administration Committee Meeting July 25, 2012 Page 6 3 A3120 -5225 -5005 A3311 -5477 A5010 -5483 A5132 -5481 A7111 -5485 Police Other Equipment 2,333 Traffic Control Parts 8,600 Streets Construction Supplies 1,539 Garage Small Tools 253 Parks & Forestry — Trees 1,800 Totals $28,420 A vote on the resolution resulted as follows: Passed unanimously. Controller's Report. Controller Thayer reported on the following: Audit (2011): The Controller's Office is working on the 2011 audit; which is due in October. Budget 2013): The 2013 budget process is in full swing. The 10% cut in personnel will have drastic changes in staffing levels. If there were no budget cuts, there would be a 10 % -15% increase in taxes. The City cannot continue to use the fund balance at the rates it has been using the funds. Come September, the City will have a better outlook on the numbers. There has been an increase in construction activity /development within the City. Some ways the City can do better financially is by the leveling off of pension cost, controlling the cost of health insurance, selling City properties, and boosting building permit revenues. Property Tax Cap: The numbers for the property tax cap are coming in. The City could vote to override, if necessary. Capital Project Review Committee: The Capital Project Review Committee has met and is ready to make recommendations for projects in 2013. 15. Reports Sub - Committee Updates. None. 2. Novak Report. None. 3. Next Month's Meeting: August 22, 2012. 16. Adjournment With no further business and on a motion by Alderperson Kerslick, the meeting was adjourned at 9:50 p.m.