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Home My WebLink AboutMN-IURA-2011-03-25Ithaca Urban Renewal Agency Approved June 23, 2011 108 East Green Street Ithaca, New York 14850 (607) 274-6559 59 (607) 274-6558 (fax) (607) 274-6558 (fax) MINUTES MINUTES ITHACA URBAN RENEWAL AGENCY ITHACA URBAN RENEWAL AGENCY Council Chambers, City Hall Council Chambers, City Hall 8:30 AM, Friday, March 25, 2011 8:30 AM, Friday, March 25, 2011 Members: Susan Cummings, Tracy Farrell, Carolyn Peterson Members: Susan Cummings, Tracy Farrell, Carolyn Peterson Absent: Doug Dylla (excused) Absent: Doug Dylla (excused) Staff: Nels Bohn, JoAnn Cornish, René Funke, Sue Kittel, Alice Vargo Staff: Nels Bohn, JoAnn Cornish, René Funke, Sue Kittel, Alice Vargo Guest: Sunit “Lex” Chutintaranond, owner of Mia Noodle Bar and Restaurant, Inc. Guest: Sunit “Lex” Chutintaranond, owner of Mia Noodle Bar and Restaurant, Inc. I. Call to Order ‐ Chairperson Peterson called the meeting to order at 8:35 AM. I. Call to Order ‐ Chairperson Peterson called the meeting to order at 8:35 AM. II. Additions to or deletions from the agenda ‐ none II. Additions to or deletions from the agenda ‐ none III. Public comment ‐ None III. Public comment ‐ None IV. Approval of meeting minutes for: IV. Approval of meeting minutes for:  February 4, 2011, 1st continuation of January 27, 2011 meeting  February 4, 2011, 1st continuation of January 27, 2011 meeting  February 18, 2011, 2nd continuation of January 27, 2011 meeting  February 18, 2011, 2nd continuation of January 27, 2011 meeting  February 24, 2011, 3rd continuation of January 27, 2011 meeting  February 24, 2011, 3rd continuation of January 27, 2011 meeting  February 24, 2011, regular meeting ‐ Postponed until the April meeting.  February 24, 2011, regular meeting ‐ Postponed until the April meeting. Cummings moved, seconded by Farrell, approval of the 1st, 2nd and 3rd continuation of the January 27, 2011 meeting minutes. Cummings moved, seconded by Farrell, approval of the 1st, 2nd and 3rd continuation of the January 27, 2011 meeting minutes. Carried Unanimously 4‐0 Carried Unanimously 4‐0 The February 24, 2011 regular meeting minutes were not available for review. The February 24, 2011 regular meeting minutes were not available for review. V. Economic Development Committee V. Economic Development Committee A. CD‐RLF, request from Mia Noodle Bar Restaurant Inc. to modify the job creation projection contained as a condition of the 2/24/11 IURA loan approval A. CD‐RLF, request from Mia Noodle Bar Restaurant Inc. to modify the job creation projection contained as a condition of the 2/24/11 IURA loan approval Bohn summarized the proposed resolution recommended by the Economic Development Committee to revise the job creation goal to correct for the applicant’s miscalculation of FTE employment positions to be created. Members discussed how the project still exceeds the CDBG public benefit test to create at least one job per $35,000 of assistance. Bohn summarized the proposed resolution recommended by the Economic Development Committee to revise the job creation goal to correct for the applicant’s miscalculation of FTE employment positions to be created. Members discussed how the project still exceeds the CDBG public benefit test to create at least one job per $35,000 of assistance. Cummings moved, seconded by Farrell, the following: Cummings moved, seconded by Farrell, the following: IURA Minutes 3/25/11 Page 2 of 4 CD‐RLF, Loan Assistance to Mia Noodle Bar & Restaurant, Inc. – Revise Job Creation Projection Whereas, on February 24, 2011, the IURA approved a loan of $100,000 to Mia Noodle Bar & Restaurant, Inc. (Mia) for a $500,000 project to establish and operate a restaurant in the Plantation Building at 130‐132 E. MLK Jr./State Street, and Whereas, the loan approval is conditioned upon creation of eighteen (18) full‐time equivalent (FTE) jobs of which nine (9) will earn living wages, and Whereas, on March 5, 2011, Sunit Chutintaranond of Mia submitted correspondence stating that he miscalculated the full‐time equivalency of employment positions and submitted a request to revise the job creation projection to sixteen (16) FTE jobs of which thirteen (13) will earn living wages, and Whereas, requested change increases the loan funding per job created from $5,500/job to $6,300/job, well within the $35,000 maximum CDBG threshold for job creation, and Whereas, the requested change increases the number of job positions created that will be documented to earn living wages, and Whereas, the Economic Development Committee did not meet in March, but polling of individual members showed support for the job creation revision and the Committee Chairperson authorized placing the request on the IURA agenda; now, therefore, be it RESOLVED, that the IURA hereby approves the March 5, 2011 request from Mia Noodle Bar & Restaurant, Inc. to modify the job creation goal for Mia restaurant project from 18 FTE employment positions to 16 FTE employment positions, of which 13 FTEs will receive living wages, and modify the job creation loan condition accordingly, be it further, RESOLVED, that the Director of Community Development for the IURA is authorized to implement this resolution. Unanimously Accepted 3‐0 B. Committee Chairperson report ‐ none VI. Neighborhood Investment Committee A. Comment on area variance appeal #2843 for the Seneca Way Apartments project located at 140 Seneca Way Farrell summarized the recommendation from the Neighborhood Investment (NI) Committee to send correspondence from the NI Committee to the City of Ithaca Board of Zoning Appeals (BZA) and Board of Planning & Development (PB) recommending denial of area variances requested for the Seneca Way Apartments project. Farrell noted that the proposed project advances an IURA goal to develop new housing units in the greater downtown area but conflicts with the IURA goal to protect the integrity of existing residential neighborhoods. IURA Minutes 3/25/11 Page 3 of 4 Agency members reviewed the draft correspondence, dated March 25, 2011, and discussed whether IURA correspondence should be sent from the IURA or the NI Committee. Peterson asked why this project was selected for IURA comment to the BZA when the IURA did not comment on the much larger Collegetown Terrace project that also required area variances. She also indicated that she thought any correspondence to the BZA and PB on a project undergoing review should come from the IURA, not from a committee of the IURA. Peterson indicated that she was opposed to sending comments on this project, but she would consider calling a special IURA meeting in the future to provide Dylla with an opportunity to participate in the discussion. Cummings responded that she was unaware that the Collegetown Terrace project was located within the IURA project boundary area. She would have supported commenting to the BZA on the Collegetown Terrace project too, as the variance request for that project raised similar concerns for negative impact on the adjoining residential neighborhood. Farrell suggested the IURA take no action at this time. No motion was made on the NI Committee’s recommendation. B. Committee Chairperson report ‐ none VII. Governance Committee A. Public Authorities Law 1. Adopt IURA mission statement Cumming reviewed the recommended mission statement developed by the Governance Commmittee. After a brief discussion, Cumming moved, seconded by Farrell, the following: IURA Mission Statement WHEREAS, the New York State Public Authorities Law requires each public benefit corporation to adopt a mission statement and develop performance measurements to carry out the mission, and Whereas, at their March 18, 2011 meeting, the IURA Governance Committee reviewed this matter and recommended the following action; now, therefore be it RESOLVED, that the IURA hereby adopts the following IURA mission statement: “The Ithaca Urban Renewal Agency secures and manages resources to improve the social, physical and economic characteristics of the City of Ithaca by expanding access to quality affordable housing, strengthening neighborhoods and the local economy, and supporting other community development activities.” Carried Unanimously 3‐0 IURA Minutes 3/25/11 Page 4 of 4 Cummings credited Governance Committee member Kathy Schlather for her work on developing a succinct mission statement. 2. Adopt IURA investment guidelines Cummings moved, seconded by Farrell, the following: IURA Investment Guidelines WHEREAS, the New York State Public Authorities Law requires each public benefit corporation to adopt investment guidelines regarding the investing, monitoring, and reporting of funds of the corporation, and Whereas, at their March 18, 2011 meeting, the IURA Governance Committee reviewed this matter and recommended the following action; now, therefore be it RESOLVED, that the IURA hereby adopts the IURA Investment Guidelines, dated March 14, 2011 as herein attached. Carried Unanimously 3‐0 3. Agency member acknowledgement of fiduciary duties and responsibilities Bohn reported that Board members of public authorities are required to sign the acknowledgement form provided by the Authorities Budget Office. All Agency members present signed and submitted the acknowledgement form. 4. Annual Agency member evaluation of board performance Bohn reviewed the requirement for the Board to annually conduct a self‐evaluation of Board performance. He requested each member to complete the assessment form. B. Review of February 2011 IURA financials – members reviewed and accepted the February IURA financials. C. Committee Chairperson report ‐ none VIII. New/Old Business A. IURA Chairperson Report ‐ none B. Staff Report ‐ none C. Other New/Old Business ‐ none IX. Motion to Adjourn – The meeting was adjourned by consensus at 10:07 AM. END Minutes prepared by A. Vargo, edited by N. Bohn j:\community development\admin files\minutes\iura\2011\3march\3‐25‐11 iura minutes nb edit.doc