HomeMy WebLinkAboutMN-CC-1988-07-15LO
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Special Meeting
PRESENT:
Mayor Gutenberger
Alderpersons (8)
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COMMON COUNCIL PROCEEDINGS
CITY OF ITHACA, NEW YORK
5:00 P.M. July 15, 1988
- Booth, Cummings, Johnson, Hoffman, Peterson,
Romanowski, Killeen, Schlather
ABSENT:
Alderpersons (2) - Lytel, Nichols (excused)
OTHERS PRESENT:
Acting City Clerk - Holcomb
City Attorney - Nash
City Planner - Jones
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE:
Mayor Gutenberger led all present in the Pledge of Allegiance to
the American flag.
DELETIONS FROM THE AGENDA:
Alderperson Schlather requested the deletion of Item 2.2
(Hydropower - Possible resolution).
No Alderperson objected.
PETITIONS AND HEARINGS OF PERSONS BEFORE COUNCIL:
Citizens to Save Our Parks
Doria Higgins, 2 Hillcrest Drive, spoke to Council on behalf of
"Citizens to Save Our Parks ". She stated that the group that she
is representing thinks that the alienation of Inlet Island Park
is a serious mistake, and that any attempt to band -aid that
mistake will do more harm than good. Alienation itself will be
destructive to the welfare of the community and therefore they
are opposed to any steps to facilitate that process.
She urged Council to vote "no" on the resolution.
SPECIAL ORDER OF BUSINESS:
Alienation of Southwest Park and Inlet Island - Request for
Legislation Authorizing Change in Substitute Land - Resolution
By Alderperson Cummings: Seconded by Alderperson Schlather
WHEREAS, an amendment to Chapter 757 of the Laws of 1985 have
been requested of the New York State;.Legislature, and
WHEREAS, said amendment would permit :the removal of lands known
as the Festival Parcel from the list of lands offered as
substitute for certain city -owned park lands to be converted from
recreational use, and
WHEREAS, said amendment would allow replacement of the Festival
parcel with other lands near Six Mile Creek, and
WHEREAS, Common Council has reviewed and concurs with State
Senate Bill 9095a, which authorizes the aforementioned exchange;
now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That Common Council does request passage of said Bill
by the New York State Legislature, and be it further
RESOLVED, That the Mayor and City Clerk are authorized to forward
the necessary Home Rule Message to the State.
Discussion followed on the floor.
City Planner Jones answered questions from Council members.
Alderperson Killeen stated that he supports this step, even
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though there are a whole series of subsequent decisions that
still have to take place.
Alderperson Peterson stated that she has supported and continues
to support acquiring Six Mile Creek land but she still feels that
the Festival parcel and the Six Mile Creek substitute lands are
intimately tied up with the Inlet Island and she is not convinced
to alienate Inlet Island so she will have to vote against this
resolution.
Alderperson Schlather stated that with respect to the use of the
Festival lands eventually going to the State, he would
respectively submit that a prior Council has effectively decided
that by authorizing the Mayor to enter into this agreement and
the city got a good from that. The city is getting a bikeway,
the city got extensive ballfields at Buttermilk. He stated that
in his opinion it would be a horrible reneging on the part of
the city if for some reason we now decide that we are not going
to transfer the festival lands to the state. He thinks that the
city is under a moral obligation if not a contractual obligation
to proceed. _
Further discussion followed on the floor.
Alderperson Booth stated that he is opposed to the transfer. He
stated that he thinks it will lead to eventual alienation of
Inlet Island which in his opinion would be a bad public policy
decision. He stated that he thinks it will lead to the transfer
of the Festival Lands to the State of New York which he thinks is
unwise. He further remarked that the city should purchase as
many lands as we can around Six Mile Creek completely separate of
this to protect our watershed. He stated that is voting against
the resolution.
Alderperson Cummings pointed out that the city does not have an
infinite tax base and she would be hard pressed to vote for
acquisition of future Six Mile Creek lands without having a
compensating, off setting income from other additional
combinations of public and private sector use on the island.
Mayor Gutenberger stated that
neatest way to go to untangle
Council support on this matter.
he thinks this is the cleanest,
a confusing issue. He asked for
Alderperson Johnson declared that he strongly supports
designating Six Mile Creek as park land, but he is not sure that
this the only way the city can do that and he is not sure that it
is the best way. He further stated that he thinks it was a
mistake to put the Festival Lands in there to begin with. He is
going to vote for the substitution of lands but he is only doing
it letting everyone know that he is going to be very cautious
regarding what is done with that land after the Council has voted
to do this.
Alderperson Hoffman stated that he is not in favor of alienation,
he is opposed transferring land to the State for expansion of the
marina but he cannot support keeping the Festival Lands in this
alienation package. He stated that he will do what he can to
oppose the expansion of the marina. He wants Council to
understand that his vote is not a vote in favor the expansion of
the marina or in favor of alienation. He commented that he is
taking it on faith that Council will debate those issues on their
own merits in the future.
A vote on the resolution resulted as follows:
Ayes (6) - Hoffman, Killeen, Johnson, Cummings, Romanowski,
Schlather
Nays (2) - Booth, Peterson
Carried
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ADJOURNMENT:
On a motion the meeting adjourned at 6:08 p.m.
Connie J. Holcomb
Acting City Clerk
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