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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMN-CA-2023-04-26CITY ADMINISTRATION COMMITTEE CITY OF ITHACA, NEW YORK Regular Meeting 6:00 p.m. April 26, 2023 PRESENT: Alderperson Cantelmo – Chair Alderpersons (4): Barken, Defendini, Haines-Sharp, McGonigal OTHERS PRESENT: Director of Transportation & Parking – Hathaway Chief of Staff – Mohlenhoff HR Director – Michell-Nunn Controller – Thayer Deputy Controller – Andrew 1. Call to Order 1.1 Agenda Review. None 1.2 Review/Approval of Minutes: Alderperson Defendini made a motion to approve the minutes from the City Administration Committee meeting held on March 15, 2023. Seconded by Alderperson Haines- Sharp. Motion carried 4-0. Alderperson Barken was absent from the vote. 2. Petitions and Hearings of Persons Before Council 2.1 Statements from the Public Zachary Winn of Ithaca spoke against the increase in the Police Chief salary and asked the Committee to vote no. 2.2 Council Response Alderperson McGonigal acknowledged the passing of Civil Rights Activist Harry Belafonte. Alderperson Defendini spoke about what was happening across the country with the proposed legislation regarding LGBTQ+ rights. 3. Consent Agenda 3.1 Amendment to Personnel Roster – GIAC Moved by Alderperson Defendini. Seconded by Alderperson McGonigal. WHEREAS, the Greater Ithaca Activities Center (GIAC) needs a Program Coordinator position to manage some of its special initiatives including serving as the School Aged Child Care Program Director (SACC); and WHEREAS, the Mayor and Common Council included this position in the authorized 2023 budget and at the March 1st Common Council meeting, the Mayor and Common Council approved increasing the City Administration Committee Meeting April 26, 2023 Page 2 hours for this position to 25 hours per week to be able to fulfill the demanding responsibilities of a SACC Director and other special events; and WHEREAS, the distinct responsibilities of this position require minimum qualifications and experience for a SACC director in accordance with the New York State Office of Children and Family Services (OCFS); and WHEREAS, OCFS is the regulatory and licensing authority for GIAC’s youth afterschool program; and WHEREAS, the regular GIAC Program Coordinator job description and minimum qualifications do not meet the requirements of OCFS, hence the need to create a new title; and WHEREAS, GIAC’S 2023 operating budget as approved has funding to support this position and no additional funds are needed; now, therefore, be it RESOLVED, that the Personnel Roster of the Greater Ithaca Activities Center be amended as follows: Add: One (1) GIAC Program Coordinator – Special Initiatives (25 hours/week) and be it further RESOLVED, that the position of GIAC Program Coordinator – Special Initiatives shall be assigned to the CSEA Administrative Unit Compensation Plan at salary grade 15, and be it further RESOLVED, that for the sole purpose of determining days worked reportable to the New York State and Local Employees Retirement System the standard workday for this position shall be established at seven (7) hours per day (thirty-five (35) hours per week), and be it further RESOLVED, that funding for this position shall be derived from the approved 2023 departmental budget. A vote on the resolution resulted as follows: Passed unanimously. 4. Administration, Human Resources, & Policy 4.1 Updated License Agreement Pertaining to Public Parking Lot Moved by Alderperson Defendini. Seconded by Alderperson Haines-Sharp. WHEREAS, Wink’s Leasing, LLC, owner of Wink’s Body Shop located at 720 West Court Street (“Wink’s”), and the City of Ithaca have previously been parties to license agreements dated February 26, 2016 and May 13, 2019 whereby Wink’s was granted a revocable license authorizing it to use a number of parking spaces in the public parking lot located at the corner of West Court Street and North Fulton Street, Tax Parcel 52.-3-20 (“Public Parking Lot”); and WHEREAS, Wink’s desires to increase the number of spaces licensed in the Public Parking Lot from 21 to 29 spaces; and City Administration Committee Meeting April 26, 2023 Page 3 WHEREAS, the Director of Parking and Transportation has determined that the Public Parking Lot is underutilized and that licensing an additional 8 spaces to Wink’s will not negatively impact the availability of spaces available to the public for permit parking; and WHEREAS, the City will continue to offer parking permits to the public for the remaining standard and ADA-accessible spaces in the Public Parking Lot; and WHEREAS, Wink’s has agreed to pay a monthly fee of $35 per space per month for each of the 29 spaces to be licensed; and WHEREAS, the Superintendent of Public Works does not anticipate any conflicts in the near future with public works uses or needs; be it hereby RESOLVED, that the Mayor, subject to the advice of the City Attorney, is hereby authorized to execute an updated license agreement with Wink’s in a form substantially similar to the draft attached hereto; and be it further RESOLVED, that the Superintendent of Public Works, subject to the advice of the City Attorney, is hereby authorized to approve future increases or reductions in the number of spaces licensed in the Public Parking Lot or to increase the fees therefor, and to execute any necessary documentation reflecting such changes, without further authorization of Common Council, provided that the City shall at all times retain an appropriate number of spaces available to offer to the public. A vote on the resolution resulted as follows: Passed unanimously. 4.2 Amendment to Personnel Roster – DPW Moved by Alderperson Defendini. Seconded by Alderperson McGonigal. WHEREAS, the Streets & Facilities division of the DPW has a vacant Working Supervisor position, and WHEREAS, this position has routinely been assigned work within the Highway section of maintaining stormwater infrastructure, and WHEREAS, the DPW has added a stormwater engineer position to the roster to assist with maintaining compliance with state and federal regulations, and WHEREAS, this position would align with the organization structure at Streets & Facilities; now, therefore, be it RESOLVED, that the Personnel Roster of the Streets and Facilities Division of the Department of Public Works be amended as follows: Add: One (1) Working Supervisor – Stormwater Delete: One (1) Working Supervisor City Administration Committee Meeting April 26, 2023 Page 4 and be it further RESOLVED, that the position of Working Supervisor - Stormwater shall be assigned to the CSEA DPW Unit Compensation Plan at salary grade 8, and be it further RESOLVED, that for the sole purpose of determining days worked reportable to the New York State and Local Employees Retirement System the standard workday for this position shall be established at eight (8) hours per day (forty (40) hours per week), and be it further RESOLVED, that funding for this position shall be derived from the approved 2023 departmental budget. A vote on the resolution resulted as follows: Passed unanimously. 4.3 Resolution to Adopt Workforce Diversity Advisory Committee ‘Commitment to Equity and Justice Statement’ Moved by Alderperson McGonigal. Seconded by Alderperson Haines-Sharp. WHEREAS, the Workforce Diversity Advisory Committee’s (WDAC) overall objective is to improve existing City policies or to propose new policies which will help improve workforce diversity as an integral part of the operations of the City of Ithaca government; and WHEREAS, the Common Council adopted the current Diversity Statement on December 2, 1998; and WHEREAS, the WDAC has determined that the City’s workforce would be better served by an updated statement more reflective of current diversity practices and initiatives; now, therefore be it RESOLVED, that the Common Council adopt the Commitment to Equity and Justice Statement to replace the city’s Diversity Statement. A vote on the resolution resulted as follows: Yes (3): Cantelmo, Defendini, Haines-Sharp No (2): Barken, McGonigal Motion passed 3-2. 4.4 HR Report. None. 5. Finance, Budget, & Appropriations 5.1 Approval of Police Chief Salary Adjustment Moved by Alderperson McGonigal. Seconded by Alderperson Barken. City Administration Committee Meeting April 26, 2023 Page 5 WHEREAS, it has become increasingly clear that we are in a very competitive market for recruiting high quality individuals, and WHEREAS, the City has committed itself to a major transformational journey in Reimagining Public Safety which will improve the safety and wellbeing of all individuals in our community, and WHEREAS, based on input from Common Council and members of the community through surveys and focus groups, the city will seek an individual who has a proven track record in crime reduction strategies, being community-minded, also able to engage all stakeholders, reform oriented, and committed to social justice, and WHEREAS, the President of the Executive Search Firm, Public Sector Search and Consulting has advised that due to the challenges facing law enforcement everywhere but particularly in our local climate, a salary increase is necessary to attract the desired candidate, and WHEREAS, the Police Chief position is currently at a salary grade twelve (12) with a salary range of $110,460 to $132,552, the City has been advised that a higher salary may attract the right person, now therefore, be it RESOLVED, that Common Council hereby acknowledges the unique and extenuating circumstances that exist at this time given the City’s difficulty with recruiting law enforcement at all levels and its desire to move forward with implementing the recommendations of Reimagining Public Safety, which is synonymous with reducing crime and improving safety for all, and be it further RESOLVED, that Common Council authorizes a starting salary of up to $150,000 and a $50,000 sign on bonus to be paid evenly over three (3) years for this Police Chief search. Alderperson McGonigal made a motion to amend the sign on bonus to be paid evenly on a three [3] year period. Seconded by Alderperson Barken. A vote on the amendment resulted as follows: Yes [4]: Barken, Cantelmo, Haines-Sharp, McGonigal No [1]: Defendini Amendment passed 4-1. Alderperson Barken made a motion to amend the sign on bonus to be paid out in three years in the following amounts: $15,000, $15,000, $20,000. Motion failed due to the lack of a second. A vote on the resolution as amended resulted as follows: Passed unanimously. 6. City Manager Transition City Administration Committee Meeting April 26, 2023 Page 6 6.1 COW Preparation Discussion: The first COW [Committee of the Whole] meeting will be on May 31, 2023. At this meeting, the agenda will include, but not limited to, topics such as: • Rules of Procedures • Voting Procedures • Budget Process • What the roles of the Mayor and City Manager will look like • Who hires the City Attorney? 7. Other Business. None. 8. Meeting Wrap-up 6.1 Announcements. None. 8.2 Next Meeting Date: May 24, 2023 8.3 Review, Agenda Items for Next Meeting. None. 8.4 Adjourn: With no further business and on a motion by Alderperson Defendini, the meeting was adjourned at 7:20 p.m.