HomeMy WebLinkAboutMN-CC-1988-10-19265
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COMMON COUNCIL PROCEEDINGS
CITY OF ITHACA, NEW YORK
Special Meeting 5:00 P.M. October 19, 1988
PRESENT:
Mayor Gutenberger
Alderpersons (8) - Booth, Cummings, Hoffman, Killeen, Lytel,
Peterson, Nichols, Romanowski,
ABSENT:
Alderpersons (2) - Schlather, Johnson (excused)
OTHERS PRESENT:
City Clerk - Paolangeli
City Attorney - Nash
City Controller - Spano
Deputy City Controller - Cafferillo
Acting Police Chief - Pagliaro
Personnel Administrator - Baker
Fire Chief - Olmstead
Commons Coordinator - Deming
Acting Building Commissioner - Dieterich
Director, Planning and Development - Van Cort
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE:
Mayor Gutenberger led all present in the Pledge of Allegiance to
the American flag.
SPECIAL ORDER OF BUSINESS:
Mayor's Budget
Mayor Gutenberger read the following statement to Council
regarding his Executive Budget Proposal:
"I herewith submit my 1989 Executive Budget Proposal for the City
of Ithaca which calls for an appropriation of $19,512,388 for the
General Fund. This reflects an increase of $1,935.752 over the
1988 amended budget or an 11.0% increase in the overall cost of
operating city government. Revenue, other than Real Property
Taxes, is being proposed at $13,136,820, an increase of
$1,325,842 over the 1988 amended budget or an 11.2% increase. To
balance the budget I am proposing that $597,248 of unappropriated
cash surplus be used and that $5,778,320 be raised from Real
Property Taxes. This will require a tax rate of $18.25/M which
represents a 7.36% increase over the 1988 tax rate of $17.00/M.
As you can see from these figures the costs involved with
operating our city government are rising faster than our ability
to generate new revenue. We, of course, have lost Federal
Revenue Sharing and N.Y.S. again has capped State Revenue Sharing
at the 1986 level. The Federal Tax Reform Act which has had
devastating effects on State governments has also cost the City
of Ithaca hundreds of thousands of dollars in our ability to
generate interest income.
Compounding this problem is the relatively small increase in the
city tax base. Total city assessed valuation for 1989 originally
(Woo" was estimated to increase by approximately 7 million dollars for
an increase of only 2 percent.
However, the courts have lowered the Special Franchise Assessment
on N.Y.S.E.G. and N.Y. Telephone property by approximately 2
million dollars resulting in a net estimated city assessment
valuation increase of approximately 5 million dollars (1.5%
increase).
To balance the 1989 budget while also balancing the increased
demands for city services against the public's ability to pay
required that I make tough choices and I am sure there will be
disagreement with some of my decisions. My budget reflects my
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decision to concentrate increased expenditures on the areas of
public safety (Police, Fire and Safety Inspection) and community
improvements while holding the line on most other areas and
departments.
My recommended budget provides for only five new positions (3
full time and 2 part- time). These new positions are: 1
environmental review officer, 1 recycling program truck driver, 1
working highway supervisor, 1 part -time volunteer fire fighter
coordinator, and 1 part -time youth worker (this position is
funded by a grant). Both the Planning Department and the
Building Department requested a Environmental Review Officer. I
made the choice to place that position in the Building
Department. Because it has the most clout, and it is an
enforcement department, I thought it may be more effective in
that department. I am sure though that this may generate some
discussion during the budget process.
Included also in this budget are a wide range of community
improvements - improvements that will have long term positive
effects on the quality of life in our city. Some of these
include:
street and bridge repairs
watershed land acquisition
existing parking facility
parking facility
industrial park expansion
Elmira Road drainage
Stewart Park stabilization
Southwest access
repairs and new
G.I.A.C. renovations including day care space
As directed by Common Council, I have included $80,000 for a new
general fund item for I.N.H.S.. I must caution you however that
I have funded this by using monies accumulated from rent received
from the medical facility - this money will not cover future
year's appropriations.
As I said, I have had to make difficult decisions in trying to
keep our city healthy while keeping an eye on the taxpayers
pocketbook, especially those who are having a hard time making
ends meet. I know that I have cut items from department budgets
that the departments feel are essential to their operations. For
instance, if I were to include the 21 new positions requested by
the Fire Department, taxes would have to be raised by an
additional 11.5% for a total of 19 %. As laudable as this request
is, the taxpayers simply cannot afford it.
In short, I have put most of our city departments on a diet. My
recommended 1989 budget is healthy but it is lean and contains no
fat. I will not refer to this budget as an austerity budget but
it is a budget which addresses our problems of generating new
revenues to meet rapidly expanding expenses. It is a budget
sensitive to the public's ability to pay while not reducing
present city services.
For a house assessed at $50,000 the 7.4% tax increase I am
recommending translates into a yearly increase of $62.50 or $1.20
a week. This $1.20 is less than the cost of a pack of
cigarettes, bottle of beer, double dip ice cream cone or a plate
of pasta.
If Common Council joins me in limiting departmental consumption
by putting city government on a diet and if the public will
slightly cut back on its consumption of sweets and other
fattening foods, alcoholic beverages and cigarettes, we can all
enter the City of Ithaca's second 100 years in a healthy
condition."
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Resolution
By Alderperson Hoffman: Seconded by Alderperson Romanowski
RESOLVED, That the Mayor's Budget for 1989, as presented, be
received by the Council and referred to the Budget and
Administration Committee for review.
Amending Resolution
By Alderperson Lytel: Seconded by Alderperson Booth
RESOLVED, That the following be added at the end of the
(4000e resolution referring the Budget to the B &A Committee: "and that
all members of Council shall be empowered to vote at the Budget
and Administration Committee's review of the Budget."
Discussion followed on the floor.
A vote on the amendment resulted as follows:
Carried Unanimously
Ln Main Motion as Amended
d. A vote on the main motion as amended resulted as follows:
LO Carried Unanimously
m MAYOR'S APPOINTMENTS
Q Ithaca Housing Authority
Mayor Gutenberger reported that he has re- appointed Barbara
Blanchard, 316 Brookfield Road, to the Ithaca Housing Authority,
for a term of 5 years, to expire October 17, 1993, and he asked
the Council's concurrence.
Resolution
By Alderperson Booth: Seconded by Alderperson Hoffman
RESOLVED, That this Common Council approves the re- appointment of
Barbara Blanchard to the Ithaca Housing Authority for a term to
expire October 17, 1993.
Carried Unanimously
Building Commissioner Interviewing Committee
Mayor Gutenberger stated that he has appointed Alderpersons
Booth, Schlather, and Peterson to serve on the committee. He
stated that he is considering John Oakley who serves on the Board
of Zoning Appeals, Doug Look, who serves on the Board of Appeals
on Building Code and the Housing Board of Review and Barclay
Jones, who represents the Landmarks Commission, and Bickley
Townsend, who has a planning background. He asked that if
Council members have any suggestions to let him know so that he
can proceed with the appointments to this search committee.
Alderperson Cummings pointed out that the Committee that reviews
the evaluation criteria for Building Commissioner is Planning and
Development and that the three Mayor's appointments to serve on
the Search Committee do not represent any of the Planning and
Development Committee members.
The Mayor replied that he did not look at Common Council
Committee structure but was trying to get representation from
each area of the City. He suggested that if Council wishes,
changes could be made regarding these appointments to the Search
Committee.
COMMUNICATIONS FROM THE MAYOR:
Route 96 DEIS
Mayor Gutenberger reported that the City has received the DEIS on
Route 96. He stated that DoT submitted to him four supplements,
which is a Water Quality Report, a Noise Study Analysis, Visual
Resources Assessment and the Air Quality Report. Copies of the
DEIS are available from DoT for $20.00 per set. They are also
available for review at the City Clerk, Village Clerks, Town
Clerks Offices and the Public Library and various service
organizations.
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Personnel Administrator Resignation
Mayor Gutenberger read the following letter from William S.
Baker, Personnel Administrator:
"I regretfully submit my resignation as Personnel Administrator
for the City of Ithaca effective Friday, December 2, 1988. I
have been appointed to the position of Personnel Officer for the
County of Saratoga at their Board of Supervisors Legislation
meeting on October 18, 1988.
As I earlier indicated, this appointment surfaced through
personal /professional contacts. As you are aware, I was not
actively seeking other employment opportunities as I felt that
there were many challenges still to be accomplished in the City
Personnel Office. It has been a professionally fulfilling
experience being affiliated with the City of Ithaca Personnel
Office and your City Administration over this two (2) year
period.
I certainly am indebted to you for the opportunity to serve the
City of Ithaca. During my tenure as Personnel Administrator, we
have enhanced the personnel functions tremendously. This, of
course, could have been accomplished only with the commitment,
understanding and support of your management team."
Mayor Gutenberger commented that it is with regret that he
accepts this resignation.
SPECIAL ORDER OF BUSINESS:
Audit Report
Jack Little, Administrative Partner in the firm of Ciaschi,
Dieters -Hagen Schaufler and Mickelson, presented to Council the
final copies of the 1987 Audit Report for the City of Ithaca. He
highlighted aspects of the report.
Mr. Little answered questions from members of Council and made
suggestions regarding compliance and internal control matters.
Bond Authorization
By Alderperson Hoffman: Seconded by Alderperson Killeen
BOND RESOLUTION DATED OCTOBER 19, 1988
A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE ISSUANCE OF $205,000 SERIAL BOND AND
THE APPROPRIATION AND EXPENDITURE OF $10,805 CURRENT FUNDS OF THE
CITY OF ITHACA, TOMPKINS COUNTY, NEW YORK, TO PAY ADDITIONAL
COSTS OF VARIOUS CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS.
WHEREAS, by bond resolutions dated September 5, 1984, February 6,
1985, and August 6, 1986, as amended, the Common Council of the
City of Ithaca, Tompkins County, New York, authorized various
city improvements and the financing thereof, and
WHEREAS, it has now been determined the such authorization and
the amount of obligations to be issued and moneys to be expended
therefor for certain of such capital improvements should be
increased to include and to finance interest during the
construction of such improvements, and
WHEREAS, it is now desired to so provide; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, by the Common Council of the City of Ithaca, Tompkins
County, New York, as follows:
Section 1. For the specific object or purpose of paying
additional costs of the capital improvements specified in Section
2 hereof, there are hereby authorized to be issued $205,000
serial bonds pursuant to the provisions of the Local Finance Law,
and there are hereby authorized to be expended $10,805 current
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funds of said City, which current funds are hereby appropriated
therefor.
Section 2. The capital improvements in and for the City of
Ithaca, Tompkins County, New York, for which such additional
serial bonds, bond anticipation notes and current funds shall be
expended and the maximum estimated cost of each such capital
improvements are as follows:
a) The construction of a parking structure located at 128
(wov.,, Dryden Road containing between 200 and 220 parking
spaces, at a maximum estimated cost of $2,210,920;
b) The construction of street improvements required for
the purposes of the parking structure described in
paragraph a hereof, including sidewalks and curbing for
the surrounding areas, at a maximum estimated cost of
$860,094;
LO c) The construction of a Youth Bureau Facility Building,
such building to be constructed on parcels of land
LO either currently owned by the City or to be separately
acquired through annexation and agreement with the Town
M of Ithaca at or about 1701 North Cayuga Street,
including the demolition of an existing structure
thereon, the grading and improvement of the site and
the acquisition of original furnishings, equipment,
machinery and apparatus required for the purposes for
which such building will be used, at a maximum
estimated cost of $1,743,244;
d) The reconstruction of the Green Street Parking Facility
located along the north side of East Green Street to
the east of City Hall and west of South Aurora Street,
at a maximum estimated cost of $162,060;
e) The reconstruction of the Seneca Street Parking
Facility located south of the U.S. Post Office, between
North Tioga Street and North Aurora Street, at a
maximum estimated cost of $1,309,420;
f) The reconstruction and resurfacing of State Street from
the Tuning Fork on East State Street to Ithaca Road, a
total area of approximately 160,000 square feet, at a
maximum estimated cost of $1,011,980; and
g) The construction of additions to and the reconstruction
of portions of the water distributions supply and
distribution system, at a maximum estimated cost of
$1,570,795.
Section 3. The plan for the financing of each of the
specific objects or purposes set forth in Section 2 hereof shall
consist of the issuance of the serial bonds and the bond
anticipation notes, the expenditure of current funds and moneys
from the Parking Reserve Fund and moneys from the Consolidated
Highway Improvement Program Funds previously authorized to be
issued or expended, as the case may be, pursuant to the bond
resolutions set forth in the preambles hereof and by the issuance
of the $205,000 serial bonds and by the expenditure of the
$10,805 current funds of said City authorized to be issued
pursuant to this bond resolution, which additional serial bonds
and current funds shall be allocated as follows:
a. $59,810 serial bonds and $3,150 current funds shall be
allocated to pay additional costs of the construction
of the parking structure described in subdivision a of
Section 2 hereof;
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b. $20,760 serial bonds and $1,095 current funds to pay
additional costs of the construction of street
improvements described in subdivision b of Section 2
hereof,
C. $47,940 serial bonds and $2,525 current funds to pay
additional costs of the construction of the Youth
Bureau Facility Building described in subdivision c of
Section 2 hereof;
d. $2,400 serial bonds and $130 current funds to pay
additional costs of the reconstruction of the Green
Street Parking Facility described in subdivision d
hereof;
e. $28,200 serial bonds and $1,490 current funds to pay
additional costs of the reconstruction of the Seneca
Street Parking Facility described in subdivision e
hereof;
f. $11,380 serial bonds and $600 current funds to pay
additional costs of the reconstruction and resurfacing
of State Street described in subdivision f hereof; and
g. $34,490 serial bonds and $1,815 current funds to pay
additional costs of the construction of additions to
and the reconstruction of portions of the water supply
and distribution system described in subdivision g
hereof.
Section 4. The periods of probable usefulness of the
capital improvements described in Section 2 hereof shall be as
set forth in the bond resolutions described in the preambles
hereof, computed from the date of issuance of the first
obligation issued for each of such capital improvement.
Section 5. The validity of such bonds and bond anticipation
notes may be contested only if:
1) Such obligations are authorized for an object or
purpose for which said City is not authorized to expend
money, or
2) The provisions of law which should be complied with at
the date of publication of this resolution are not
substantially complied with and an action, suit or
proceeding contesting such validity is commenced within
twenty days after the date of such publication, or
3) Such obligations are authorized in violation of the
provisions of the Constitution.
Section 6. This resolution which takes effect immediately,
shall be published in full in the Ithaca Journal, the official
newspaper, together with a notice of the City Clerk in
substantially the form provided in Section 81.00 of the Local
Finance Law.
Discussion followed on the floor.
Deputy City Controller Cafferillo answered questions from Council
members.
Alderperson Cummings left the meeting at 5:45 p.m.
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The question of the adoption of the foregoing resolution was duly
put to a vote on roll call which resulted as follows:
Romanowski
- Aye
Peterson -
Aye
Booth
- Aye
Nichols -
Aye
Lytel
- Aye
Hoffman -
Aye
(4w'l Killeen
- Aye
Ayes (7)
Nays (0)
Absent (3)
- Schlather,
Johnson, Cummings
Carried
ADJOURNMENT:
On a motion the meeting adjourned at 5:50 p.m.
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Iq Callista F. Paolangeli ✓ ohn C. Gutenberger/
LO City Clerk /Mayor ((/%
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