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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMN-COMSERV-2005-07-13 COMMUNITY SERVICES COMMITTEE MINUTES - UNAPPROVED July 13, 2005 Committee Members Present: Alderpersons Maria Coles, Robin Korherr (Chair); Michael Taylor; Mary Tomlan, and David Whitmore Staff and Other Council Members Present: Julie Holcomb, City Clerk and Public Information Officer; Tim Logue, Transportation Engineer; Guy Van Benschoten, Assistant Fire Chief; Brian Wilbur, Fire Chief; Joel Zumoff 1. Meeting called to order at 7:00 pm 2. Greeting from the Chair 3. Approval of Minutes No minutes were approved. 4. Review Agenda There were no changes to the agenda. 5. Introduction Korherr introduced herself and discussed some of the items that she hopes to work on as the new committee chairperson. 6. Public Comment Wilma Brown, a resident of Enfield and a member of the Religious Society of Friends, spoke about planning for the Ithaca exhibition of "Eyes Wide Open" from October 6th through October 9th. She spoke in favor of supporting the event. Gerald Coles, a resident of the City, spoke about the importance of sponsoring and welcoming the Eyes Wide Open exhibition. Michael Pitzsich, a resident of the City, spoke about his experience of seeing the Eyes Wide Open exhibition in Philadelphia. He asked for public support of the Ithaca exhinition. Joel Harlan, a resident of Newfield, spoke about the Iraq War and terrorism. 7. Response to the Public/Privilege of the Floor Coles spoke about her sad privilege in putting together the Eyes Wide Open resolution for the agenda. 8. Intermunicipal Communications A. Report from Tompkins County Liaison - Coles reported on her continued discussions with the County and other municipalities to find strategies for cost reductions and consolidation of services. B. Town of Ithaca Liaison Report - Korherr reported on recent successes in working with the Town of Ithaca for support of Cass Park facilities. Agreements have been made for 2005 and they are now working on an agreement for 2006. She said that the Town is also interested in participating in the taxicab rates discussion that will come around at the sunset of the current provisions. 9. City of Ithaca Emergency Management Plan Brian Wilbur, Fire Chief; Julie Holcomb, City Clerk and Public Information Officer; Guy Van Benschoten, Assistant Fire Chief; Lee Shertleff, Director of Emergency Response Services for Tompkins County; and Chuck Wright, a regional representative from the New York State Emergency Management Office joined the committee for discussion. Wilbur gave a PowerPoint presentation about preparing a City Comprehensive Emergency Management Plan. A few questions followed, including a short discussion of overtime costs and incident costs for 2005. Mr. Shurtleff spoke about the importance of the City plan and about the role and work of the County Emergency Response Department. Before wrapping up his comments, he gave credit to Chief Wilbur and Assistant Chief Van Benschoten for invigorating the interest in emergency response planning in the City and the County alike. He said that the County wouldn't be where it is today if it weren't for their energy and efforts. Mr. Wright spoke about the role of the State Emergency Management Office in response, recovery and planning for local incidents. He differentiated between the City and County powers to declare a state of emergency and the Governor's power to declare a state of disaster emergency. He, too, stressed the importance of having a City Emergency Management Plan. Whitmore made the following motion to adopt the Comprehensive Emergency Management Plan. Adoption of the City of Ithaca Emergency Management Plan WHEREAS, Common Council and the Mayor are dedicated to protect the safety and well being of its citizenry and their property, as well as its facilities and infrastructure, and WHEREAS, knowledge acquired during annual drills as well as response to actual events have strengthened the ability to deliver emergency response to our residents across agencies, municipalities, Tompkins County and the State of New York, and WHEREAS, staff have created the City of Ithaca Emergency Management Plan using the Empire State model provided by the New York State Office of Emergency Management, and WHEREAS, staff from the City have participated in numerous trainings that have developed skills and knowledge in this area, now, therefore, be it RESOLVED, that Common Council and the Mayor adopt the City of Ithaca Emergency Management Plan, and be it further RESOLVED, that elected officials and staff review the content of the plan and update the appropriate sections on an annual basis, and be it further RESOLVED, that all functions within emergency planning be cross trained to existing and new staff, identifying persons based on availability, proximity and transportation. Taylor made a second. After a short discussion, Tomlan moved an amendment to update the plan "as needed" instead of once a year. Taylor seconded that motion. Chief Wilbur indicated that it was better to have a more defined timeline and Coles made a motion to amend the amendment that the plan should be updated "at least once a year." Whitmore seconded that motion. The amendment to the amendment was approved 5-0. The resolution was then amended by a vote of 5-0. The resolution was then approved 5-0. 10. In Support of the Anti-War Message in the Exhibit, Eyes Wide Open Coles moved the following resolution for discussion. Resolution in support of the anti-war message in the exhibit, Eyes Wide Open WHEREAS, Eyes Wide Open, the widely acclaimed exhibition on the human cost of the Iraq war and a commemoration of all the lives lost will • be in the city of Ithaca and on Cornell campus from October 6th through October 9th, 2005, and WHEREAS, the exhibit, initiated by the American Friends Service Committee (the Quakers), includes a pair of boots honoring each U.S. military fatality in the Iraq war, and WHEREAS, the exhibition includes a field of shoes and a wall of remembrance to memorialize the Iraqis killed in the conflict, WHEREAS, the number of U.S. military fatalities is a minimum of 1,800 and might be much higher, and WHEREAS, the Iraqi civilian fatalities is a minimum of 25,000 and might be over 100,000, according to the British medical journal, Lancet, and WHEREAS, the number of U.S. military wounded is a minimum of 13,000 and might be much higher, and WHEREAS, the economic cost of the Iraqi invasion to U.S. taxpayers is now $192 billion and increasing every day, and WHEREAS, there is no evidence that the U.S.-led invasion Iraq was necessary either because of weapons of mass destruction, ties with Al- Queda, mobile weapons labs, or responsibility for the 9/11 attacks, and WHEREAS, the immense human and economic costs of the war must end, and WHEREAS the exhibition Eyes Wide Open has appeared in communities across the nation and thereby has helped make Americans more aware of the history, cost, and consequences of the war; now, therefore be it RESOLVED, that the Mayor and Common Council of the City of Ithaca join local peace, civic and religious groups in supporting the message of the exhibition Eyes Wide Open, a testament to the toll of the Iraq war. Whitmore seconded the motion. Taylor indicated his concerns and apprehension about the resolution and that led into a discussion about the role of Common Council and the efficacy of symbolic resolutions. After a little while, Whitmore called the question and Coles seconded it. The question was called on a vote of 5-0. The resolution carried 4-1-0 with Taylor voting against. 11. Recreation Partnership 2006 Budget Korherr introduced a draft of a 2006 working agreement for the Recreation Partnership. She posed the question of if proposed funding (a 3.2% increase per partner) is approved, but is not enough to pay for all the Ithaca Youth Bureau programs that have been offered countywide so far, should those programs continue to be offered countywide? Discussion ensued. ji Whitmore expressed his concern about underfunding the Recreation Partnership and the implications of reduced services and he stated his interest in keeping a strong partnership and program. Whitmore, Taylor and Coles expressed concern about the City picking up the costs of providing services to residents of other municipalities. 11. On a motion by Taylor, seconded by Whitmore, the meeting was unanimously adjourned at 8:50 pm.