HomeMy WebLinkAboutMN-CC-1997-11-05
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COMMON COUNCIL PROCEEDINGS
CITY OF ITHACA, NEW YORK
Regular Meeting 7:00 P.M. November 5, 1997
PRESENT:
Mayor Cohen
Alderpersons (10) - Vaughan, Sams, Shenk, Mackesey, Hanna, Gray,
Thorpe, Marcham, Blumenthal, Efroymson
OTHERS PRESENT:
City Clerk - Conley Holcomb
City Controller – Cafferillo
Deputy City Controller - Thayer
Building Commissioner - Eckstrom
Planning and Development Director - Van Cort
Superintendent of Public Works – Gray
Assistant Superintendent of Public Works - Ferrel
Fire Chief - Wilbur
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE:
Mayor Cohen led all present in the Pledge of Allegiance to the
American flag.
APPROVAL OF MINUTES:
By Alderperson Shenk : Seconded by Alderperson Blumenthal
RESOLVED, That the minutes of the September 3, September 9,
September 17 and October 8, 1997 Common Council Meetings be
approved as published.
Carried Unanimously
ADDITIONS TO OR DELETIONS FROM THE AGENDA:
BUDGET AND ADMINISTRATION COMMITTEE:
Alderperson Marcham requested the addition of Item 18.0 –
Amendment to the 1998 Budget and Item 18.13 – New York Drinking
Water State Revolving Fund Grant Resolution Application –
Resolution.
No Council member objected.
YOUTH AWARD:
Alderpersons Vaughan and Blumenthal presented the Distinguished
Youth Award to the Forest Classroom, a fifth grade class at Belle
Sherman School, who declared their classroom a bias-free zone,
and adopted the following mission statement:
“The Forest Room is a bias-free zone. People stand up for each
other. We don’t call each other names. People don’t exclude
others based on the biases listed below. We will welcome new
people into the group. We will treat others as we would like to
be treated.” The list of biases includes: racism, sexism,
ableism, ageism, anti-Semitism, lookism, religious bias,
homophobia, classism, and ethnocentrism.”
The children in the Forest Classroom include Egor Andrianov, Josh
Benjamin, Alena Blinova, Larry Chap, Jung Min Char, Jacob Cohen-
Rosenthal, Nick Farhi, Jennifer Fenner, Shelby Harbachuk, Casey
Harris, Helen Highfield, Jeffrey Hirasuna, Reuben Kamp, Sara
Kellerman, Tola Luy, Delia Ng, Michael Orkin, Cody Puryear, Lisa
Raykhlina, Nick Renegar, Karen Soth, Paul Stillman, and Hasani
Zulu.
November 5, 1997
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PETITIONS AND HEARINGS OF PERSONS BEFORE COUNCIL:
John Schroeder, City of Ithaca, addressed Council in support of
the resolution passed by the Business Improvement District in
July regarding future design ideas for the Commons.
Mr. Schroeder also spoke in support of the Planning Board’s
recommendation that the Commons fountain not be removed until an
overall design plan can be completed.
Fay Goughakis, City of Ithaca, also spoke in support of the
Commons fountain not being removed. Ms. Goughakis further spoke
about the tone of political races in the City and the
responsibility of the media. Ms. Goughakis spoke in opposition
to the placement of the Planet Walk monuments on the Commons.
RESPONSE TO THE PUBLIC:
Alderperson Shenk concurred with Mr. Schroeder’s statements
regarding the Commons fountain. Alderperson Blumenthal requested
that this item be added to the Planning Committee agenda.
COMMUNICATIONS FROM COMMON COUNCIL:
Alderperson Marcham announced that a meeting will be held on
November 6, 1997 at The Ramada Inn to discuss the tentative
agreement between the City, County, and Cornell University on the
joint operation of the bus systems.
Alderperson Sams reported that the Community Issues Committee
meeting will be cancelled for November. Alderperson Sams also
reported that a candlelight vigil will be held to honor Gail
Trimble on November 12, 1997.
Alderperson Efroymson reported that the working group that has
been researching the cable refranchising process, along with the
two consultants, will be meeting on November 12, 1997 to discuss
what team will be hired for the refranchising.
COMMUNICATIONS FROM THE MAYOR:
Mayor Cohen announced that the Planet Walk dedication, the Senior
Citizens Center dedication, and the Alice Miller Way dedication
will all take place on November 8, 1997.
Mayor Cohen announced that the Business Improvement District has
requested that a joint public/private committee be appointed to
review design ideas for the Commons.
REPORT OF CITY BOARDS, COMMISSIONS AND COMMITTEES:
Board of Public Works
Commissioner Ehrhardt reported on the following items:
The Board of Public Works has directed staff to begin a
preliminary draft for a city-wide traffic circulation plan. The
Planning Board directed the Director of Planning and Development
to list traffic planning as a high priority on the 1998 work
plan.
The Board approved the construction of speed bumps along Wood
Street and South Street to be installed in the Spring of 1998.
The Board also requested that the Police Department increase
enforcement of speeding on these streets, which has taken place.
The Board denied the request for stop signs at three
intersections, because the Board does not feel the signs would be
effective.
November 5, 1997
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The Board approved the removal of the Commons fountain, due to
the fountain being a safety hazard. The Planning Board
unanimously rejected the Board of Public Works suggestion that
the Commons fountain be removed.
Alderperson Efroymson thanked Commission Ehrhardt for his traffic
calming efforts.
PLANNING AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE:
17.1 Commons Fountain
By Alderperson Blumenthal : Seconded by Alderperson Shenk
WHEREAS, The Planning Board by unanimous passage of a resolution
at its October 28, 1997 meeting requested that the Ithaca Commons
fountain not be removed until the joint public/private committee
has reviewed design ideas for the Commons as a whole and made
recommendations, and
WHEREAS, Common Council supports the Planning Board’s decision,
now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That the Department of Public Works not proceed on
removing the fountain from The Commons.
Carried Unanimously
REGULAR AGENDA ITEMS:
BUDGET AND ADMINISTRATION COMMITTEE:
18.0 Amendment to Budget
By Alderperson Blumenthal : Seconded by Alderperson Hanna
WHEREAS, the Common Council at the October 27, 1997 Budget
meeting approved $21,193 of savings in the Department of Public
Works by deleting one maintenance worker, and
WHEREAS, the DPW developed an alternate plan to maintain the
full-time position, now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That the 1998 DPW Authorized Personnel Roster be
amended as follows:
Add: (1) One Maintenance Worker (Parks & Forestry)
And be it further
RESOLVED, That Account A7111-5120 hourly part-time Parks and
Forestry be reduced by $11,990 and Account A5111-5115 hourly
full-time maintenance of goods be reduced by $9,203 to reflect
the DPW’s alternate plan to produce $21,193 in savings and retain
the maintenance worker in the Parks and Forestry division.
Extensive discussion followed on the floor regarding creative
budget cuts.
Alderperson Efroymson voiced his opposition to filling the truck
driver position.
A vote on the resolution resulted as follows:
Ayes (9) Mackesey, Shenk, Sams,
Blumenthal, Vaughan, Hanna,
Marcham, Gray, Thorpe
Nays (1) Efroymson
Carried
18.1 Adoption of 1998 Budget
November 5, 1997
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By Alderperson Marcham : Seconded by Alderperson Gray
WHEREAS, this Common Council is now considering adoption of the
Amended Executive Budget for 1998 as approved by the Budget and
Administration Committee, and
WHEREAS, it is the consensus of this Common Council that the total
appropriations and estimated revenues, as set forth in said
Amended Executive Budget for 1998 and as those amounts may be
altered by action of this Common Council at its November 5, 1997
meeting, are adequate for the operation of the City during 1998;
now, therefore be it
RESOLVED, That this Common Council accepts and approves said
Amended Executive Budget for 1998, together with any additional
changes made in said budget at Council's November 5, 1997 meeting
as the City of Ithaca Budget for 1998, in the total amount of
$35,991,848, and be it further
RESOLVED, That the following sections of the 1998 Budget be
approved:
A) General Fund Appropriations
B) Water Fund Appropriations
C) Sewer Fund Appropriations
D) Joint Activity Fund Appropriations
E) Solid Waste Fund Appropriations
F) General Fund Revenues
G) Water Fund Revenues
H) Sewer Fund Revenues
I) Joint Activity Fund Revenues
J) Solid Waste Fund Revenues
K) Debt Retirement Schedule
L) Capital Projects
M) Schedule of Salaries and Positions - General Fund
N) Schedule of Salaries and Positions - Water & Sewer
Fund
O) Schedule of Salaries and Positions - Joint Activity
Fund
P) Schedule of Salaries and Positions - Solid
Waste Fund
Q) Authorized Equipment - General Fund
R) Authorized Equipment - Water Fund
S) Authorized Equipment - Sewer Fund
T) Authorized Equipment - Joint Activity Fund
U) Authorized Equipment - Solid Waste Fund
Carried Unanimously
18.2 Adoption Of 1998 Tax Rate
By Alderperson Marcham : Seconded by Alderperson Gray
WHEREAS, the 1998 City of Ithaca Budget was approved, adopted and
confirmed in the total amount of $35,991,848 on November 5, 1997,
in accordance with a detailed Budget on file in the Office of the
City Controller, and
WHEREAS, available and estimated revenues total $28,544,128
leaving $7,447,720 as the amount to be raised by taxation, and
WHEREAS, the Assessment Roll for 1998, certified and filed by the
Assessment Department of Tompkins County, has been footed and
approved and shows the total net taxable valuation as
$816,031,421, and
November 5, 1997
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WHEREAS, under Charter provisions, the tax limit for City purposes
amount to $18,167,655 for 1998; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That the tax rate for general purposes, for the fiscal
year 1998, be, and the same hereby is, established and fixed at
9.126756 per $1,000 of taxable valuation as shown, certified and
extended against the respective properties on the 1998 Tax Roll,
thereby making a total tax levy, as near as may be, of $7,447,720
and be it further
RESOLVED, That the City Chamberlain be, and hereby is, directed to
extend and apportion the City Tax as above, and that upon the
completion of the extension of said Roll, the City Clerk shall
prepare a warrant on the City Chamberlain for the collection of
said levy; and the Mayor and the City Clerk hereby are authorized
and directed to sign and affix the corporate seal to such warrant
and forthwith to file the same with said Tax Roll with the City
Chamberlain, and be it further
RESOLVED, That upon the execution and filing of said warrant and
Tax Roll with the City Chamberlain, the amounts of the City Tax
set opposite each and every property shall hereby become liens,
due, payable and collectible in accordance with provisions of the
City Charter and other laws applicable thereto, and be it further
RESOLVED, That the total sum of $35,991,848 be appropriated in
accordance with the Budget adopted, to the respective Boards,
Offices and Departments of the City, for the purposes respectively
set forth therein. The 1998 Assessment Roll has been completed
and approved by the Assessment Department of Tompkins County and
resulted in the following valuation:
Total Value of Real Property $1,983,509,696
Less: Value of Exempt Property 1,188,283,978
795,225,718
Plus: Value of Special Franchises 20,805,703
Net Value of Taxable Property 816,031,421
Carried Unanimously
(11-0)
18.3 Youth Bureau - Request to Amend Youth Bureau Budget
By Alderperson Marcham : Seconded by Alderperson Gray
WHEREAS, the Cass Park Ice Rink would like to sell additional
advertising space on the rink's dasher boards, and
WHEREAS, the estimated cost to prepare the dasher boards for
advertising is $3,500 for printing and other associated costs, and
WHEREAS, the cost of said preparation would be offset by the
advertising revenue; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That the 1997 Youth Bureau Budget be amended as follows
for the purpose of selling Cass Park dasher board advertising:
November 5, 1997
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Increase Revenue Account
A7310-2070-1511 $3,500
Increase Appropriation Account
A7310-5477-1511 $3,500
Carried Unanimously
18.5 Finance/Chamberlain-Request to Approve Job Reclassification
By Alderperson Marcham : Seconded by Alderperson Gray
RESOLVED, That the Authorized Personnel Roster for the City
Chamberlain’s Office and the Parking Violations Division be
amended as follows:
Add: One (1) Customer Service Representative –
Chamberlain’s Office
One (1) Customer Service Representative –
Parking Violations Division
Delete: One (1) Account Clerk Typist –
Chamberlain’s Office
One (1) Account Clerk Typist –
Parking Violations Division
And, be it further
RESOLVED, That the positions of Customer Service Representative be
assigned to the CSEA Administrative Unit at Grade 4.
Carried Unanimously
18.7 Fire Department - Request Approval of Volunteer Fire Company
Agreements
By Alderperson Marcham : Seconded by Alderperson Mackesey
WHEREAS, the City of Ithaca Fire Department and its eight
Volunteer Fire Departments agreed to re-establish a contractual
basis for the relationship between the two entities; now,
therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That Common Council hereby authorizes the Mayor to enter
into the Volunteer Company Appropriation Agreement dated June 9,
1997 between the City of Ithaca and the Department's eight
volunteer companies for the period July 1, 1997 to June 30, 2000.
Carried Unanimously
18.8 System Administrator - Request Approval of Partnership for
Electronic Future Master Agreement
By Alderperson Marcham : Seconded by Alderperson Efroymson
WHEREAS, the Partnership for an Electronic Future Consortium was
formed to share computer and electronic technology, resources, and
related services with a goal to provide connectivity, to assure
quality of service at the most effective price, and to share
expertise to solve common problems faced by all members; now,
therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That Common Council hereby authorizes the Mayor to enter
into a Partnership for an Electronic Future Master Agreement,
dated November 5, 1997, between the City of Ithaca and the
following entities:
County of Tompkins
November 5, 1997
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Cayuga Medical Center
Cornell University
Ithaca City School District
Ithaca College
Lansing School District
Newfield School District
South Central Research Library Council
T-S-T BOCES
for the period August 1, 1997 to August 31, 1998.
Carried Unanimously
18.9 System Administrator - Request Approval of Project Agreement
and Appropriation of Funds
By Alderperson Marcham : Seconded by Alderperson Gray
WHEREAS, the Partnership for Electronic Future (PEF) Consortium
has established a project to provide the PEF members the ability
to collectively procure and share Internet services at a cost per
member of $3,000 for internet services for a one-year period; now,
therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That Common Council hereby authorizes the Mayor to enter
into PEF Project Agreement #1-813-97 at a cost not to exceed
$3,000 for the period August 21, 1997 to August 20, 1998 for the
purposes of providing internet services, and be it further
RESOLVED, That an amount not to exceed $3,000 shall be transferred
from Account A1990 Unrestricted Contingency to Account A1210-5435
for said internet services.
Carried Unanimously
18.10 Planning Department - Request Authorization of Certified
Local Government Subgrant Program Application #1
By Alderperson Marcham : Seconded by Alderperson Gray
WHEREAS, the City would like to co-sponsor a workshop in Ithaca
regarding local tax exemptions for certified historic
rehabilitation with the Preservation League of New York State to
be held during the annual conference scheduled for May 1, 2, and
3, 1998, and
WHEREAS, the City may apply for funding to the New York State
Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation through the
Certified Local Government Subgrant Program for the cost of such a
workshop, and
WHEREAS, the City has estimated a $7,919 budget for the
development and hosting of a statewide workshop on the option of
local tax exemption, and
WHEREAS, the City would have no required cash match and no more
than thirty-five hours of in-kind staff time for contract
administration and participation during the day of the workshop;
now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That the Mayor be authorized to sign the funding
application for New York State aid from the Office of Parks,
Recreation and Historic Preservation through the Certified Local
Government Subgrant Program to fund the cost of development and
hosting of the statewide workshop on local tax exemption.
Carried Unanimously
November 5, 1997
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18.11 Planning Department - Request Authorization of Certified
Local Government Subgrant Program Application #2
By Alderperson Marcham: Seconded by Alderperson Blumenthal
WHEREAS, the City would like to encourage training for members of
the Ithaca Landmarks Preservation Commission, and
WHEREAS, the City may apply for funding to the New York State
Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation through the
Certified Local Government Subgrant Program for the cost of such
training, and
WHEREAS, the New York State Planning Federation has sponsored a
daylong historic preservation training session in Saratoga Springs
on Tuesday, October 28, 1997, and
WHEREAS, this training was attended by City staff and a member of
the Commission who incurred $177 in expenses for travel, meals,
accommodations and workshop registration, and
WHEREAS, the expenses incurred by staff attendance at the training
may serve as a cash match; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That the Director of Planning and Development be
authorized to sign the funding application for New York State aid
from the Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation
through the Certified Local Government Subgrant Program to fund
training costs.
Carried Unanimously
18.12 DPW - Request Amendment to Capital Project 332 Street &
Road Construction 1998
By Alderperson Marcham : Seconded by Alderperson Shenk
WHEREAS, Capital Project #332 was authorized by passage of the
1997 Budget in the amount of $450,000 for DPW Street and Road
Construction within the City in 1997, and
WHEREAS, unforeseen project overruns on the Mitchell Street
project has limited the transfer level of labor and equipment to
be charged back to the General Fund as was originally budgeted
for the capital project, and
WHEREAS, the estimated cost to the project is $100,000 which
would cover labor, materials and equipment to December 31, 1997;
now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That Common Council hereby authorizes that Capital
Project #332 DPW Street and Road Construction 1997 be amended by
an amount not to exceed $100,000 for a total project
authorization of $550,000 for the purpose of covering labor,
materials and equipment charges for 1997, and be it further
RESOLVED, That said funds shall be derived from the issuance of
Serial Bonds.
Discussion followed on the floor regarding unallocated funds in
other Capital Projects.
A vote on the resolution resulted as follows:
Carried Unanimously
November 5, 1997
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18.13 Resolution Authorizing the Execution and Filing of an
Application and Execution and Delivery of a Project Financing and
Loan Agreement and Other Documents Necessary for DWSRF Assistance
By Alderperson Marcham : Seconded by Alderperson Shenk
WHEREAS, the City of Ithaca herein called the “Borrower”, after
thorough consideration of the various aspects of the problems and
study of available data, has hereby determined that the project
generally described as “Ithaca City Phase A: Regional Water Study
and Pumping Station Upgrades – Phase A” and identified as DWSRF
Project Number 15488, herein called the “Project”, is desirable
and in the public interest, and to that end it is necessary that
action preliminary to the construction of said Project be taken
immediately; and
WHEREAS, the United States, pursuant to Title XIV of the Public
Health Service Act (commonly known as the “Safe Drinking Water
Act”), 42 U.S.C. Section 300F, et seq., as amended (the “Act”),
requires each State to establish a drinking water revolving fund
to be administered by an instrumentality of the state before the
state may receive capitalization grants under the Act; and
WHEREAS, the State of New York has, pursuant to Chapter 413 of
the Laws of 1996 (the “DWSRF Act”)established in the custody of
the New York State Environmental Facilities Corporation (the
“Corporation”) a drinking water revolving fund (the “Fund”) to be
used for the purposes of the Act; and
WHEREAS, the Corporation has been created, reconstituted and
continued pursuant to the New York State Environmental Facilities
Corporation Act, as amended, being Chapter 744 of the Laws of
1970, as amended, and constituting Title 12 of Article 5 of the
Public Authorities Law and Chapter 43-A of the Consolidated Laws
of the State of New York, and constitutes a public benefit
corporation under the laws of the State of New York, being a body
corporate and politic with full and lawful power and authority to
provide financial assistance from the Fund; and
WHEREAS, the Corporation has the responsibility to administer the
Fund and to provide financial assistance from the Fund to
recipients for eligible projects, as provided in the DWSRF Act;
and
WHEREAS, the DWSRF Act authorizes the establishment of a program
for financial assistance for planning, design and construction of
eligible projects; now, therefore be it
RESOLVED, by the Common Council of the City of Ithaca as follows:
1. The filing of an application for DWSRF assistance in the
form required by the Corporation in conformity with the
DWSRF Act is hereby authorized, including all understandings
and assurances contained in said application.
2. The following person, as chief fiscal officer, is directed
and authorized as the official representative of the
Borrower to execute and deliver an application for DWSRF
assistance, to execute and deliver the Project Financing and
Loan Agreement and any other documents necessary to receive
financial assistance from the Fund for the Project, to act
in connection with the Project and to provide such
additional information as may be required and to make such
agreements on behalf of the Borrower as may be required:
November 5, 1997
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Dominick Cafferillo, City Controller
3. The official designated above is authorized to make
application for financial assistance under the DWSRF
Program.
4. One (1) certified copy of the Resolution shall be prepared
and sent to the New York State Environmental Facilities
Corporation, 50 Wolf Road, Room 508, Albany, New York 12205-
2603.
5. This Resolution shall take effect immediately.
Carried Unanimously
EXECUTIVE SESSION:
By Alderperson Marcham : Seconded by Alderperson Gray
RESOLVED, That Common Council adjourn into Executive Session to
discuss a personnel item and possible litigation.
Carried Unanimously
RECONVENE:
Common Council reconvened into regular session, and considered
the following resolutions:
.
Youth Bureau – Personnel Item
By Alderperson Marcham : Seconded by Alderperson Hanna
RESOLVED, That based on a request initiated by the employee
involved, the personnel roster of the Youth Bureau be amended by
reducing the full-time position of Ann Rayle, Youth Worker, to
part-time for a period of six months.
Carried Unanimously
Finance/Chamberlain Sidewalk Assessment
By Alderperson Marcham : Seconded by Alderperson Shenk
RESOLVED, That the City Chamberlain is hereby authorized to
collect the principle amount of $776.25 from the property owner
at 612 West State Street for a sidewalk assessment.
Carried Unanimously
ADJOURNMENT:
On a motion the meeting adjourned at 8:45 P.M.
________________________ _______________________
Julie Conley Holcomb, CMC Alan J. Cohen,
City Clerk Mayor