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Home My WebLink AboutMN-CC-1984-02-27COMMON COUNCIL PROCEEDINGS CITY OF ITHACA, NEW YORK 283 Special Meeting 8:30 P.M. February 27, 1984 PRESENT: Mayor - Gutenberger Aldermen (10) - Cummings, Dennis, Haine, Hoffman, Holdswor.th, Killeen, Myers, Peterson, Romanowski, Schlather OTHERS PRESENT: Urban Renewal Agency Members (S) - Stein Dir., Planning & Development - Van Dep. Dir. Planning $ Development - Developer - Mack Travis Sr. Vice President, C.U. - Wm. G. City Clerk - Rundle Gutenberger, Dennis, Jones, Reed, Cort Sieverding Herbster PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE: Mayor Gutenberger led all present in the Pledge of Allegiance to the American flag. 1, 0 1. a-1 ANNOUNCEMENTS: Strand Theatre ()� Mayor Gutenberger reported that in an earlier meeting that after- noon of the Urban Renewal Agency a unanimous.vote was taken with (70 the result that the City will be enforcing the agreement between <r the City of Ithaca and the Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC) in the Strand Theatre matter. The resolution follows: "BE IT RESOLVED, That the IURA /CDA directs the City Attorney to take such legal actions as are necessary to secure such funds from the owners and to report regularly back on progress on this matter." This action was taken on the very strong recommendation of ARC,, the Dept. of State and HUD. Mayor Gutenberger commented that all steps have been taken to make that project work and it is now time to collect those funds. How- ever, there is still opportunity for the owner to secure a tenant which would result in stopping the legal. action. Communication Policy Mayor Gutenberger reminded the Council that the City has a policy for exchange of information between persons; because it is very ex- pensive to mail every single item, boxes are provided on the first floor of City Hall and it is the responsibility of the Council members to pick up their mail. Letter from Lewis S. Roscoe Mayor Gutenberger read the following letter from Lewis S. Roscoe, Director of Facilities Planning Office, Cornell University: "February 27, 1984 Thys Van Cort City Planning Director City Hall Very truly yours, Lewis S. Roscoe Director" Dear Thys: With regard to handicapped access from the hotel to the Performing Arts Center, please be assured that we will ask our architect to coordinate with the developer's architects so that a connection between the project can be made accessible, at the 746' level, or thereabouts, as we have discussed. Very truly yours, Lewis S. Roscoe Director" 284 -2- February 27, 1984 SPECIAL ORDER OF BUSINESS_: Colle etown Proposal Steve Fontana, Fontana`s Shoe• in Collegetown and President of he Collegetown Enhancement Association, spoke to the Council, encouraging them to take an optimistic view toward resolving some of the problems in Collegetown, Collegetown Hotel Retail Parking Garage UDAG Proposal Ithaca Urban Renewal Agency: By Agency member Stein: Seconded by member Dennis WHEREAS, the IURA has been designated. by the Common Council as lead agency for the Collegetown Redevelopment project given its role in transferring the development site to the developer, administering the proposed UDAG loan and administering the development agreements that will be entered into as part of this project, and WHEREAS, the Economic Development Committee of the IURA has been part of the Negotiating Committee that negotiated the Option Agreement with the developer and is currently negotiating the terms of the UDAG loan and land transfer, and WHEREAS, the Negotiating Committee is recommending a $1.6S million. UDAG application. for the proposed hotel, retail and parking garage project, and WHEREAS, the Negotiating Committee has not yet completed the UDAG loan and Land transfer negotiations, and WHEREAS, meeting the February 29 UDAG deadline is essential if this project is to move forward; now, therefore, be it RESOLVED, That the IURA recommend authorize the Mayor to submit the February 29, and be it further RESOLVED, That the IURA recommend Negotiating Committee to continue relative to the UDAG loan and Ian to the Common Council that it $1.65 million UDAG application by that the Council directs the its negotiations with the developer d transfer, and be it _further RESOLVED, That the results of these negotiations be brought to the IURA and Common Council for their consideration and approval before such terms are sent to HUD. Discussion followed. on the floor. A vote on the resolution resulted as fol.l.ows: Carried Unanimously Common Council: By Alderman Dennis: Seconded by Alderperson Cummings WHEREAS, the City of Ithaca, Mack Travis, the preferred developer, Cornell University and representatives of community groups have developed a joint plan for the redevelopment of Collegetown that includes a hotel, retail and parking garage complex and a Performing Arts Center, and WHEREAS, the Common Council approved an option agreement between the City and Mack Travis that defines the responsibilities each party "Isi will assume in the development of a hotel_, retail and parking garage project, and WHEREAS, the City, through its Negotiating Committee and the develop- er have determined that, as described in the option agreement a $1.6S million UDAG is necessary to complete the financing for this project, and WHEREAS, the Negotiating Committee and developer haverDt completed the UDAG loan agreement negotiations and land transfer agreement, and -3- February 27,2844 WHEREAS, the deadline for submitting a UDAG application to the Department of Housing and Urban Development is February 29; now, therefore, be it Discussion followed on the floor. RESOLVED, That the Common Council authorize the Mayor to submit a put to a vote on roll call, $1.65 million UDAG application to HUD by February 29, and be it Holdsworth Aye further Hoffman Nay Cummings Aye l�. RESOLVED, That the Negotiating Committee continue its negotiations Haine Aye with the developer concerning the terms of the UDAG loan agreement Schlather Aye and terms of the land transfer, and be it further RESOLVED, That the results of these negotiations be presented to the Common Council and IURA for their consideration and approval before appreciation to the IURA and the Common the final terms are sent to HUD as part of a completed UDAG applica- tion. Discussion followed on the floor. Resolution By Alderman Schlather: Seconded by Alderman Ioldsworth RESOLVED, That the Council approves the re- appointment of Jean Spitzer, 112 Orchard Place and Morris Angell, 203 Ithaca Road to the Local Advisory Board of Assessment Review for terms to expire December 31, 1984. Carried Unanimously ADJOURNMENT: On a motion the meeting adjourned at 9:30 p.m. J epl A. Rundle, City Clerk ohn C. Gutenberger, ayor The question of the adoption of the foregoing resolution was duly put to a vote on roll call, which resulted as follows: Peterson Nay Holdsworth Aye ! ->> Hoffman Nay Cummings Aye l�. Killeen Aye Myers Aye Haine Aye Romanowski Aye Dennis Aye Schlather Aye Ayes (8) Nays (2) Carried Mayor Gutenberger expressed appreciation to the IURA and the Common Council for permitting the project to proceed. APPOINTMENTS: Local Advisor Board of Assessment Review Alderman Schlather reported that the Charter and Ordinance Committee recommend the re- appointment of Jean Spitzer, 112 Orchard. Place, as well as Morris Angell, 203 Ithaca Road to the Local Advisory Board of Assessment Review for terms to expire December 31, 1984. Resolution By Alderman Schlather: Seconded by Alderman Ioldsworth RESOLVED, That the Council approves the re- appointment of Jean Spitzer, 112 Orchard Place and Morris Angell, 203 Ithaca Road to the Local Advisory Board of Assessment Review for terms to expire December 31, 1984. Carried Unanimously ADJOURNMENT: On a motion the meeting adjourned at 9:30 p.m. J epl A. Rundle, City Clerk ohn C. Gutenberger, ayor