Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAboutMN-CC-2006-01-04COMMON COUNCIL PROCEEDINGS CITY OF ITHACA, NEW YORK Regular Meeting 7:00 p.m. January 4, 2006 PRESENT: Mayor Peterson Alderpersons (8) Coles, Seger, Clairborne, Tomlan, Zumoff, Gelinas, Cogan, Korherr OTHERS PRESENT: City Clerk – Conley Holcomb City Attorney – Hoffman City Controller – Thayer Human Resources Director – Michell-Nunn Deputy Fire Chief – Dorman EXCUSED: Alderpersons Berry and Townsend PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE: Mayor Peterson led all present in the Pledge of Allegiance to the American Flag. SPECIAL PRESENTATIONS BEFORE COUNCIL: Southwest Committee Presentation of Final Report: David Kay, Chair of the Southwest Committee and City Planner Lisa Nicholas presented the Committee’s Final Report. The committee’s recommendations include the development of a new residential, urban neighborhood that would include affordable housing with energy efficient, and environmentally friendly amenities. The neighborhood would include open green space, recreational space, and various commercial developments that would provide employment opportunities and services to the neighborhood. A public forum to solicit additional input has been scheduled for February 6, 2006 from 7:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. in Common Council Chambers of City Hall. The committee will also make a presentation to the Planning, Economic Development and Environmental Quality Committee at their February 15, 2006 meeting. PETITIONS AND HEARINGS OF PERSONS BEFORE COUNCIL: John Graves, City of Ithaca - downtown density policy Guy Gerard, City of Ithaca - Southwest Vision Statement; and economic development concerns in other areas of the City Joel Harlan, Town of Newfield - Southwest development plans Fay Gougakis, City of Ithaca – Cornell University/Town of Ithaca Transportation Plan GEIS concerns PRIVILEGE OF THE FLOOR – COMMON COUNCIL AND THE MAYOR: Alderperson Tomlan responded to concerns raised about the lack of City input in the Cornell/Town of Ithaca Transportation Plan GEIS. Mayor Peterson’s 2006 State of the City Address: Mayor Peterson read the following State of the City Address into the record: “First of all, I want to extend a welcome to our three new Common Council members: Shane Seger, JR Clairborne, and David Gelinas. Every 2 years, the makeup of this Council changes, and with change comes new ideas and new talents. I look forward to working with each of you as we continue to improve the City of Ithaca as an organization, as a top small city in the northeast, and as a place that is “a great place to create, live, work, dream, learn, and play.” I have distributed the committee and liaison assignments. I feel that the standing committees have, by and large, been working fairly well. I have made some slight changes to their titles and responsibilities. Community Services will now be Community and Neighborhood Services. Planning, Neighborhoods and Economic Development will now be Planning, Economic Development, and Environmental Quality to reflect the work on sustainability and the Mayor’s commitment to the city’s climate protection strategies. Governance will now be titled Governance and Intermunicipal Relations to reflect the expected upcoming work on shared services and consolidation issues. January 4, 2006 2 Our city administrative legislation states that the Mayor address the Council at the first regular meeting of the year with “respect to the needs and resources of the city, including such programs and proposals for the good of the city as he/she may wish to recommend.” With this in mind, yesterday, at the weekly department head meeting, I asked each department head to recap some highlights of 2005 and to state some goals for 2006. In doing so, it is remarkable to hear how much was accomplished in 2005. Examples include the hiring of eight, and promotion of six police officers, a year of extraordinary emergency events for the fire department, intense and hotly debated discussions over the Green Garage and Cayuga Green development, the phosphorous removal project at the Wastewater Treatment Plant about to go online any day, the innovative college discovery program at the Youth Bureau that helps bridge the achievement gap in our community, the new user friendly budget that will soon be available online, numerous administrative hirings, contract negotiations, performance evaluations and a great deal of infrastructure work. Some of these issues are now complete but in 2006, some will be carried over from 2005. These include: Continuing implementation and review of the recommendations from the Pedestrian Awareness Committee Anticipated completion of a written energy / greenhouse gas emission reduction plan and proactive work in each department in reducing our energy usage. 2006 will see our first hybrid city-owned vehicle and progress toward better energy efficiency in city buildings. The City will make a decision in the Spring on a solution for replacement of the aged Water Treatment Plant. Work will continue on implementation of the second and third phases of the Waterfront Trail. We also hope to make progress on the Black Diamond Trail. A plan for dredging of the Inlet and other streams should be settled this year. As we will hear tonight, the next steps for a new neighborhood in the Southwest will be a major undertaking in 2006. I will mention communication issues every year for this administration. It is a broad topic with diverse aspects. The City will improve the construction update process that has been in place for over a year. As we become better at communication, we more easily see where additional improvements can be made. This will be one of the focus areas. We also hope to add some informative sections to the city web page, based on excellent samples from other cities. We will also take advantage of written information that can be placed in resident’s water bills. Reaching out to residents will always be an area to work on and to improve. Also continuing from the very end of 2005 will be a major focus on the discussion of intermunicipal shared services or consolidation. This is not only an important issue between the town and city, but also between the city and the county. Nationwide we have seen emergencies from hurricanes, fires, mining, and floods. Although the city has adopted an emergency plan, we will be moving forward with additional training for non-police and non-fire staff, and have already made this topic a part of our regular senior staff meetings. In relation to the efforts of shared services, a community wide approach to area safety is necessary. There are several broad initiatives that will be examined in 2006. The issue of housing in our community, whether affordable, adequate, or appropriately located, will be a key topic this year. The downtown density policy discussions have just gotten underway and will continue immediately in early 2006. New State building code regulations – an unfunded mandate – are to be in place in 2007. With a very busy community and university campus, the Building Department will be making new strategic plans to make improvements to deal with the anticipated additional workload. New special committees or task forces will include: the review of proposals for Inlet Island, the state and future of Collegetown, a committee to analyze the sprucing up of the Commons, relationships with Cornell, Ithaca College, and TC3, and a parking management team. Administratively, new organizational competencies will be set for January 4, 2006 3 2006. The competencies for 2005 – diversity and employee communications have been hugely successful and will continue as we add new goals. There is a lot of work to do. Gratifyingly, as I was looking back on work lists from 2004, I see that progress has been made. I look forward to 2006 and working with this new Council, filling the boards and committees with some new participants, and acknowledging the many jobs and hard work that city employees provide to this community everyday.” COMMUNITY SERVICES COMMITTEE: An Ordinance to Amend Chapter 317 of the City of Ithaca Municipal Code Entitled “Removal of Vehicles” By Alderperson Korherr: Seconded by Alderperson Cogan WHEREAS Chapter 317 of the City Code provides for the towing of vehicles illegally parked within the City of Ithaca, and WHEREAS Section 317-2(A)(7) currently requires towing operators who wish to be on the Police Department’s rotational list to maintain a bonafide terminal within the City, and WHEREAS such local operating requirements have been deemed, by the New York Attorney General to be an impermissible violation of Section 80 of the New York General Municipal Law which prohibits exclusion of businesses from outside a municipality from operating within the municipality, and WHEREAS the Common Council of the City of Ithaca is concerned about the hardship caused to its residents when their vehicles are towed to far-away locations making it difficult and costly for them to retrieve their vehicles, and WHEREAS the Common Council recognizes that it cannot require that towing operators must be located strictly within the City of Ithaca, it seeks nonetheless to mitigate the hardship on vehicle owners seeking to retrieve their towed vehicles by requiring that towing operators who are permitted to tow vehicles within the City must maintain a bonafide terminal within Tompkins County, and WHEREAS the Common Council deems it necessary to revise the fees charged by towing operators to reflect the increased costs incurred by these businesses in providing towing services; now therefore ORDINANCE NO. 06- BE IT ORDAINED AND ENACTED by the Common Council of the City of Ithaca as follows: Section 1. Sections 317-2, 317-13, and 317-14 of Chapter 317 of the City of Ithaca Municipal Code Entitled “Removal of Vehicles” is hereby amended as follows: § 317-2. Police Department tow truck list: requirements; application. A. Every tow truck operator who wishes to be included in the Police Department's tow truck list and/or heavy vehicle tow truck list for towing ordered by the Police Department pursuant to the provisions of this chapter shall meet the following requirements: (1) Each tow truck shall be kept fit, of good appearance and in safe condition for towing. (2) Each tow truck shall have inscribed on the outside of each front door the trade name and business address of the tow truck operator, in letters not less than two inches in height, either painted or otherwise securely affixed to both doors in a conspicuous place. (3) Each tow truck shall have a fire extinguisher, safety flares, tow chain, pry bars, and suitable brooms, shovels and containers for cleanup. January 4, 2006 4 (4) A schedule of fees as listed in this chapter shall be posted in a conspicuous area on the premises of each tow truck operator and shall be made available upon demand to the general public. A copy of their towing fees must also be kept in the tow-truck. (5) Tow truck operators shall be responsible for removing glass or other injurious substances dropped upon the public highway by the towed vehicle. (6) Tow truck operators shall keep a record of calls and the fees charged for any towing transaction. Said records may shall be made available to the Ithaca Police Department subject to police inspection at any time upon request. (7) Tow truck operators shall own, operate and maintain a bona fide terminal within City of Ithaca Tompkins County where they will store vehicles towed from within the City of Ithaca. The terminal shall be identified by a legible, conspicuously displayed sign. The sign shall include the name and telephone number of the tow company and be a minimum size of two feet by two feet. (8) The terminal must be fenced, locked and lighted in a manner to ensure the safety of vehicles stored on the premises. (9) Tow truck operators shall allow for the properly authorized release of motor vehicles in their custody 24 hours a day, seven days a week. They may charge an extra fee for vehicles that are retrieved after their regular operating hours as set forth in section 317-14A(6) below. (10) Tow truck operators shall not exceed the gross combined weight rating of their tow trucks. B. A tow truck operator who wishes to be included in the Police Department's tow truck list(s) shall file with the Police Chief documentation showing that he/she is insured against public liability in the limits required by law, which insurance certificate shall name the City of Ithaca as an additional insured party, as well as and an application upon forms to be furnished by the Police Chief, verified under oath, and stating: (1) The name and address of the tow truck operator and the address of the place from which the tow trucks are proposed to be garaged and dispatched, specifying, in the case of an unincorporated association, the name and address of each member thereof, and in case of a corporation, of each officer and stockholder. (2) The location of any and all depots and terminals proposed to be used by the applicant. (3) Whether the operator wishes to be included on the heavy vehicle tow truck list. (4) Any other relevant information which the Police Chief may require. C. After review of the application, and provided that the tow truck operator meets the requirements of Subsection A above, the Police Chief shall place the tow truck operator on the Ithaca Police Department's tow truck list and/or heavy vehicle tow truck list. The Police Chief shall establish reasonable rules and regulations for the inspection of tow trucks to ensure compliance with the requirements of this section. D. Tow truck operators on the tow truck list shall be authorized to tow motor vehicles involved in accidents or to be towed or impounded for violations of law by order of the Ithaca Police Department pursuant to § 317-5 below, provided, however, that in instances where time is critical, such as in cases of a snow emergency or auto accident, the officers of the Police Department reserve the right, in their discretion, to call the next operator on the tow-operator list if the operator that has been called fails to respond to the scene within a twenty-minute time frame. § 317-13. Procedures for private property towing. A. Vehicles may be towed away or removed without additional notice to the owner in the following instances: (1) From property appurtenant to and obviously a part of a one-, two-, or three-family residence. (2) Where notice is given to the owner or other legally authorized person in control of the vehicle that the area in which that vehicle is parked is reserved or otherwise unavailable for unauthorized vehicles, and that such unauthorized vehicles are subject to being removed at the owner's or operator's expense. B. Additional notice required. Private property owners shall not authorize or participate in the towing, storage or disposition of vehicles illegally parked or abandoned unless the owner or person(s) in charge of the vehicle shall be notified by one of the following methods: January 4, 2006 5 (1) Posted signage on the premises meeting the following requirements: (a) The notice must be prominently placed on the premises, and be continuously maintained on the premises for 24 hours prior to the towing or removal of any vehicle from the premises; (b) The notice must clearly indicate, in not less than two-inch-high letters on a contrasting background, that unauthorized vehicles will be towed away at the owner's or operator's expense. The notice must state clearly how long, if at all, or under what conditions a vehicle may park before being towed or removed from the premises; (c) The sign structure must comply with the provisions of Chapter 272, Signs; or (2) By issuance of a duly authorized traffic ticket for illegal parking. A vehicle tow report will be completed by the Police Department, and name the property owner as the complainant. C. If the vehicle is not removed after proper notice is given as set forth above, the vehicle may be towed immediately thereafter in accordance with the procedure under § 317-14 below. D. If the vehicle is to be towed by order of a private property owner after such notice as required in Subsections A and B above, the tow truck operator shall inform the Ithaca Police Department immediately after removal. The vehicle will be entered into a log to be maintained by the Police Department. E. When towing of a vehicle from private property is being effected pursuant to this section the towing operator called must be one who maintains a bona-fide terminal within Tompkins County, and the vehicle so towed may not be stored at a location outside the County. § 317-14. Removal and storage charges; penalties for violation. A. Removal and storage charges for nonconsensual towing of vehicles in the City of Ithaca are hereby established as follows: (1) Ordinary r Removal charges shall not exceed $55 $80 total charge, inclusive of sales tax. ["Ordinary removal" means the removal of any vehicle that is not a special equipment removal, a special problem or circumstance removal, or an extraordinary removal. (2) Special equipment removal charges shall not exceed $75 total charge. "Special equipment removal" means the removal of any vehicle that requires special equipment such as dollies, flat beds, ramps, jacks or slings.] (3)(2) Special problem or circumstance removal charges shall not exceed [$75], $105, total charge, inclusive of sales tax. "Special problem or circumstance" means the removal of any vehicle that involves additional steps such as snow removal, difficult access to a locked vehicle and extra cleanup. A request shall be made by the tow truck operator to the police officer at the scene of the tow that the tow be treated as a special problem or circumstance removal. Reasons for the request shall be stated by the tow truck operator to the police officer at the scene and shall be recorded in the vehicle- towed report. Approval or denial of request is to be made at the discretion of the police officer at the scene of the tow and indicated on the "Police Towing" log. Denial of the request by the police officer shall cause the tow to be deemed an ordinary removal. (4)(3) Extraordinary removal charges shall be based on the actual costs of the use of the extraordinary equipment, plus labor charges. "Extraordinary removal" means the removal of any vehicle requiring the necessary use of one or more additional tow trucks, a crane or other extraordinary equipment other than regular or special towing equipment. (5)(4) A fee not to exceed $30 may be charged by the tow truck operator to the owner or operator of any vehicle requiring removal services as provided in this chapter whenever the owner or operator appears to remove the vehicle after the tow truck operator has hooked up the vehicle for towing or removal, but before the vehicle has been removed from the scene. (6)(5) Storage fees not exceeding [$20] $25 per day or fraction thereof may be charged by the tow truck operator after the vehicle has been stored for more than 24 hours. (7)(6) An after-hours service charge not to exceed $25 may be charged by the tow truck operator whenever the tow truck operator is called to release a vehicle from the storage yard during the hours [of 11:00 p.m.] 9:00 p.m. to 7:00 a.m. B. Violation of any provision of this chapter shall be punishable by a fine of not more than $250 or by imprisonment for a period not exceeding 15 days for each such offense, or by both such fine and imprisonment. January 4, 2006 6 Section 2. SEVERABILITY CLAUSE. Severability is intended throughout and within the provisions of the ordinance. If any section, subsection, sentence, clause, phrase or portion of this ordinance is held to be invalid or unconstitutional by a court of competent jurisdiction, then that decision shall not affect the validity of the remaining portions of this ordinance. Section 3. EFFECTIVE DATE. This Ordinance shall take effect immediately and in accordance with law upon publication of notice as provided in the Ithaca City Charter. Discussion followed on the floor with Alderpersons Gelinas and Clairborne voicing concerns regarding the proposed rate structure as it pertains to “Special problems or circumstances”. Alderperson Gelinas further recommended that an automatic rate review process be added to the legislation. After further discussion, a vote on the Ordinance resulted as follows: Carried Unanimously Snow and Ice Removal Procedures – Update Alderperson Korherr reported on the implementation of the snow and ice removal procedures pursuant to amendments made to the Exterior Property Maintenance ordinance that became effective January 3, 2006. She noted that Building Commissioner Radke would be coordinating each phase of the enforcement process with the Ithaca Police Department and the Department of Public Works. In addition to the Building Department Code Enforcement Officers, the Police Department Community Service Officers will assist in the identification of non-compliant properties. Upon the completion of the ticket issuance process, the Department of Public Works will be notified of the names and addresses of properties that require snow removal services. After the sidewalks have been cleared by City staff, information will be forwarded to the City Chamberlain’s Office for billing purposes. Written appeals for the snow removal costs should be filed with the City Clerk for the Department of Public Works review. City Court will assume responsibility for the collection of ticket fines. Alderperson Korherr further reviewed other related issues and factors that could have an impact on this program. She urged Council members to share information about this law with their other colleagues and constituents and stated that public education will be critical to the success of this initiative. CITY ADMINISTRATION COMMITTEE: Waiver of Residency Requirement - Resolution By Alderperson Coles: Seconded by Alderperson Cogan WHEREAS, the City of Ithaca’s Police Chief is requesting a waiver of the residency requirement due to extenuating circumstances that require her to provide accommodations for a disabled family member, and WHEREAS, the Chief’s existing City residence would require major structural adaptations including additional square footage and the displacement of the disabled family member for the renovation period, and WHEREAS, the Chief’s efforts to find accommodating housing within the City of Ithaca were unsuccessful, and WHEREAS, Common Council has, in the past, afforded individuals covered under the residency requirement waivers due to numerous circumstances; now, therefore, be it RESOLVED, That Common Council hereby grants a residency waiver to Police Chief, Lauren Signer. Carried Unanimously January 4, 2006 7 Increase in Annual Leave - Resolution By Alderperson Coles: Seconded by Alderperson Cogan WHEREAS, Deputy Police Chief Randolph Haus, Sr. served twenty years with the Ithaca police department before retiring in1998, and WHEREAS, Deputy Chief Haus, at the time of his retirement was at the rank of Captain receiving the maximum pay and benefits, and WHEREAS, Deputy Chief Haus returned from retirement at the request of the City and was credited the entry level benefit accumulation which was not sufficient to cover time commitments made prior to his return, and WHEREAS, Deputy Chief Haus accepted a lower salary than that recommended by the Human Resources Director at the time of rehire for reasons of his own; now, therefore, be it RESOLVED, That Common Council hereby awards Deputy Police Chief Randolph Haus, Sr. five additional days of annual leave in recognition of previous tenure. Carried Unanimously Request to Establish Capital Project for Equipment Acquisition - Resolution By Alderperson Coles: Seconded by Alderperson Korherr WHEREAS, the Ithaca Fire Department has been designated by Common Council resolution as the Tompkins County Hazardous Materials Team and, WHEREAS, many funding sources, including grants, are available through Tompkins County and, WHEREAS, the reimbursement for the purchase of equipment and personnel cost for the Hazardous Materials Team is facilitated by following City purchasing practices and retaining control of the purchasing process through the Ithaca Fire Department; now, therefore, be it RESOLVED, That the City of Ithaca Common Council hereby authorizes the establishment of Capital Project #496 IFD Hazardous Materials Team Equipment Acquisition in an amount not to exceed $150,000 for the purposes of purchasing Hazardous Materials equipment and reimbursement of applicable personnel costs, and be it further RESOLVED, That all funds needed for said project shall be derived from Federal, State and Local grants and donations. Carried Unanimously Common Council – Approval of 2006 Travel Policy By Alderperson Coles: Seconded By Alderperson Cogan WHEREAS, there is to be held during the coming official year a) the New York State Conference of Mayors Annual Meeting and Training School; b) the New York State Conference of Mayors and Fall Training School for Fiscal Officers and Municipal Clerks, and other national and regional conferences as applicable, and WHEREAS, it is determined by the Mayor and Common Council that attendance by certain municipal officials and City employees at one or more of these meetings, conferences or schools benefits the municipality; now, therefore, be it RESOLVED, That Common Council, the Mayor and City employees are hereby authorized to attend said conferences or other applicable training events during 2006, and be it further RESOLVED, That the cost for all events must be derived from existing 2006 Departmental Budgets with appropriate approvals obtained as applicable, and be it further RESOLVED, That this resolution shall take effect immediately. Carried Unanimously January 4, 2006 8 NEW BUSINESS: Request of Ithaca Downtown Partnership to Permit Wine and Hard Cider Tasting and Sale of Bottled Wine and Bottled Hard Cider at the Winter Festival/Chili Cook- Off on the Commons By Alderperson Korherr: Seconded by Alderperson Zumoff RESOLVED, That the Ithaca Downtown Partnership shall be authorized to arrange for the sale of bottled wine and bottled hard cider and to permit tasting of wines and hard cider at booths during the Winter Festival/Chili Cook-Off, February 18, 2006 on the Ithaca Commons, and, be it further RESOLVED, That the Ithaca Downtown Partnership and participating wineries shall comply with all applicable state and local laws and ordinances, and shall enter into an agreement providing that it will hold the City harmless and indemnify the City on account of any claims made as the result of the sale or tasting of bottled wine and bottled hard cider on the Ithaca Commons, and, be it further RESOLVED, That the Ithaca Downtown Partnership or the participating winery or cider company shall agree to maintain liability insurance in the amount of $1,000,000.00 and Dram Shop Act coverage in the minimum amount of $500,000.00, and shall provide evidence of such insurance to the City Clerk. Carried Unanimously Election of the Acting Mayor Opening of Nominations Alderperson Korherr nominated Alderperson Daniel Cogan for the position of Acting Mayor; Alderperson Coles seconded the nomination. Nominations were closed. Alderpersons Coles, Tomlan, and Zumoff made comments in support of Alderperson Cogan’s nomination. All those in favor of Alderperson Daniel Cogan for the position of Acting Mayor with a term to expire December 31, 2006 were as follows: Carried Unanimously Election of an Alternate Acting Mayor Opening of Nominations Alderperson Zumoff nominated Alderperson Coles for the position of Alternate Acting Mayor; Alderperson Korherr seconded the nomination. Nominations were closed. Alderperson Cogan made comments in support of Alderperson Coles nomination. All those in favor of Alderperson Coles for the position of Alternate Acting Mayor with a term to expire December 31, 2006 were as follows: Carried Unanimously Appointment of Marriage Officers – Resolution By Alderperson Cogan: Seconded by Alderperson Korherr RESOLVED, That the following Alderpersons be designated as Marriage Officers for the year 2006: Alderperson Seger Alderperson Berry Alderperson Clairborne Alderperson Townsend Alderperson Gelinas Alderperson Cogan Alderperson Korherr Carried Unanimously January 4, 2006 9 Appointment of Marriage Officer - Resolution By Alderperson Cogan: Seconded by Alderperson Coles RESOLVED, That David Whitmore be appointed as a Marriage Officer for the City of Ithaca for the month of January, 2006. Carried Unanimously MAYOR’S APPOINTMENTS: Board of Public Works: By Alderperson Cogan: Seconded by Alderperson Tomlan RESOLVED, That Claudia Jenkins be reappointed to the Board of Public Works with a term to expire December 31, 2008, and be it further RESOLVED, That Ronald Chapman be reappointed to the Board of Public Works with a term to expire December 31, 2008, and be it further Bicycle Pedestrian Advisory Council: RESOLVED, That Kenneth W. Mudge be reappointed to the Bicycle Pedestrian Advisory Council with a term to expire December 31, 2008, and be it further RESOLVED, That Carla Shafer be reappointed to the Bicycle Pedestrian Advisory Council with a term to expire December 31, 2008, and be it further RESOLVED, That Ronald Chapman be reappointed to the Bicycle Pedestrian Advisory Council with a term to expire December 31, 2008, and be it further Board of Zoning Appeals: RESOLVED, That Nancy Falconer be reappointed to the Board of Zoning Appeals with a term to expire December 31, 2008, and be it further RESOLVED, That James Marshall be reappointed to the Board of Zoning Appeals with a term to expire December 31, 2008, and be it further Commons Advisory Board: RESOLVED, That Tim Cullenen be reappointed to the Commons Advisory Board with a term to expire December 31, 2006, and be it further RESOLVED, That Andrew Correll be reappointed to the Commons Advisory Board with a term to expire December 31, 2007, and be it further Community Police Board: RESOLVED, That Bob Wigden be reappointed to the Community Police Board with a term to expire December 31, 2008, and be it further RESOLVED, That Jonathan Laskowitz be reappointed to the Community Police Board with a term to expire December 31, 2008, and be it further RESOLVED, That Satomi Hill be reappointed to the Community Police Board with a term to expire December 31, 2008, and be it further RESOLVED, That Chavonte Perkins be reappointed to the Community Police Board with a term to expire December 31, 2008, and be it further RESOLVED, That Daniel Slattery be reappointed to the Community Police Board with a term to expire December 31, 2008, and be it further Design Review Board: RESOLVED, That Gary Ferguson be reappointed to the Design Review Board with a term to expire December 31, 2008, and be it further Disability Advisory Council: RESOLVED, That Erin Sember be reappointed to the Disability Advisory Council with a term to expire June 30, 2008, and be it further January 4, 2006 10 RESOLVED, That Lauren Signer be reappointed to the Disability Advisory Council with a term to expire June 30, 2008, and be it further RESOLVED, That George Eberhardt be reappointed to the Disability Advisory Council with a term to expire June 30, 2008, and be it further RESOLVED, That Greg Gizewski be reappointed to the Disability Advisory Council with a term to expire June 30, 2008, and be it further Examining Board of Electricians: RESOLVED, That Joseph Kohm be reappointed to the Examining Board of Electricians with a term to expire December 31, 2008, and be it further Housing Board of Review: RESOLVED, That Charette Wheelis be reappointed to the Housing Board of Review with a term to expire December 31, 2008, and be it further Ithaca Landmarks Preservation Commission: RESOLVED, That Nancy Brcak be reappointed to the ILPC with a term to expire December 31, 2008, and be it further RESOLVED, That Alphonse Pieper be reappointed to the ILPC with a term to expire December 31, 2008, and be it further Natural Areas Commission: RESOLVED, That Zev Ross be reappointed to the Natural Areas Commission with a term to expire December 31, 2008, and be it further RESOLVED, That Wendy Wallitt be reappointed to the Natural Areas Commission with a term to expire December 31, 2008, and be it further RESOLVED, That Empar Sicroff be reappointed to the Natural Areas Commission with a term to expire December 31, 2008, and be it further RESOLVED, That Gerard H. Cox be appointed to the Natural Areas Commission to replace Dan Hoffman with a term to expire December 31, 2008, and be it further Parks Commission: RESOLVED, That Margaret Hobbie be reappointed to the Parks Commission with a term to expire December 31, 2008, and be it further RESOLVED, That Roberta Moudry be appointed to the Parks Commission to fill a vacancy with a term to expire December 31, 2008, and be it further Planning and Development Board: RESOLVED, That John Schroeder be appointed to the Planning and Development Board with a term to expire December 31, 2008. Public Art Commission: RESOLVED, That Erika Fowler-Decatur be reappointed to the Public Art Commission with a term to expire June 30, 2008, and be it further RESOLVED, That Matthew Braun be reappointed to the Public Art Commission with a term to expire June 30, 2008, and be it further RESOLVED, That Susan Blumenthal be reappointed to the Public Art Commission with a term to expire June 30, 2008, and be it further Rental Housing Advisory Commission: RESOLVED, That David C. Breeden be reappointed to the RHAC with a term to expire December 31, 2008, and be it further January 4, 2006 11 Shade Tree Advisory Committee: RESOLVED, That Dr. Nina Bassuk be reappointed to the Shade Tree Advisory Committee with a term to expire December 31, 2008, and be it further RESOLVED, That Judith B. Maxwell be reappointed to the Shade Tree Advisory Committee with a term to expire December 31, 2008, and be it further Youth Bureau Board: RESOLVED, That Christine E. Philipp be reappointed to the Youth Bureau Board with a term to expire December 31, 2008. Carried Unanimously Alderperson Tomlan thanked everyone who serves on these committees for their insight and perspectives, as they are invaluable to Common Council and city staff. Appointment of City Representative to the Business Improvement District/Ithaca Downtown Partnership Board – Resolution: By Alderperson Cogan: Seconded by Alderperson Korherr RESOLVED, That Joel Zumoff be appointed to the Business Improvement District/Ithaca Downtown Partnership Board with a term to expire December 31, 2006. Ayes (7) Clairborne, Tomlan, Gelinas, Korherr, Cogan, Seger, Coles Nays (0) Abstentions (1) Zumoff Carried REPORT OF CITY CONTROLLER: City Controller Thayer reported on the following preliminary 2005 Year-End activity:  The City has been re-rated informally and has maintained its current rating of A1  The City’s insurance products available to the workforce have been expanded to include short and long-term disability, and life insurance. St. Paul Travellers Insurance Company provides these products along with the City’s Workers Compensation Insurance.  2005 Sales tax projections are approximately $500,000+, which equates to a 14% increase over 2004  2005 Parking meter revenue is approximately $39,500 making the total parking revenue loss approximately $162,000  Building permit revenues were approximately $335,000 over projections  Overtime costs were approximately $420,000 over projections which makes the total overtime costs over one million dollars  Fine revenues were under budget by $490,000  Snow removal costs were over budget by $30,000  The pension payments were made by December 15, 2005 which saved the city $25,000 for early payment.  Utility costs met the budget projections of $600,000  Fuel costs were over budget by $75,000  Total Result: these increases and decreases remain budget neutral with a possible small addition to the fund balance for 2005. APPROVAL OF MINUTES: Approval of the December 7, 2005 Regular Common Council Meeting Minutes – Resolution By Alderperson Coles: Seconded by Alderperson Zumoff RESOLVED, That the Minutes of the December 7, 2005 Regular Common Council Meeting be approved as amended. Ayes (7) Seger, Zumoff, Tomlan, Gelinas, Korherr, Cogan, Coles Nays (0) Abstentions (1) Clairborne Carried January 4, 2006 12 ADJOURNMENT: On a motion the meeting adjourned at 9:10 p.m. ______________________________ _______________________________ Julie Conley Holcomb, CMC Carolyn K. Peterson, City Clerk Mayor