HomeMy WebLinkAboutMN-CC-2010-02-24COMMON COUNCIL PROCEEDINGS
CITY OF ITHACA, NEW YORK
Special Meeting 5:30 p.m. February 24, 2010
PRESENT:
Mayor Peterson
Alderpersons (10) Coles, Dotson, Rosario, Clairborne, McCollister, Zumoff, Rooker,
Myrick, Cogan, Mohlenhoff
Board of Public Works Commissioners (4) Tripp, Wykstra, Jenkins, Brock
OTHERS PRESENT:
City Clerk – Conley Holcomb
City Attorney – Hoffman
Planning & Development Director – Cornish
Superintendent of Public Works – Gray
Sr. Planner - Nicholas
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE:
Mayor Peterson led all present in the Pledge of Allegiance to the American Flag.
SPECIAL ORDER OF BUSINESS:
2.1 Review and Discuss the Site Reconnaissance Draft Report for the Southern
Tributaries to Cayuga Lake Dredging Project
Senior Planner Nicholas led a round of introductions and welcomed Liz Moran, Ecologic
LLC, and Ed Hinchey, Environmental Resource Management.
Senior Planner Nicholas led the group through a review of the Site Reconnaissance
Draft Report for the Southern Tributaries to Cayuga Lake Dredging Project. She
explained that the Army Corps of Engineers has rebuilt the flood control channel twice
to address flooding issues, once in the 1920’s and again in the 1960’s. A discussion
was held on the history of the current dredging project and whose responsibility it is to
maintain the flood control channel, detailing the roles of the Army Corps of Engineers,
New York State Department of Environmental Conservation, New York State Canal
Corporation, and the City of Ithaca.
The New York State Canal Corporation finds a channel width of 100 feet and depth of
10 feet to be acceptable for navigation. The flood control channel acceptable dimension
is 300 feet wide and 15 feet deep. Dredging in the flood control channel has not
occurred since 1982, and it is projected that 60 percent of its capacity has been lost.
The most challenging obstacle to routine dredging is the identification of spoil sites.
The draft report includes the identification of nine (9) potential sediment de-watering and
processing sites including:
• The option of taking “No Action”
• Cass Park
• Newman Golf Course
• City-owned Festival Lands
• Portion of Allan H. Treman State Marine Park
• NYS DOT Facility
• The option to “Expand parkland and/or create islands in Cayuga Lake”
• Upland Disposal Sites in the Cayuga Inlet Valley
• Southwest Area
Extensive discussion followed on the floor regarding the pros & cons of each option and
the site selection criteria.
Ms. Moran and Mr. Hinchey fielded questions from Common Council and Board of
Public Works members on topics such as:
• The probability of getting a permit for the southern end of Cayuga Lake site
February 24, 2010
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• Whether the Southwest Area site could utilize berms in a way that would also
serve as a barrier between the train tracks and the residential areas (existing and
proposed)
• Whether any of the sites were workable
• Whether the parkland alienation process was viable
• The possibility that the dredging in the Six Mile Creek area (Water Plant Project)
would reduce the need to dredge the southern tributaries as much in the future
• A potential alternative site in the Cherry Street Industrial Park
• Who will make the decision of a dredging spoils site (Common Council or Board
of Public Works)
NEXT STEPS:
• The next meeting of the Dredging Project Advisory Team is on March 1, 2010.
The report will be presented and a site recommendation will be made.
• The report and Power Point presentation will be posted to the City’s website.
• Proposed public information meeting to be scheduled.
• The City needs to confirm a preferred site.
NEW BUSINESS:
Mayor Peterson announced that Assistant City Attorney Donna Este-Green has
resigned and a Search Committee needs to be appointed to fill the vacancy. She asked
for three volunteers from Common Council to serve on this committee. Alderpersons
Coles, Myrick, and McCollister agreed to serve on the Search Committee.
ADJOURNMENT:
On a motion the meeting adjourned at 7:00 p.m.
______________________________ _______________________________
Julie Conley Holcomb, CMC Carolyn K. Peterson,
City Clerk Mayor