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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMN-C&NS-2006-07-12 COMMUNITY AND NEIGHBORHOOD SERVICES COMMITTEE MEETING WEDNESDAY,JULY 12, 2006 7: 00 PM. COMMON COUNCIL CHAMBERS Community Members Present: Shane Seger, Michelle Courtney Berry, Robin Holtham Korherr(Chair), J.R. Clairborne, Joseph Zumoff, Maria Coles 1) Meeting called to order @ 7:11 pm -Announcement— Fire Exit 2)Approval of minutes—June 2006—motioned by Berry; 2nd by Seger. No changes. Carried—3-0 Unanimous. 3) Introductions Chair Korherr introduced Raquel Mercado as support staff for recording of minutes. 4) Public comment— Joann Cornish & Margaret Hobbie—Parks Commissions—Re: Proposal request to allow dogs w/no Leashes at the State Marine Park Treman Marina, the Commission unanimously decided not to endorse the proposal. Any non fenced in area is a liability. Seth Sicroff—Board of Directors, Tompkins County Dogs—Downloaded a whole report of statistics on how dogs are considered to be part of families. It is not an option for dogs not to be out of leashes. That is something that they are not going to do. If they are told not to use this dog park, they will go somewhere else. How may people are going to follow the law? We will not go away. These dogs are our families. Stephen Engleman—Long term resident. For 18 years had walked what is known as a dog park. Has tried to tell people how much it means. There is a lot of animal violence in this town. Has not found in the dog park any particular problems. Majority of people who soil the park are boaters & picnickers. People here take care of the park. He is a commercial pilot&flight instructor, wants the committee to think about their decision. Also stated that the dog park is a social atmosphere; gathering of people. There are liabilities. Please reconsider what the people are asking for. Melissa Luckow—Every July she gets harassed by someone in the park. She does not object to paying taxes, i.e., skating rink, school, library, and things she does not utilize, but would like to walk her 9-%2 yr old collie. Does not think liability should be an issue. The skateboard park began w/liability. Does not seem like a lot to ask. Jonathan Bernstein—Underwriter, Insurance Inspector, Founding Member of T.C. Dogs—Volunteer Mecklenburg Fire Dept. He & his dog travel to Treman Park. His dog almost died of Lyme Disease. Area does not need to be fenced. Brian Zapf—T.C. Dogs—has asked the City of Ithaca to rescind the leash law. Festival lands by themselves do not constitute a dog park. Requested City to rescind the order it would reduce liability. Joanie Groome—City of Ithaca employee. Feels that the dog park is a quality of life issue. She spends 1 hours a day walking her dogs. She dos not feel safe downtown. In 1999 she got busted in a hostile manner, re: her dog. T.C. dog people are compassionate. She has met people who have similar feelings of dogs being family members. This dog park issued has been one for many years. There is a person w/binoculars who has watched her and harassed her when she walks her dog. The dog park is fund, lifts spirits. Asking the committee to give it a chance. ; Ken Friedman—T.C. Dogs—Liability issue should not get in the way of having a dog park. Dog Park is important to them. It is used for 8 months of the year. Go to the park at anytime &you will see people walking their dogs. Encouraged the committee to go to the dog park during the day, &see the people. Robin Palmer—Dog Park is an issue that will not go away. It is something that should be encouraged &not checked off,we will not become unconscious. Ken Zeserson—Have met on 2/8/06 w/committee. Does not think they are ignoring them. Dogs are their friends, not the people that walk the dogs. Cyndy Schiebe—I.C. Professor—T.C. Dogs Founding Member—There are 2500 dog parks in the U.S. Other people have figured it out. She visited Prospect Park, in Brooklyn, N.Y., where there were about 500 dogs running wild, in the park. We know there are thousands of people who want to walk their dogs off leash. One person is asking to try to work it out for an off leash dog space. Martha Gilson—Reason she moved because she though the dog park was legal. Linda Russo—Long term Ithacan—T.C. Dog member. Would like to see a fenced in area in the festival land, because there are many people who cannot have a dog off leash. Any kind of dog park needs to be a fenced in area. She would like to see City of Ithaca reconsider and construct a fenced area. There is no voice for people w/dogs. Would like to find a venue to have a fenced in area for dogs. Mariah Sawyer—Spends money in Ithaca. Takes her do to the dog park. Would like to have a place where she can take her dogs. Treman Park is a great space. Hopes the committee will try to help them. Elizabeth Salon—Property Owner. She brings her puppy to the dog park to socialize. Owner at the dog park are responsible, Dogs become calmer from interacting Mother dogs. Would like to have a dog park. Bob Nape—Lives in Lansing—shares the same concerns as Ms. Salon. Would like to invite everyone here to come down to the dog park. Dog owners are in control. It is a positive experience. Come down &see for yourselves. Carla Shafer—Homeowner&T.C. Dog Member—Requests for legal off leash area, is a great place to start. When she was leaving the park one day, she noted an elderly couple watching who wanted to pet her dog. It is a joy to go to that area(waterfront)dog park. It adds a lot to the boundary of that space. Joe Harlan—Newfield—Dog park is on the chopping block. College kids get everything they want. One bowling alley lost the pool hall. Right behind it is violence. Take away activities, lives are taken. People are telling you something about what they want. Kimberly Kohn—Vet student—Dog park is a unique place where dogs can socialize w/people. Dogs that are off leash deal well w/canine citizens. David Morvanick—Psychotherapist—Has two dogs, takes his dogs there (Treman). Come down and see it. People are responsible. It is a big part of his life. It is a multiuse area. Crises at shelter, you can ask people to adopt animals, if there is no place to take them? The park is a way to make dogs good citizens. You don't take something away without giving something else. 5) Response to Public/Privilege of the floor—Several committee members responded to the public, and noted that many City residents spoke in favor of the park. 6) Department Updates— IPD was to provide report but was unable to attend. Clairborne spoke of the need for community policing. Berry agreed that communication between the public and officers is important and spoke of increased involvement of officers with the midnight basketball program. Clairborne noted that the Town of Ulysses has given notice that they will not continue participating with the Recreation Partnership and that the remaining partners must cover that share of expense. More to follow. 7) Public Hearing on Municipal Code Article Vi,Taxicabs Format : -members of the public &cab company employees Taxi company owners or managers Purpose: to gather input on any section of the existing ordinance, including but not limited to the following: a) Taxi meters and potential effects on shared rides b) Current zone pricing structure and fuel prices c) Licensing procedures d) Complaint process for fare disputes e) % Of fares that originate and terminate within the City Motioned by Seger to open Public Hearing, 2nd by Clairborne John & Ken Kadar-Proposed taximeters: objective way to calculate fares (receipts). Meters cannot calculate fares in route. 30%of fares are within the City. Licensing procedures pose a problem, it takes too long. Very inconsistent. Response from IPD is troublesome, for renewals, IPD does not take advantage of codes when they are giving temporary licenses. Fair disputes—Put something in the Ordinance that will clarify complaint procedures. Site is user friendly. Dispatcher receives complaints. Taxis provide fairly good service. Surcharge—should be sliding scale—fuel prices fluctuate. Average trip— 15 miles, gas usages— 1.92 gallon per mile. Threshold date July 2007. Hoping not to wait too much longer for fare increase. Biggest supplier costs$4,00-$5,00/mth more. If they cannot pass on their cost, they will be out of business. Taxi Company does not want to reduce commission of drivers; does not want to reduce nighttime service; does not want to reduce vehicle quality, wants to continue to provide quality service. Would like to see a small surcharge on exclusive rides. More efficient to share, efficient for fuel. Driver makes money, passenger pays less. Clairborne—Inquired about the complaint process—Concerns that were presented (civil issues). John Kadar-Complaints go directly to the office. Fare problems will be handled on the spot. They try to amicably handle problems as fast as they can. Almost always decide in favor of the customer. Most complaints are handled well. Conflicts sometimes are drivers/riders personality clashes. Ken Kadar—Redesigned business card—in back of card comments/feedback can be written—w/receipts Customer service on Internet, have a form. Links explain the complaint process. All vehicles have stickers w/fare increases. Receipts will have info on how the price was devised (itemized). Customers can go&ask for fare info. Clairborne—Just because people have not brought any complaints does not mean that there aren't any. Please take complaints seriously. John Kadar—Stated that he never ignores complaints, and meant to say that they are trying to give customers what they want. He takes a lot of care in what he says to people. Takes pride on what they do; it's all on customer service. Seger—Saving comments for sub committee meeting. Moved to close. 9:30 P.M.—Seger—moved to close Public Hearing; 2nd by Korherr 8) Presentation on Weightlifting Program—Dr. Scott Noren—Spoke on the benefits of having a weightlifting program for the Ithaca youth. Dr. Noren has expertise in lifting, and would like to start a small program for weight lifters. Weight lifting mandates that children maintain a grade point average, it demands r � appropriate behavior. Main concern is housing the program. Stated that weightlifting is a thinking sport—it is a little more positive than other sports. Korherr stated that she would like to run this presentation by DPW, Building Dept., and Mayor's office. Recreation Partnership is an option for funding. Dr. Noren stated that it wouldn't have to be in a city building. Police officers could be involved. Volunteers & responsible people can participate. He has also spoken w/GIAC Director about developing a program. Korherr—City needs to assist Dr. Noren in determining if any existing facilities could house this program, and will forward the request to Superintendent Gray for his input. 9) An Ordinance Amending Chapter 232 Entitle"Licensing of Businesses and Occupations" of the City of Ithaca Municipal Code Regarding Taxi Cab Rates—Discussion/Draft Resolution Enclosed Seger moved resolution for discussion. 2nd by J.R. Clairborne Korherr explained the resolution and stated that taxi Companies need an urgent assistance given the high gas prices. This resolution provides a short term solution while the . Clairborne—Would this formula replace .25/per person - .50 late night charge? Korherr- No, in addition to. Korherr—Some of the ordinance changes are drafted, but the subcommittee work will not be complete without the response from the Attorney General's Office. Berry—Does not think that they(Taxi Co)do an exceptional job—if coordinated against 12 other competitors, it would be different. Customer service piece has to be there. People do not necessarily think it is a great cab service. Clairborne—The way the ordinance is written, it does not address customer service. Not a separate issue to the people on the street. Korherr—They need rates increased, because otherwise additional businesses will close. Clairborne-Proposing to build customer service into it. Moved to table it until next month. 2nd by Shane Seger. Michelle Courtney-Berry—Motioned to adjourn, 2nd by J.R. Clairborne. Meeting adjourned @ 10:29 p.m.