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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMN-CA-2007-02-01Members Present: Staff CITY ADMINISTRATION COMMITTEE Regular Meeting February 28, 2007 Alderperson Tomlan, Alderperson Coles, Alderperson Zumoff, Alderperson Townsend, Alderperson Gelinas, Mayor Peterson Present: Karen Friedeborn (YB Administrator), Steve Thayer (Controller), Scott Andrew (Deputy Controller), Schelley Michell -Nunn (HR Director), Denise Malone (HR Executive Assistant) Others Present: Marty Luster, Mary Jo Dudley, Pete Myers, Members of the Public, Members of the Media Chairperson Coles called the meeting to order at 7:04 p.m. 1. Chairperson Greeting & Opening Statement Chairperson Coles welcomed everyone to the meeting and explained the evacuation procedures. 2. Announcements Chairperson Coles reported on the financial cost of the Iraqi war (370 billion dollars), the fatalities (3,161) and the injuries (33,000). Alderperson Townsend reported that he and Alderperson Gelinas attended an event in Washington, D.C. 3. Agenda Review and Amendments Chairperson Coles reported that Item 15 - DPW - Truck Traffic in Neighborhoods was removed from the agenda because it went to the Environment & Neighborhood Quality Committee. City Administration Committee February 28, 2007 Page 2 4. Approval of Minutes Alderperson Zumoff asked that the following change be made to the January 31, 2007 minutes of the City Administration Committee under Item 12.4 - Environmental Review of Water Source Options, add before the line "The vote was as follows" the following text: Alderperson Zumoff was in agreement with the lead agency and scoping provisions of the resolution but was opposed to the provision calling for comparable detailed environmental reviews of the two options and indicated for that reason he would vote against the resolution. After discussion, Alderperson Zumoff made a motion to approve the January 31, 2007 minutes of the City Administration Committee as amended. Seconded by Alderperson Townsend. Motion carried 5 -0. 5. Statements from the Public Mary Jo Dudley, Marty Luster and Pete Myers spoke in support of the resolution on Immigration Enforcement and congratulated the City for taking a stand opposing the overbearing, frightening and cruel activities of the U.S. Customs and Immigration Enforcement agency in allegedly enforcing immigration laws against non - citizens in the State of New York. 6. Employee Comments. None. 7. Common Council Response Alderperson Tomlan appreciated, and thanked the public, on its comments on the Statement of Immigration Enforcement resolution. 8. Workforce Diversity (WFD) Committee Update Alderperson Townsend reported that Manager of Organizational Development Leslie Moskowitz gave a presentation to the WFD Committee about the diversity audit and communication audit she conducted with the various departments. Alderperson Coles reported that there would be a formal report from the WFD Committee to the City Administration Committee and Common Council. HR Director Michell -Nunn reported that Tompkins County put into place an internship program. This program gave exposure to departments who do not have money to hire individuals from the protected class and, ultimately, being able to hire the individual permanently. Tompkins County City Administration Committee February 28, 2007 Page 3 representatives will attend the April meeting of the WFD Committee to talk about this program. 9. Safety Committee Update Chairperson Coles stated that there would be a formal report from this Committee at a future meeting. 10. Communication Committee. None. 11. Common Council 1. Statement of Immigration Enforcement Reliable published reports indicate a dramatic increase in enforcement of immigration laws in New York and elsewhere. Those reports further indicate that such enforcement measures have created a climate of fear among New York's non - citizen population. As a result of such enforcement measures, such families have been broken up, with parents forcibly separated from children, and in some cases, families forced to flee their homes and seek shelter wherever possible. Deportations and incarcerations of such individuals have occurred with ruthless haste and without regard to basic human rights and due process protections. New York State has always been a safe haven for those who are oppressed and beleaguered and has historically been the gateway for people from all parts of the globe who seek a better life for themselves and their families. The State of New York and the City of Ithaca should not tolerate the tactics employed by the U.S. Customs and Immigration Enforcement agency as described in the said published reports; now, therefore. Common Council requested that • The City of Ithaca stands opposed to the overbearing, frightening and cruel activities of the U.S. Customs and Immigration Enforcement agency in allegedly enforcing immigration laws against non - citizens in the State of New York; • The City of Ithaca calls upon the Hon. Charles Schumer and the Hon. Hillary Clinton, as well as the entire New York Congressional delegation, to take such measures as may be necessary to insure the humane and respectful treatment of such individuals and families within the State of New York; City Administration Committee February 28, 2007 Page 4 • The City of Ithaca calls upon Hon. Eliot Spitzer, Governor of the State of New York, to explore means and methods by which the State may assist non- citizens within New York deal with the effects of increased enforcement of immigration laws, including a definition of the appropriate role of the state police in such instances; • The Ithaca Police Department is requested to recognize that the enforcement of federal immigration laws is a function of federal law enforcement agencies; • The Ithaca Police Department is requested to refrain from participating in the enforcement of immigration laws except when specifically requested by federal officials in relation to particularized suspicion of criminal activity other than the mere presence of an individual in the City of Ithaca. After discussion, Alderperson Townsend made a motion to approve the request. Seconded by Alderperson Gelinas. After further discussion, Alderperson Townsend made a motion to withdraw his motion until the Committee could talk to the Police Department. Seconded by Alderperson Gelinas. Motion carried 5 -0. 2. Proposed City Resolution on the Need for Unemployment Insurance Reform A strong unemployment insurance program maintains the standard of living of working families above the poverty levels boosts communities and empowers the redeployment of New York's workforce into good jobs. New York's maximum weekly unemployment benefit has been frozen at $405 since 1998, leaving New York as 48th out of 50 states in protecting its workers against the financial impact of job loss. Only 41% of the jobless receive benefits at all, leaving hundreds of thousands left out each year. Many hundreds of hourly -paid employees of educational institutions in Tompkins County are unfairly denied any unemployment benefits during long periods of layoff between school terms. Most other hourly - paid workers are eligible for unemployment benefits when temporarily laid off, including workers doing exactly the some jobs as hourly -paid employees of educational institutions. Common Council requested that the City of Ithaca call on our State Legislators, the Governor and the Labor Commissioner to enact measures to bring significant reform to our unemployment insurance system, that this reform should include a meaningful increase in the maximum benefit as well as an increase in the calculation for lower wage workers, that this reform should include elimination of the unfair denial of access to unemployment benefits for hourly paid City Administration Committee February 28, 2007 Page 5 employees of educational institutions, that this reform should include expanded opportunities for jobless workers to complete job training programs to upgrade their skills, and that this reform provide improved access at all levels of the system to workers with limited English- speaking skills. After discussion, Alderperson Townsend made a motion to approve the request. Seconded by Alderperson Zumoff. The vote went as follows: Ayes (4): Coles, Townsend, Zumoff, Gelinas Nays (1): Tomlan Motion carried 4 -1. Alderperson Tomlan stated that she was unable to vote for this item due to the lack of information on a number of items and not the issue itself. 3. Approval of Substitute Members of the Joint Study Group Investigating Possible Shared Services Between the City and Town of Ithaca The City of Ithaca Common Council and the Town of Ithaca Board, desiring to examine the mutual benefits that could be achieved through possible shared services and possible consolidation measures, agreed by votes at their respective meetings of May 3, 2006, and May 8, 2006, to pursue such investigation through the establishment of a joint study group. Common Council voted unanimously to create such a study group to investigate, among others, the legal and regulatory aspects of shared services and possible consolidation, the pros and cons of both shared services and consolidation, the financial opportunities and liabilities of consolidation or shared services, an analysis of the property and sales tax scenario for a single jurisdiction, the concept of a new jurisdiction, and a unified comprehensive plan, and to provide an analysis of the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats for each topic area. Common Council voted that the study group would be composed of eight "at- large" members, mutually agreed upon by the City of Ithaca Common Council and the Town of Ithaca Board, with these representatives having knowledge of finance, law, planning, public works, police, or organizational culture, plus one elected official liaison from each jurisdiction, making a total of ten members. Common Council directed that such study group and its chair be nominated by a joint City -Town nomination committee consisting of the Mayor, the Supervisor, one Common Council member, and one Town Board City Administration Committee February 28, 2007 Page 6 member. The nomination committee, consisting of Mayor Carolyn K. Peterson, Supervisor Cathy Valentino, Alderperson Mary Tomlan, and Councilor Peter Stein, put forward the names of eight "at- large" study group members. Common Council and the Town Board voted at their respective meetings of October 4, 2006, and October 14, 2006, to name those eight persons as study group members, being Lois E. Chaplin, Paul R. Eberts, Nathan Fawcett, Randy Haus, Tom Niederkorn, Wendy Skinner, Stuart W. Stein, and Constance V. Thompson. Two of those members, Randy Haus and Wendy Skinner, have since found that they are unable to serve. The nominating committee has agreed to put forward the names of Ellen McCollister and Diane Bruns as study group members. Common Council requested that the City of Ithaca concurs in the naming of Ellen McCollister and Diane Bruns to the City -Town joint study group. After discussion, Alderperson Tomlan made a motion to approve the request. Seconded by Alderperson Zumoff. Motion carried 5 -0. 4. 2008 Budget Process The Committee discussed the upcoming budget process and how to proceed. The Committee suggested scheduling the dates for meetings now with the starting time at or after 4:00 p.m. 5. Common Council Rules of Procedure This item will be discussed at next month's meeting. 12. Youth Bureau 1. Amendment to Budget and Roster The Ithaca Youth Bureau has received $30,212 in new funding from the Tauck Foundation and an anonymous door for the College Discovery Program. The College Discovery Program is a new initiative developed in 2004 in order to further the Youth Bureau's goal of helping all students in the Ithaca City School District who excel in school. This proposal is budget neutral. The Youth Bureau requested approval to amend the 2007 Youth Bureau budget and roster to account for said funds. After discussion Alderperson Townsend made a motion to approve the request. Seconded by Alderperson Zumoff. Motion carried 5 -0. City Administration Committee February 28, 2007 Page 7 13. Chamberlain's Office 1. Change to the Tax Roll The Senior Exemption for 41 Reuben Street was incorrectly entered on the 2006 Assessment Roll and subsequent tax roll. The County Director of Assessment recommends that the application for correction to the 2007 Tax Rolls be approved. The Chamberlain's Office requested approval to correct the 2007 City Tax Rolls and issue corrected tax bills. After discussion, Alderperson Zumoff made a motion to approve the request. Seconded by Alderperson Gelinas. Motion carried 5 -0. 14. Police Department 1. Reauest to Amend 2007 Police Department Roster and Budaet The Ithaca Police Department recently filled the final vacancy for the position of Data Entry Specialist for the 3:00 P.M. to 11:30 P.M. shift covering the front desk. This would leave the front desk 11:30 P.M. to 7:30 A.M. shift to be covered by civilian and Police Officers overtime. In 2006, $147,000 in overtime costs was related to the coverage of the front desk and data entry. The creation of an additional Data Entry Specialist position for the 11:00 P.M. to 7:30 A.M. shift would significantly reduce overtime costs in this area and allow for additional reporting capabilities. The Police Department requested approval to amend the personnel roster by adding one (1) Data Entry Specialist. After discussion, Alderperson Gelinas made a motion to approve the request and to transfer the money between the accounts for the purposes of funding said additional position plus benefits starting April 1, 2007. Seconded by Alderperson Tomlan. Motion carried 5 -0. 15. Department of Public Works 1. Truck Traffic in Neighborhoods This item was addressed in another Committee and was removed from this agenda. City Administration Committee February 28, 2007 Page 8 16. Human Resources (HR) Department 1. Director's Report. HR Director Michell -Nunn reported on the following: COL Program: The second CDL Graduation program will be today. Ms. Michell -Nunn thanked Common Council for voting for this program. Class three will start soon. Workplace Violence Prevention Program: A risk assessment review will be conducted on all City facilities to identify any weaknesses. There will be a request for money for the unfunded mandate. CSEA Classification Study: The City received the tentative recommendation from the State. Information will be distributed to employees. Meetings for employees to ask questions will be scheduled at various worksites. There will be an Appeal Process. 17. Finance /Controller 1. Real Property Tax Law The Committee discussed this item and decided to do nothing at this time. 2. Controller's Report. Controller Thayer reported on the following: 2007 Sales Tax: 2006 Sales Tax revenues exceed budget by $80,000; he will continue to monitor 2007 activity. 2006 Final Adjustments: Most entries are in the positive results. Revenues exceeded expenditures. Snow Removal: It cost the City almost $83,000 in snow removal in January 2007 and February 2007. State Aid: The increased State Aid brings new reporting requirements to account for the money. City Administration Committee February 28, 2007 Page 9 18. Reports 1. Mayor's Report. The Mayor reported on the shared services between the municipalities, the Conference of Mayors, Economic Development and a zoning proposal. 2. Sub- Committee Updates. None. 3. Council Members' Announcements. None. 4. Next Month's Meeting: March 28, 2007. 19. Adjournment With no further business and on a motion by Alderperson Townsend, the meeting was adjourned at 9:11 P.M.