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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMN-CC-2004-01-07 COMMON COUNCIL PROCEEDINGS CITY OF ITHACA, NEW YORK Regular Meeting 7:00 pm January 7, 2004 PRESENT: Mayor Peterson Alderpersons (10) Coles, Mackesey, Berry, Whitmore, Tomlan, Zumoff, Taylor Townsend, Cogan, Holtham Korherr OTHERS PRESENT: City Attorney – Luster City Controller – Thayer Deputy City Controller- Andrew Planning and Development Director – Van Cort Superintendent of Public Works – Gray Human Resources Director – Michell-Nunn Fire Chief – Wilbur Greater Ithaca Activities Center Director - Fort Information Management Specialist - Myers PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE: Mayor Peterson led all present in the Pledge of Allegiance to the American Flag. ADDITIONS TO OR DELETIONS FROM THE AGENDA: Alderperson Whitmore requested that Item 11.1 – Request to Transfer Funds for Southside Community Center be moved ahead of Item 9.1 – City Attorney – Amendment to Personnel Roster. No Council Member objected. Mayor Peterson requested the addition of an Update from the Planning Department on development downtown. No Council Member objected. SPECIAL ORDER OF BUSINESS: 4.1 Election of an Acting Mayor - Resolution By Alderperson Cogan: Seconded by Alderperson Berry RESOLVED, That Alderperson Whitmore be appointed Acting Mayor with a term to expire on December 31, 2004. Carried Unanimously 4.2 Election of an Alternate Acting Mayor - Resolution By Alderperson Coles: Seconded by Alderperson Taylor RESOLVED, That Michelle Berry be appointed Alternate Acting Mayor with a term to expire December 31, 2004. Carried Unanimously 4.3 Appointment of Marriage Officers – Resolution By Alderperson Mackesey: Seconded by Alderperson Holtham Korherr RESOLVED, That the following Alderpersons be designated as Marriage Officers for the year 2004: Alderperson Berry Alderperson Mackesey Alderperson Coles Alderperson Cogan Alderperson Holtham Korherr Alderperson Townsend Alderperson Taylor Carried Unanimously January 7, 2004 2 PETITIONS AND HEARINGS OF PERSONS BEFORE COUNCIL: The following people addressed Council regarding keeping the vacant lot on First and Madison Street as a neighborhood community space: Elizabeth Disson John Hamilton (who also read a letter from Tim Hayes who was unable to attend the meeting) Ilonka Wloch Elizabeth Hayes Joanna Green Kip Wilcox Joel Harlan, Town of Newfield – welcomed new Council, development in the City Fay Gougakis, City of Ithaca – welcomed new Council, Cornell Vet School medicine/waste management facility and health concerns related to that project Joe Wetmore, Town of Ithaca - replacement of City trees, and revenue collected by the City to replace trees for property owners Neil Oolie, City of Ithaca - expressed his vision of hope for the city which will be going through difficult times in the future, welcomed new Council. Guy Gerard, City of Ithaca, welcomed the new Council, encouraged the Council to learn what they can do as stewards for the City, follow Parliamentary procedures, and to use staff who are a great source of information. RESPONSE TO PUBLIC: Alderperson Coles responded to comments by stating that they reinforce some of the reasons she ran for office. She stated that she appreciated the love that has been expressed by the public tonight. She further responded to comments made about Cornell Vet School and explained that she had spent 2 ½ years working with Cornell regarding the waste of the veterinary sciences, and what is being done is not harmful. Alderperson Zumoff thanked the public for their kind words of welcome. He stated that Common Council wants to educate the public on the flow of information and explained that meetings are televised and requested that when the public uses acronyms in addressing the Council that they identify what they stand for, so the public will be well informed and understand the issues. Alderperson Mackesey responded to comments made about the empty lot on the corner of Madison and First streets. This may be an item that can go to the Planning Committee, and meetings could be set up with INHS to see how this item can be addressed. Alderperson Whitmore responded to comments made regarding the vacant lot on Madison and First streets. He has been encouraged by the neighborhood’s desire to keep the lot as a green space. He explained that funds that have been set aside by the IURA for INHS to build low to moderate income housing, and if the lot is kept as a green space that an alternate site for the housing will need to be found in order to keep the funding. He further addressed concerns raised about city trees and stated that Ithaca has a tree law, and that he will look into this concern. January 7, 2004 3 Alderperson Tomlan thanked the public for coming and stated that she understood the commitment and time that has been spent on these issues and encouraged the public to keep coming to the meetings. She further stated that the vacant lot concern will be addressed by Council. Alderperson Berry responded to comments on the vacant lot at Madison and First streets and stated that she has researched community gardens versus low income housing and the possibility of neighbors being on opposite sides of the issue. She stated that she is encouraged to see so many people from the second ward come out for this issue and will work to find a way for a community compromise on this issue. Mayor Peterson explained that the challenge faced by the new administration is how information is shared within City Hall, and finding the best way to communicate with the public. She noted that the Executive Director from INHS is in the audience and has heard the concerns raised by the residents of the northside. BUDGET & ADMINISTRATION COMMITTEE: 11.1 Request to Transfer Funds for Southside Community Center - Resolution Lynn Jackier, Southside Community Center Board, Karl Graham, Southside Community Center Board, Margo Hittleman, GIAC Board, and Marcia Fort, Director of GIAC gave a presentation on the history of Southside, the current financial situation of the Center, and the discussions that have been taking place with a working group to explore ways to get to the root of the problems facing Southside Community Center. Decreased funding has made fulfilling the Center’s mission very challenging. The Center has continued to provide programs to serve the community. The working group has met for the past month and identified a general direction which includes some form of collaboration with GIAC. Several possible scenarios have been discussed and the group is gathering data for each alternative. Each organization’s Board of Directors has been kept informed and has voted agreement with the general direction that the working group is taking. It is vitally important that the Southside Community Center keep its doors open and continue to provide at least the level of programming currently in operation. To that end, the Southside Community Center working group requests that Common Council release funds for the first quarter to allow the working group time to develop and implement a final plan. Resolution: By Alderperson Coles: Seconded by Alderperson Whitmore WHEREAS, the Southside Working Group formed in November 2003 to address the future relationship between the Southside Community Center, Inc., the City of Ithaca and the Greater Ithaca Activities Center (GIAC), Inc., and WHEREAS, the Southside Working Group has only just begun to formulate options for the successful collaboration between the Southside, the City of Ithaca and GIAC, and WHEREAS, the Southside Community Center, Inc. and GIAC, Inc. are committed to further collaboration, and WHEREAS, the City of Ithaca Common Council placed $68,000 for the Southside in Restricted Contingency Account Number A1990 in order to encourage such collaboration, and WHEREAS, the Southside Community Center will not be able to operate without funds from the City of Ithaca, and WHEREAS, the City of Ithaca Common Council needs further information before it considers the appropriation of the entire $68,000 held in Restricted Contingency for the Southside, now therefore be it January 7, 2004 4 RESOLVED, That $17,000 be transferred from Restricted Contingency Account Number A1990 to the Southside Community Center Account A5435 and be it further RESOLVED, That the Southside Community Center use these funds to maintain operations and programs through March 31, 2004. Extensive discussion followed on the floor regarding current staffing, programming, and funding. Further discussion took place on the importance of Southside Community Center to the City of Ithaca and the residents of the neighborhood. Motion to Call the Question: By Alderperson Coles: Seconded by Alderperson Berry RESOLVED, That the Question be called. Carried Unanimously Main Motion: A Vote on the Main Motion resulted as follows: Carried Unanimously HUMAN RESOURCES COMMITTEE: 9.1 City Attorney – Amendment to Personnel Roster – Resolution By Alderperson Cogan: Seconded by Alderperson Whitmore WHEREAS, Mayor Carolyn Peterson has appointed Martin A. Luster as the City Attorney, and WHEREAS, the City Attorney position is an at will position and therefore does not require Common Council approval, and WHEREAS, the City Attorney position is currently a full-time position and Mr. Luster has agreed to initially come out of retirement on a part-time basis; now, therefore, be it RESOLVED, That the City Attorney position be reduced to 60% time at a pro-rated salary of $42,900 for 2004 and, be it further RESOLVED, That upon his appointment, Mr. Luster shall be credited with a one-time allocation of forty-eight (48) hours of annual leave, and, be it further RESOLVED, That Mr. Luster will earn annual leave at six (6) hours each month, and, be it further RESOLVED, That for all other fringe benefits, he will follow the current benefit package approved for managerial staff. Alderperson Holtham Korherr stated that in her experience with the City, the City Attorney’s position has grown from part-time to fulltime and is now reverting back to part-time. She inquired whether there is a contingency to outsource attorney services in the future. Human Resources Director Michell-Nunn responded that the position was budgeted as full-time and the difference between the part-time and full-time salaries could be used for consulting services. A vote on the Resolution resulted as follows: Carried Unanimously MAYOR’S APPOINTMENTS: Mayor Peterson reported that her goal is to make committee appointments at the February meeting, and requested assistance from Common Council and the community in helping to fill vacancies. January 7, 2004 5 COMMUNICATIONS FROM THE MAYOR: 19.1 Disclosure Statements: Mayor Peterson announced that Common Council members need to submit their annual disclosure statements, using the old form, to the Clerk’s office by February 1st. She further explained that changes need to be made to the revised form, and when the form is ready she will request that Council members complete the new form and submit it to the City Clerk’s office. 19.2 Inter-municipal Joint Sewer Agreement: Mayor Peterson reported that signed copies of the Joint Sewer Agreement, the Joint Interceptor Agreement between the City of Ithaca and the Town of Ithaca, and the Intermunicipal Wastewater Agreement have been received from Attorney Susan Brock’s office. 19.3 Standing Committees: Mayor Peterson announced the following new standing committees for the City of Ithaca: City Administration, Chair – Alderperson Berry Governance, Chair - Alderperson Mackesey Community Services, Chair – Alderperson Whitmore Planning, Neighborhoods & Economic Development, Chair – Alderperson Tomlan Mayor Peterson further announced the following Task Forces: Public Information Commission Budget Planning Intergovernmental Relations Charter & Code Review Mayor Peterson announced Common Council liaisons to the various boards and committees. She further reported that 3 representatives need to be appointed to the TCAT Board, and one representative needs to be appointed to the Business Improvement District Committee. Appointment to Business Improvement District: By Alderperson Cogan: Seconded by Alderperson Whitmore RESOLVED, That Michelle Berry be appointed to the Business Improvement District Committee to represent the City of Ithaca. Carried Unanimously Mayor Peterson stated that meeting times for the standing committees need to be determined, and will be announced after she meets with the committee Chairs. REPORT FROM THE PLANNING DEPARTMENT: Director of Planning and Development Van Cort and Superintendent of Public Works Gray gave a presentation to Common Council regarding the recent history of development downtown and in the southwest area of the city, and reviewed plans for current and future development in those areas, which include the Cayuga Green Project, the Cornell/Ciminelli project and the Six Point Traffic Plan. They further reported on what Council can expect to be coming to them for approval in the coming months. Common Council members requested that they be given the text of the presentation to read and become familiar with. Further discussion followed regarding financial impacts, and funding for the projects. January 7, 2004 6 REPORT OF THE CITY CONTROLLER: City Controller Thayer reported that sales tax revenue for 2003 will exceed expected amounts. Revenue from sales tax for 2003 will be eight million dollars. He also reported that the City has maintained its AA3 bond rating which will bode well for future interest rates. The City also sold bond anticipation notes at 1.22%, and bonds were sold at 3.55%. Alderperson Whitmore expressed his appreciation for the hard work done by the City Controller’s office. ADJOURNMENT: On a motion the meeting adjourned at 9:55 P.M. ___________________________ __________________________ Sarah Myers, Carolyn K. Peterson Information Management Specialist Mayor