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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMN-CC-2016-08-24COMMON COUNCIL PROCEEDINGS CITY OF ITHACA, NEW YORK Committee of the Whole Meeting 6:00 p.m. August 24, 2016 PRESENT: Mayor Myrick Alderpersons (9) Brock, Murtagh, Nguyen, Fleming, Gearhart, Smith, Kerslick, Martell, Mohlenhoff OTHERS PRESENT: City Clerk – Conley Holcomb City Attorney – Lavine City Controller – Thayer Building - Planning & Development Director – Cornish City Planner – Wilson City Planner - Kusznir Chief of Staff – Cogan EXCUSED: Alderperson McGonigal PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE: Mayor Myrick led all present in the Pledge of Allegiance to the American Flag. SPECIAL ORDER OF BUSINESS: Director of Planning and Development Cornish provided the history of the creation of the City Facilities Master Planning Committee and reviewed its membership. She explained that the committee has been actively meeting since January and has toured nearly all of the City’s facilities. She described the age and condition of the facilities and how the committee’s work has and will, influence future facility related capital project requests and land use issues. Director of Planning and Development Cornish further explained that this capital project request is coming to Common Council now in the hopes that it will better inform the 2018 budget process. For example, after reviewing the study, Common Council may determine that it makes more financial sense to update existing facilities vs. selling existing buildings for redevelopment and returning the to the tax rolls and building a new central government campus and a consolidated Public Works campus. She noted that the City’s current public works facilities are located on waterfront property and bordering residential neighborhoods which is not a preferred use for those lots. In addition, the committee believes that staff and equipment efficiencies could be found by consolidating city operations. Director Cornish explained that capital project requests have already been submitted for the 2017 budget and the Capital Project Review Committee will assess each request carefully, keeping this proposed study in mind. Mayor Myrick thanked Director of Planning & Development Cornish and Alderpersons Fleming and Murtagh for their work on the committee, and also thanked Alderperson Fleming for her continued leadership and reminders regarding the condition of the city’s existing facilities. 2.1 Request to Fund City Facilities Studies for Property Relocations and Consolidation – Resolution By Alderperson Fleming: Seconded by Alderperson Smith WHEREAS, as part of the 2016 authorized City of Ithaca Capital Projects Fund, Capital Project #822 was established in the amount of $500,000 for the purposes of funding the design and planning cost for a new site and future construction of a new East Hill Fire Station, and August 3,2016 2 WHEREAS, the City Facilities Master Planning Committee has been meeting since January 2016 and has determined that the scope of this project needs to be expanded to include the evaluation of various other existing City Facilities for future relocation, improvements and consolidations, and WHEREAS, it is recommended that the new scope of property evaluation will include the following City Facilities; East Hill and Central Fire Stations; City Hall; City Police Station; DPW Streets and Facilities and the DPW Water and Sewer Division, and WHEREAS, the new proposed scope will include, but is not limited to, the evaluation studies to determine the feasibility, costs and benefits of consolidation, appraisals and future facility improvements, and WHEREAS, the evaluation studies of these City properties has been estimated to cost $150,000 and can be funded from the existing authorization in Capital Project #822; now, therefore, be it RESOLVED, That Common Council hereby expands the scope of Capital Project #822 East Hill Fire Station Design, to include evaluation studies for the following City Facilities; East Hill and Central Fire Stations; City Hall; and the City Police Station into a consolidated central campus; and the DPW Streets and Facilities, the DPW Water and Sewer Division, and the City Fire Training Facility, into a consolidated Public Works Facility, and be it further RESOLVED, the funds needed for these evaluations, shall be derived from existing funds in Capital Project #822 East Hill Fire Station Design in an amount not to exceed $150,000. Mayor Myrick requested that Common Council enter into Executive Session to discuss real estate transactions. MOTION TO ENTER INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION: By Alderperson Nguyen: Seconded by Alderperson Gearhart RESOLVED, That Common Council enter into Executive Session to discuss real estate transactions. RECONVENE: Common Council reconvened into Regular Session with no formal action taken. Discussion followed on the floor regarding the potential to include other municipalities in this effort. Planning and Development Director Cornish stated that there have been discussions with TCAT due to the proximity of their facility to Streets & Facilities; however, discussions have not been held recently with Tompkins County or the Town of Ithaca regarding possible options to share space. Alderperson Kerslick questioned what the timeline for the study was. City Planner Wilson explained that if the study is conducted now, projects could be submitted for the 2018 budget. He further asked how this project would fit into the 2017 budget, specifically with capital project requests. City Planner Wilson noted that it will be important to distinguish types of projects: band-aids to keep a facility functioning vs. major investments in a facility. Alderperson Mohlenhoff asked if other large spaces are also being looked at in terms of consolidation of operations, for example the storage sheds that house equipment in Stewart Park. Planning and Development Director Cornish noted that this study will only consider buildings and the resulting storage needs; however, work is beginning on a governance master plan for parks. Alderperson Mohlenhoff asked if the future of Fire Station 9 is also being studied. Planning and Development Director Cornish stated that a separate study has already been conducted and paid for, on a possible new location for Fire Station 9. August 3,2016 3 City Controller Thayer confirmed that this request includes the remaining funds from the Fire Station #9 Capital project (of the $500,000 authorized, only $80,000 has been issued for that study). The requested $150,000 for this study would be part of that original authorization. This is not a request for new money. Alderperson Brock noted that the Fire Station 9 project was supposed to include a feasibility study, design costs, etc. Planning and Development Director Cornish stated that the City has received a conceptual site plan, study information, and a cost estimate for relocating the fire station within that $80,000 authorization. Alderperson Fleming noted that she serves on the City Facilities Master Planning Committee with Alderperson Murtagh, and they participated in the tours of the Hall of Justice, Central Fire Station, Streets & Facilities, Water & Sewer, and the Newman Golf Course Club House. She stated that she was very chagrined to see some of the conditions of these facilities: in some cases they were unsafe, unpleasant, costly to maintain, and inefficient. She related the level of employee morale to working conditions and stressed the importance of this study and the forthcoming decisions regarding these facilities for many reasons. Alderperson Martell questioned what the parks master plan would include. City Planner Wilson explained that it would include the maintenance, management, funding resources for the parks, and the Ithaca Youth Bureau and Cass Park operations. Main Motion A vote on the Resolution resulted as follows: Carried Unanimously 9-0 This Resolution will be forwarded to the September 7, 2016 Common Council meeting for consideration by the full Council. ADJOURNMENT: On a motion the meeting adjourned at 6:45 p.m. ______________________________ _______________________________ Julie Conley Holcomb, CMC Svante L. Myrick City Clerk Mayor