Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAboutMN-PLED-1997-11-19PLANNING AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE MINUTES November 19, 1997 In attendance were: Susan Blumenthal, Chair; John Efroymson; Rick Gray; Tom Hanna; Pam Mackesey; Jane Marcham; Diann Sams; Sara Shenk; Roey Thorpe; Pat Vaughan; Alan J. Cohen, Mayor; and Joan Spielholz Staff: Nels Bohn, Community Development Planner; Dominick Cafferillo, City Controller; Mariette Geldenhuys, City Attorney; and H. Matthys Van Cort, Director of Planning and Development A Special Meeting of Common Council preceded the regularly scheduled Planning and Economic Development Committee (P&EDC) meeting. The first item on the agenda of the P&EDC, Lake Source Cooling Project, was handled in the Special Common Council meeting. Council also took action on the City Budget. Agenda Review Efroymson asked that the process towards adoption of the Bicycle Plan and the Building Department’s proposed five-year inspection plan be added to the agenda. 1. Maintenance of Sidewalks and Adjoining Property M. Geldenhuys explained that, under the City Charter, property owners have responsibility for maintenance of both sidewalks and curb lawns adjacent to their property. The Charter further stipulates that liability for sidewalks rests with the adjoining owner, rather than with the City, but that the liability for curb lawns rests with the City. Geldenhuys said that Attorney Pat Kennedy had discovered this in doing research on the City’s ability to require homeowners to maintain their curb lawns in accordance with City regulations. Geldenhuys suggested that the City Charter be modified to assign the liability for the curb lawn to the adjoining property owner. This would match the liability requirements regarding sidewalks and , in the opinion of the City Attorney’s office, make the whole package more consistent. A spirited debate followed. Although several members of Common Council felt that the liability for curb lawn areas should stay with the City, a majority favored transferring it to the property owner. A vote was taken to give direction to the City Attorney’s office. Seven members voted in favor of amending the Charter to transfer liability for curb lawns to the property owner. Hanna and Mackesey voted in the negative. Sams abstained. Accordingly, the Attorney’s staff was directed to prepare the appropriate instruments for Common Council to amend the Charter in accordance with the Attorney’s recommendation. c:\laserfiche\planning\planning and econ dev committee\2000 and before planning and eco dev committee\minutes\1997\111997.doc - 1 - 2. Canal Corridor Initiative Nels Bohn explained that the City has been awarded a $59,243.00 grant for administration of the Canal Corridor Initiative Program in the City of Ithaca. In addition, the City has been awarded a $700,000.00 Public Improvement Grant which is given in the form of a loan. The two resolutions before the Committee would authorize the Mayor to sign all necessary instruments for funding agreements with the U.S. Department of Housing & Urban Development (HUD) to receive the above-described grants. The City would not begin to draw down the administrative grant until it begins to work on the Public Improvement and Private Sector portions of the Canal Corridor Initiative. Further clarification of the City’s obligation to repay any of the $700,000.00 in the event that HUD does not provide the money, will be investigated. On a motion by Mackesey, seconded by Hanna, the resolution regarding the $59,243.00 administrative grant was approved unanimously. On a motion by Gray, seconded by Shenk, the resolution authorizing the City to enter into a funding agreement for the $700,000.00 Section 108, Public Improvement Loan was approved unanimously. Staff was directed to place these items on the consent agenda. 3. Cable Refranchise Van Cort reported that a group of City employees, elected officials and volunteers have solicited proposals and interviewed consultants, one of which will be recommended to Common Council to assist the City in re-negotiating its franchise with the Cable Company. The committee is down to two finalists. Van Cort also reported that the consortium consisting of various jurisdictions throughout the county continues to work on refranchising throughout the county. Efforts continue toward forming one coalition to negotiate with the cable company. It was suggested that each jurisdiction could be asked to contribute to the consultant contract in an amount not to exceed one year’s franchise fee. The actual cash amount would vary greatly from jurisdiction to jurisdiction. Efroymson said that both of the consultants now under consideration are over budget, which will necessitate a choice by Council of having fewer services, allocating additional funds, or sharing the costs of the consultants with the other jurisdictions. Committee directed staff and involved elected officials to continue their work in this effort. 4. 1998 Department Work Program Van Cort presented his memorandum of November 4, 1997 regarding the proposed Work Program for 1998. There were several suggestions regarding the item identified as “Electronic Infrastructure.” It was suggested this item might be renamed “Information Acquisition and Management”. Vaughan suggested that some changes to residential zoning in the City should be added as a high priority project under “Quality of Life”. Hanna asked that support for neighborhood organizations be added as an on-going Department effort. c:\laserfiche\planning\planning and econ dev committee\2000 and before planning and eco dev committee\minutes\1997\111997.doc - 2 - A question was raised regarding the use of automation to improve work flow in the City. Van Cort said that the Department of Planning and Development, particularly Doug Foster and consultant, Ruth Aslanis, have been working with various other City departments to improve the way the City handles information and work flow using computers for both work flow and data management. A major effort toward process improvement would require a substantial commitment of resources by Common Council. Van Cort said that had not been made a priority, either through the budget process or by resolution at previous meetings. Marcham said she thought inventory of sites suitable for development or re-development, including the re-use of vacant buildings, was a very important work program item. Shenk asked that Commons re-design be added. Blumenthal asked Van Cort to distribute a copy of the Department’s Mission Statement, Goals and Work Program to Common Council at the next Planning and Economic Development Committee Meeting. It was agreed that the proposed work program should be referred to the Planning and Development Board and then back to Common Council for action. 5. Bike Plan Adoption Efroymson said that he was concerned that the Bike Plan had not yet been adopted and asked what steps the Planning & Development Board would be taking toward adoption of the plan. Van Cort stated that he had met with two of the more interested Planning Board members who would be making a recommendation to the Planning Board at the November meeting. Efroymson said that he thought Common Council should simultaneously be doing something towards adoption of the plan. Mackesey asked whether bike lanes had been a part of the Route 96 project. Van Cort said that the Route 96 project only called for lanes to be shared by vehicles and bikes. No separate bike lanes were part of the design of the project. Mackesey asked whether the Route 79 bridge could be re-striped so that there would be bike lanes on both sides with one moving vehicular lane in each direction, in addition to a center turning lane. Van Cort said he would forward this suggestion to NYS DoT and the City’s traffic engineer. The Committee then went into Executive Session. c:\laserfiche\planning\planning and econ dev committee\2000 and before planning and eco dev committee\minutes\1997\111997.doc - 3 - c:\laserfiche\planning\planning and econ dev committee\2000 and before planning and eco dev committee\minutes\1997\111997.doc - 4 - Planning and Development Committee Executive Session November 19, 1997 Items discussed: possible acquisition of long haul bus station. The Committee discussed the problem that has arisen regarding TCAT bus service to the long haul bus station. The owner of the bus station has informed Nancy Oltz that he intends to build more parking spaces at the bus station which will be placed where the City buses and other TCAT buses now enter the property to discharge and take on passengers. He has said that without some remuneration, he will not allow the local bus service operators to continue to use his property for picking up and discharging passengers. Van Cort said that the various options for dealing with the situation had been discussed. One is to negotiate with the owner for a permit to use the property the way the public buses have been using it. A second option is to see if the City can acquire the rights to the property through adverse possession. A third alternative would be to acquire the bus station and own it publicly. There was consensus during Executive Session, that the building is in need of some improvements. It is now dirty and underlit and not a very inviting first exposure to the Ithaca community. It was noted that more people enter Ithaca through the bus station than through the airport. It was suggested that the City find out how much the owner wants for the right to enter and exit the property.