No preview available
HomeMy WebLinkAboutMN-COMSERV-2004-12-06 Page 1 of 5 COMMUNITY SERVICES COMMITTEE MINUTES - UNAPPROVED December 6, 2004 Committee Members Present: Alderpersons Maria Coles, Robin Holtham Korherr, Michael Taylor, Mary Tomlan, and David Whitmore (Chair) Staff and Other Council Members Present: Carolyn Peterson, Mayor; Joel Zumoff, Common Council; Steve Thayer, City Controller. 1. Meeting called to order at 7:01 pm 2. Greeting from the Chair 3. Approval of Minutes On a motion by Korherr, seconded by Coles, the November 14, 2004 minutes of the Community Services Committee were approved unanimously (5-0) with two small spelling corrections. 4. Review Agenda There were no changes to the agenda. 5. Public Comment Fred Jackson, Trumansburg, IBEW Apprenticeship Program, spoke in favor of the Apprenticeship Policy. He went on to explain details of IBEW apprenticeship program. Danny Eddy, City of Ithaca, Local 241 Apprenticeship Program, read a letter from Jessie Miller in favor of the Apprenticeship Policy. Casey Weatherby, Local 241 Electrical, spoke in favor of the apprenticeship resolution. He spoke about the increase in safety and the reduction in liability claims because of apprentice programs. Towanda Little, Binghamton, Carpenters Local 281, spoke in favor of the apprenticeship policy. Paul Perry, City of Ithaca, Fourth Year Apprentice in Local 241, spoke in favor of apprenticeship policy. He said that apprenticeship programs are good for young people who don't want or can't afford to go to college. • Page 2 of 5 Will Simmons, Berkshire, IBEW, 4th year apprentice, spoke in favor of Apprenticeship Policy. Steve Gallaida, IBEW, spoke in favor of the Apprenticeship Policy. Dave Richardson, Diversity Recruiter for Women and Minorities in labor, spoke in favor of the apprenticeship policy. He stated that the number of women and minorities in the trades has doubled in recent years. Currently, 31% of apprentices in NYS are women and minorities. Jake Benninger, Town of Groton, Training Director for Local 241, spoke in favor of diversity and the Apprenticeship Policy. Tom Joyce, Town of Enfield, spoke in favor of the Apprenticeship Policy. Heather Maulks, Town of Lansing, spoke in favor of the Apprenticeship Policy. Rebecca Meinking, President of the Association of Builders and Contractors and not a resident of Tompkins County, spoke against the Apprenticeship Policy resolution. Richard Hinkley, Chenango County, a business agent for the local painter's union, spoke in favor of the Apprenticeship Policy resolution. He is a member of the Joint Apprenticeship Training Committee (JATC). He further stated that community service is required in apprenticeship training. Mike Talarsky, City of Ithaca, business manager for Local 241 and apprenticeship graduate, spoke in favor of apprenticeship proposal. He stated that his apprentices are required to live in Tompkins County. 6. Response to Public Comment/Committee Privilege of the Floor Korherr thanked the speakers and responded to some of the public comments. Tomlan thanked the speakers. Coles reflected that the only unresolved issue regards economic impact of policy. She did not find any evidence that cost increases result from such policies. 7. Intermunicipal Communications A. Report from Tompkins County Liaison - No report B. Town of Ithaca Liaison Report- Korherr reported that she, the Mayor, and Whitmore will soon meet to discuss relations with the Town. 8. Apprenticeship Policy - Resolution Page3of5 Whitmore gave some background on the item and outlined the proposed resolution. Discussion ensued. Korherr made the following motion to approve it. Coles seconded the motion. Resolution to Create an Apprenticeship Policy for City Construction Contracts Whereas,the City of Ithaca from time to time undertakes construction contracts which involve the construction, reconstruction,improvement,or rehabilitation of buildings,facilities,and structures in the City of Ithaca,and WHEREAS, the City of Ithaca is making considerable efforts to increase the number of jobs in the city, and is consistently advocating for quality employment opportunities for city residents, in particular young people in the city,and WHEREAS,maintaining a qualified and skilled labor force is essential to a healthy and dynamic local economy,and WHEREAS,it is desirable to establish employment principles to guide future decisions of the city,and WHEREAS,Article 23 (Apprenticeship Training), Section 816-b of New York State Labor Law states, "in entering into any construction contract, a government entity which is to be a direct or indirect party to such contract may require that any contractors and subcontractors have, prior to entering into such a contract, apprenticeship agreements appropriate for the type and scope of work to be performed, that have been registered with, and approved by,the commissioner pursuant to the requirements found in this article." Now,therefore,be it RESOLVED,the Common Council of the City of Ithaca does hereby order and direct each department as follows: 1. Any construction contract, as defined under Article 23, Section 816-b, in excess of$500,000 must include contractors that participate in New York State certified apprenticeship programs. 2. All bidders and all subcontractors under the bidder must maintain or participate in a bona fide New York State Apprentice Program approved by the Division of Apprentice Training of the Department of Labor for each apprenticable trade or occupation represented in their workforce and must abide by the apprentice to journeyman ratio for each trade prescribed therein in the performance of the contract. 3. Any bidder who fails to comply with the requirements laid out in numbers 1 and 2 above shall be subject to any or all of the following sanctions: a. temporary suspension of work on the project until compliance is obtained;and/or b. withholding by the City of payment due under the contract until compliance is obtained; and/or c. permanent removal from any further work on the project;and/or d. recovery by the City from the bidder of 1/10 of 1% of the contract amount or $1,000.00, whichever is greater, in the nature of liquidated damages assessed for each week that the contractor is in non-compliance. Resolved,further,that a total of 25 percent of the monetary value of the general contract may be exempted from this requirement to permit the use of small or specialty subcontractors who would otherwise be excluded. Taylor asked about the need to mandate apprenticeship programs. Coles responded that creating such a mandate is important. Korherr commented on front end costs versus back end costs emphasizing what we may spend on the front end we gain on the back end. Zumoff spoke in support of the resolution. Whitmore mentioned an additional provision that would allow a waiver of the policy in a case in which the City is not able to fmd a responsible bidder with an apprenticeship program. Maria spoke in support of adding this provision. Zumoff said we could do it with the current language. Michael responded that adding a provision would be Page 4 of 5 useful. Mary concurred. Coles moved the following amendment. Korherr seconded the motion. Resolved, further, that the Board of Public Works may waive this policy only in such a case that the first round of bidding does not yield a responsible bidder with a NYS DOL certified apprenticeship program. The amendment was approved 5-0. After some further discussion, the committee voted 4-1 in support of the amended resolution. Korherr, Taylor, Coles and Whitmore voted in favor; Tomlan voted against. 9. TCAT, Inc. Appointment Procedures Whitmore outlined the history of TCAT, Inc. appointment procedures and the need to establish a uniform policy. He recommended a procedure in conformity with current procedures for other boards. Discussion ensued. Korherr made a motion to resolve Whitmore's proposal. Seconded by Taylor. Resolution to Establish a Procedure for Recommending City Representatives to the TCAT,Inc.Board of Directors WHEREAS,the City of Ithaca from time to time must recommend City representatives to serve on the Board of Directors for Tompkins Consolidated Area Transit,Incorporated(TCAT,Inc),and WHEREAS, the City of Ithaca desires a single, consistent procedure for making such recommendations, now therefore be it RESOLVED,that the Mayor shall recommend City representatives to serve on the TCAT,Inc.Board of Directors and that the Common Council shall confirm such recommendations by majority vote. The motion passed, 5-0. 10. Taxi Rates Whitmore explained that the taxi rate increase that Common Council approved in July 2004 is scheduled to sunset on December 31, 2004 and that the committee must decide whether to extend the rate increase, let the rate increase sunset or take another approach. Taylor questioned the need for this. He requested further financial information in order to make any increases permanent. Tomlan requested information regarding the impact of increased fares. Coles stated that she is willing to extend this one more year pending study of the impact of recent increases. Whitmore agreed. Korherr agreed. Taylor spoke in favor of aggressive regulation. Tomlan suggested 6 months as opposed to one year. Korherr expressed concerns about the taxi companies paying for publicity materials. Additional discussion ensued. Taylor moved the following resolution. Coles seconded. An Ordinance Amending Chapter 232. Entitled "Licensing of Businesses & Page 5 of 5 Occupations" of the City of Ithaca Municipal Code Regarding Taxi Cab Rates BE IT ORDAINED AND ENACTED by the Common Council of the City of Ithaca, New York, as follows: Ordinance 04- Section 1. The City of Ithaca Municipal Code, Section 232-70 entitled "Rates", and the Taxicab Zones and Rates Schedule is hereby amended as follows: Zone Charges-One Passenger Departure Zone 123456 1 4.60 5.10 5.10 5.10 5.60 5.60 2 5.10 4.60 5.10 5.10 5.60 5.60 3 5.10 5.10 4.60 5.10 5.10 5.10 4 5.10 5.10 5.10 4.60 5.10 5.10 5 5.60 5.60 5.10 5.10 4.60 5.10 6 5.60 5.60 5.10 5.10 5.10 4.60 Section 2. Late night surcharges. Section 232-70 B (5) is hereby amended to read as follows: "A taxicab driver may charge an additional $0.50 per passenger for each trip commencing or terminating between 8:00 p.m. and 5:00 a.m." Section 3. SEVERABILITY. Severability is intended throughout and within the provisions of the ordinance. If any section, subsection, sentence, clause, phrase or portion of this ordinance 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 ordinance. Section 4. EFFECTIVE DATE. This Ordinance shall take effect immediately and in accordance with law upon publication of notice as provided in the Ithaca City Charter. Section 5. SUNSET. This Ordinance shall sunset on June 30, 2005. The motion passed, 5-0. 11. On a motion by Coles, seconded by Taylor, the meeting was unanimously adjourned at 8:32 pm.