HomeMy WebLinkAboutMN-IURAGOV-2011-06-17Adopted 8‐1‐11
108 East Green Street
Ithaca, New York 14850
(607) 274-6559
MINUTES
IURA Governance Committee
8:30 AM, Friday, June 17, 2011
3rd Floor Conference Room, City Hall
Present: Susan Cummings, Kathy Schlather, David Whitmore, Carolyn Peterson
Staff: Nels Bohn, JoAnn Cornish
Public: None
I. Call to Order
The meeting was called to order by Chairperson Cummings at 8:40 a.m.
II. Additions to or deletions from the agenda ‐ None
III. Public comment ‐ None
IV. Approval of meeting minutes: April 15, 2011
Peterson moved, seconded by Whitmore, to approve the minutes of April 15, 2011
with minor changes. Carried Unanimously.
V. New Business
B. HUD Entitlement Program, environmental review
Peterson moved, seconded by Whitmore the following
Environmental Review for the 2011 Action Plan
Whereas, the Ithaca Urban Renewal Agency and the City of Ithaca have adopted an
Action Plan allocating funds to various activities to be implemented with federal
Entitlement Funds for the 2011 Program Year, and
Whereas, the use of such funds requires environmental review under both the
National Environmental Protection Act (NEPA) and the City of Ithaca Environmental
Quality Review Ordinance, and
Ithaca
Urban
Renewal
Agency
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Whereas, each activity has been categorized as required under both sets of
legislation, and
Whereas, the activities have been categorized by IURA staff in the attached table
labeled “2011 Entitlement Activities—Classification for Environmental Review”, and
Whereas, all of the activities funded in 2011 except for Breckenridge Place are Type
II Action under the City of Ithaca Environmental Quality Review Ordinance and the
State Environmental Quality Review Act and not subject to environmental review,
and
Whereas, the Breckenridge Place project has undergone an environmental review
and site plan approval process and has gained all of the necessary approvals as it
was reviewed in 2010 when it was first approved for funding, now, therefore be it
RESOLVED, that the Ithaca Urban Renewal Agency has reviewed the attached
categorization of funded activities which are part of the 2011 Action Plan and
hereby affirms that no further action is needed.
Carried Unanimously 4‐0
B. Election of IURA officers
Cummings referenced the longstanding IURA tradition of electing the Mayor as the
chairperson of the IURA, which she thought wise. Cummings indicated she was
willing to continue serving as Vice‐Chairperson.
Whitmore moved, seconded by Schlather the following:
2011 Annual Election of IURA Officers
WHEREAS, officers of the IURA consist of a Chairperson, Vice Chairperson and
Secretary, and
WHEREAS, Section 2 of Article III of the IURA By‐Laws call for election of the
Chairperson and Vice Chairperson of the IURA at each annual May meeting of the
Agency, and
WHEREAS, Section 2 of Article III of the IURA By‐Laws further states that the Agency
shall appoint an Executive Director who shall serve as secretary to the Agency, and
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WHEREAS, by resolution dated May 22, 2008, the IURA appointed the Director of
Planning & Development for the City of Ithaca, ex‐officio, as the IURA Executive
Director, and
WHEREAS, an IURA member shall continue to hold office until their successor is
appointed and qualified, and
WHEREAS, at their June 17, 2011 meeting the Governance Committee
recommended the nomination of Carolyn Peterson as Chairperson and Susan
Cummings as Vice‐Chairperson; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, that the IURA hereby elects Carolyn Peterson as Chairperson and Susan
Cummings as Vice‐Chairperson of the IURA.
Carried Unanimously 4‐0
C. Nomination of Committee Chairperson & Election of Committee Vice‐Chairperson
Peterson moved, seconded by Whitmore the following:
2011 Selection of the IURA Governance Committee Chairperson
Whereas, the IURA By‐laws provide that the committee membership shall elect its
own committee Vice‐Chairperson and nominate a candidate for committee
Chairperson for consideration by the Agency, and
Whereas, per the bylaws, an Agency member shall fill either the committee
Chairperson or committee Vice‐Chairperson position, and
Whereas, officers of each committee serve a one‐year term, but continue to hold
office until their successor is selected or appointed, and
Whereas the IURA Governance Committee is composed of the following members:
• Susan Cummings
• Carolyn Peterson
• Kathy Schlather
• David Whitmore; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, that the IURA Governance Committee hereby elects Kathy Schlather as
Committee Vice‐Chairperson and nominates Susan Cummings as Committee
Chairperson.
Carried Unanimously 4‐0
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D. Potential candidate properties for property acquisition/disposition
Members discussed several vacant, dilapidated residential properties appropriate
for rehabilitation or redevelopment, including 314 and 314.5 S. Plain Street
properties that the City is acquiring through tax foreclosure. Members agreed that
this property should be conveyed by the City to INHS for redevelopment of
affordable housing rather than be entered into the County auction to ensure that
the blighting property becomes a neighborhood asset.
E. PAAL, self‐evaluation of IURA board performance
The Committee reviewed the compilation of Agency member anonymous ratings of
various measures of board performance as required by the Public Authorities
Accountability Law(PAAL). Bohn noted that PAAL requires annual preparation of the
self‐evaluation and review of the results by the Governance Committee. Members
noted generally high satisfaction on the 16 criteria of board performance. Two
Agency members indicated they “somewhat agree” that the “The Board sets clear
and measurable performance goals for the Authority that contribute to
accomplishing its mission”. Cummings noted that the evaluations were completed
prior to the recent adoption of the IURA mission statement. The results of the self‐
evaluation will be forwarded to the full Agency for consideration.
F. Neighborhood Housing Initiative Bond Program
Cummings noted that the Chairperson of the Homeownership Investment
Committee (HIC) has yet to call a meeting to discuss restarting the program to
address dilapidated properties like 314/314.5 S. Plain Street. Peterson indicated
she, as IURA Chairperson, would call a HIC meeting so a decision can be made on the
disposition of the approximately $600,000 on account for the program.
G. HUD Entitlement Program, draft Section 3 economic opportunity plan
Bohn reported that the IURA must adopt a Section 3 plan to comply with HUD
regulations. He is drafting a plan for consideration at the next meeting.
VI. Old Business
A. City of Ithaca financial audit schedule
Bohn reported that the 2009 City audit is scheduled for adoption by the Common
Council at their July meeting.
B. Other ‐ none
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VII. Staff Report
A. IURA real property inventory & notice of assessment changes
Bohn updated members on a recent increase in the assessment value on IURA‐
owned property on Inlet Island. He noted the increase in valuation was substantial
but the property remains as tax‐exempt.
B. Other ‐ none
VIII. Other Business
A. Review of IURA financials
Members reviewed the IURA financials for May 2011.
B. Next Meeting: July 15, 2011 – Cummings noted there may be a need to revise the
meeting date due to travel schedules.
VIII. Adjournment
The meeting was adjourned by consensus at 10:30 a.m.
END
Minutes prepared by A. Vargo, edited by N. Bohn
j:\community development\admin files\minutes\governance‐ b&a\2011\6june\06‐17‐11gov minutes adopted.doc