HomeMy WebLinkAboutMN-CC-2012-03-14COMMON COUNCIL PROCEEDINGS
CITY OF ITHACA, NEW YORK
Special Meeting 5:00 p.m. March 14, 2012
PRESENT:
Alderpersons (7) Brock, Dotson Murtagh, Clairborne, McCollister, Fleming, Proulx
OTHERS PRESENT:
City Clerk – Conley Holcomb
City Attorney – Lavine
City Controller – Thayer
Planning & Development Director – Cornish
Community Development Director – Bohn
Economic Development Director – DeSarno
EXCUSED:
Mayor Myrick
Alderpersons Rooker, Kerslick, Mohlenhoff
SPECIAL ORDER OF BUSINESS:
1.1 Request to Approve Funding Match for TIGER IV (Transportation
Investment Generating Economic Recovery) Grant Application - Resolution
By Alderperson Fleming: Seconded by Alderperson Proulx
WHEREAS, the United States Department of Transportation (USDOT) has announced
the availability of funds in the TIGER IV Discretionary Grants (TIGER IV) program,
which notice was published in the Federal Register on January 31, 2012, and
WHEREAS, Common Council is interested in applying for a TIGER IV grant so as to
make a large investment in the transportation system in the central business district in
order to maintain a state of good repair, to improve the connectivity between downtown
and Collegetown and Cornell, to make the downtown a more livable and sustainable
environment, to strengthen the City of Ithaca’s position as a hub for the county and
region, and to encourage and support economic activity in the City, and
WHEREAS, staff from the Department of Planning and Development are preparing an
application that will include, but not be limited to, the following components:
Upgraded University/Commons Bus Rapid Transit Loop-Enhanced
Buses and Stations, Queue Jumping, and Signal Preemption
Dedicated Bus Rapid Transit, East State/MLK Jr. Street and Rebuild of
Stewart Avenue
Commons Pedestrian Road Rebuild/Interactive Digital Bus Terminal
Commons Bike Share Station/Cornell Bike Share Station
Ithaca Car Share Parking Space and Car
Electric Car Charging Stations
Privately-Sponsored Non-Transportation Amenities, and
WHEREAS, State and City of Ithaca environmental quality review laws and regulations
define as “Type II” (i.e., exempt from environmental review) actions that involve
“conducting concurrent environmental, engineering, economic, feasibility and other
studies and preliminary planning and budgetary processes necessary to the formulation
of a proposal for action, provided those activities do not commit the agency to
commence, engage in or approve such action”; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That, as a preliminary step intended to determine the economic feasibility
of the package of transportation improvements including those listed above, the Mayor
of the City of Ithaca, or his designee, is hereby authorized to submit a TIGER IV
application for funding to the United States Department of Transportation in accordance
March 14, 2012
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with the provisions of the Notice of Funds Available, in an amount not to exceed
$20,950,000.00, and be it further
RESOLVED, That, upon approval of such request, the City shall conduct environmental
review as required, for the projects proposed to be undertaken pursuant to the TIGER
IV grant, and be it further
RESOLVED, That, upon approval of said TIGER IV grant to the City, or any portion
thereof, and upon completion of all necessary environmental review of the components
of said project and approval of the same by Common Council, the Mayor, or his
designee, is hereby authorized to enter into and execute a project agreement with
USDOT, or its designee, for such financial assistance to the City of Ithaca for design,
right-of-way acquisition, construction, and construction inspection of the TIGER IV
application as submitted by the Mayor, approved by the USDOT, and as approved
and/or modified by environmental review and any other applicable City of Ithaca review
process, and be it further,
RESOLVED, That Common Council hereby confirms its intention to commit funds in an
amount not to exceed $3,500,000 (to be derived from serial bonds), contingent upon an
award of funds from the TIGER IV program and completion of environmental review.
Discussion followed on the floor regarding the scope of the grant application, how
projects were chosen, how the grant would affect the city’s budget, the estimated cost
for the Commons Repair & Upgrade Project, and the cost of sidewalk repairs if the
Commons project is not undertaken.
A vote on the Resolution resulted as follows:
Carried Unanimously
ADJOURNMENT:
On a motion the meeting adjourned at 5:25 p.m.
______________________________ _______________________________
Julie Conley Holcomb, CMC Jennifer Dotson
City Clerk Acting Mayor