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HomeMy WebLinkAboutTB Minutes 2021-01-25Meeting of the Ithaca Town Board Monday, January 25, 2021 Due to Governor Cuomo's Executive Orders relating to Public Health and Safety Measures related to COVID-19 suspending certain aspects of Open Meetings Law, the meeting will be held using the ZOOM video conferencing platform https://zoorn.us/i/9911230.523 or(929)436-2866 Zoom ID 991 1230 1523 Agenda 1. Presentation and discussion — Community Choice Aggregation 2. Discuss Association of Towns Annual Resolutions 3. Discuss and consider authorization to sign an MOU with the City of Ithaca related to Historic Preservation 4. Discuss and consider a refund for a Sewer Benefit Assessment charge 5. Committee Reports • Budget • Codes & Ordinances • Personnel and Organization/ERC • Planning • Public Works • Others • Short Term Rental • Green New Deal • Economic Development • Bicentennial • Parks, Trails, Preserves & Recreation 6. Consent Agenda a. Approval of Minutes b. Town of Ithaca Abstract c. Ratify Appointment of Water Sewer Supervisor Meeting of the Ithaca Town Board Monday, January 25, 2021 Due to Governor Cuomo's Executive Orders relating to Public Health and Safety Measures related to COVID-19 suspending certain aspects of Open Meetings Law, the meeting was held using ZOOM and broadcast on YouTube Live Minutes Board Members Present: Rod Howe, Supervisor; Members Eric Levine, Rich DePaolo, Bill Goodman, Tee -Ann Hunter, Pat Leary and Pamela Bleiwas Management Team: Judy Drake, Human Resources; Marty Moseley, Code Enforcement; Susan Ritter, Planning; Paulette Rosa, Town Clerks; Joe Slater, Public Works; Donna Shaw, Finance; and Dan Thaete, Engineering 1. Presentation and discussion — Community Choice Aggregation Mr. Howe opened the topic by saying this has been discussed for a few years at meetings of the Tompkins County Council of Governments (TCCOG) which culminated in an Energy Committee focusing on Community Choice Aggregation (CCA). Many of us on the TCCOG Committee have attended multiple webinars and Terry Carol is here to give a Community Choice Aggregation 101 primer. There are about five municipalities interested in taking the next step towards establishing a CCA and TCCOG is considering submitting a grant to the Park Foundation to hire a consultant or "administrator" familiar with the process. It can get very complicated and circuitous and someone experienced in the process is highly recommended from others who have successfully rolled out a CCA. Terry Carroll, Clean Energy Communities Coordinator through Tompkins County Cooperative gave a presentation (Attachment 1) Mr. Carroll explained that essentially, a Community Choice Aggregation is joining together to increase buying power and get the best deal by buying in bulk, energy, namely electricity and natural gas, while supporting green initiatives. The biggest question is price and delivery. NYSEG will continue to deliver the energy, but the CCA will negotiate and purchase the energy. Right now, the focus is on electricity because that is the only type of CCA available in NY right now. Mr. Carroll showed a typical NYSEG bill and explained that NYSEG doesn't own the energy, it simply delivers it and that is the "delivery charge" you see on your bill. This charge also includes TBS 2021-01-25 Pg. 1 all the maintenance and administrative costs associated with the delivery such as poles and emergency response and repairs. You have a choice in determining where that energy is bought. About 20% of people do that while the other 89% say, well, I'll let NYSEG make that choice. That is the "supply charge" you see on your bill. The actual cost of the energy as negotiated by NYSEG. Under a CCA, the CCA would negotiate the price and one of the benefits is that price is generally negotiated for a year, unlike NYSEG who negotiates sometimes monthly and that can make the price fluctuate. With a CCA, there is more stability in your bill. People question whether a CCA saves costs and the answer is the more customers you have, the better the negotiated price will be but in general, for green energy, it is about a 1/4 - % a cent more per kilowatt hour. This translates to between $20 - $100 more a year to the average person. What a CCA does is make green energy more affordable for more people. Mr. Howe noted that this is the first step in determining if we want to move forward learning more. 2. Discuss Association of Towns Annual Resolutions Mr. Howe asked if the Board had any comments on the Resolutions. There were none. 3. Discuss and consider authorization to sign an MOU with the City of Ithaca related to Historic Preservation Mr. Howe gave an overview and answered a question from Mr. DePaolo by saying this is a joint effort to start the process of investigation and summarizing the steps that would be taken to implement historic preservation. Eventually it would go to the Planning Committee and then to the Town Board as a local law. TB Resolution 20121 - 014: Approval of and authorization for the Supervisor to sign, an agreement with the City of Ithaca for Historic Preservation Planning Staff Services Whereas, the City and Town of Ithaca value intermunicipal collaborations and partnerships that advance their shared goals and equally benefit citizens of both municipalities, and Whereas, the Town is interested in protecting its historic resources as outlined in the Town of Ithaca Comprehensive Plan, and the City has an established historic preservation program that has successfully protected its historic resources for almost 50 years, and Whereas, the Town is interested in partnering with the City to explore opportunities to enact a Landmarks Preservation Law that mirrors that of the City and that potentially establishes a joint City and Town of Ithaca Landmarks Preservation Commission, and TBS 2021-01-25 Pg. 2 Whereas, the Town allocated up to $7,000 in its 2021 Budget to fund a portion of the City's Historic Preservation and Neighborhood Planner position for time used to investigate and advance this shared services opportunity, and Whereas, the municipalities outlined their respective rights and responsibilities related to this work in an agreement titled Agreement with the City of Ithaca for Historic Preservation Planning Staff Services, and Whereas the Town Board has reviewed the Agreement, now therefore be it Resolved, that the Town Board hereby approves of and authorizes the Supervisor to sign the Agreement with the City of Ithaca for Historic Preservation Planning Services, subject to approval by the Attorney for the Town. Moved: Rich DePaolo Seconded: Eric Levine Vote: ayes — DePaolo, Levine, Bleiwas, Leary, Howe, Hunter and Goodman 4. Discuss and consider a refund for a Sewer Benefit Assessment charge Ms. Hunter asked if this was a clerical error or a sign of a more systemic problem. Mr. Thaete responded that they are working on a town -wide review of these assessments and there will be more. This case is unique in that we thought this property was hooked up to the sewer, but she wasn't. This has been neglected for a while, but with the Water and Sewer Supervisor now in place and expanded GIS access, we will be addressing it. TB Resolution 2021 - 015: Sewer Benefit Assessment Refund - Tax Parcel 22.-2-8.2 Whereas, Tax Parcel 22.-2-8.2, Theresa Gangl, owner 140 Indian Creek Road, was assessed 2 units of sewer on the 2021 Town and County Tax bill, and Whereas, Ms. Gangl requested a review by the Town Engineer of the validity of the assessment, and Whereas, the Town Engineer conducted said review and determined that the assessment of 2 units was incorrect, and Whereas, it was determined that the sewer benefit assessment fee was calculated assuming the residence was connected to the Town Sanitary Sewer System (TSSS) and the 2021 tax bill charged 2 sewer units @ $65/per unit for a total fee of $130.00, and this parcel is not connected to the TSSS and does not have access to the TSSS, therefore, the correct sewer benefit unit assessment should be based upon the ad valorem method of $.02 per $1,000 of assessed value, and TBS 2021-01-25 Pg. 3 Whereas, the 2021 assessed value of the parcel is $300,000.00, resulting in a 2021 Sewer Benefit assessment of $6.00, and Whereas, the correction shall be made for future Town tax assessments for this property until or unless the property connects to or has access to the TSSS, and Whereas, the Town Engineer has recommended and requests that a refund be issued in the amount of $124.00 for the incorrect assessment made on the 2021 Town tax assessment, now therefore be it Resolved, that the Town Board hereby approves and authorizes the refund of $124.00 to be paid from the sewer fund to the property owner. Moved: Bill Goodman Seconded: Tee -Ann Hunter Vote: ayes — Goodman, Hunter, Howe, Leary, Levine, DePaolo and Bleiwas 5. Discuss Gateway Trail Bid Results— Pulled Mr. Howe reported that as mentioned before, the bids were much higher than expected and we are waiting on one more item of the analysis before bringing the discussion to the Board. 6. Committee Reports • Budget Mr. Levine reported that they used this meeting to set priorities and goals for 2022 and reviewed sales tax projections. Discussed interest income and because the rates are so low and not expected to rise, our income from that will be much lower than last year. Heard from the Mayor of the Village of Cayuga Heights regarding last year's tax levy which was reported on at the last meeting. • Codes & Ordinances Mr. Goodman reported that they did not meet in January and February will focus on the Ithaca Energy Code Supplement. We are trying to keep in-line with the City of Ithaca's and have been working together on this for quite a while to make it easier for residents and contractors alike to have something similar between the two of us. The initial goal was to have a 6 -point system until 2025 when it would jump to 12 -points. There is a push from community activists to go right to the 12 -point minimum. This applies to new construction and major renovations. We will also get back to the telecommunications revisions commonly referred to as the 5G issue. Counsel and Ms. Balestra have been reviewing comments from the consultant, outcomes from some litigation and state directives and comments. Will report at the February Study Session. TBS 2021-01-25 Pg. 4 • Personnel and Organization/ERC Ms. Bleiwas reported that they discussed changes to the Town Clerk Fees which were recommended forward for consideration tonight; reviewed the draft NYS Public Employer Emergency Plan that covers Health Emergencies; began discussing the Health Consortium's request to rent additional space at Town Hall in the basement level with an eye to ensuring we retain access to where we need it; discussed whether to have an employee engagement survey this year and how that would happen. Also began discussing the concept of the Covid vaccine being mandatory, but we were reluctant to delve to deeply when access is so limited at this time. More discussions will follow. • Planning Mr. DePaolo reported that they have not met since November when we left off with drafting legislation to allow food trucks and that is expected to be ready for next month. Of note is some expected action around the 96B / King Rd intersection. Landowners are working together to draft something for the area, and this may be our first regulating plan under the New Neighborhood Code. • Public Works Ms. Hunter reported that the consultants presented their findings from the I&I study and some issues rose to the top for attention. She asked Mr. Thaete to summarize. Mr. Thaete stated that to no one's surprise, Ithaca College is one of the largest contributors and South Hill is a problem area that we need to target, especially given the NNC and future plans for that area. Touched on streetlighting and some resident requests for changes and specifications as the LED switch project unfolds. Two speed reduction requests which we are getting a little more information on before forwarding to the Board for consideration. • Short Term Rental — Detailed Report Mr. Goodman recapped the history noting that this started as a reaction to complaints from the Renwick Heights and Eastern Heights areas with a few also coming from Forest Home area. The initial thought was to do something quick and simple for unhosted STRs. This morphed into something much larger. One of the reasons we started was to protect the housing market from people buying up multiple houses for STR as opposed to long-term or standard rentals. The thought was to limit the number of days STR could be done, with a beginning number of 29 and looking at an inspection and permitting system similar to our Rental Registry to ensure guests were safe. We held an open meeting which was when we started hearing from current hosts as well as the people initially complaining about the effects of STR and people from both sides of the issue began attending the committee meetings regularly. TBS 2021-01-25 Pg. 5 About a year and a half ago, we had counsel begin looking at the outline of ideas we had. That highlighted the legal term of the use and whether one can legislate hosted vs unhosted differently. The current outline is to require all rentals be the primary residence to protect housing stock and to treat a hosted rental of more than two bedrooms rented similarly to a bed & breakfast with the associated inspections and permitting. The hot section at the moment is the Lake Front Residential Zone where short-term rentals have historically been a way of life for years and years. It really is a complicated issue once you start pulling the layers apart and they intertwine and overlap where you may not necessarily want them to. There are always exceptions; a very large lot in medium density that any use would have no effect on neighbors; a person owns and lives in one house, but also rents and owns the house next door which they rent short term. Mr. DePaolo added that the committee talked about developing a survey for the lake front zone to determine what really does go on and how many days, unhosted or hosted etc. • Others Green New Deal — Mr. Howe reported that they have been meeting as a small group, but the idea is to make it a regular agenda item on the management team meeting and the study session. • Economic Development — Mr. Howe reported that the focus is the Inlet Valley and there will be a stakeholders' meeting in early March to share what we have come up with and get their input. It will be by Zoom and once we have that, we can also report to the Board. Bicentennial — Mr. Howe reported that Mr. Goodman and Ms. Balestra are working on a reading of the legislation that divided the Towns of Ulysses, Enfield and Ithaca, if the weather cooperates, on the front steps of Town Hall and broadcast via Zoom and YouTube. Then in April there will be a reenactment of the first Town Board Meeting and another program for social media distribution regarding the distribution of military tracts and how that happened and the history of the indigenous people of our area. Parks, Trails, Preserves & Recreation — Mr. Howe reported that we did get a fairly good response to the survey and extended the deadline a few weeks. We are starting to look at what we did get and develop an outline for a plan so more to come. • SJC — City Harbor project — Mr. Goodman reported that the Board will be asked to sign a number of easements and agreements related to the projects that the SJC has been drafting and negotiating. TBS 2021-01-25 Pg. 6 Village of Cayuga Heights sewer flows are also a topic that is under discussion and negotiation. 7. Consent Agenda TB Resolution 2021 — 016: Adopt Consent Agenda Resolved, that the Town Board of the Town of Ithaca hereby approves and/or adopts the following Consent Agenda items: a. Approval of Town Board Minutes b. Town of Ithaca Abstract c. Ratify promotional, provisional appointment — Water and Sewer Maintenance Supervisor Moved: Eric Levine Seconded: Pamela Bleiwas Vote: ayes — Goodman, Hunter, Howe, Leary, Levine, DePaolo and Bleiwas TB Resolution 2021 - 016a: Approval of Minutes Resolved, that the Town Board hereby approves the draft minutes of November 23, December 14, December 30, 2020 and January 11, 2021 with non -substantial corrections suggested by the Board being made by the Clerk. TB Resolution 2021 - 016b : Town of Ithaca Abstract No. 2 for FY -2021 Whereas the following numbered vouchers have been presented to the Ithaca Town Board for approval of payment; and Whereas the said vouchers have been audited for payment by the said Town Board; now therefore be it Resolved that the governing Town Board hereby authorizes the payment of the said vouchers in total for the amounts indicated. VOUCHER NOS. 61-122 General Fund Town Wide 76,608.53 General Fund Part -Town 6,961.90 Highway Fund Town Wide DA 1,571.31 Highway Fund Part Town DB 11,503.23 Water Fund 28,656.71 Sewer Fund 10,097.68 PWF Renovations Project — H22 94,020.82 TBS 2021-01-25 Pg. 7 Risk Retention Fund 115.00 Forest Home Lighting District 50.19 Glenside Lighting District 15.02 Renwick Heights Lighting District 25.05 Eastwood Commons Lighting District 35.08 Clover Lane Lighting District 4.66 Winner's Circle Lighting District 6.99 Burleigh Drive Lighting District 16.35 West Haven Road Lighting District 64.45 Coddin ton Road Lighting District 37.69 Trust and Agency 601.80 TOTAL 230,392.46 TB Resolution 2021 — 016c: Ratify Provisional Promotional Appointment to Water & Sewer Maintenance Supervisor Whereas, there is a vacant Water & Sewer Maintenance Supervisor position, and Whereas, the interviewing committee interviewed six candidates from the open recruitment (five external/one internal) for the position; and Whereas, the interview committee determined that Travis Mills, currently a Heavy Equipment Operator for the Town of Ithaca Water & Sewer Unit, possesses the necessary knowledge and skills to satisfactorily perform the duties of the Water & Sewer Maintenance Supervisor position and recommended his appointment; and Whereas, the Director of Public Works/Highway Superintendent is promotionally appointing Travis Mills, to the Water & Sewer Maintenance Supervisor position, effective January 31, 2021, now therefore be it Resolved, the Town Board of the Town of Ithaca does hereby ratify the Director of Public Works/Highway Superintendent's provisional promotional appointment of Travis Mills, to the Water & Sewer Maintenance Supervisor position for the Public Works Department, effective January 31, 2021; and be it further Resolved, this is a full time, 40 -hours a week position, at the hourly wage of $36.82, which is an estimated annual salary of $76,585 from account numbers F8310.100 and G8110.100, in Job Classification "VI" with full time benefits; and be it further Resolved, Travis Mills will need to successfully complete the minimum twenty-six (26) week probationary period; and be it further Resolved, said appointment is a promotional and provisional appointment pending the results from the next civil service exam for this position. 8. Correspondence/Report of Town Officials — None TBS 2021-01-25 Pg. 8 Meeting was adjourned upon motion and a second at 6:27 p.m. Submitt by ������ Paulette Rosa, Town Clerk TBS 2021-01-25 Pg. 9