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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMN-PEDC-2022-08-17Approved at the September 2022 PEDC Meeting City of Ithaca Planning & Economic Development Committee Wednesday, August 17, 2022 – 6:00 p.m. Common Council Chambers, City Hall, 108 East Green Street Minutes Committee Members Attending: Laura Lewis, Chair; Cynthia Brock, Phoebe Brown, Rob Gearhart, Patrick Mehler Committee Members Absent: None Other Elected Officials Attending: None Staff Attending: Lisa Nicholas, Director, Planning and Development Department; Luis Aguirre- Torres, Sustainability Director; Nels Bohn, IURA Director; Roxy Johnston, Water Treatment Plant; and Deborah Grunder, Executive Assistant Others Attending: Chair Laura Lewis called the meeting to order at 6:00 p.m. 1) Call to Order/Agenda Review Mayor Lewis stated that Item 5a, Community Choice Aggregation (CCA) is being pulled from tonight’s agenda for further research and review. 2) Public Comment Theresa Alt, 206 Eddy Street, On the July 20th PEDC, the beginning was about zoning, the ending was about TIDES. Do the proposed encampments follow the City zoning? Zach Winn, 229 South Geneva Street, spoke on proposed access roads to the ‘the jungle’ for emergency vehicles, etc. West End damage and vandalism is on the uptick. Things are getting worse by the day. We need to pay attention to this now. Many people from other counties are becoming problematic. Approved at the September 2022 PEDC Meeting Response from Committee: Mayor Lewis did state there is a report later in the meeting about TIDES next steps. Alderperson Brock thanked both Alt and Winn for speaking tonight. She agreed with both comments regarding the CIITAP program and access to the ‘jungle’ area. 3) Special Order of Business a) Public Hearing Alderperson Mehler moved to open; seconded by Alderperson Brock. Carried Unanimously. No one was present to comment. Alderperson Mehler moved to close the hearing; seconded by Alderperson Gearhart. Carried unanimously. b) Presentation – Zero Emissions Transportation and Next Steps Sustainability Director Luis Aguirre-Torres presented to the committee. The presentation is included with these minutes. Alderperson Mehler asked how we know the emissions have reduced when so many students make up a fair amount of travel in and out of the City. Alderperson Gearhart stated the numbers are staggering as to the amount of travel we do here in Ithaca. Rebecca Evans stated that there are mile counters on the roads and with the help from a Google App helped us with the calculations. Alderperson Brock stated it was a wonderful presentation. She remembers the draft planning influencing report done in 2009. Many people travel inbound to Ithaca and then there are people who live in Ithaca who travel outbound each day for work. Were the inbound and outbound traffic calculated? Chair Lewis asked what the future brings with charging stations. Aguirre-Torres stated we have to be mindful of the types of vehicles that will be charged. Some new charging stations maybe too strong for some vehicles and may ruin the battery. Approved at the September 2022 PEDC Meeting 4) Announcements, Updates, Reports a) Unhoused Proposals Update on Next Steps Mayor Lewis stated that there has been a lot done on this. We need to focus on short- and long-term goals. She will be creating a committee to address the RFP (Request for Proposals) issuance. There is urgency to fix this, but we need to have a plan that withstands the test of time. This is a report, not a discussion. We will follow specific deadlines as well as look at the long term. This will come back to our September PEDC meeting and talk further on our process. Alderperson Brock asked whether questions are allowed. Mayor Lewis stated this was a report item, not a discussion item, but did allow some discussion. Alderperson Brock would like to see a revised work plan so that a new encampment be in place by the Spring 2023. Mayor Lewis stated that there are too many questions that need to be answered and researched before an RFP can be initiated. Alderperson Brock stated that she would like to see that these services be available to the people now. Alderperson Brown also stated that she is concerned about the timing. It has been talked about it for three years. Where are we going? We need something to be lasting and also immediate. Mayor Lewis stated what we need is an approach that is not a solution. A policy needs to be developed and then follow through on that policy. We need to work with agencies like the Human Services Coalition, Tompkins County Action. etc., those who are experts and who have expertise as we focus on both short-term and longer- range goals. Mayor Lewis will be appointing a working group of Common Council to work in tandem with staff to move forward on the action steps that will be seen in this proposal being very sensitive to the timing. As weather warms, we have seen every year outdoor encampments grow. When the cold weather hits, the emergency shelter policy, the code blue policy, are enacted. There is a reduction in encampments so there is urgency to address this, and at the same, it is important to be deliberative, realistic, and to build a system policy first. A response system that we can truly sustain and that will take partnering with the County and with other agencies. In this work plan, one of the short-term goals is to consider a homeless outreach coordinator position. The Mayor will speak with the Chief of Staff and HR Director Approved at the September 2022 PEDC Meeting on moving that forward in our budget. The budget is currently in the early stages of being prepared. The Mayor emphasized again that this is a report. It is not a discussion item tonight. There is more information we need to gather. The Mayor will appoint a working group to work on this with a very specific deadline to develop our next action steps. We have to be doing two things at the same time. We have to be looking at short- term immediate action steps while also developing longer-term responses to this challenging situation that has plagued our community and all communities across the country. We have people living in unsafe conditions in our encampments. We have others who are feeling impacts. The environment is feeling impacts of our unsanctioned encampments. Tonight, this is a report. We will come back to the September meeting with more concrete information as we move this plan forward. Alderperson Gearhart agrees with everyone that timing is crucial. Nels Bohn, IURA Director, stated we brought forward a concept budget of what it would cost to run a sanction encampment site. Our team made a presentation to the Thompkins County Health and Human Services Committee on Monday to recognize and ask for their partnership and support with the City in bringing and elevating this conversation further. One of the models that has been recognized is if there is partnership among municipalities. This has been seen with the LEAD program for example where the City and the County commits to a certain amount of funding to operate a program. You ask for operators to come forward and manage it. That operator can then go out and seek grants and be able to solicit those grants demonstrating that they have municipal support. With the LEAD program, for example the City and the County committed to funding the LEAD program and then the LEAD program got a grant for three years that paid for their staffing for three years. The City and County did not have to actually pay for that first three years of staffing. That opportunity allowed them to demonstrate their success before being something that would be supported by the municipalities. This is a similar situation again. There is a lot of funding out there to support consequences of the COVID pandemic, etc. to help with homelessness, to help with human services. This is an opportunity to capture some of that funding right now. If we are able to move this forward quickly, it would not actually be considered housing. If it were to be done this way, if it were indeed designated as a municipal operation, it would allow the City to move forward with putting this campsite together in a way that meets all state and local regulations. Approved at the September 2022 PEDC Meeting There is a lot of positive opportunities here. One thing to note is, as Cynthia mentioned, is that the encampment proposal is not considered housing. Most federal and state programs limit their support to housing projects. And secondly, cottages would qualify as housing units because they have kitchen and bathroom facilities built within the unit. He doesn’t believe there was very much federal or state funding with that project. That was primarily volunteer labor and donations for the first Second Wind Cottages. It can be a durable model but it can be challenging as well. 5) Action Items (Voting to send onto Council a) Community Choice Aggregation Local Law This item was pulled from tonight’s meeting as stated above under Agenda Review. b) Drinking Water Source Protection Report/Plan Roxy Johnston stated that since last month the plan has been finalized. it represents the first real clear management plan for our drinking water source since the 1936 watershed rules and regulations. That is noteworthy. It is different than other efforts by the state or us at source water protection. it was developed collaboratively with other watershed stakeholders and resource management professionals. it includes not only assessments of our vulnerabilities but it also includes recommendations for implementation strategies that's new, and it builds in long- term plan maintenance so that we will actually use and implement it working with our watershed partners. Another component about this plan that is new and improved is that it guides us to funding sources for the recommended implementation strategies and if the plan is approved by the water purveyor or system owner, then it becomes a recognized plan by the state. That will actually improve our likelihood of getting grant funding. More points are given for those plans. Another way that this plan looks to help offset costs is by building in those partnerships when you develop a plan that you want to move forward. It is likely to be a stronger plan, and it is likely to meet broader objectives than just for the drinking water plant. We will have partners who will carry some of the cost or can share staff or equipment resources with us. Johnston is asking that the plan be approved for circulation and comments and then it would come back in September to address those comments and then move it forward on the next steps to approval by Common Council. Approved at the September 2022 PEDC Meeting Mayor Lewis thanked Johnston and stated the plan is very thorough. One question she did have is about the watershed coordinator position. What will the person’s role be? Johnston serves as a half-time watershed coordinator. It really is a full-time job. She is also half the lab director for the water treatment plant. Most of what she does is as watershed coordinator is interface with groups outside of the City by sharing about water quality and drinking water impacts and how we can work together to keep water quality high in the area. Ithaca and Auburn are running neck and neck with drinking water source protection. There is a recognition that she led the charge on. This on developing this plan for the City. There is a recognition that someone will need in order to be that lead coordinator of the plan management team. The engineers that participated have other primary job functions and so this title seems like a good one to sort of memorialize or make permanent to recognize the need to shepherd this kind of work forward. All the work that she does now would also be added projects and moving those forward. Alderperson Gearhart moved to circulate; seconded by Alderperson Brock seconded. Passed unanimously. 6) Voting Items (to Council) a) East Hill Fire Station Development Agreement – Approve IURA Disposition Agreement Moved by Chair Lewis; seconded by Alderperson Mehler. Passed unanimously. WHEREAS, the Common Council for the City of Ithaca (“City”) authorized issuance of a 2021 Request For Expressions of Interest (“RFEI”) seeking proposals to redevelop or relocate the East Hill Fire Station (“EHFS”) located at 309 College Avenue in a manner that meet fire protection needs, enhances College town, and financially benefits the City, and WHEREAS, in response to the RFEI, City staff entered into negotiations with 311 CA Associates, LLC (“311CA” or “Sponsor”) resulting in execution of an option agreement dated February 22, 2022 (“Option Agreement”) that permits, but does not require, the City to sell 309 College Avenue in exchange for two parcels located at 403 Elmwood Avenue and 408 Dryden Road in addition to cash consideration of $5.1 million dollars to be paid to the City on the terms contained within the Option Agreement, and Approved at the September 2022 PEDC Meeting WHEREAS, the Option Agreement anticipates the City will construct a new fire station on adjoining properties to be acquired at 403 Elmwood Avenue and 408 Dryden Road, and WHEREAS, a negotiated sale of city-owned property is authorized only if undertaken as an urban renewal project in accordance with urban renewal law, and WHEREAS, the City requested the Ithaca Urban Renewal Agency (“IURA”) to independently review the terms of the Option Agreement and recommend a proposed disposition and development agreement in the best interest of the City to redevelop or relocate the EHFS, and WHEREAS, on June 1, 2022, the City authorized transfer of the current Fire Station #2 property located at 309 College Avenue, Ithaca, NY, to the IURA via an option agreement for the purpose of structuring a proposed urban renewal project to construct a new East Hill fire station, and WHEREAS, on May 26, 2022, the IURA accepted transfer of 309 College Avenue and assignment of the Option Agreement for the purposes of structuring a proposed urban renewal project, and WHEREAS, on June 23, 2022, pursuant to section 507 of General Municipal Law, the IURA designated 311 as a Qualified and Eligible Sponsor to undertake the East Hill Fire Station urban renewal project involving acquisition of 309 College Avenue, and WHEREAS, on July 28, 2022, the IURA, acting as lead agency for the environmental review of the property transfer phase of the East Hill Urban Renewal project, determined that the proposed action will not have a significant effect on the environment and issued a negative declaration, and WHEREAS, on July 28, 2022, the IURA adopted a resolution approving a Disposition and Development Agreement (“DDA”) for the East Hill Fire Station urban renewal project to facilitate construction of a new fire station and redevelopment of 309 College Avenue subject to the following terms: 1. Property Transfer – Compliance with terms of the City/Sponsor Option Agreement executed on February 22, 2022, for sale of property located at 309 College Avenue for $5.1 million plus acquisition of adjoining parcels at 403 Elmwood Avenue and 408 Dryden Road for City construction of a new fire station; 2. Complete Segmented Environmental Review – establish as a precondition for transfer of the 309 College Avenue deed to Sponsor either completion of environmental review of the City fire station construction project or formal postponement of city construction on acquired property; 3. Property Tax Revenues – In the event property at 309 College Avenue becomes tax exempt by any means other than a Payment-in-Lieu-of-Taxes Approved at the September 2022 PEDC Meeting (PILOT) approved by the Tompkins County Industrial Development Agency (TCIDA), property owner shall be required to make payments equal to property taxes that would have been due. This requirement shall be enforced through a 20-year Sponsor/IURA Payment-in-Lieu-of-Taxes (PILOT”) agreement that commences upon the date of transfer of the 309 College Avenue property, and WHEREAS, the Agency-approved DDA is subject to approval by the City of Ithaca Common Council, which vote may occur only after (1) publication of a notice of the proposed price to be paid by the sponsor to acquire property and all other essential terms and conditions of such sale, and (2) a public hearing not less than ten days after publication of such notice, and WHEREAS, the notice was published in the August 5, 2022, edition of the Ithaca Journal, and a public hearing on the proposed property disposition was held on August 17, 2022, before the City’s Planning & Economic Development Committee; now, therefore, be it RESOLVED, that the Common Council for the City of Ithaca hereby approves the IURA-proposed Disposition and Development Agreement between the IURA and 311 CA Associates, LLC for the East Hill Urban Renewal Project, including the sale of 309 College Avenue, and be it further RESOLVED, property to be acquired by the IURA at 403 Elmwood Avenue and 408 Dryden Road shall be conveyed to the City at no cost for construction of a fire station, and be it further RESOLVED, that the net proceeds from IURA sale of real property shall be paid to the City. Approved at the September 2022 PEDC Meeting 7) Review and Approval of Minutes a) July 2022 Moved by Alderperson Mehler; seconded by Alderperson Gearhart. Carried unanimously. 8) Adjournment Moved by Alderperson Mehler; seconded by Alderperson Gearhart. Carried unanimously. The meeting was adjourned at 7:35 p.m.