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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMN-PEDC-2021-06-16 Approved at the July 2022 PEDC Meeting City of Ithaca Planning & Economic Development Committee Wednesday, June 16, 2021 – 6:00 p.m. Common Council Chambers, City Hall, 108 East Green Street Minutes Committee Members Attending: Joseph (Seph) Murtagh, Chair; Cynthia Brock, Stephen Smith, Donna Fleming, and Laura Lewis Committee Members Absent: Alderperson Nguyen Other Elected Officials Attending: None Staff Attending: Lisa Nicholas, Deputy Director, Planning and Development; Tom Knipe, Economic Development; Tim Logue, Engineering; Erin Cuddihy, Engineering; Eric Hathaway, Engineering; Tom Parsons, City of Ithaca Fire Chief; and Deborah Grunder, Executive Assistant Others Attending: Ithaca Farmers Market CFA – Michele Palmer Stewart Park CFA – Rick Manning “For the People Act” Support – Jeff Furman and Abbey McHugh SRF’s Analysis Update – Andy Bodewes, Seth Hiland, Tony Votaw, and Amy Dake Waterfront Emergency Access – Tom Parsons Chair Seph Murtagh called the meeting to order at 6:00 p.m. 1) Call to Order/Agenda Review There were no changes to the agenda. Approved at the July 2022 PEDC Meeting 2) Public Comment Marty Hiller, 110 W. Lewis Street, spoke on the Buffalo/Curt Street Couplet. She’s very pleased to see that Court Street is not included and that there is a bike lane. Sheryl Swink, 321 N. Albany Street, commented on the Buffalo/Court Street Couplet. She uses who bicycle as her mode of transportation. She is very happy to see that a bike lane is included in the proposal. She would like to see a westbound lane on Buffalo Street as well. Erin Cuddihy stated that there are two separate proposals with different plans. 3) Announcements, Updates, Reports Alderperson Brock asked for clarification as to how many one ways are being proposed. 4) Action Items (Voting to send onto Council) a) Ithaca Farmers Market CFA Application Request from the Ithaca Farmers Market Board of Directors to the City of Ithaca Common Council to Act as the Sponsor for a Funding Application for Improvements to Vehicular and Pedestrian Access and Circulation at the Farmers Market Site Moved by Alderperson Lewis; seconded by Alderperson Brock. Carries unanimously. Alderperson Lewis asked for confirmation that the money awarded in 2019 has been received and used. Palmer stated some of the money has been used. WHEREAS, The Ithaca Farmer’s (IFM) Market Board of Directors has been working with its members and customers to envision a vibrant and successful Farmer’s Market that will allow them to grow, better serve their customers, and provide opportunity for economic success for their vendor members; and WHEREAS, concerns expressed by vendors and visitors focused on the amount of available parking; the awkward vehicular circulation due to long rows of parking and vegetated berms; the lack of dedicated sidewalks for pedestrians; and gravel paving that is often muddy and full of pot holes, is not A.D.A. compliant, and has a lack of accommodations for shuttles and buses; and WHEREAS, the current pavilion is not code compliant, lacks amenities that could improve the customer experience, and has no all season areas for market days and events in inclement weather; and WHEREAS, The IFM is seeking in the near future to renovate the parking lot with improvements Approved at the July 2022 PEDC Meeting which will include accommodating A.D.A. accessibility, better overall pedestrian access, and a reconfiguration of automobile parking with appropriate surfacing and green amenities; and WHEREAS, as part of their visioning process, the IFM Board of Directors received a grant from the New York State Department of State Local Waterfront Revitalization program, with the City of Ithaca acting as the formal grant recipient/project sponsor at no cost to the City, to undertake pre- development investigations into site conditions and prepare designs for the site including the parking and a pavilion; and WHEREAS, the design team is in the process of preparing a final site design and a preliminary pavilion design which will be presented to the City of Ithaca for SEQR and Site Plan Review; and WHEREAS, the IFM will undertake the pavilion at a future date to be determined and is not seeking funding from the City of Ithaca for its implementation at this time; and WHEREAS, much of the funding distributed by the State of New York happens through the Consolidated Funding Application; and WHEREAS, the program most likely to fund this project is the New York State Department of State, Local Waterfront Revitalization Program (LWRP) implementation grant, which funds a variety of capital improvements along New York State’s designated waterways; and WHEREAS, this program is not open to private entities, but since the City of Ithaca owns the land upon which the pavilion and parking lot are located, the City could act as applicant on behalf of the IFM; and WHEREAS, the IFM intends to seek LWRP funding for Engineering/Design, renovation of the parking lot, and administrative/project management construction implementation and construction oversight costs; now, therefore be it RESOLVED, that the City of Ithaca supports IFM’s funding request to the LWRP program and agrees to act as sponsor for the project for purposes of the grant application, and be it further RESOLVED, that the IFM is not seeking any financial support from the City and will provide funding to cover all costs associated with preparation of the grant application. b) Stewart Park Splash Pad CFA Application Support for a New York State Consolidated Funding Grant Application for the Construction of the Stewart Park Splash Pad and Accessible Bathroom Building - Resolution Moved by Alderperson Fleming; Seconded by Alderperson Lewis Carried unanimously. Resolution No. WHEREAS, the Friends of Stewart Park is applying to the New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation (OPRHP) for a grant under the New York State Consolidated Funding Grant Application for Environmental Protection Funds for Parks, Preservation and Heritage (EPF) to construct a Splash Pad and Accessible Approved at the July 2022 PEDC Meeting Bathroom Building, located in Stewart Park in the City of Ithaca; and WHEREAS, as a requirement under the rules of these programs, said not-for- profit corporation must obtain the "approval/endorsement of the governing body of the municipality in which the project will be located"; and WHEREAS, the Stewart Park Splash Pad and Accessible Bathroom Building is the last major phase of the Stewart Park Inclusive Playground; and WHEREAS, Friends of Stewart Park has offered to apply for, administer the project on behalf of the City with City oversight; and provide the 25% required project match of $167,000 to the grant request of $500,000; and WHEREAS, Friends of Stewart Park requests that the City finance the costs of the project with the understanding that 100% of the project cost be reimbursed; NOW, THEREFORE, be it resolved by the City of Ithaca Common Council hereby does approve and endorse the application of Friends of Stewart Park for a New York State Consolidated Funding Grant Application under the Environmental Protection Fund for a the Stewart Park Inclusive Playground Splash Pad and Accessible Bathroom Building, located in Ithaca, New York. And further, it is resolved that, should Friends of Stewart Park be unable to do so, said property shall be forever maintained by the City of Ithaca as part of Stewart Park, a city- owned municipal park in Ithaca, consistent with the rules promulgated by OPRHP Rick Manning provided information of this proposal and the breakdown of the funding request. Rick Manning showed pictures of the proposed plan. The proposed splash pad will be installed over the existing splash pad. The new one will be more environmentally friendly. The water will be recycled. There will be a pattern of the Finger Lakes within the pad. The water only runs when kids enter it. The ADA bathroom has both male and female bathrooms as well as a family bathroom. A kiosk is also included providing information regarding the playground, new splash pad, and bathroom. A consultant is on board. The Friends of Stewart Park needs funding. Alderperson Lewis thanked Rick and the Friends of Stewart Park for the wonderful new playground. She also asked what will happen if funding doesn’t come through. Approved at the July 2022 PEDC Meeting Rick Manning stated we will focus more on another capital campaign. We are looking at a Fall 2022 start. Alderperson Fleming stating that the costs are a little daunting. Both Alderperson Brock and Murtagh agree that Friends of Stewart Park be part of the maintenance costs going forward. Rick Manning agrees with that. We have done a good job at that so far and plan to continue. DATE OF ADOPTION CERTIFICATION OF CLERK c) Carpenter Circle PUD Lisa Nicholas provided an overview of what is being proposed. There is a land swap necessary as some of this area is electrical lines and is undevelopable. Attorney Flaherty stated the land swipe is the conditions that both parties must meet before going forward. Easements and abstracts are some of the things that need to be done. A revised resolution was provided to take the place of the one in the packet. Lisa Nicholas provided the updates of the proposed changes. Alderperson Fleming asked if the contingencies weren’t met, what happens then. Marty Hiller spoke for Community Gardens stating that they are ready to proceed and asked what is slowing the project down. We are so close and Community Gardens is concerned that they will lose momentum if things don’t stay on track. Tony Votaw stated that are committed to finishing this and they don’t want to pause the process. Andrew Bodewes reiterated Votaw’s comments. We would like to move this forward. Approved at the July 2022 PEDC Meeting Proposed Resolution to Amend the Contingencies of the Carpenter Park Planned Unit Development (PUD) June 16, 2021 Moved by Alderperson Lewis; seconded by Alderperson Fleming. Carries unanimously. WHEREAS: Common Council adopted the Carpenter Circle PUD on November 4, 2020, and WHEREAS: The approval stated: the PUD ordinance shall take effect after satisfaction of the following contingencies: A. The applicant obtains fee title to all lands in the PUD except those lands to which the community gardens relocate per signed agreement with the City. B. A legally-binding agreement is executed between the applicant and the not-for-profit sponsor of the Ithaca Community Gardens, based on the Memorandum of Understanding, which includes among other things finalized details as to how the costs associated with the reconfiguration of the Community Gardens will be covered and how gardeners will be moved from their current plots to the new configuration, and WHEREAS: The Project Sponsor and City Planning and Legal staff as well as other affected parties have met the following milestones to satisfy the contingencies: 1. Completion of the negotiation of the price and terms of sale for the land swap needed to relocate a portion of the Community Gardens to adjacent undevelopable land on the project site 2. Submission of a subdivision showing the above referenced configuration – to be approved by the Planning Board on June 25, 2021 3. Execution of a new lease between the City of Ithaca & the Ithaca Community Gardens (ICG) to take affect when the gardens have moved 4. Agreement between the Project Sponsor and the ICG regarding their schedule for and role in relocating the gardens and their financial contribution to support the major improvements to the gardens such as grading, and installing a perimeter fence, and WHEREAS: The project cannot proceed to construction until the PUD goes into effect, and WHEREAS: After achieving the above milestones, staff is in agreement that the Project Sponsor has substantially met the contingencies and recommends amendments which meet the intent of the original language but provide a more favorable timeline for construction, now therefore be it RESOLVED: that the Carpenter Park PUD contingencies shall be amended to read as follows: The PUD ordinance shall take effect after satisfaction of the following contingencies: A. Full execution of the Land Transfer Agreement between the City and the Cayuga Medical Center of Ithaca Inc. B. Before a Certificate of Occupancy is issued for Phase 1 of the project, which was approved by the Planning Board on September 22, 2020 and is shown in the drawing Approved at the July 2022 PEDC Meeting titled Carpenter Park Phasing Plan dated August 2020, prepared by Passero Associates: a legally-binding agreement is executed between the applicant and the not-for-profit sponsor of the Ithaca Community Gardens, based on the Memorandum of Understanding, which includes finalized details as to how the costs associated with the reconfiguration of the Community Gardens will be covered and how gardeners will be moved from their current plots to the new configuration. d) Resolution – Support of Enactment of FOR THE PEOPLE ACT RESOLUTION IN SUPPORT OF ENACTMENT OF FOR THE PEOPLE ACT, S.1 IN US SENATE Resolution calling on the U.S. Senate to pass the For the People Act, S1 in the United States Senate. Moved by Alderperson Brock; seconded by Alderperson Fleming. Carried unanimously. WHEREAS, the right to vote is one of the foundational rights of all American citizens; and WHEREAS, Congressman John Lewis spent his life fighting against hate, bigotry, and equal opportunity at the voting booth inside and outside of Congress to advance voting rights for everyone; and WHEREAS, voting rights are under attack nationally by state legislators introducing and passing laws to create barriers to our participation in elections; and WHEREAS, popular sovereignty through voting is a foundational bedrock of our democracy; and WHEREAS, the right to vote is under attack nationally by state legislators introducing and passing laws to create barriers to our participation in elections ; and WHEREAS, the For the People Act is a transformative, comprehensive bill addressing voting rights and election administration, money-in-politics, redistricting government transparency, and ethics in all three branches of government; and WHEREAS, the For the People Act will provide a needed overhaul of money-in-politics, voting and ethics laws to make our democracy more inclusive; and WHEREAS, the For the People Act is based on countless democracy reforms passed and successfully implemented in states across the country; and WHEREAS, the For the People Act’s solutions are broadly supported by the American people across the political spectrum with polling indicating that 67% of Americans – including 56% of Republican voters and 68% of Independent voters – support the For the People Act; and WHEREAS, the For the People Act is the most comprehensive pro-democracy bill introduced in Congress since the Watergate era, containing the bold action that the American people want and deserve; now therefore be it RESOLVED, That the City of Ithaca Common Council calls on New York’s United State Senators, Majority Leader Chuck Schumer and Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand, to do everything possible to support and pass S1, the For the People Act of 2021 before the 2021 Senate summer recess. 5) Special Order of Business Approved at the July 2022 PEDC Meeting a) Tompkins County Economic Recovery Strategy -- Presentation Heather McDaniel stated that this strategy is not just the Tompkins Area Economic Development (TAED) ambitions but a multiple number of other stakeholders around New York. She complimented Tom Knipe on this work on this plan. She is very excited of the strategy and is eager to get to work on it. 6) Discussion a) Update on SRF’s Analysis – Buffalo/Court Street Couplet Eric Hathaway provided information as to what has changed in this SRF’s analysis. Erin Cuddihy stated that this isn’t our plan, but a DOT plan. Alderperson Lewis asked for clarification on the Fifth Street intersection with Meadow Street. It was concluded that the paragraph was written with incorrect information. Cuddihy was trying to provide a brief explanation of what has been looked at for years. It was suggested that the DOT and SRF Associates come to the next meeting to ask some of the questions the group has. All agree, Tom Parsons suggested that maybe we should test these changes to see if they work. b) Waterfront Emergency Access Lisa Nicholas stated that this came from City Harbor. When a train comes through it causes many delays and interferes with emergency response. Alderperson Brock stated that the Municipal Wastewater Treatment Plant should be involved and notified of such changes. Approved at the July 2022 PEDC Meeting 7) Review and Approval of Minutes November 2020 Moved by Alderperson Smith; seconded by Alderperson Fleming. Carried unanimously 8) Adjournment Moved by Alderperson Lewis; seconded by Alderperson Fleming. Carried unanimously. The meeting was adjourned at 8:45p.m.