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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMN-COMSERV-2004-05-12 Page 1 of 4 l COMMUNITY SERVICES COMMITTEE MINUTES - UNAPPROVED May 12, 2004 Committee Members Present: Alderpersons Maria Coles, Robin Hoitham Korherr, Michael Taylor, Mary Tomlan, and David Whitmore (Chair) Staff and Others Present: Alderperson Michelle Berry; Marcia Fort, Director of the Greater Ithaca Activities Center; Tim Logue, Neighborhood and Economic Development Planner; Alderperson Pam Mackesey; Mayor Carolyn Peterson; Alderperson Joel Zumoff 1. Meeting called to order at 7:06 pm 2. Greeting from the Chair Whitmore greeted the committee and the public and gave an overview of the agenda. 3. Approval of Minutes • On a motion by Taylor, seconded by Korherr, the April 14, 2004 minutes of the Community Services Committee were approved unanimously (5-0) with minor changes. 4. Review Agenda There were no changes to the agenda. 5. Public Comment Joel Harlan, a resident of the Town of Newfield, said that people wonder why he is an activist. He referred to a newspaper article and said that local issues of panhandling and affordable housing are a big problem. He called himself a message maker and stated that he gets around to all the hills. John Bleakley, a resident of the Town of Danby, suggested that flags be flown at half-mast for Memorial Day or longer because of the war in Iraq. 6. Response to Public Comment/Committee Privilege of the Floor There was no response or privilege of the floor. 7. Intermunicipal Communications Coles reported that County Legislator Martha Robertson is investigating options for all Tompkins County residents to buy prescription drugs at a Tin Man:Users:navigatordave:Documents:Common Council:Community Services:6-9-2004:05 12 04 CS minutes.doc Page 2 of 4 very low cost through the County. She said she was very excited by the prospect. Whitmore announced that there is no Town of Ithaca liaison and, thus, no report. 8. Greater Ithaca Activities Center (GIAC) - Report GIAC Director Marcia Fort gave a short history and a status report on the center. As both a City department and a 501(c)3 non-profit, GIAC currently holds 18 city roster positions, of which 14 are part-time or seasonal employees (seven of these are high school students). The center has many connections with college student volunteers, other programs, and local institutions. She listed a number of challenges: loss of 4 full-time equivalent positions over past years' budget cuts, increased need for affordable after-school program slots, lack of administrative personnel to run funded programs brought to GIAC, stresses on kids that lead to behavior problems, violence, and poor school performance, a need for a new van, and a mandated $16,000 revenue increase in the 2004 budget for senior and adult programs. She named some existing GIAC programs and listed a few other services that the center provides, like advocacy, employment assistance, referrals, a hardship fund, affordable meeting space, and comfort for people in times of need. Current GIAC needs, Fort stated, include more staff, money for materials, a van, and a new building. She described a vision for a new building and showed a video of kids at • GIAC talking about what they like about the community center and what they wish GIAC had. Pam Mackesey and Carolyn Peterson arrived during the ensuing discussion at 7:40pm and 7:50pm, respectively. The discussion touched on programs that have been cut in years past, programs that have been turned down because of lack of staffing, and how staff levels and building size limit after-school and other programs, like the Martin Luther King, Jr. celebration. 9. Race and Racism in Ithaca - Discussion Whitmore read through a list of proposed action items for the City to address racism in the community. Discussion ensued, covering such topics as cultural festivals on the waterfront, relations and communications with the school district and surrounding communities, historic recognition of the African-American community in Ithaca, holding meetings in the community, and recent discussions with the County, Ithaca City School District, and Department of Justice's Community Relations Service about community discussions or forums. When Berry mused on how the budget year will shape up, considering a new administration's vision and competition for limited resources, a Tin Man:Users:navigatordave:Docwnents:Common Council:Community Services:6-9-2004:05 12 04 CS minutes.doc Page 3 of 4 J number of committee attendees made comments on their outlook for the upcoming budget year. 10. Statement Condemning Recent Incidents of Racism Whitmore made the following motion, which was seconded by Korherr: RESOLUTION -STATEMENT CONDEMNING RECENT INCIDENTS OF RACISM IN ITHACA WHEREAS, the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination (ICERD) defines racism as any distinction, exclusion, restriction, or preference based on race, color, decent, or national or ethnic origin which has the purpose or effect of nullifying or impairing the recognition, enjoyment, or exercise, on equal footing, of human rights and fundamental freedoms in the political, economic social, cultural, or any other field of public life, and WHEREAS, racism continues in our community, and WHEREAS, recent incidents of racism have brought the City's attention to the need to address racism in our community on an on-going basis, and WHEREAS, over 20 community members joined the Community Services Committee on April 14th to describe the impact of racism in our community and recommend possible future actions for addressing racism in Ithaca, and WHEREAS, one concrete suggestion was that the City make statements publicly condemning racism when it occurs, and WHEREAS, vandalism was found at Ithaca High School throughout April 2004, including references to the Mu Klux Klan, now, therefore, be it RESOLVED, the Common Council will respond as quickly as possible to condemn acts of racism committed in our community, and be it further RESOLVED, the Common Council hereby condemns the racist vandalism found at Ithaca High School. Discussion ensued about adding a resolved statement naming possible concrete steps that Common Council could take to respond to acts of racism. Also mentioned was working in some language about working with other groups or institutions in the area to work against racism. It was agreed that Whitmore could work up the exact language before the next Council meeting and the motion was approved unanimously (5-0). 11. Southside Working Group The following people joined the committee: Audrey Cooper, Greater Ithaca Activities Center (GIAC) Board of Directors; Marcia Fort, Director of GIAC; Leslyn McBean-Clairborne, Interim Director of the Southside Community Center (SSCC); Nicole Eversley-Bradwell, President of the SSCC Board of Directors; Lynne Jackier, SSCC Board of Directors. Whitmore noted that Tin Alan:Users:navigatordave:Documents:Common Council:Community Services:6-9-2004:05 12_04 CS minutes.doc Page 4 of 4 Karl Graham, past president of the SSCC Board of Directors could not make the meeting tonight. Whitmore opened the discussion with three points: that the SSCC has not received adequate funding over the past years, that the City and the center have been in partnership all along, and that there is a need for greater collaboration between the City and the SSCC. Further discussion touched on many points, including: • the funding history of the center • impacts of the Southside Working Group recommendation (Model #2 in the report) on the boards of GIAC and the SSCC • relations with the Youth Bureau • excessive bureaucracy (inefficient and costly) in Model #2 • the possibility of incremental changes to minimize budgetary impacts • SSCC fiscal needs for the rest of 2004 • options of one or two departments for community centers 12. On a motion by Coles, seconded by Korherr, the meeting was adjourned at 9:10pm. Tin Man:Users:navigatordave:Documents:Common Council:Community Services:6-9-2004:05 12 04 CS minutes.doc