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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMN-CC-2002-12-11 COMMON COUNCIL PROCEEDINGS CITY OF ITHACA, NEW YORK Special Meeting 7:00 pm December 11, 2002 PRESENT: Mayor Cohen Alderpersons (9) Manos, Pryor, Whitmore, Vaughan, Blumenthal, Mack, Peterson, Cogan, Hershey OTHERS PRESENT: Deputy Clerk – Korherr City Attorney – Schwab Planning and Development Director – Van Cort Economic Development Director – McDonald Superintendent of Public Works – Gray Deputy Planning and Development Director – Cornish EXCUSED: Sams PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE: Mayor Cohen led all present in the Pledge of Allegiance to the American Flag. EXECUTIVE SESSION: By Alderperson Cogan: Seconded by Alderperson Mack RESOLVED, That Common Council adjourn into Executive Session to discuss a mattering regarding land acquisition. Carried Unanimously Common Council reconvened into regular session with no formal action taken. SPECIAL ORDER OF BUSINESS: 2.1. Selection of a Preferred Developer for the Cayuga Green Project - Resolution By Alderperson Pryor : Seconded by Alderperson Whitmore WHEREAS, the City of Ithaca has by pervious resolutions expressed its commitment to the Cayuga Green Project as a cornerstone in the continuing revitalization of the central business district WHEREAS, the City has issued a request for proposals to development companies for proposals for the redevelopment of City owned land south and east of the County Library and under the Green Street Garage, and WHEREAS, four proposals were received and reviewed by City officials, the City’s consultant from the National Development Council (NDC) and a representative of the Ithaca Downtown Partnership project, and a recommendation has been made to the Common Council; now therefore be it RESOLVED, That the Common Council does hereby direct the Mayor, the Chair of the Cayuga Green Client Committee and the Director of Planning and Development to negotiate a preferred developer agreement and any other legal instruments necessary for implementation of the housing and commercial component s of the Cayuga Green Development project with the DiMarco Groups, and be it further RESOLVED, That any such agreements be brought to Common Council for approval before execution. December 11, 2002 2 A vote on the resolution resulted as follows: Ayes (8) Manos, Pryor, Whitmore, Mack, Peterson, Cogan, Hershey, Vaughan Nays (0) Abstentions (1) Blumenthal Carried 2.2 A Resolution to Halt Construction on the Inlet Island Promenade Project, Pending Approval of Agreement between Cornell and the City of Ithaca By Alderperson Mack : Seconded by Alderperson Blumenthal WHEREAS, the Ithaca Urban Renewal Agency and the City of Ithaca have undertaken a project to construct an Inlet Island Promenade, and WHEREAS, The Ithaca Urban Renewal Agency has received a $200,000 CCI grant, a $175,000 City contribution, and a $77,000 County contribution for DOT related planning, and all of the necessary permits for the project, and WHEREAS, a contract has been signed on behalf of the Board of Public Works by Superintendent Gray, and construction on the project has begun, and WHEREAS, the Ithaca rowing community has recently voiced concerns regarding the negative impacts that a seawall will have on the quality of rowing activity in Ithaca, and WHEREAS, the City of Ithaca has entered a Memorandum of Understanding Concerning Cayuga Inlet Island Promenade Design and Construction Matters Affecting Rowing with Cornell, and WHEREAS, due to time constraints set forth within the various permit applications and grants, the City can afford no more than a 3 week project delay, now be it RESOLVED, That pursuant to the Ithaca City Charter, section 61, Common Council hereby directs Superintendent Gray, acting on behalf of the Board of Public Works, to immediately suspend all construction work on the Inlet Island Promenade Project, and be it further RESOLVED, That at a special meeting on ___________________________, Common Council will determine whether or not to direct Superintendent Gray to resume construction work or take some other course of action, based on the review of proposed design updates and negotiations between Cornell and the City, and be it further RESOLVED, That if no action can be agreed on by a majority of Common Council at the special meeting on ____________________, Superintendent Gray will be directed to immediately resume work on the Inlet Island Promenade Project. Substitute Resolution By Alderperson Blumenthal : Seconded by Alderperson Manos RESOLVED, That the following language replace the moved resolution: “WHEREAS, the Ithaca Urban Renewal Agency and the City of Ithaca have undertaken a project to construct an Inlet Island Promenade, and WHEREAS, The Ithaca Urban Renewal Agency has received a $200,000 CCI grant, a $175,000 City contribution, and a $77,000 County contribution for DOT related planning, and all of the necessary permits for the project, and WHEREAS, a contract has been signed on behalf of the Board of Public Works by Superintendent Gray, and construction on the project has begun, and WHEREAS, the Ithaca rowing community has recently voiced concerns regarding the negative impacts that a seawall may have on the quality of rowing activity in Ithaca, and December 11, 2002 3 WHEREAS, Cornell University has signed a Memorandum of Understanding Concerning Cayuga Inlet Island Promenade Design and Construction Matters Affecting Rowing, stating, among other things, that the City will suspend construction for a two week period beginning 12/12/2002 and Cornell University will pay all reasonable costs associated with the delay, and WHEREAS, due to time constraints set forth within the various permit applications and grants, the City can afford no more than a 3 week project delay, now be it RESOLVED, That the Mayor is authorized to sign the above referenced Memorandum of Understanding between the City and Cornell University, and be it further RESOLVED, That pursuant to the Ithaca City Charter, section 61, Common Council hereby directs Superintendent Gray, acting on behalf of the Board of Public Works, to immediately suspend all construction work on the Inlet Island Promenade Project, and be it further RESOLVED, Superintendent Bill Gray, acting on behalf of the Board of Public Works is directed to immediately resume construction work on the Inlet Island Promenade Project on 12/26/2002, unless Common Council takes affirmative contrary action prior to that date. “ Amending Resolution By Alderperson Blumenthal : Seconded by Alderperson Hershey RESOLVED, That the following language replace the substitute resolution: “WHEREAS, the Ithaca Urban Renewal Agency and the City of Ithaca have undertaken a project to construct an Inlet Island Promenade, and WHEREAS, funding for the project has come from a $200,000 CCI grant, a $175,000 City contribution, and a $77,000 County contribution for DOT related planning, and all of the necessary permits for the project, and WHEREAS, a contract has been signed on behalf of the Board of Public Works by Superintendent Gray, and construction on the project has begun, and WHEREAS, the Ithaca rowing community, including but not limited to representatives from Cornell University, Ithaca College, and the Cascadilla Boat Club, have recently voiced concerns regarding the negative impacts that a seawall may have on the quality of rowing activity in Ithaca, and WHEREAS, Cornell University has signed a Memorandum of Understanding Concerning Cayuga Inlet Island Promenade Design and Construction Matters Affecting Rowing, stating, among other things, that the City will suspend construction for a two week period beginning 12/12/2002 and Cornell University will pay all reasonable costs associated with the delay, and WHEREAS, due to time constraints set forth within the various permit applications and grants, the City can afford no more than a 3 week project delay, now be it RESOLVED, That the Mayor is authorized to sign the above referenced Memorandum of Understanding between the City and Cornell University, and be it further RESOLVED, That pursuant to the Ithaca City Charter, section 61, Common Council hereby directs Superintendent Gray, acting on behalf of the Board of Public Works, to immediately suspend all construction work on the Inlet Island Promenade Project, and be it further RESOLVED, Superintendent Bill Gray, acting on behalf of the Board of Public Works is directed to immediately resume construction work on the Inlet Island Promenade Project on 12/26/2002, unless Common Council takes affirmative contrary action prior to that date. “ December 11, 2002 4 Vote on Substitute Resolution A vote on the substitute resolution as amended resulted as follows: Carried Unanimously Amending Resolution By Alderperson Blumenthal : Seconded by Alderperson Cogan RESOLVED, That the following whereas clause replace the 5th WHEREAS: “WHEREAS, Cornell University has signed a document entitled Memorandum of Understanding Concerning Cayuga Inlet Island Promenade Design and Construction Matters Affecting Rowing dated December 11, 2002, stating, among other things, that the City will immediately suspend construction for a two week period beginning 12/12/2002 and Cornell University will pay all reasonable costs associated with the delay, and” Carried Unanimously Amending Resolution By Alderperson Manos : Seconded by Alderperson Hershey RESOLVED, That the following whereas clause replace the 5th WHEREAS: “WHEREAS, Cornell University has signed a document entitled Memorandum of Understanding Concerning Cayuga Inlet Island Promenade Design and Construction Matters Affecting Rowing dated December 11, 2002, stating, among other things, that the City will immediately suspend construction work on the proposed concrete bulkhead and associated features as presently designed, for a two week period beginning 12/12/2002 and Cornell University will pay all reasonable costs associated with the delay, and”, be it further RESOLVED, That the following whereas clause replace the 4th WHEREAS: “WHEREAS, the Ithaca rowing community, including but not limited to representatives from Cornell University, Ithaca College, and the Cascadilla Boat Club, have recently voiced concerns including the negative impacts that a seawall may have on the quality of rowing activity in Ithaca, and” Carried Unanimously Vote on the Main Motion As Amended A vote on the main motion, which reads as follows, resulted as follows: A Resolution to Halt Construction on the Inlet Island Promenade Project, Pending Approval of Agreement between Cornell and the City of Ithaca WHEREAS, the Ithaca Urban Renewal Agency and the City of Ithaca have undertaken a project to construct an Inlet Island Promenade, and WHEREAS, funding for the project has come from a $200,000 CCI grant, a $175,000 City contribution, and a $77,000 County contribution for DOT related planning, and all of the necessary permits for the project, and WHEREAS, a contract has been signed on behalf of the Board of Public Works by Superintendent Gray, and construction on the project has begun, and WHEREAS, the Ithaca rowing community, including but not limited to representatives from Cornell University, Ithaca College, and the Cascadilla Boat Club, have recently voiced concerns including the negative impacts that a seawall may have on the quality of rowing activity in Ithaca, and WHEREAS, Cornell University has signed a document entitled Memorandum of Understanding Concerning Cayuga Inlet Island Promenade Design and Construction Matters Affecting Rowing dated December 11, 2002, stating, among other things, that the City will immediately suspend construction work on the proposed concrete bulkhead and associated features as presently designed, for a two week period beginning 12/12/2002 and Cornell University will pay all reasonable costs associated with the delay, and December 11, 2002 5 WHEREAS, due to time constraints set forth within the various permit applications and grants, the City can afford no more than a 3 week project delay, now be it RESOLVED, That the Mayor is authorized to sign the above referenced Memorandum of Understanding between the City and Cornell University, and be it further RESOLVED, That pursuant to the Ithaca City Charter, section 61, Common Council hereby directs Superintendent Gray, acting on behalf of the Board of Public Works, to immediately suspend all construction work on the Inlet Island Promenade Project, and be it further RESOLVED, Superintendent Bill Gray, acting on behalf of the Board of Public Works is directed to immediately resume construction work on the Inlet Island Promenade Project on 12/27/2002, unless Common Council takes affirmative contrary action prior to that date. Carried Unanimously Note: A Special Common Council Meeting will be held Thursday December 26, 2002 7:00 pm to continue discussion on the Inlet Island Promenade Project. ADJOURNMENT: On a motion the meeting adjourned at 9:10 P.M. ________________________ _______________________ Robin Korherr Alan J. Cohen, Deputy City Clerk Mayor