HomeMy WebLinkAboutMN-IURA-2010-05-27Approved Ithaca
Urban
Renewal
Agency
108 East Green Street
Ithaca, New York 14850
(607) 274-6559
(607) 274-6558 (fax)
MINUTES
IURA
MAY 27, 2010
Present: Carolyn Peterson (Chair), Sue Cummings, Doug Dylla, Tracy Farrell
Staff: Nels Bohn, JoAnn Cornish, Sue Kittel, Alice Vargo, Phyllisa DeSarno
Other: J.R. Clairborne, Liaison (9:30 a.m.)
I. Call to Order
The meeting was called to order at 8:37 a.m. by Chairperson Peterson
II. Additions to or deletions from the Agenda
Dylla requested an update on the P&C Building; this item was added under VIII. C.
III. Public Comment - None
IV. Approval of Meeting Minutes
April 23, 2009 Minutes
Motion by Farrell, seconded by Dylla to accept the minutes with corrections
Approved Unanimously 4-0
September 24, 2009 Minutes
Motion by Dylla, seconded by Peterson to accept minutes with corrections
Approved Unanimously 4-0
March 25, 2010 Minutes
Motion to accept the minutes as written by Farrell, seconded by Peterson
Approved Unanimously 3-1 Dylla abstained
V. Neighborhood Investment Committee
A. HUD Entitlement Grant, Program Amendment to 2010 Action Plan to Fund the
Ithaca Free Clinic Relocation
There was a discussion on stats and percentages of clients living in the
City/Town and outlying areas. The clinic will be encouraged to document the
percentages of clients served from the town, city and other out-lying areas.
Motion by Farrell, seconded by Cummings
Amendment: Motion by Farrell, seconded by Cummings
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HUD Entitlement Grant, Program Amendment to 2010 Action Plan to Fund the
Ithaca Free Clinic Relocation
Whereas, the Ithaca Health Alliance provides free healthcare services to area
residents who do not otherwise have access to medical services, and
Whereas, this free clinic has provided care to as many as 1,500 clients a year,
and
Whereas, the current location of the Ithaca Free Clinic offices no longer meet
their needs due to the limited amount of physical space, lack of accessibility
and poor layout for such an enterprise, and
Whereas, the Ithaca Health Alliance has secured a new location for their clinic
offices at 521-523 West Seneca Street, Ithaca, NY, and
Whereas, the Ithaca Health Alliance has requested Community Development
Block Grant funds to renovate the new location to meet their needs of their
program, and
Whereas, there is $20,476.60 in unallocated CDBG funds remaining in the
2010 Action Plan, and
Whereas, the Neighborhoods Investment Committee reviewed this matter at
their May 14, 2010 meeting and recommended the following, and
Whereas, this award does not exceed the threshold of a substantial program
amendment and may be implemented upon action of the IURA and
notification of the Common Council, per the requirements of the City of Ithaca
Citizen Participation Plan, now, therefore, be it
Resolved, that the IURA hereby approves a program amendment to the 2010
Action Plan to fund the Ithaca Health Alliance $20,000.00 of 2010 CDBG
Entitlement funds for the purpose of renovating the new program space for
the Ithaca Free Clinic at 521-523 W. Seneca Street, subject to the following:
Receipt by the IURA of a cost estimate for the renovation prepared by
Holt Architects or another similarly qualified building design
professional detailing the entire projected cost for the necessary
renovations,
Proof of availability of all necessary matching funds to ensure that the
building is suitably renovated and can obtain a certificate of compliance.
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Submission of reports and documentation demonstrating the use of the
Free Clinic program services and benefiting at least 51% low- and
moderate-income persons, as defined by the US Department of Housing
and Urban Development (HUD), and
Provision of a signed lease for the premises of at least 5 years duration,
and be it further
Resolved, $467.60 of 2010 CDBG Entitlement funds shall be allocated as
activity delivery costs to the IURA for staff and overhead costs directly
involved in carrying out the project.
Approved Unanimously 4-0
B. Lake Avenue Single Room Occupancy (SRO) (#2.4, 1996 year #2CDBG), Modify
Loan Terms
Under their 15 year contract the SRO has to report L/M/I, which they have been
doing consistantly. The proposed resolution will free staff time from monitoring the
on-going annual compliance for this program. The SRO has kept the sprinkler
system updated and certified, and the property in good repair. Questions were
raised if the contract could be rewritten, or a letter of agreement to owner to keep the
property as L/M/I. It was a suggested that staff could monitor rents, but realized it
would not be proof of income. Within the guidelines of the contract, if the owners
changed from the SRO to regular apartments, they would need to pay back the
IURA for the sprinkler system (around $10,000).
Motion by Farrell, seconded by Dylla
Lake Avenue Single Room Occupancy (SRO) (#2.4, 1996 year #2CDBG),
Modify Loan Terms
Whereas, as part of the second year increment of the three-year 1996 CDBG award,
the IURA provided a deferred loan of $22,000 for installation of a sprinkler system at
the 10-unit, single room occupancy (SRO) facility owned by Sandra L. Barr located at
104 Lake Avenue, and
Whereas, the sprinkler system was successfully installed in 2002 thereby satisfying a
fire safety code requirement for continued occupancy of the building as an SRO, and
Whereas, the deferred loan was structured to amortize over a 15-year period and
bears no principal or interest so long as at least 51% of the units are occupied by low-
and moderate-income (LMI) households at affordable rents, and
Whereas, the term of the loan began on September 5, 2002, the date of the final
disbursement of loan funds, and
Whereas, the SRO is currently occupied by 10 residents, a majority of which are
documented as LMI persons, at rents of $375-$400 per month, and
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Whereas, the project remains in compliance with all IURA requirements, and
Whereas, IURA contract monitoring staff has raised a question whether the
administrative effort required by staff to document on-going annual compliance of
this agreement through 2017 would be better used to monitor projects with potential
compliance issues, and
Whereas, this project is stable in terms of beneficiaries and rents, and
Whereas, IURA staff recommends reducing the term of the loan to seven years to
terminate the loan on September 5, 2010, and
Whereas, the IURA Neighborhood Investment Committee considered this matter at
their May 14, 2010 meeting and recommended the following; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, that the IURA hereby authorizes the Chairperson to sign an
amendment to the loan agreement for the Lake Avenue SRO project (#2.4, 1996
year #2 CDBG) to reduce the term of the loan from 15 years to seven years.
Approved 3-1 (Cummings)
C. Chairperson Report
Farrell gave a brief update on the RIBs progress. Bohn added that the
Council has approved to support money being spent for the RIBs building.
Kittel stated that RIBs also needs to build a storage shed.
Farrell also went over the guidelines for multiple funding objectives.
These guidelines will be tried out for a year and work on the self-
sufficiency plans for fundraising.
VI. Governance Committee
A. Create and Fill Contracts Monitor I Employment Position - Resolution
Cummings reported that the Governance Committee unanimously endorsed hiring
of Rene Funke as Contracts Monitor I. At the present time there is a rough outline for
her regular summer hours. She will be attending training for CDBG. There is
flexibility with a chance for expansion in hours. Cummings asked if Funke would
attend the next meeting.
Moved by Cummings, seconded by Farrell
Create and Fill IURA Contracts Monitor I Employment Position
Whereas, on March 25, 2010, the IURA authorized a job search to fill part-time,
permanent Contracts Monitor I position at a salary rate to be determined based on
qualifications, contingent upon final approval of the IURA, and
Whereas, a job search was undertaken that resulted in three interviews conducted by
the Contracts Monitor I search committee composed of Sue Kittel, Nels Bohn, and
Wies Van Leuken, and
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Whereas, the search committee unanimously selected Ms. René Funke as the
preferred candidate to fill the job position and recommended that she be offered the
job subject to satisfactory reference checks, and
Whereas, the preferred candidate is highly qualified for the position and possesses
professional experience developing systems for documenting compliance with
contractual obligations, managing a HUD-funded rental security deposit assistance
program, and building cooperative relationships with clients and funding agencies,
and
Whereas, reference checks yielded positive results, and
Whereas, on May 14, 2010, a job offer was made to the preferred candidate to fill the
Contracts Monitor I position on a part-time, 25-hours per week basis at a salary of
$28,367, contingent upon IURA approval, and
Whereas, on May 15, 2010, the preferred candidate accepted the contingent job offer,
and
Whereas, IURA staff certifies that IURA financial resources are sufficient to sustain
the proposed hiring for the foreseeable future, and
Whereas, the Governance Committee considered this matter at their May 21, 2010
meeting and recommended the following; now, therefore, be it
Resolved, that the IURA hereby creates the position of Contracts Monitor I as
referenced in the attached job description, dated March 14, 2010, and be it further,
Resolved, that the IURA hereby authorizes the hiring of Ms. René Funke to fill the
IURA Contracts Monitor I position subject to the following terms:
Title: Contracts Monitor I
Salary: $28,367 annually ($21.80/hour)
Work Hours: 25 hours per week, based on a mutually satisfactory
schedule
Employment Status: Permanent, part-time, at-will employee
Start Date: June 1, 2010
Working Conditions/Benefits: Governed by the IURA Human Resource Policies,
including health insurance, sick leave, paid vacations and
retirement benefits.
Approved Unanimously 4-0
B. 2010 Annual Election of IURA Officers - Resolution
At the May 11, 20010 Governance, Cummings and Peterson each stated that they are
willing to make themselves available for another term as officers, but did not think it
appropriate to develop a committee recommendation as they compose a majority of
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the committee quorum. The Committee unanimously agreed to forward this matter
to the IURA meeting for nominations and action.
Farrell moved, Dylla seconded.
2010 Annual Election of IURA Officers
WHEREAS, officers of the IURA consist of a Chairperson, Vice Chairperson and
Secretary, and
WHEREAS, Section 2 of Article III of the IURA By-Laws call for election of the
Chairperson and Vice Chairperson of the IURA at each annual May meeting of the
Agency, and
WHEREAS, Section 2 of Article III of the IURA By-Laws further states that the
Agency shall appoint an Executive Director who shall serve as Secretary to the
Agency, and
WHEREAS, by resolution dated May 22, 2008, the IURA appointed the Director of
Planning & Development for the City of Ithaca, ex-officio, as the IURA Executive
Director, and
WHEREAS, an IURA member shall continue to hold office until their successor is
appointed and qualified, and
RESOLVED, that the IURA recommends to the Common Council to authorize
expenditure of up to $5,000 from capital reserve account #24 – Energy Efficiency
Improvements - to fund the Add Alternative to upgrade controls to include DCV
sensors that will improve energy efficiency of the air conditioning system.
WHEREAS, at their May 21, 2010 meeting, the Governance Committee
recommended the annual election for Chairperson and Vice Chairperson be
advanced to the full IURA meeting for nominations and election; now, therefore,
be it
RESOLVED, that the IURA hereby elects Carolyn Peterson as Chairperson and
Susan Cummings as Vice Chairperson of the IURA.
Approved Unanimously 4-0
C. Review of IURA Financials for April, 2010
Cummings inquired about Diane’s financial position. Bohn stated that another
mechanic was hired. Bohn also stated that he spoke with Bob Deemer and that he
recommended lowering Diane’s payments. As soon as Diane brings in her
financials, Bohn will meet with her.
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State Theatre has made another payment and believes that they are up-to-date on
their payments. We will find out if they are up-to-date when the report comes on
June 8th for the ED meeting.
Audit Report - Thayer stated they are on track with the finances. Cummings
asked Bohn to extend a thank you to Thayer.
Bohn reported that spend downs are at the lowest ever. He also spoke about the
benefits and downfalls of an early application processing. Kittel also stated that
early process of applications is not necessarily beneficial. Dylla spoke about a
structured evaluation of early acceptance application process.
Kittel left the meeting at 9:24
J.R. arrived at 9:30 a.m.
D. Chairperson report
CHI - They are making good progress.
INHS - Bohn is working on an agreement with Mozzarella and Sicherman.
Mutual Housing is having problems finding information on how to proceed with
INHS in buying MHI property. Gary Marsden is currently managing the property.
VII. Economic Development Committee
A. Chairperson report
Dylla went over the goals of the ED committee
ED has a new prospect for membership
There was a brief discussion on renting the Emerson building
B. Other
VIII. New/Old Business
A. Chairperson Report
B. Staff Report
Bohn reported on the Section 3 Housing plan. Cummings described the plans for
L/M income. Bohn also discussed the youth employment program. The ideal
outcome for this program would be long-term funding.
C. Other
Phyllisa DeSarno updated the Agency on the P&C building. The owners have
decided not to sell the building. There was a brief discussion about possible uses of
this building.
There was also a brief update on the Challenge building.
D. Next meeting date: June 24, 2010
IX. Motion to Adjourn
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The meeting was adjourned at 10:40
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