HomeMy WebLinkAboutMN-CC-2013-07-17COMMON COUNCIL PROCEEDINGS
CITY OF ITHACA, NEW YORK
Special Meeting 6:00 p.m. July 17, 2013
PRESENT:
Mayor Myrick
Alderpersons (9) Brock, Dotson, Murtagh, McCollister, Fleming, Smith,
Kerslick, Proulx, Mohlenhoff
OTHERS PRESENT:
City Clerk – Conley Holcomb
City Attorney – Lavine
City Controller – Thayer
Building - Planning & Development Director – Cornish
EXCUSED:
Alderperson Clairborne
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE:
Mayor Myrick led all present in the Pledge of Allegiance to the American Flag.
SPECIAL ORDER OF BUSINESS:
2.1 Presentation from Sidewalk Task Force:
Mayor Myrick announced that there would not be a public comment period tonight due to the
tight time schedule; however, members of the public are encouraged to share their thoughts at
the following meetings:
July 17, 2013 GPA Committee Meeting
July 22, 2013 Board of Public Works Meeting
August 7, 2013 Common Council Meeting
August 12, 2013 Board of Public Works Meeting
August 12, 2013 GPA Committee Meeting
August 26, 2013 Board of Public Works Meeting
September 4, 2013 Common Council Meeting
Members of the Sidewalk Task Force include: City Attorney Aaron Lavine, Asst. City Attorney
Jared Pitman, Planning and Development Board Chair/Board of Public Works Commissioner
Govind Archarya, Alderpersons Donna Fleming and Seph Murtagh, Transportation Engineer
Tim Logue.
City Attorney Lavine explained that the City’s current sidewalk policy places full responsibility for
the installation and repair of sidewalks on the abutting property owner. This policy has led to
the construction of very little new sidewalk in the past 20 years and property owner resistance to
construction projects that include new sidewalks. Enforcement of the repair policy is
cumbersome and leads to long delays in sidewalk repairs.
The new proposal includes the creation of 5 sidewalk benefit assessment districts. A map of the
proposed districts is available on the City’s website: www.cityofithaca.org or by request. The
money raised in each district must be used solely for work performed in that district. While the
amount of money raised in each district will vary, the property owners in each district will be
assessed proportionately to the scope and cost of work occurring in that district.
The main objectives of this proposal are:
Reduced regressivity of the current system.
Continued inclusion of tax-exempt owners in a new system of financing.
Smoothed-out, predictable, sidewalk costs for property owners.
Reduced disincentive to new construction; sidewalk treated as a public good.
Improved sidewalk repair record in a simple and efficient system.
The proposed assessment formula is as follows:
One and two family residences will pay an annual maintenance fee of $70.
Other lots will pay an annual maintenance fee of $140 plus a square footage fee of
$0.015 per square foot of buildings on a lot, and a frontage fee ($30 for each 50 feet
of lot frontage or portion thereof).
July 17, 2013
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Lots which have or had sidewalk construction or repairs performed at the owner’s
expense will be eligible for a reduction in the assessment (1/20 of the amount of the
work, subject to a cap, in each of the twenty years following completion of the work).
The proposed assessment formula will raise approximately $600,000 per year city-
wide, with amounts varying by district.
A question and answer period followed with Council members. The following items were
clarified:
People who volunteer to replace their sidewalk as per permit requirements vs. being
cited by the City are still eligible for the reduction in assessment fees (i.e. if someone
replaces or repairs their sidewalk without a permit, they will not receive a reduction in
assessment fees).
The credit for repaired sidewalks as per permit requirements goes with the property –
not the owner (i.e. if someone moves, the credit would stay with the property).
The impact on renters is dependent upon the type of housing they live in (one-and two
family residences and other properties)
Properties on private roads (i.e. Walmart) would still pay the square footage and
maintenance fee but not the frontage fee.
The U-1 District exclusion was discussed
Slate sidewalks in areas, especially historic districts, can still be installed per this
proposal – materials were not specified.
The Task Force did not discuss penalties for damages caused to sidewalks (i.e. trucks
parking on sidewalks). IPD ticketing might be a better solution.
West Hill concerns are: new sidewalk installation work is more expensive due to
topography (cliffs, rocks, etc.). There are fewer homes and larger parcel sizes, thus
leading to lower funds raised comparatively in this district, and less new sidewalk will be
installed. Could the district be shifted to include Inlet Island and/or the Southwest
business district?
Districts were formed by using natural boundaries (like live water bodies), and effort was
made to keep them neighborhood based.
The proposal does not discount the proposed assessments for lower income people or
lower value properties, but those people are responsible for a much higher cost under
the existing system than they would be in virtually every instance under the proposed
system.
Most lots are configured on 50 ft parcels (some are 48’ or 52’) – an adjustment to the
frontage figure may be needed.
The Ithaca City School District property is included in this proposal as is Tompkins
County, Cornell University, the City of Ithaca, etc. Large parks may be exempted from
the proposal by Common Council. Each organization has been notified of the impending
law and invited to provide feedback.
The Tompkins County Assessment Department is the authority on many topics included
in the proposal (square footage of building, eligibility of exemption, etc.)
Liability concerns were raised as the City would become responsible for the repair and
maintenance of all sidewalks.
Common Council members expressed their thanks for the hard work and creativity that went
into this effort.
ADJOURNMENT:
On a motion the meeting adjourned at 7:10 p.m.
______________________________ _______________________________
Julie Conley Holcomb, CMC Svante L. Myrick
City Clerk Mayor