Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAboutMN-CA-2015-07-15CITY ADMINISTRATION COMMITTEE CITY OF ITHACA, NEW YORK Regular Meeting 6:00 p.m. July 15, 2015 PRESENT: Alderperson Mohlenhoff – Chair Alderpersons (4): Clairborne, Fleming, McGonigal, Smith Mayor (1): Myrick OTHERS PRESENT: City Attorney – Lavine Youth Bureau Director – Vance Police Officers – Amaro, Augustine, Garin, Schwartz Chief of Staff – Sutherland Assistant Superintendent – Whitney HR Director – Michell-Nunn Controller - Thayer Ithacash Representative – Morris TC Chamber of Commerce – Tavares 1. Call to Order 1.1 Agenda Review: Item 2.5 was moved up on the agenda to Item 2.2 and Item 5.1 was moved up on the agenda to Item 2.8. 1.2 Review/Approval of Minutes: Alderperson McGonigal made a motion to approve the minutes from the June 17, 2015 meeting of the City Administration Committee. Seconded by Alderperson Fleming. Motion carried unanimously. 1.3 Statements from the Public Fay Gougakis of Ithaca talked about the lack of or inadequate signage on the Commons, the City not allowing chickens in City limits and the City showing solidarity for its sister city in Greece. 1.4 Statements from Employees. None. 1.5 Council Response. None. 2. City Administration, Human Resources, and Policy 2.1 Presentation on Ithacash Scott Morris gave a presentation on Ithacash. This is a new program in the Ithaca area that allows participants to use “local tender like Ithacash that work with legal tender to get things that they want or need”. 2.2 Health Care Coverage for Officer Augustine Moved by Alderperson Fleming. Seconded by Alderperson Smith. City Administration Committee Meeting July 15, 2015 Page 2 WHEREAS, Officer Anthony Augustine has been employed as a police officer by the City of Ithaca since January 31, 2007, and WHEREAS, during that time Officer Augustine has served commendably and bravely, to the benefit of the residents of the City and his fellow police officers, and the Mayor of Ithaca expresses his deep thanks on behalf of the City and its residents to Officer Augustine for his years of service, and WHEREAS, on October 11, 2012, in the performance of his duties Officer Augustine was shot while pursuing a suspect on foot, and WHEREAS, Officer Augustine has received wages and benefits pursuant to General Municipal Law § 207-c from the City since the date of the shooting, and WHEREAS, Officer Augustine underwent multiple operations, medical treatments, and physical therapy sessions in his attempts to return to work, and WHEREAS, despite Officer Augustine’s extensive and good faith efforts to rehabilitate the injuries suffered by him in the performance of his duties, he is incapable of carrying out the duties of a police officer, and WHEREAS, in May 2013 the City submitted both accidental and performance of duty disability retirement applications on Officer Augustine’s behalf pursuant to the New York State Retirement and Social Security Law (“Disability Retirement Application”) and is awaiting a decision on those applications, and WHEREAS, the City and PBA are parties to an expired Collective Bargaining Agreement, dated January 1, 2008 through December 31, 2011 (“CBA”), the terms and conditions of which continue to govern Officer Augustine’s employment, and WHEREAS, Officer Augustine has requested that certain health care coverage not provided for in the CBA be extended to him upon the approval of one of the Disability Retirement Applications in light of his service and sacrifice, and WHEREAS, the City, Officer Augustine, and the PBA have negotiated a Memorandum of Agreement establishing the terms and conditions under which such health insurance would be extended, and Officer Augustine desires to enter into and support the Memorandum of Agreement as drafted; now, therefore, be it RESOLVED, That the Common Council acknowledges and commends Officer Augustine’s service to the City and his sacrifice in the line of duty; and be it further RESOLVED, That the Mayor is authorized to sign the Memorandum of Agreement in a form substantially similar to the agreement reviewed by Common Council, and such other documents as may be required to give effect to the Memorandum of Agreement upon the advice of the City Attorney. City Administration Committee Meeting July 15, 2015 Page 3 After discussion, Alderperson McGonigal made a motion to go into Executive Session to discuss a personnel matter. Seconded by Alderperson Clairborne. Motion carried 5-0. Alderperson Smith made a motion to close Executive Session. Seconded by Alderperson Clairborne. Motion carried 5-0. A vote on the resolution resulted as follows: Passed unanimously. 2.3 YB – Request to Amend 2015 Roster Moved by Alderperson Smith. Seconded by Alderperson Clairborne. WHEREAS, the Ithaca Youth Bureau has proposed to increase the hours of one Recreation Program Assistant from 20 hours per week to 30 hours per week and one Recreation Specialist from 20 hours per week to 35 hours per week, and WHEREAS, no additional funds are being requested and these changes will be completed within the approved 2015 budget, and WHEREAS, the Youth Bureau has worked with the Human Resources Department to develop the staffing transition plan now; therefore, be it RESOLVED, That the Personnel Roster of the Youth Bureau shall be amended as follows: Add: One (1) Recreation Program Assistant 20 hours to 30 hours and, One (1) Recreation Specialist 20 hours to 35 hours and be it further RESOLVED, That said roster amendment will be made within existing funds of the 2015 authorized Youth Bureau budget. A vote on the resolution resulted as follows: Passed unanimously. 2.4 Police Department – Lateral Transfers Moved by Alderperson Clairborne. Seconded by Alderperson Fleming. WHEREAS, the City of Ithaca and the Ithaca Police Benevolent Association, Inc. (“PBA”), are parties to a collective bargaining agreement (“CBA”) for the period January 1, 2008 through December 31, 2011, the terms and conditions of which remain in effect by operation of state law; and WHEREAS, the Ithaca Police Department currently has six funded but vacant police officer positions; and City Administration Committee Meeting July 15, 2015 Page 4 WHEREAS, under the CBA a lateral transfer hired from another police department or sheriff’s office receives the same starting pay as an officer who has not previously worked as a police officer, even though IPD must pay for officers who lack prior experience to attend police academy; and WHEREAS, the parties desire to improve IPD’s ability to hire lateral transfer officers to fill the vacant officer positions by increasing the starting salary for such officers; and WHEREAS, the increased salary is offset by a reduction in academy and other training costs that IPD is not required to spend when hiring a lateral transfer; now therefore be it RESOLVED, That the Mayor is authorized to sign a Memorandum of Agreement with the PBA substantially similar to that included herewith, increasing the starting salaries for officers who have completed at least one year of full-time employment as a sworn officer for a municipal police department or sheriff’s office in New York State prior to being hired by the City. A vote on the resolution resulted as follows: Passed unanimously. 2.5 DPW – Request to Amend 2015 Roster Moved by Alderperson McGonigal. Seconded by Alderperson Fleming. WHEREAS, The City of Ithaca Water Treatment Plant (WTP) has need of Administrative Office support. Currently all general office and financial office functions at the WTP are performed by the Chief Operator, Lab Director, Senior Operator, and Operators, and WHEREAS, The City of Ithaca DPW Water & Sewer Division Assistant Superintendent and WTP Chief Operator proposes the hiring a half time Financial Management Assistant to meet this need and relieve our Operational and Technical Staff from general office and financial clerical work so they can be more economically, fully, and appropriately utilized in WTP Operations and Maintenance, and WHEREAS, the City of Ithaca Department of Public Works Water and Sewer Division currently has the half time funded Title of Water/Wastewater Treatment Plant Operator on the WTP roster, and WHEREAS, the half time Water/Wastewater Treatment Plant Operator position has now been vacant for more than a year, and WHEREAS, the City of Ithaca Department of Public Works Water and Sewer Division has determined that we no longer have need of the half time Water/Wastewater Treatment Plant Operator position at the WTP, and WHEREAS, the Civil Service Commission approved the New Position Duties Statement for the WTP Financial Management Assistant for the City of Ithaca DPW Water & Sewer Division on June 3, 2015; now, therefore, be it RESOLVED, That the Personnel Roster of the DPW Water & Sewer Division be amended as follows: City Administration Committee Meeting July 15, 2015 Page 5 Delete: One (1) Water/Wastewater Treatment Plant Operator, salary grade 10, CSEA Administrative Unit Add: One (1) Financial Management Assistant, 20 hours/week, salary grade 6, CSEA Administrative Unit and be it further RESOLVED, That funds needed for said roster amendment shall be derived from existing 2015 budget authorizations in the DPW Water and Sewer Division. A vote on the resolution resulted as follows: Passed unanimously. 2.6 Local Law – 2015 Sidewalk Improvement District Amendment Moved by Alderperson Clairborne. Seconded by Alderperson Fleming. Local Law No. ____-2015 A local law entitled “2015 Sidewalk Improvement District Amendments Concerning Lots with Two Single-Family Homes” WHEREAS the City has five Sidewalk Improvement Districts (each a “SID”) for the construction and repair of sidewalk, and assesses each property located in each SID pursuant to a formula for the benefits received by the property from said local improvements, and WHEREAS the formula in part uses Property Classification Codes administered by the Tompkins County Department of Assessment to classify lots containing a single one- or two-family home as Low Foot Traffic Lots, and WHEREAS a small number of lots that contain two separate one-family homes are currently assessed as Non-Low Foot Traffic Lots, and WHEREAS Common Council concludes that assessing these properties a fee equal to the total fee assessed to two lots each containing a one-family home more accurately reflects the benefits from the sidewalk construction and repair received by these properties, and WHEREAS pursuant to Municipal Home Rule Law Section 10(1)(ii)(c)(3) the City of Ithaca is authorized to adopt a local law relating to the authorization, making, confirmation, and correction of benefit assessments for local improvements, now, therefore BE IT ENACTED by the Common Council of the City of Ithaca as follows: Section 1. Legislative Findings, Intent, and Purpose. Pursuant to Municipal Home Rule Law Section 10(1)(ii)(c)(3) the City of Ithaca is authorized to adopt a local law relating to the authorization, making, confirmation, and correction of benefit assessments for City Administration Committee Meeting July 15, 2015 Page 6 local improvements. The Common Council concludes that certain adjustments to the SID assessment formula are appropriate. The Common Council makes the following findings of fact: A. A lot with two separate one-family homes is currently defined under the SID assessment formula as a Non-Low Foot Traffic Lot, even though the benefit it receives from the SID system is roughly equivalent to the benefit received by two lots that each contain a one- family home. B. To better reflect the benefit received from the SID system by these lots, it is equitable to assess these lots the total amount that would be assessed if each one-family home were on its own lot. Section 2. Charter Amendments. Section C-73(C)(1) of the Ithaca City Charter is hereby amended as follows: LOW-FOOT-TRAFFIC LOTS Those lots, qualifying neither as sliver lots nor as nondevelopable lots, with a Property Class Code of 210, 215, 220, 240, 250, 270, 311, or 312, or substantially identical successor designations. SITE CLASS CODE The property type classification code, as defined by the New York State Office of Real Property Services in the Assessors’ Manual, or such other substantially similar documentation later produced by that office, assigned to each residence on a Lot with more than one residence by the Tompkins County Department of Assessment, as may be updated by that Department from time to time. DOUBLE-LOW-FOOT-TRAFFIC LOTS Those lots with a Property Class Code of 280 or 281, or substantially identical successor designations, and with two residences that each have a Site Class Code of 210, 215, 240, 250, or 270. Section C-73(C)(2)(a) is hereby amended as follows: Square Footage Fee. The Square Footage Fee for all Low-Foot-Traffic Lots and Double-Low- Foot-Traffic Lots shall be $0.00. For all other Lots, the Lot’s Square Footage Fee shall be equal to the Lot’s Building Square Footage times $0.015. Section C-73(C)(2)(b) is hereby amended as follows: City Administration Committee Meeting July 15, 2015 Page 7 Frontage Fee. The Frontage Fee for all Low-Foot-Traffic Lots and Double-Low-Foot-Traffic Lots shall be $0.00. For all other Lots, the Frontage Fee shall be $30.00 for each fifty-five (55) feet of Front Feet or portion thereof. Section 3. Severability Clause. Severability is intended throughout and within the provisions of this Local Law. If any section, subsection, sentence, clause, phrase, or portion of this Local Law is held to be invalid or unconstitutional by a court of competent jurisdiction, then that decision shall not affect the validity of the remaining portions of this Local Law or of those portions of Section C-73 not amended by this Local Law. Section 4. Effective and Operative Date. This Local Law shall take effect January 1, 2016, provided it is first filed in the office of the Secretary of State, or upon filing in the office of the Secretary of State thereafter. This Local Law is subject to referendum on petition pursuant to Municipal Home Rule Law Section 24. A vote on the resolution resulted as follows: Passed unanimously. 2.7 2015 Amendments to Municipal Cooperation Agreement for Health Insurance Consortium Moved by Alderperson Fleming. Seconded by Alderperson Clairborne. WHEREAS, the City of Ithaca is a Participant in the Greater Tompkins County Municipal Health Insurance Consortium (the "Consortium"), a municipal cooperative organized under Article 47 of the New York Insurance Law, and WHEREAS, the municipal participants in the Consortium, including this body, have approved and executed a certain Municipal Cooperation Agreement (the "Agreement"; effective date of October 1, 2010) and Amendment (2014) that provides for the operation and governance of the Consortium, and WHEREAS, Article 47 of the New York Insurance Law (the "Insurance Law") and the rules and regulations of the New York State Department of Financial Services set forth certain requirements for governance of municipal cooperatives that offer self-insured municipal cooperative health insurance plans, and WHEREAS, the Agreement sets forth in Section Q2 that continuation of the Consortium under the terms and conditions of the Agreement, or any amendments or restatements thereto, shall be subject to Board review on the fifth (5th) anniversary of the Effective Date and on each fifth (5th) anniversary date thereafter (each a “Review Date”), and WHEREAS, by motion 005-2015, adopted on May 28, 2015, the Consortium's Board of Directors recommends approval of the 2015 amended agreement based on review of the document by the Municipal Cooperative Agreement Review Committee, the New York State Department of Financial Services, and the Consortium’s legal counsel, and City Administration Committee Meeting July 15, 2015 Page 8 WHEREAS, the Municipal Cooperative Agreement requires that amendments to the agreement be presented to each participant for review and adopted by its municipal board, and WHEREAS, the City of Ithaca is in receipt of the proposed amended Agreement and has determined that it is in the best interest of its constituents who are served by the Consortium to amend the Agreement as set forth in the attached 2015 Amended Municipal Cooperative Agreement, now, therefore, be it RESOLVED, That the City of Ithaca approves and authorizes the Mayor to sign the 2015 Amendment to the Municipal Cooperative Agreement of the Greater Tompkins County Municipal Health Insurance Consortium, and RESOLVED, Further, that the Clerk of the City of Ithaca is hereby authorized to execute this Resolution to indicate its approval, transmit a copy thereof to the Board of Directors of the Greater Tompkins County Municipal Health Insurance Consortium, and take any other such actions as may be required by law. A vote on the resolution resulted as follows: Passed unanimously. 2.8 Support for NYS Single-Payer Health Care Moved by Alderperson Clairborne. Seconded by Alderperson Fleming. WHEREAS, the City of Ithaca Common Council supports a single-payer approach to health-care coverage for New York State, and WHEREAS, a single-payer approach, as the name implies, only federalizes how healthcare providers are paid, leaving the choice of doctors and hospitals completely up to each individual and the choice of treatment up to each patient and his/her doctor, and WHEREAS, access to health care continues to be a major concern for all Americans and New York State residents (with over one million currently uninsured and a growing number underinsured), and WHEREAS, healthcare costs continue to rise at rates above inflation and, under current conditions, the share of state income spent on health care and the administration of the health care system will rise to 18 percent by 2024, much faster than incomes are rising, and WHEREAS, the Common Council continues to believe that controlling health-care costs and ensuring health care for all residents are both of paramount importance, and WHEREAS, the simplest approach is to move directly from the current multiple-payer approach, with its high costs of administration, marketing, and profits for shareholders of the many insurance companies, to a single-payer system, where the government is the insurer of all, a system used in other industrialized democracies, and City Administration Committee Meeting July 15, 2015 Page 9 WHEREAS, New York Health would generate savings by replacing the complicated, costly, and often chaotic claims procedure currently employed by thousands of public and private insurance providers, with a simple, one-stop single-payer system for all claims, and WHEREAS, Senator Perkins and Assemblyman Gottfried have introduced the New York Health Act, A.5062 (Gottfried)/S.3525 (Perkins), which would establish a comprehensive universal health insurance program for all New Yorkers, with access to medical services and providers of their choice, without regard to age, income, health, or employment status, and would impact both individual- and public- health outcomes, and WHEREAS, New York Health will replace the current multi-payer system of employer-based insurance, individually-acquired insurance, and federally sponsored programs (e.g. Medicare and Medicaid) with a single-billing system funded by progressively-graduated assessments collected by the State and based on ability to pay, and WHEREAS, New York Health will be publicly financed by two assessments based on ability to pay (a progressively graduated state payroll tax similar to the Medicare tax on payroll and self-employment income, and a surcharge on non-employment income (e.g. interest, dividends, capital gains), and WHEREAS, New York Health will pool all health revenue sources (e.g. assessments, federally-matched public health programs, American Care Act subsidies, and other revenue sources) into a dedicated New York Health Trust Fund and pay Providers directly, and WHEREAS, New York Health will reduce billing expenses, administrative waste, monopolistic pricing of drugs and medical devices, and fraud, overall health care spending would be reduced by 15 percent or $45 billion per year by 2019, and WHEREAS, New York Health will reduce healthcare costs for government, public schools districts, businesses, and individuals in New York State, eliminate the “local share” funding of Medicaid that has been such a financial burden for County property taxpayers, and eliminate out-of-pocket expenses, insurance premiums, insurance co-pays, and deductibles (98 percent of New Yorkers will pay less for their health care than they do today; and businesses, especially small businesses, will benefit from reduced costs), and WHEREAS, the April 2015 Economic Analysis of New York Health, by Gerald Friedman, Professor and Chair of the Economics Department, University of Massachusetts at Amherst, reports savings from reduced health spending in the amount of $71 billion (most savings are from eliminating private health insurance overhead and profits, reducing doctor and hospital billing and insurance-related expenses, eliminating uncompensated care from health providers, public hospitals and health centers, and decreasing drug and medical device costs with enhanced negotiating power), and WHEREAS, the April 2015 Economic Analysis of New York Health reports a net savings of $44.7 billion, after projected program improvements and expansion of $25 billion for increased utilization due to universal coverage, expanded and more comprehensive health benefits, Medicaid and Medicare rate equity (increased provider reimbursement), unemployment insurance and job transition and retraining for lost insurance billing and claims jobs, and City Administration Committee Meeting July 15, 2015 Page 10 WHEREAS, New York Health would expand the network of providers to ensure continuity of care, and include a more comprehensive healthcare-benefits package that includes preventive care, primary care, specialist, hospital care, rehabilitation care, occupational therapy, physical therapy, mental health care, dental care, vision and hearing care, reproductive health care, prescription drugs, and medical supplies/devices (a requirement for the development of a long-term care financing and benefits plan is included in the proposed legislation), and WHEREAS, New York Health would save enough in unnecessary costs to pay for the costs of universal health care coverage for all, extending coverage to all the uninsured and underinsured for basic necessary medical care, and would provide a more comprehensive benefits package at significantly less cost than the one offered through recent federal legislation; now, therefore, be it RESOLVED, That the City of Ithaca Common Council strongly supports adoption of the New York Health Act, A.5062 (Gottfried)/S.3525 (Perkins), and be it further RESOLVED, That the Common Council urges the New York State Legislature and the Governor to recognize the widespread support for a new public approach, understand there is no stronger measure New York could take to cut our property taxes than to pass this bill into law, and take the opportunity to accomplish this major and long-needed reform, and be it further RESOLVED, That the City Clerk send copies to Governor Andrew Cuomo, Senators John Flanagan, Jeffrey Klein, Kemp Hannon, Andrea Stewart-Cousins, James Seward, Michael Nozzolio, and Tom O’Mara, and Assemblyman Carl Heastie and Richard Gottfried, and Assemblywoman Barbara Lifton, and be it further RESOLVED, That the City of Ithaca Common Council lends its voice to other municipalities within Tompkins County who have adopted similar resolutions and forwarded those to the Governor and appropriate State representatives. A vote on the resolution resulted as follows: Passed unanimously. 3. Finance, Budget, and Appropriations 3.1 Request to Approve Funding Match for 2015 CFA Application Moved by Alderperson Smith. Seconded by Alderperson Mohlenhoff. WHEREAS, in 2013, the Tompkins County Chamber of Commerce received a $50,000 grant from the Tompkins County Tourism Program to develop a plan to create a more comprehensive and coherent signage system through the Tompkins County, and WHEREAS, an advisory committee with representation from the City of Ithaca and the Downtown Ithaca Alliance worked to develop what is known as the 2014 Wayfinding and Interpretive Signage Plan, and City Administration Committee Meeting July 15, 2015 Page 11 WHEREAS, the program includes “districts” designated to help visitors, parents, and our transient residential population navigate through Ithaca. The proposed plan includes significant signage to city related assets or districts, including the city itself, a waterfront district, a downtown district, Collegetown, all city parking garages, Ithaca Falls, and Stewart Park, and WHEREAS, the State of New York has announced the availability of funds through the 2015 State of New York Consolidated Funding Application (CFA), and WHEREAS, the Tompkins County Chamber of Commerce has working with numerous stakeholders, including the County, Cornell University, Ithaca College, and other municipalities to pull together a local funding contribution match the state CFA application. WHEREAS, Common Council is interested in supporting this grant so as to enhance navigation and wayfinding in the City of Ithaca; now, therefore, for it be RESOLVED, That Common Council hereby confirms its intention to commit funds in an amount not to exceed $150,000 and to consider providing in-kind signage installation support within the City of Ithaca, contingent upon an award of funds from the 2015 CFA, completion of environmental review, with the final funding formula to be determined based on stakeholder participation and total project costs. After discussion, Chairperson Mohlenhoff made a motion that the City commit funds in an amount not to exceed $50,000 over a three (3) year period. Seconded by Alderperson Smith. A vote on the amendment was as follows: Yes (2): Mohlenhoff, Smith No (3): Claiborne, Fleming, McGonigal Motion failed 2-3. A vote on the main resolution resulted as follows: Yes (2): Mohlenhoff, Smith No (3): Claiborne, Fleming, McGonigal Motion failed 2-3. 3.2 Access Oversight Committee – Adoption of the 2016 PEG Access Studio Capital Budget Moved by Alderperson Clairborne. Seconded by Alderperson McGonigal. WHEREAS, the Franchise Agreement between Time Warner Entertainment and the City of Ithaca signed in 2003 authorizes Time Warner Entertainment-Advance/Newhouse Partnership to collect $.15 per subscriber per month to be used for the purchase of equipment for the public, educational, and governmental (PEG) Access Studio, and WHEREAS, the total budget for the life of the 10-year agreement was estimated to be $200,000, and City Administration Committee Meeting July 15, 2015 Page 12 WHEREAS, the Franchise Agreement outlines the creation of an Access Oversight Committee that shall be responsible for approving the timing, use, and amount of PEG access equipment acquired each year over the term of the agreement, and WHEREAS, the Access Oversight Committee has approved a 2016 budget in the amount of $12,500, and WHEREAS, the Franchise Agreement states that participating municipalities, including the City of Ithaca, must adopt the annual PEG Access Studio Budget by the preceding year; now, therefore, be it RESOLVED, That Common Council adopts the 2016 PEG Access Studio Budget as approved by the Access Oversight Committee at its regular meeting on May 4, 2015. A vote on the resolution resulted as follows: Passed unanimously. 3.3 Controller – Approval of 2013 Single Audit Moved by Alderperson Smith. Seconded by Alderperson Clairborne. The Committee approved the forwarding of the 2013 Single Audit to the Common Council agenda. A vote on the resolution resulted as follows: Passed unanimously. 4. Performance Measures. Nothing Submitted. 5. Common Council. None. 6. Budget Update. None. 7. Meeting Wrap-up 7.1 Announcements Bike Rental Program: The Ithaca Youth Bureau has a bike rental program. Individuals can rent bikes from them to ride around the City. 7.2 Next Meeting Date: August 19, 2015. 7.3 Review Agenda Items for Next Meeting. None. 7.4 Adjourn: With no further business and on a motion by Alderperson Smith, the meeting was adjourned at 826 p.m.