Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAboutMN-CC-2002-03-13 1 COMMON COUNCIL PROCEEDINGS CITY OF ITHACA, NEW YORK Special Meeting 9:00 p.m. March 13, 2002 PRESENT: Mayor Cohen Alderpersons (8) Pryor, Sams, Blumenthal, Manos, Whitmore, Vaughan, Peterson, Cogan OTHERS PRESENT: City Clerk – Conley Holcomb City Attorney - Schwab City Controller – Cafferillo Planning and Development Director – Van Cort Economic Development Director - McDonald Community Development Director - Bohn City Planners - Logue and Kusznir Acting Youth Bureau Director - Green EXCUSED: Alderpersons Mack and Hershey PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE: Mayor Cohen led all present in the Pledge of Allegiance to the American flag. SPECIAL ORDER OF BUSINESS: Representatives from Monahan Development presented the “Analysis of the Desmond Associates - Green Street Garage Life Cycle Cost Comparison” report. They described two scenarios, one in which the existing garage was expanded, and the other would be to build a new parking garage. The total capital cost for the expansion of the existing garage is estimated at $10,400,000, and the total capital cost for building the garage new is estimated at $12,750,000. They also included projected 20-year maintenance expenditures for both scenarios, and the total interest expense determined by the capital cost of building a new garage. They noted that expanding the current garage would result in additional maintenance costs in the future. They further stated that the net difference over the course of time is approximately $3.4 million in favor of expanding the existing garage. An extensive question and answer period followed on the floor regarding the following issues raised by Common Council members: Number of new parking spaces created; renovation and maintenance costs; the location of the intermodal center; ADA requirements for parking as well as the housing aspects of the project; the level of DPW involvement in the discussions and proposals; extending life of current garage; what consultants were involved in the study; how new parking would be accessed by the public; how the project would be completed in phases; the cost of constructing the parking spaces and what fees to charge for parking per day, month; the City’s general fund obligations; how parking would be distributed downtown; possible tenants for the commercial spaces; safety issues at night for residents living in the proposed housing units; street life; walkways to and from the housing units; pedestrian safety on Green Street; possible additional development costs. March 13, 2002 2 Planning Department – Approval of Funding for Cayuga Green Traffic Study: By Alderperson Manos: Seconded by Alderperson Vaughan WHEREAS, proposals for new parking structures on Green Street and Cayuga Street have been submitted and are currently being considered by the City, and WHEREAS, it has been determined that before the City can approve of these new parking structures, traffic ingress and egress within the garage as well as impacts on the surrounding streets must be studied, and WHEREAS, SRF Associates has submitted a proposal to perform a parking facilities and circulation study on the proposed garages and their impacts on the surrounding intersections, and WHEREAS, staff has evaluated the proposal and recommends that the City hire SRF Associates to complete the study, and WHEREAS, the proposal submitted by SRF Associates is for $20,500 and there is $1,600 remaining in Capital Project #250 and $150,000 reserved for Parking Area in Capital Reserve Fund #14; now, therefore, be it RESOLVED, That the Mayor for the City of Ithaca is hereby authorized and directed to enter into a contract with SRF Associates to study and make recommendations to the City in regard to the traffic circulation associated with the proposed parking structures for an amount not to exceed $20,500, including all reimbursable expenses, and be it further RESOLVED, That Common Council hereby establishes Capital Project #458 Parking Area Studies in an amount not to exceed $60,000, and be it further RESOLVED, That contract with SRF Associates be funded with transfers from Parking Area Capital Reserve Fund #14 in the amount of $21,900 and Capital Project #250 in the amount of $1,600 to fund Capital Project #458. Extensive discussion followed on the floor regarding the scope of the study, the costs and timeline of the study. A vote on the Resolution resulted as follows: Carried Unanimously Planning Department – Approval of Funding for Green Street Parking Garage Structural Evaluation By Alderperson Pryor: Seconded by Alderperson Cogan WHEREAS, the City is currently considering a proposal to expand the Green Street Parking Structure, and WHEREAS, the engineering department recommended that, before the City can expand the existing Green Street garage, a full structural evaluation of the building must be completed, and WHEREAS, staff has received proposals from three engineering firms to evaluate the Green Street garage, and WHEREAS, only one of the proposals submitted by Novelli Engineering was for a full structural evaluation and testing of the parking structure, and March 13, 2002 3 WHEREAS, planning staff and engineering staff have reviewed the submitted proposals and recommend that the City contract Novelli Engineering to perform the structural evaluation of the Green Street garage, and WHEREAS, the proposal submitted by Novelli Engineering is for $34,200 and there is $150,000 reserved for Parking Area Capital Reserve #14; now, therefore, be it RESOLVED, That the Mayor for the City of Ithaca is hereby authorized and directed to enter into contract with Novelli Engineering to conduct a detailed structural analysis of the Green Street Parking Garage and to make recommendations to the City in regard to the structural condition of the Green Street Parking Garage for an amount not to exceed $34,200, including all reimbursable expenses, and be it further RESOLVED, That Common Council has previously approved Capital Project #458 for this purpose, and be it further RESOLVED, That the contract with Novelli Engineering Firm be funded with transfers from Parking Area Capital Reserve Fund #14 to said Capital Project #458. Carried Unanimously Exemption from Sales Tax for Clothing and Footwear Home Rule Request for Enactment of a Special Law By Alderperson Pryor: Seconded by Alderperson Whitmore WHEREAS, the Common Council, by resolution dated February 13, 2002, requested Senator James Seward and Assemblyman Martin Luster to introduce legislation in the New York State Senate and Assembly respectively, which would allow the City to permanently exempt from state sales and compensating use taxes the purchase of clothing and footwear costing less than $110 per item, and WHEREAS, pursuant to Common Council’s resolution, Senator James Seward has introduced legislation in the Senate as Senate Bill Number 6343, and Assemblyman Martin Luster have introduced the same legislation in the Assembly as Assembly Bill Number 10074, and WHEREAS, Alan J. Cohen, Mayor of the City of Ithaca, has made a Home Rule Request for Enactment of a Special Law by the New York State Legislature requesting enactment of Senate Bill Number 6343 and Assembly Bill Number 10074 and seeks concurrence therein by Common Council; now, therefore be it RESOLVED, That Common Council hereby concurs in the request by the Mayor for Enactment of a Special Law authorizing the City of Ithaca to adopt a local law, ordinance or resolution providing an exemption from sales tax for clothing and footwear, and, be it further RESOLVED, That Common Council hereby authorizes the Mayor to take the necessary steps to formalize said Home Rule Request, including signing of all necessary documents. Carried Unanimously March 13, 2002 4 Youth Bureau – Request for Authorization to Submit a Federal Grant Application for JUMP Program By Alderperson Sams: Seconded by Alderperson Whitmore WHEREAS, the City of Ithaca is interested in the well-being of the youth of the community, and WHEREAS, there is evidence that a one-to-one mentoring relationship is a promising intervention that provides youth with support and guidance, and WHEREAS, the United States Department of Justice has developed the Juvenile Mentoring Program (JUMP) to support one-to-one mentoring projects for youth at risk of failing in school, dropping out of school, or becoming involved in delinquent behavior, including gang activity and substance abuse, and WHEREAS, this Federal Program would provide 100% funding, up to $220,000 for a 3-year budget and project period, and WHEREAS, the Ithaca Youth Bureau has extensive experience with mentoring programs and is interested in applying for JUMP funding; now, therefore, be it RESOLVED, That the Common Council of the City of Ithaca, does hereby authorize Acting Youth Bureau Director Alice W. Green to submit an application to the Department of Justice’s Juvenile Mentoring Program and to act in connection with the application and to provide such additional information as may be required. Carried Unanimously 8-0 (Alderperson Blumenthal absent from vote) EXECUTIVE SESSION: By Alderperson Pryor: Seconded by Alderperson Whitmore RESOLVED, That Common Council adjourn into Executive Session to discuss the acquisition of land. Carried Unanimously REGULAR SESSION: Common Council reconvened into regular session with no formal action taken. ADJOURNMENT: On a motion the meeting was recessed until March 20, 2002 at 7:15 p.m. ________________________ _______________________ Julie Conley Holcomb, CMC Alan J. Cohen, City Clerk Mayor