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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMN-CC-1988-07-15LO Iq LO m Q 0 Special Meeting PRESENT: Mayor Gutenberger Alderpersons (8) 1 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 181 182 2 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 D D D LO ,;Q ' LO F W a 3 ADJOURNMENT: On a motion the meeting adjourned at 6:08 p.m. Connie J. Holcomb Acting City Clerk ' " 0 J 1013 Jk!V ,J J n C. Gutenberger a r yor