HomeMy WebLinkAboutMN-CC-2011-10-25COMMON COUNCIL PROCEEDINGS
CITY OF ITHACA, NEW YORK
Special Meeting 5:00 p.m. October 25, 2011
PRESENT:
Mayor Peterson
Alderpersons (9) McGonigal, Dotson, Rosario, Clairborne, McCollister, Zumoff,
Rooker, Myrick, Mohlenhoff
OTHERS PRESENT:
City Clerk – Conley Holcomb
City Attorney – Hoffman
City Controller – Thayer
Planning & Development Director – Cornish
Deputy Director of Economic Development – DeSarno
City Planner – Kusznir
Assistant City Engineer – West
EXCUSED:
Alderperson Cogan
1. SPECIAL ORDER OF BUSINESS:
1.1 Request to Approve Funding Match for TIGER III (Transportation
Investment Generating Economic Recovery) Grant Application - Resolution
By Alderperson Rosario: Seconded by Alderperson Myrick
WHEREAS, the United States Department of Transportation (USDOT) has announced
the availability of funds in the TIGER III Discretionary Grants (TIGER III) program, which
notice was published in the Federal Register on August 12, 2011, and
WHEREAS, Common Council is interested in applying for a TIGER III grant so as to
make a large investment in the transportation system in the central business district in
order to maintain a state of good repair, to improve the connectivity between downtown
and the Collegetown and Cornell, to make the downtown a more livable and sustainable
environment, to strengthen the City of Ithaca’s position as a hub for the county and
region, and to encourage and support economic activity in the City, and
WHEREAS, staff from the Department of Planning and Development have begun
scoping a grant eligible project to include, but not be limited to, the following
components:
Upgraded University/Commons Bus Rapid Transit Loop-Enhanced
Buses and Stations, Queue Jumping, and Signal Preemption
Dedicated Bus Rapid Transit, East State/MLK Jr. Street Lane and
Rebuild of Stewart Avenue
Commons Pedestrian Road Rebuild/Interactive Digital Bus Terminal
Commons Bike Share Station/Cornell Bike Share Station
Cornell Remote Parking
Ithaca Car Share Parking Space and Car
Electric Car Charging Stations
Privately-Sponsored Non-Transportation Amenities, and
WHEREAS, State and City of Ithaca environmental quality review laws and regulations
define as “Type II” (i.e., exempt from environmental review) actions that involve
“conducting concurrent environmental, engineering, economic, feasibility and other
studies and preliminary planning and budgetary processes necessary to the formulation
of a proposal for action, provided those activities do not commit the agency to
commence, engage in or approve such action”; now, therefore, be it
October 25, 2011
2
RESOLVED, That, as a preliminary step intended to determine the economic feasibility
of the package of transportation improvements including those listed above, the Mayor
of the City of Ithaca, or her designee, is hereby authorized to submit a TIGER III
application for funding to the United States Department of Transportation in accordance
with the provisions of the Notice of Funds Available, in an amount not to exceed
$20,950,000.00, and be it further
RESOLVED, That, upon approval of such request, the City shall conduct environmental
review as required, for the projects proposed to be undertaken pursuant to the TIGER III
grant, and be it further
RESOLVED, That, upon approval of said TIGER III grant to the City, or any portion
thereof, and upon completion of all necessary environmental review of the components
of said project and approval of the same by the Common Council, the Mayor, or his or
her designee, is hereby authorized to enter into and execute a project agreement with
USDOT, or its designee, for such financial assistance to the City of Ithaca for design,
right of way acquisition, construction, and construction inspection of the TIGER III
application as submitted by the Mayor, approved by the USDOT, and as approved
and/or modified by environmental review and any other applicable City of Ithaca review
process, and be it further,
RESOLVED, That Common Council hereby confirms its intention to commit funds in an
amount not to exceed $3,400,000 (to be derived from serial bonds), contingent upon an
award of funds from the TIGER III program and completion of environmental review.
City Planner Kusznir explained that Common Council approved a funding match last
year for the TIGER II grant application; however, the City’s proposal was not funded.
She explained that this is an 80% Federal to 20% Local funding match. The City is
partnering with Cornell University, TCAT, the Downtown Ithaca Alliance, and Ithaca Car
Share on this application. The City’s share would be approximately $3.4 million, and
Cornell has agreed to commit $800,000 to this project if awarded the grant. The full
application is due on October 31, 2011.
Assistant City Engineer West stated that the Stewart Avenue reconstruction project
design phase has been funded and is underway; however, no funding has been
approved for the actual construction project. The cost estimate for the project is $5.3
million which includes a brick pavement from E. State/Martin Luther King Street and
Campus Road and intersection improvements. He further noted that Stewart Avenue is
located within the East Hill Historic District.
Alderperson Dotson disclosed her employment with Ithaca Car Share and stated that
she would be recusing herself from this discussion.
Discussion followed on the floor regarding the funding cycle should the grant application
be successful.
Planning and Development Director Cornish thanked City Planner Jennifer Kusznir for
all of her work on this project.
A vote on the Resolution resulted as follows:
Carried (8-0-1)
Alderperson Dotson Recused
Alderperson Cogan Absent
ADJOURNMENT
On a motion the meeting adjourned at 5:30 p.m.
______________________________ _______________________________
Julie Conley Holcomb, CMC Carolyn K. Peterson,
City Clerk Mayor