HomeMy WebLinkAboutMN-CC-1998-04-08
COMMON COUNCIL PROCEEDINGS
CITY OF ITHACA, NEW YORK
Special Meeting 8:25 P.M. April 8, 1998
PRESENT:
Mayor Cohen
Alderpersons (6) Manos, Sams, Marcham, Shenk, Spielholz,
Gray
OTHERS PRESENT:
City Clerk – Conley Holcomb
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE:
Mayor Cohen led all present in the Pledge of Allegiance to
the American flag.
SPECIAL ORDER OF BUSINESS:
2.1 Authorization of CWSRF Application and Project
Financing and Loan Agreement
By Alderperson Marcham : Seconded by Alderperson Shenk
WHEREAS, 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 Wastewater
Treatment Plant Modifications and Phase I: Interceptor and
Collector Sewer Reconstruction, 3 Part and identified as
CWSRF Project Number(s) 6387,01,0; 6387,02,0, 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 the Federal Water
Quality Act of 1987 (as such may be amended from time to
time, the "Water Quality Act"), requires each State to
establish a water pollution control revolving fund to be
administered by an instrumentality of the state before the
state may receive capitalization grants under the Water
Quality Act, and
WHEREAS, the State of New York has, pursuant to the State
Water Pollution Control Revolving Fund Act, Chapter 565 of
the Laws of New York 1989, as amended (the "CWSRF Act:")
established in the custody of the New York State
Environmental Facilities Corporation (the "Corporation") a
water pollution control revolving fund (the "Fund") to be
used for purposes of the Water Quality 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 19709, 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, being a
body corporate and politic with full and lawful power and
authority to provide financial assistance from the Fund,
and
April 8, 1998
2
WHEREAS, the Corporation has the responsibility to
administer the Fund and to provide financial assistance
from the Fund to municipalities for eligible projects, as
provided in the CWSRF Act, and
WHEREAS, the CWSRF Act authorizes the establishment of a
program for financial assistance for planning, design and
construction of eligible projects; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, by Common Council, City of Ithaca as follows:
1. The filing of an application for CWSRF assistance in
the form required by the Corporation in conformity
with the CWSRF 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 CWSRF 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:
Dominick R. Cafferillo
City Controller
3. The official designated above is authorized to make
application for financial assistance under the CWSRF
Program for either short-term or long-term financing
or both.
4. One (1) certified copy of this 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
2.2 Opposition to Rescission of Local Sales Taxes on
College Textbooks
By Alderperson Marcham : Seconded by Alderperson Shenk
WHEREAS, Tompkins County and the City of Ithaca have
learned that the New York State Legislature’s General
Budget Conference Committee has endorsed a tax cut package
that includes rescission of the state and local sales taxes
on college textbooks, and
WHEREAS, Tompkins County is home to an estimated 25,000
college students out of a total population of 96,000 (1995
Census Bureau estimate) and will therefore feel a negative
fiscal impact from this rescission of any proportion to
other counties in New York State, and
April 8, 1998
3
WHEREAS an analysis of college textbook sales in Tompkins
County has produced an estimate by the office of the County
Administrator of an ongoing net revenue loss to County
government of $258,000 per year, to the City of Ithaca of
$154,000 per year (equivalent to 2% of the City’s property
tax levy), and to the towns and villages of Tompkins County
of $46,550 per year, and
WHEREAS, the plan to exclude graduate students from this
rescission may be very difficult to administer and may
result in only slight reductions in these revenue losses,
and
WHEREAS, the State increase in revenue-sharing for the City
as currently proposed (app. $30,000) while welcome, falls
far short of the textbook losses, and “local option” on
state-ordained rescissions actually places localities at a
disadvantage, and
WHEREAS, the loss of sales tax revenues on textbooks may
soon be compounded by the loss of sales tax revenues on
clothing and footwear, and
WHEREAS, any county or city with a high proportion of
college students also contains a disproportionately high
percentage of exempt real property which increases the rate
of real property taxes for owners of taxable property, and
WHEREAS, all proposals to exempt specific items from sales
taxes have the potential to affect certain counties or
regions of New York State in ways dramatically different
than they affect other counties or regions; now, therefore,
be it
RESOLVED, That the City of Ithaca Common Council strongly
opposes rescission of local sales taxes on college
textbooks and urges Assemblyman Martin Luster and Senator
James Seward to work diligently to prevent this rescission,
and, be it further
RESOLVED, That this Council urges the State of New York not
to propose not institute any further item-by-item sales tax
rescissions without careful analysis and notification of
the impacts of these rescissions throughout New York State.
Carried Unanimously
ADJOURNMENT:
On a motion the meeting was adjourned at 9:00 pm.
Julie Conley Holcomb, CMC Alan J. Cohen,
City Clerk Mayor