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Home My WebLink AboutMN-CC-1985-05-25;.:w. COMMON COUNCIL PROCEEDINGS 1401 CITY OF ITHACA, NEW YORK Special Meeting 7:30 P.M. May 22, 1985 PRESENT: . Mayor - Gutenberger Alderpersons (8) -- Cummings, Dennis, Elaine, Koffman, Holdsworth, Killeen, Romarnoviski, Schl ather ABSENT: Alderpersons (2) -- Myers, Peterson - Excused OTHERS PRESENT: City Attorney - Stumbar Dir., Planning & Development - Van Cort Dep. Dir., Planning & Development - Mazzarel.la T.C. Bd. of Representatives; IURA - Stein Developer - Mac Travis City Clerk - Rundle PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE: i f Mayor Gutenberger led all. present in the Pledge of Allegiance to the American flag. MAYOR'S REPORT: !ti Letter from T.C. Department of Planning Mayor. Gutenberger presented the following communication received from the Tompkins County Department of Planning: "May 7, 1985 To: Joseph A. Rundle, City Clerk Re: Zoning Review Pursuant to Section 239 -1 and -m of the New York State General Municipal Law (two.., Case: Proposed amendment to Sections 30.3, 30.25, and 30.26 of the City of Ithaca Zoning Ordinance This will acknowledge receipt of the proposal for review under Section 239 -m. The proposal, as submitted, will have no significant deleterious impact on intercommunity, county, or state interest. Therefore, no recommendation is indicated by the County Planning Department and you are free to act without prejudice. Respectfully submitted, Frank R. Liguori, Commissioner Tompkins County Planning Department" Letter from Ithaca Neighborhood Housing Services Mayor Gutenberger presented the following communication received from the Ithaca Neighborhood Housing Services: "May 17, 1985 Mayor John Gutenberger Dear John: I am writing on behalf of the Neighborhood Committee of INHS. This committee is composed of residents who are concerned about issues that affect the downtown neighborhoods. Recently, these residents have expressed strong concern about the Rib zoning in the Northside residential neighborhoods. This zoning encourages the conversion of single- family properties into multi- family rental structures and results in denser neighbor- hoods with all their- attendant problems. -2- May 22, 1985 Over the past eight years, INHS, the City of Ithaca, and the resi- dents have invested a tremendous amount of effort and resources in improving the Northside neighborhood. In order to stabilize these neighborhoods, we feel it is imperative that the Northside be down - zoned from Rib to R2b. The R2b zoning is similar to the zoning in many of the neighborhoods in Fall Creek, Southside, etc., and is a much more compatible standard for a residential neighborhood.. Therefore, we urge you to help us downzone the Northside neighborhood to R2b in order to stabilize and strengthen this newly revitalized neighborhood. Thank you for your assistance. Sincerely, Doug Dylls Executive Director DD/ imh cc: Planning & Development: Board Common Council. Representatives" Resolution By Alderperson Cummings: Seconded by Alderperson Killeen RESOLVED, That the letter from Doug Dylla, Executive Director of Ithaca Neighborhood. Housing Services, be referred to the Planning and Development Board, Planning and Development Committee, Director, Planning and Development, and the Building Commissioner. Carried Unanimously Resolution from Planning and Development Board Mayor Guten erger presented the following resolution recommended by the Planning and Development Board: "WHEREAS, the Planning and Development Board finds that the well.- - being of Ithaca's residents depends, in part, on the vitality and stability of our local economy, and WHEREAS, the Board believes that unannounced closings pose a particu- lar challenge to efforts to provide a vita)_ and stable economic environment, and WHEREAS, the Planning and Development Board has endorsed the principle of protecting workers and the citN from the consequences of unannounced closings by employers, and WHEREAS, the Board has consulted with the office of the City Attorney, Planning Director, and others concerning the legal and practical, limitations of city action, and WHEREAS, the Board has considered the attached legislation and found it to be in the best interests of promoting vitality and stability in the economy of the City of Ithaca; therefore, be it RESOLVED, That the Planning and Development Common Council adopt the attached employment and be it further RESOLVED, That this Resolution of the Board, lation, be sent to the Mayor by the Planning communication to the Common Council at their 3oard recommends that maintenance legislation, with the attached legis- Director in time for its meeting of May 1, 198S." Copies of attached legislation had been distributed to Council members. Resolution By Alderperson Dennis: Seconded by Alderperson Schlather RESOLVED, That the resolution from the Planning Board, and attached legislation, be referred to the Planning F, Development Committee. Carried Unanimously -3- May 22, 1985 -t ADDITIONS TO OR DELETIONS FROM THE AGENDA: Mayor Guten erger requested the addition. of one item, Update from Planning Department on Status of Collegetown Project, to the agenda. No Council member objected. Mayor Gutenberger requested the deletion of Cayuga Press of Ithaca, Inc. -- tJDAG i esu.Lul ion fr uiii l.:i "ii. i�L cia ,. lie- financing that was necessary to allow the city to apply for a UDAG grant for Cayuga Press in Cherry Street has not come through and will. not come through. In all likelihood, since the financing has not come through, Cayuga Press will. not be carrying out their lease in Cherry Street. Budaet and Administration Committee Alderperson Dennis requested the addition of one item, Contract: with Architect William Downing Associates for Youth Bureau Facility, to the agenda. No Council member objected. PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT: ;) Update on Status of Colllegetown Project Paul Mazzarella reported that fie pia ' di sI'ributed copies of a t:l;ree -- page report to all Council members, and. proceeded to briefly explain what events had taken lace with regard to the Colle etowr, P t, g p;•oj ecl: , a The previous Thursday bids had been opened which came in mioch higher °.1 than expected. He said that a number of projects bid as part- of the package were added with agreement that they would be paid by Elie other parties (Cornell University and Eddyoate Park Associates). Also, the bids do not cover all of the work the city intends to do in. College town. He proposed that the Council permit Planning and Development to proceed to look at alternatives and report back at the next Common Council meeting on June 5, 1985 with a more complete report on how we might reduce costs, etc. Discussion followed on the floor. Resolution By Alderperson Dennis: Seconded by Alderperson Killeen RESOLVED, That the Council adjourn into Executive Session to discuss the architect, and possible litigation. Further discussion followed. Alderpersons Dennis and Killeen withdrew their resolution. Mac Travis, Developer, addressed the Council, pointing out that the bids on his part of the project had greater overruns than on the city's part. He suggested that the city go ahead, take the time to make whatever changes have to be made to do the city project. He commented that if the requirement of 40 spaces is not dropped, he will go a different route to get financing. He asked that the Council direct the planners and engineers to try to come up with re- vised program that would more nearly fit the city's budget. City Attorney Stumbar advised that if changes are made in the project, the project must be rebid. There was further discussion. Dep. Dir. Mazzarella responded to (40,0" questions from the council. Alderperson Hoffman requested the record to reflect the following statement: "I have not supported this project in the past and I cannot see changing my vote now because it costs more money. It is very unfortunate that the city and the developer have gone as far as they have. The only way I can vote affirmatively on this project is if the city is legally compelled to do that. Otherwise I think the city is just taking more risks and the project is going to get more complicated by necessity. I don't want anybody to be under the illusion that I support it unless we are legally compelled to." 1150 ,4_ May 22, 1985 Contract with William Downing Associates for Youth Bureau Facility Alderperson Dennis reported that titilliarn Downing Associates las not been paid because the city has not signed a contract with him. The original cost of the contract was $58,0005 however, the architect didn't want to pay the $6,000 cost of providing acceptable profes- sional liability insurance minimum coverage of $1,000,000. The architect wanted the ci.ty to pay for the insurance coverage if the city, insisted on such coverage Discussion followed on the floor Resolution By Al erperson Schlather: Seconded by Alderperson Romanotiaski RESOLVED, That the contra.ct with William Downing Associates and insurance coverage be referred to the Budget and Administration Committee for report back at the JuDe 5,, 1985 Council meeting. Carried Unanimously ADJOURNMENT: On a motion the meeting adjourned at 8:52 p.m. Jo p A. Run le, City Cler n C. GutMe xgex, Mva'yor