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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMN-CC-2010-07-14COMMON COUNCIL PROCEEDINGS CITY OF ITHACA, NEW YORK Special Meeting 7:00 p.m. July 14, 2010 PRESENT: Mayor Peterson Alderpersons (9) Coles, Dotson, Rosario, Clairborne, McCollister, Zumoff, Rooker, Myrick, Mohlenhoff Members of the Board of Public Works, Planning Board, Natural Areas Commission, Disability Advisory Council, and Conservation Advisory Council OTHERS PRESENT: City Clerk – Conley Holcomb City Attorney – Hoffman Superintendent of Public Works – Gray Deputy Fire Chief – Parsons EXCUSED: Alderperson Cogan PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE: Mayor Peterson led all present in the Pledge of Allegiance to the American Flag. NEW BUSINESS: Mayor Peterson requested the addition of Item 3.1 Statement of Support for Ithaca Police Sergeant Bryan Bangs. No Common Council member objected. SPECIAL ORDER OF BUSINESS: 2.1 Presentation by Members of Bridge Fences Group – including analysis of suicide contagion, interim fencing, identification of specific bridges for barriers, and local history of suicides by jumping. There were information boards on display for the attendees to review. David Cutter, Cornell University Landscape Architect, began his presentation by identifying the eight bridges that have had chain link fencing installed on them as a temporary suicide means restriction. He noted that three of the bridges are owned by the City (2 on Stewart Avenue and the Thurston Avenue Bridge) and five are owned by Cornell University; four bridges are vehicular bridges, and four bridges are pedestrian bridges. The bridges span Fall Creek and Cascadilla Creek and each has a different bridge design. The common factors of all the bridges include their beautiful views, the fact that they are gateways to parts of the Cornell campus from other areas of the community, and all of them have had fatalities as a result of falls or jumps. Mr. Cutter explained that the three student suicides from the bridges that occurred in March, 2010 resulted in a declaration of an emergency from the Mayor and the installation of temporary chain link fencing on the bridges. Cornell University engaged three experts in the fields of psychiatry and suicide who visited Ithaca and authored a report entitled “Preventing Suicide by Jumping from Bridges Owned by the City of Ithaca and by Cornell University – Consultation to Cornell University – Extended Report, July, 2010”. These mental health experts have recommended that the bridge barriers remain in place; however, the chain link fencing is not visually acceptable to the community. Cornell has piloted a newer material on a portion of the Thurston Avenue Bridge that consists of a black mesh metal grid, 2”x 6”, that: allows for better views, is less flexible / less climbable, and would accommodate viewing portals being cut into it. Mr. Cutter explained that Cornell would like to replace the current fencing with this newer material July 14, 2010 2 as another temporary measure that would allow for a long-term solution to be developed that would be customized to each individual bridge. Susan Murphy, Vice President of Student and Academic Services, Cornell University thanked the Mayor for providing this opportunity for the City’s leadership and the public to learn about what Cornell is doing in response to the cluster of suicides that was experienced earlier this year. She introduced Steve Johnson, Vice-President for Government Relations, Dr. Janet Corson Rikert, Director of University Health Services, Greg Eells, Director of Counseling and Psychological Services at Cornell, and Dr. Eric Caine, professor and chairman of the Department of Psychiatry at the University of Rochester Medical Center, and one of the authors of the report described above. Ms. Murphy described the comprehensive network of mental health counseling services available at Cornell, including: • Educational strategies for faculty, staff and students to help notice and respond to people in distress • A system of support through a network of programs and services that foster a “caring community” at Cornell • Student leadership and peer support through EARS, Cornell Minds Matter, RAs, etc. • Policy initiatives aimed at identifying and supporting students in distress • Clinical services including psychiatry, counseling, depression screening, campus outreach, campus consultation and referral to community services • Crisis Services with 24/7 phone access to health services and police, crisis managers, and post-vention services Moving forward, President Skorton has called upon the campus to: • Enhance efforts to identify and support students in distress • Expand counseling access, outreach and education • Work with new students, through orientation, about learning to ask for help • Have faculty review the academic calendar and advising systems She noted that prior to last Spring Cornell had not experienced a single student suicide in more than 3 years; however, this past academic year there were 6 student suicides, the final 3 of them were by jumping in a month’s time. Cornell officials consulted with three leading researchers in the field of suicide (with particular expertise in the epidemiology of suicide clusters and contagion and suicide by jumping and means restriction) who strongly recommended that the temporary fencing remain in place until permanent means restriction could be designed and installed as the risk remained high, and the contagion could not be assumed over. Over the past two decades, there have been 29 suicide attempts from or near the bridges around Cornell campus, all but 2 were fatal. Of those 29 suicides & attempts: • 15 were Cornell students (enrolled or on leave of absence) – 10 were from the local community & 4 were from out of town. • 17 were associated with City-owned bridges – 12 were associated with Cornell- owned bridges The total number of suicides by enrolled Cornell students, by all methods, in the past 21 years is 25. Of those, 12 have been by jumping from the East Hill gorge bridges. Means restriction has been shown to be an effective way of reducing the rate of suicides, often with very little substitution of a different means of committing suicide. She further noted that this issue is not exclusive to the Cornell campus; it is a community issue as well. Permanent means restrictions can take a range of innovative forms, given enough time for a team to explore the possibilities for each bridge, and design them. The chain link fences are distasteful to everyone, so Cornell is volunteering to replace the chain link on all of the bridges with a different type of temporary material that will have less of an effect on the views on the bridges and to the bridges from other vantage points. July 14, 2010 3 Ms. Murphy thanked all of the City staff members & elected officials who have been meeting regularly with Cornell representatives to share information and discuss views, and urged Common Council to support an extension of the declared emergency and the temporary fences on the bridges. A question and answer period followed: Alderperson Mohlenhoff questioned the durability of the black mesh fencing. Mr. Cutter explained that the metal is a heavier grade than the chain link, and has a coated finish that should last for several years. Alderperson Coles referenced the “Preventing Suicide by Jumping from Bridges Owned by the City of Ithaca and by Cornell University – Consultation to Cornell University – Extended Report, July, 2010” and noted that Cornell’s suicide rate is similar to the rates of other college campuses. Dr. Eric Caine discussed “media-fed” suicide events noting that the last 3 suicides that Cornell experienced were different in that they resulted in mimicry and explosive notoriety. Alderperson Zumoff noted that he does not feel it is the City’s or the University’s responsibility to protect all of the people 100% of the time, and questioned what measures were reasonable to take. He further questioned what perceptions the fences gave. Ms. Murphy reaffirmed that Cornell is asking the City to extend the public health & safety emergency declaration with upgraded fencing at no cost to the City, in order to have enough time to design permanent bridge barriers. Larry Roberts, Chair of the Disability Advisory Council, commented on the changing nature of the student body in terms of disabilities and mental health issues. He noted that improved medications and accessibility give more people access to higher education. Bill Goldsmith, Board of Public Works Commissioner, questioned whether evidence showed the more vulnerable groups have higher suicide rates and that those rates are lower for people in school. Mr. Eells responded that no data is available yet but generally suicide rates in college are going down as access to guns is restricted, alcohol intake on campus is more restricted and enhanced counseling services are available. The following members of the public spoke in support of bridge barriers: Kris Bertelsen, Jacksonville, read a letter of support from a friend Terrie White, Ithaca Bradford Carruth, Ithaca Jennifer Streid-Mullen, Executive Director of Suicide Prevention Dr. Rob Mackenzie, Cayuga Medical Center Larry Roberts, read a letter from Robert Deluca, Tompkins County Mental Health Director Greg Gizewski, Disability Advisory Council Richard Driscoll, Suicide Prevention and Crisis Center John Schroeder, Planning Board, requested formal representation on the bridge architecture group as the quality of barrier design will be of utmost importance. Joel Harlan, Newfield, spoke in opposition to the bridge barriers. Mayor Peterson noted that this topic will be discussed again in a week at the Planning Committee meeting, and then again at the August 4, 2010 Common Council meeting. Recess: Common Council recessed at 8:45 p.m. Alderperson Dotson left the meeting at 8:55 p.m. July 14, 2010 4 Reconvene: Common Council reconvened into Regular Session at 9:10 p.m. NEW BUSINESS: Mayor Peterson shared a letter she received by a member of the public to voice their support for Ithaca Police Sgt. Bryan Bangs and noted that it was indicative of the support of the community. 3.1 Statement of Support for Ithaca Police Sergeant Bryan Bangs - Resolution By Alderperson Clairborne: Seconded by Alderperson Myrick RESOLVED, That Common Council hereby issues the following statement of support for Ithaca Police Sergeant Bryan Bangs: During the early morning hours of July 10, 2010, a deliberately set fire destroyed the home of Sergeant Bryan Bangs and he barely escaped with his life. The New York State Police has since determined that the fire was incendiary in nature, and was an intentional act of Arson. Common Council and the Mayor of the City of Ithaca hereby express our heartfelt sympathies to the Bangs family for the loss they’ve experienced, and our gratitude that no one was fatally injured. We further express our complete support to Sergeant Bryan Bangs and his family, and the men and women of the Ithaca Police Department, during these difficult days. We appreciate and respect the work the men and women of the Ithaca Police Department do on a daily basis, at times under very difficult, stressful, and dangerous conditions, to ensure that Ithaca remains a safe place for all of its residents. We absolutely condemn the actions of the person(s) involved in the arson and attempted murder of Sergeant Bangs. Acts of violence are not acceptable in our community, especially when directed at our officers who are charged to protect us. We abhor this type of violence in our community and it will not be tolerated. We ask that the citizens of our great city and the residents of Tompkins County, rally together during what we trust will be a successful New York State Police Investigation, so that the person(s) responsible for this act will be quickly brought to justice. Furthermore, we offer any assistance necessary within our authority, to the Ithaca Police Department to support them in this critical time of need. Alderperson McCollister stated that Common Council is right in sending a strong message of support to Sgt. Bangs. She stated that she fully supports the work of the Ithaca Police Department and that it is a great relief that the Bangs family was unharmed. Alderperson Mohlenhoff voiced her support for Alderperson McCollister’s statement and extended her thanks to the volunteers who have been working to clean up the Bangs property and to the organizers of the benefit that will be held on behalf of the Bangs family. Alderperson Zumoff noted that a relief fund has been established to support the Bangs family at Chemung Canal Trust, 806 West Buffalo Street, and he encouraged members of the community to donate what they could. Alderperson Coles stated that when she thinks about what could have happened, it breaks her heart. She stated that she hopes that the community does not descend any further into this strife and violence. She further stated that it is vital that the community support the Ithaca Police Department. July 14, 2010 5 Alderperson Mohlenhoff explained that Alderperson Cogan could not attend this meeting due to a conflict; however, he has voiced his full support for this Resolution. Alderperson Myrick noted that he wishes he could give more than a statement of support, and stated that he is grateful for everything the Ithaca Police Department does, and encouraged everyone to donate to the Bryan Bangs Relief fund. Alderperson Rosario noted that he shares the same sentiments and that his interactions with the Ithaca Police Department have been outstanding. He stated that it is important in sending this strong message that there is a sense of appreciation from the governing body of the City. Alderperson Clairborne stated that the impact of crime is far reaching, and what happened on July 10th broke all the norms and wounded the community by creating fear and distrust. He stated that it is vital to restore a sense of safety and security, and a heightened sense of community. Mayor Peterson stated that she was pleased Common Council was able to make this statement. She noted that she and Police Chief Vallely held a news conference on Monday, where they shared their statements, but it is very powerful for the legislative body to send this kind of message. She thanked all of the police officers who attended the meeting in support of the Resolution. Mayor Peterson further explained that her heart was with this Resolution; however, she is not allowed to vote on it. A vote on the Resolution resulted as follows: Carried Unanimously (8-0) Alderpersons Cogan, Dotson absent from vote) ADJOURNMENT: On a motion the meeting adjourned at 9:25 p.m. ______________________________ _______________________________ Julie Conley Holcomb, CMC Carolyn K. Peterson, City Clerk Mayor