HomeMy WebLinkAboutMN-CC-2007-01-10COMMON COUNCIL PROCEEDINGS
CITY OF ITHACA, NEW YORK
Continuation of January 3, 2007 Meeting 7:00 p.m. January 10, 2007
PRESENT:
Mayor Peterson
Alderpersons (8) Coles, Seger, Berry, Tomlan, Zumoff, Townsend, Cogan,
Clairborne
OTHERS PRESENT:
City Clerk – Conley Holcomb
City Attorney – Hoffman
City Controller – Thayer
Deputy Planning & Development Director – Cornish
Deputy Economic Development Director – DeSarno
Building Commissioner - Radke
EXCUSED:
Alderpersons Gelinas and Korherr
PROCLAMATIONS/AWARDS:
Mayor Peterson proclaimed the month of January as “Mentoring Month” in the City of
Ithaca.
GOVERNANCE & INTERMUNICIPAL RELATIONS COMMITTEE:
An Ordinance to Amend Chapter 210, Sections 210-42 and 210-43 of the City of
Ithaca Municipal Code entitled: “Housing Standards”, regarding inspection
requirements.
By Alderperson Zumoff: Seconded by Alderperson Berry
ORDINANCE NO. 07-
BE IT ORDAINED AND ENACTED by the Common Council of the City of Ithaca as
follows:
Section 1:
Section 210-42 of the City of Ithaca Municipal Code entitled “Inspections” is hereby
amended to read as follows:
ARTICLE VII Apartments
§ 210-42. Inspections.
A. At least [E]every five years, all rental dwelling units[, except dwellings with more than
10 unrelated persons] that are either a single family unit or a duplex shall be inspected
by the Building Department. [A dwelling unit, or a building with a dwelling unit, occupied
by more than 10 unrelated persons shall be inspected every two years.] At least once a
year, all dormitories shall be inspected by the Building Department.
B. {Unchanged}
Section 2:
Section 210-43 of the City of Ithaca Municipal Code entitled “Certificate of Compliance”
is hereby amended to read as follows:
§ 210-43. Certificate of compliance.
A. {Unchanged}
B. Notwithstanding any other provisions in this chapter, on or after January 1, 2007, no
certificate of compliance shall be issued for a multiple dwelling, with three or more units,
or for a dwelling with five or more unrelated occupants, which has a duration of more
than three years.
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[B.] C No certificate of compliance shall be issued to:
(1) Any rental unit that is in violation of any applicable City or state code.
(2) Any rental unit located on a property for which there is an outstanding warrant for
a violation of any section of Chapter 178.
(3). Any rental unit which is not in compliance with all orders of the Building
Commissioner.
{Subsequent sections in this article (currently C through H) to be relettered accordingly
(D through I)}
Section 3. Severability.
If any section, sentence, clause or phrase of the Ordinance hereby enacted is held
invalid or unconstitutional by any court of competent jurisdiction, it shall in no way affect
the validity of any remaining portions of this Ordinance.
Section 4. Effective Date.
This Ordinance shall take effect immediately in accordance with law upon publication of
a notice as provided in the Ithaca City Charter.
City Attorney Hoffman explained that the proposed changes reflect mandates by New
York State. He stated that other provisions have also been mandated, and staff is
working on legislation to accurately reflect those changes.
Building Commissioner Radke reviewed all of the equipment and staffing changes that
have been made to bring the Building Department into compliance.
A vote on the Ordinance resulted as follows:
Carried Unanimously
PLANNING, ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT & ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY
COMMITTEE:
An Ordinance to Amend Chapter 325 of the City of Ithaca Municipal Code, entitled
“Zoning,” regarding Off-street Parking Requirements for the U-1 Zoning District
Declaration of Lead Agency for Environmental Review - Resolution
By Alderperson Tomlan: Seconded by Alderperson Seger
WHEREAS, the City of Ithaca is considering a proposal to amend the parking
requirements for the U-1 Zoning District, and
WHEREAS, State Law and Section 176-6 of the City Code require that a lead agency
be established for conducting environmental review of projects in accordance with local
and state environmental law, and
WHEREAS, State Law specifies that for actions governed by local environmental
review, the lead agency shall be that local agency which has primary responsibility for
approving and funding or carrying out the action, and
WHEREAS, the proposed zoning amendment is a Type I Action pursuant to the City
Environmental Quality Review (“CEQR”) Ordinance, which requires environmental
review under CEQR; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That the Common Council of the City of Ithaca does hereby declare itself
lead agency for the environmental review of the amendment to the U-1 Zoning District.
Alderperson Tomlan noted that a public hearing was held on this proposed zoning
change at the Planning, Economic Development and Environmental Quality Committee
Meeting in November 2006, and that no one appeared to speak on this topic. She
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further stated that this item was worked on collectively with representatives from Cornell
University.
A vote on the Resolution resulted as follows:
Carried Unanimously
Determination of Environmental Significance - Resolution
By Alderperson Tomlan: Seconded by Alderperson Cogan
WHEREAS, the City of Ithaca is considering a proposal to amend the parking
requirements for the U-1 Zoning District, and
WHEREAS, appropriate environmental review has been conducted, including the
preparation of a Full Environmental Assessment Form (“FEAF”), and
WHEREAS, this zoning amendment has been reviewed by the Tompkins County
Planning Department pursuant to §239-l–m of the New York State General Municipal
Law, which requires that all actions within 500 feet of a county or state facility, including
county and state highways, be reviewed by the County Planning Department, and has
also been reviewed by the City of Ithaca Conservation Advisory Council and the City of
Ithaca Planning and Development Board, and
WHEREAS, the proposed action is a Type I Action under the City Environmental Quality
Review Ordinance, and
WHEREAS, the Common Council of the City of Ithaca, acting as Lead Agency, has
reviewed the FEAF prepared by planning staff; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That this Common Council, as lead agency in this matter, hereby adopts
as its own, the findings and conclusions more fully set forth on the Full Environmental
Assessment Form, and be it further
RESOLVED, That this Common Council, as lead agency in this matter, hereby
determines that the proposed action at issue will not have a significant effect on the
environment, and that further environmental review is unnecessary, and be it further
RESOLVED, That this resolution constitutes notice of this negative declaration and that
the City Clerk is hereby directed to file a copy of the same, together with any
attachments, in the City Clerk’s Office, and forward the same to any other parties as
required by law.
Carried Unanimously
An Ordinance to Amend Chapter 325 of the City of Ithaca Municipal Code, entitled
“Zoning,” regarding Off-street Parking Requirements for the U-1 Zoning District
By Alderperson Tomlan: Seconded by Alderperson Cogan
ORDINANCE NO. __ - 2007
BE IT ORDAINED AND ENACTED by the Common Council of the City of Ithaca as
follows:
Section 1. Chapter 325, Section 325-20.G be repealed and be replaced by a new
Section 325-20.G, to read as follows:
§ 325-20. Off-street parking.
G. Parking for the U-1 Zoning District.
(1) For the purpose of this section, "main campus “shall be defined as the
area outlined on the map entitled "Main Campus Parking Inventory,” Cornell
University Planning Office, March 2006, or on any updated map as provided for
in 325-20.G(7) below, a copy of which map is on file in the Ithaca City Clerk's
office.
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(2) Notwithstanding anything contained herein to the contrary, the overall required
parking spaces for the U-1 Zoning District shall be the difference between the basic
required number of parking spaces and the number of credited spaces for participation
in the Cornell University Transportation Demand Management (TDM) Program.
(a) The basic required number of parking spaces shall be calculated using the
following ratios derived from the Travers Associates’ Ithaca/Cornell Parking
Study of February 1998:
(i) One parking space for each seven undergraduate students; and
(ii) One parking space for each two graduate students; and
(iii) Three parking spaces for each four employees; and
(iv) One additional parking space for each twenty-five undergraduate
students, graduate students and employees combined.
(b) The number of credited parking spaces for participation in the TDM Program
shall be calculated using the same ratios derived from the Travers
Associates’ Study of February 1998, to wit:
(i) One credited parking space for each seven participating undergraduate
students; and
(ii) One credited parking space for each two participating graduate students;
and
(iii) Three credited parking spaces for each four participating employees; and
(iv) One additional credited parking space for each twenty-five participating
undergraduate students, graduate students and employees combined.
(3) Only full-time undergraduate and graduate students, full-time employees and the
full-time equivalents of each who are assigned to or have their primary place of
study or work on the main campus shall be included in the above calculations. For
the purpose of this section, full-time undergraduate and graduate students are
defined as students enrolled in 12 credits or more per semester; full-time employees
are defined as employees who are employed at least 35 hours per week; and full-
time equivalents are defined as the number of part-time students or employees
whose combined credit enrollment equals 12 credits per semester or whose
combined hours of employment totals 35 hours per week.
(4) It is the purpose of the requirement in Subsections G.(2)(a)(iv) and G.(2)(b)(iv)
above to account for parking required for visitors, vehicles with handicapped
permits, service vehicles, off-street loading, occasional parkers, and other
miscellaneous parking demands.
(5) Parking spaces need not be specifically designated or used as set forth in
Subsection G.(2) above so long as the total number of spaces is available.
(6) Parking spaces required above may be provided at any place or places located on
the main campus or any other locations within Tompkins County which are owned,
rented or otherwise utilized for parking purposes by the institution or its affiliated
institutions, without regard to municipal boundary. To be so counted, any parking
spaces located outside the main campus must be utilized for parking by persons
who are going to the main campus and must be connected by bus service to, or be
within a reasonable walking distance of, the main campus. Any spaces located
outside the main campus shall not be considered to satisfy the parking requirements
established herein if they are being counted to satisfy the parking requirements of
any other section of this chapter or the parking requirements of any zoning
ordinance of any other municipality, for uses other than those located on the main
campus.
(7) Parking spaces on the main campus shall be identified on the map, “Main
Campus Parking Inventory,” Cornell University Planning Office, March 2006. The
map shall provide the names of prominent buildings and roads for the sake of
geographical reference, and shall provide inventory control numbers for parking
areas along with the number of parking spaces in each of the control areas. The
“Main Campus Parking Inventory” map shall be updated every five years following its
original date in 2006, and shall be submitted to the Building Commissioner by April
15th of the year that an update is required.
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(8) The parking areas identified on the “Main Campus Parking Inventory” map
shall also be listed on a parking inventory spreadsheet, which shall give the
inventory control number and the number of spaces in each control area, and shall
also provide the total number of parking spaces on the main campus. The
spreadsheet shall be updated every year, and shall be submitted to the Building
Commissioner by April 15th of each year. Accompanying the spreadsheet shall be a
summary of the parking changes that occurred in the preceding year.
(9) If the parking spaces in any given control area are not delineated by
striping, then the total number of spaces shall be determined by using the parking
space requirements outlined under Subsection 325-20.C.(2)(b) of the City of Ithaca
Parking Ordinance for parking areas with 11 or more parking spaces.
(10) Every year, by no later than April 15th, Cornell University shall submit to
the Building Commissioner a parking report that shall include
(a) the annual parking inventory spreadsheet and summary;
(b) a count of full-time undergraduate and graduate students, full-time
employees and the full-time equivalents of each who are enrolled or working at
Cornell; and
(c) a count of full-time undergraduate and graduate students, full-time
employees and the full-time equivalents of each who are enrolled or working at
Cornell and who are enrolled in the TDM Program.
(11) Whenever 25 or more parking spaces on the main campus have been
permanently deleted after the last report to the Building Commissioner, Cornell shall
provide the Building Commissioner with a report stating where the spaces were
removed as well as provide a statement indicating the total number of parking
spaces remaining on the main campus.
(12) Upon receipt of this parking report, the Building Commissioner shall make
a determination of compliance with regard to the requirements of the ordinance, and
shall submit the university’s report and her/his determination to the City of Ithaca
Planning and Development Board for discussion and comment. Copies of the report
and the Building Commissioner’s determination shall also be provided to the Director
of Planning, Town of Ithaca, and the Zoning Officer, Village of Cayuga Heights, for
their information.
Section 2. Severability.
If any section, sentence, clause or phrase of this law is held invalid or unconstitutional
by any court of competent jurisdiction, it shall in no way affect the validity of any
remaining portions of this law.
Section 3. Effective Date.
This ordinance shall take effect immediately in accordance with law upon publication of
a notice as provided in the Ithaca City Charter.
Alderperson Tomlan explained that much of the language in this Ordinance was existing
language however it has been re-arranged to the point where it became prudent to
repeal the old section and adopt the new proposed language.
A vote on the Ordinance resulted as follows:
Carried Unanimously
Authorization to Execute a Deed of Correction for Parcel on Floral Avenue,
Originally Conveyed by the City to Ithaca Neighborhood Housing Services, Inc., in
1989
By Alderperson Tomlan: Seconded by Alderperson Cogan
WHEREAS, in 1989, the City of Ithaca conveyed to Ithaca Neighborhood Housing
Services, Inc. (“INHS”), a parcel of land fronting on Floral Avenue (Tax Map Parcel No.
77.-2-6), so that INHS could develop housing for low- and moderate-income persons on
that site, and
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WHEREAS, toward that end, the City included in the deed a provision stating that the
grantee (INHS) must develop the property for such housing within two years (i.e., by
1991), and
WHEREAS, INHS was unable to develop the site by 1991, as originally planned, and
WHEREAS, due to the passage of time and transition among the leadership of INHS
and the City, both parties apparently lost track of the two-year requirement associated
with the property, and
WHEREAS, INHS is now prepared to proceed with a plan to develop the site, including
the parcel in question together with other, contiguous property, for housing for low- and
moderate-income persons, and
WHEREAS, as in 1989, the City of Ithaca wishes to encourage the development of such
housing at appropriate locations in the City, including this site; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That Common Council hereby authorizes and directs the Mayor, upon the
advice and counsel of the City Attorney, to execute and cause to be recorded a deed of
correction and any required, associated documents, so as to eliminate the words “within
two years” from the paragraph therein beginning “GRANTEE herein shall use the above
described premises…” from the deed to Ithaca Neighborhood Housing Services, Inc.,
from the City of Ithaca (dated December 13, 1989, and recorded in the Tompkins
County Clerk’s Office on May 11, 1990, in Liber 654 of Deeds at page 307), the
intention of this resolution being that the condition that the parcel be used for low- and
moderate-income housing shall remain, but the deadline for such development shall be
eliminated.
Carried Unanimously
Authorization of the Lease of City Land at East State and South Quarry Streets for
a Bus Shelter
Declaration of Lead Agency for Environmental Review - Resolution
By Alderperson Tomlan: Seconded by Alderperson Zumoff
WHEREAS, Tompkins Consolidated Area Transit (“TCAT”), a not-for-profit corporation
which operates an intermunicipal transit system, wishes to construct and maintain a bus
shelter for the public at the southwest corner of East State and South Quarry Streets,
and
WHEREAS, purchase of the shelter involves federal funding, and a requirement of that
funding is that Tompkins County, one of the three local TCAT funders, hold title to the
physical shelter, which can then be leased to TCAT, and
WHEREAS, the City of Ithaca holds title to the roadbeds and adjoining land for both
State Street and Quarry Street, and the majority of the shelter would be on City land
(with the smaller portion being on private property), and
WHEREAS, the City Attorney recommends that the City address this issue by entering
into a lease agreement with the County, with a fixed initial term/length (ten years) and
options for renewal thereafter, together with the right of sublease or assignment to an
entity such as TCAT, for the City-owned land on which the shelter would be placed, and
WHEREAS, State Law and Section 176-6 of the City Code require that a lead agency
be established for conducting environmental review of applicable projects in accordance
with local and state environmental law, and
WHEREAS, State Law specifies that for actions governed by local environmental
review, the lead agency shall be that local agency which has primary responsibility for
approving and funding or carrying out the action, and
WHEREAS, approval of such a lease is either a Type II (exempt) or an Unlisted Action,
pursuant to the City of Ithaca Environmental Quality Review Ordinance; now, therefore,
be it
January 10, 2007
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RESOLVED, That the Common Council of the City of Ithaca does hereby declare itself
lead agency for the environmental review of a proposed lease to Tompkins County of
certain City-owned land on the corner of East State and South Quarry Streets in the City
of Ithaca, for use as a TCAT bus shelter.
Alderperson Zumoff disclosed that he and Alderperson Cogan are members of the
TCAT Board, but there is no conflict of interest for voting purposes.
A Vote on the Resolution resulted as follows:
Carried Unanimously
Determination of Environmental Significance - Resolution
By Alderperson Tomlan: Seconded by Alderperson Coles
WHEREAS, Tompkins Consolidated Area Transit (“TCAT”), a not-for-profit corporation
which operates an intermunicipal transit system, wishes to construct and maintain a bus
shelter for the public at the southwest corner of East State and South Quarry Streets,
and
WHEREAS, purchase of the shelter involves federal funding, and a requirement of that
funding is that Tompkins County, one of the three local TCAT funders, hold title to the
physical shelter, which can then be leased to TCAT, and
WHEREAS, the City of Ithaca holds title to the roadbeds and adjoining land for both
State Street and Quarry Street, and the majority of the shelter would be on City land
(with the smaller portion being on private property), and
WHEREAS, the City Attorney recommends that the City address this issue by entering
into a lease agreement with the County, with a fixed initial term/length (ten years) and
options for renewal thereafter, together with the right of sublease or assignment to an
entity such as TCAT, for the City-owned land on which the shelter would be placed, and
WHEREAS, approval of such a lease is either a Type II (exempt) or an Unlisted Action,
pursuant to the City of Ithaca Environmental Quality Review Ordinance, and
WHEREAS, the proposed shelter has been reviewed and appropriate environmental
review of the action has been conducted, including the preparation of a Short
Environmental Assessment Form (“SEAF”), and
WHEREAS, the Common Council for the City of Ithaca, acting as lead agency, has
reviewed the SEAF prepared by planning staff; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That the Common Council, as lead agency in this matter, hereby adopts
as its own the findings and conclusions more fully set forth on the Short Environmental
Assessment Form, and be it further
RESOLVED, That the Common Council, as lead agency in this matter, hereby
determines that the proposed action at issue will not have a significant effect on the
environment, and that further environmental review is unnecessary, and be it further
RESOLVED, That this resolution constitutes notice of this negative declaration and that
the City Clerk is hereby directed to file a copy of the same, together with any
attachments, in the City Clerk’s Office, and forward the same to any other parties as
required by law.
Carried Unanimously
Authorization of the Lease of City Land at East State and South Quarry Streets for
a Bus Shelter - Resolution
By Alderperson Tomlan: Seconded by Alderperson Zumoff
WHEREAS, Tompkins Consolidated Area Transit, Inc. (“TCAT”), a not-for-profit
corporation which operates a intermunicipal transit system, wishes to install and
maintain, at its cost, a bus shelter at the southwest corner of the intersection of East
State and South Quarry Streets, in the City of Ithaca, as shown on a survey map
(“Easement Map for Tompkins Consolidated Area Transit”) prepared by TG Miller, PC,
and dated September 20, 2006, and
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WHEREAS, a portion of the site of the proposed shelter installation is within the street
lines for State Street and Quarry Street, and therefore purportedly owned by the City of
Ithaca, and
WHEREAS, according to the Superintendent of Public Works and the Board of Public
Works, the proposed shelter and the use of City land for that purpose would not pose a
problem from a public works standpoint, and
WHEREAS, the proposed installation and maintenance of the shelter, at no cost to the
City, will provide a clear and desirable benefit to City residents; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That the Common Council hereby authorizes and directs the Mayor, upon
the advice and counsel of the City Attorney, to enter into a lease agreement with
Tompkins County, without consideration (other than the value the City will receive from
provision and maintenance of the shelter by others), for the County’s use of the
aforementioned City land to accommodate said shelter, at the southwest corner of East
State and South Quarry Streets, which lease shall include standard terms and
provisions, as applicable, and which shall (1) indemnify and hold the City harmless with
regard to use of the shelter, (2) allow the County to assign the lease or sublease the
premises to TCAT or any comparable transit entity for the purpose of maintaining a bus
shelter thereon, and (3) have an original term of ten years, with provision for automatic
renewal upon the same terms for up to eight five-year periods thereafter, unless either
party notifies the other, in advance, of its intention not to renew.
Mayor Peterson reported that this site is located in the Historic District, and that a report
and analysis has been received by the Mayor’s office as required.
A vote on the Resolution resulted as follows:
Carried Unanimously
REPORT OF SPECIAL COMMITTEES:
Mayor Peterson reported that she would be working on the formation of the following
committees:
Reconstitution of the Transportation Demand Management Committee
Formation of a Local Action Plan Sub-Committee to look at the reduction of green
house gases
Formation of a special committee to look at the options that might be taken to honor Dr.
Martin Luther King, Jr. in the City of Ithaca (this committee would consist of 8 members
from the public, 1 Board of Public Works member, and 1 Common Council member)
NEW BUSINESS:
Request of Ithaca Downtown Partnership to Permit Wine and Hard Cider
Tasting and Sale of Bottled Wine and Hard Cider at the Winter Festival/
Chili Cook-Off on the Commons – Resolution
By Alderperson Cogan: Seconded by Alderperson Seger
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 17, 2007 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.
January 10, 2007
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Alderperson Zumoff disclosed that he is on the Ithaca Downtown Partnership Board, but
it does not create a conflict of interest.
A Vote on the Resolution resulted as follows:
Carried Unanimously
REPORTS OF COMMON COUNCIL LIAISONS:
Industrial Development Agency (IDA)
Alderperson Cogan reported that the IDA has been discussing the density policy. He
stated that there is a full range of options on how the IDA would like to interface with the
City of Ithaca. He suggested that a sub-committee of members of Common Council
and the IDA should meet to discuss how the program would be implemented.
Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Holiday Events
Alderperson Berry reported on the following events taking place at Southside
Community Center and the Greater Ithaca Activities Center:
- January 11, 2007 – 12:00 noon luncheon sponsored by Lifelong. Marcia Fort will be
the keynote speaker with James Brown as Master of Ceremonies.
- January 13, 2007 – 9:00 a.m. breakfast at GIAC – Allen Gomez will be the keynote
speaker.
- January 15, 2007 – 9:30 a.m. at GIAC – Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day celebration
with luncheon at 12:00 noon with James Brown as the keynote speaker.
Water Treatment Plant
Mayor Peterson reminded Common Council members of the joint Common
Council/Board of Public Works meeting scheduled for January 11, 2007 at 6:00 p.m.
She further stated that copies of the report regarding the water treatment plant and a
memo from City Attorney Hoffman are available from the City Clerk’s Office.
REPORT OF CITY CLERK:
City Clerk Holcomb reported to Council on the status of the Tompkins County-City of
Ithaca Municipal Mapping Service. City GIS program staff is offering training and can
be contacted to set up a training session. She further reported that the response to the
web application since its release in early December has been very good and 40
employees have been trained in its use. A training guide is available to assist in the use
of the program. The new application has an improved set of tools, a larger map
window, better printed maps, the ability to view aerial photos, flexible querying and
downloading of information.
REPORT OF CITY CONTROLLER:
City Controller Thayer reported to Council on the following items:
- The City has been re-rated for bonding purposes by Moody’s, and has maintained it’s
A-1 rating placing Ithaca in the top 6 cities in New York State. He shared his continued
concerns regarding the City’s fund balance and debt load.
- Year-end activity is underway
- Sales tax revenue is estimated at 3% higher than the 2006 budget
- The December 15, 2006 pension payment saved the City $24,000
- 2006 State Aid has been received and is 24% over 2005 aid.
- Parking revenues met the 2006 budget
- There has been an estimated savings of $160,000 in the snow removal budget
- Overtime, 13% increase in expenditures
- Fine revenue, $100,000 short of projections
- Fuel costs $60,000 over budget
- Utilities $20,000 over budget
- Health insurance costs within budget
Discussion followed on the floor regarding Moody’s concerns regarding the fund
balance and debt load and what Common Council can do to assist the Mayor’s efforts in
lobbying the Governor’s office regarding increasing State aid for communities with large
amounts of tax exempt properties or communities that are in distress.
January 10, 2007
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Alderperson Coles volunteered to draft a resolution of support to send to State
representatives.
REPORT OF CITY ATTORNEY:
City Attorney Hoffman reported on the Ordinance that was passed at the December 6,
2006 Common Council meeting concerning Senior Citizen tax exemptions in the City of
Ithaca. Common Council added language to include domestic partners and he
distributed his legal opinion regarding this language. He stated that the City does not
have the authority to expand the benefit to include domestic partners, but no change to
the legislation is required.
City Attorney Hoffman reported on the Board of Zoning Appeals lawsuit and stated that
no appeal will be issued.
MINUTES FROM PREVIOUS MEETINGS:
Approval of the December 6, 2006 Regular Common Council Meeting Minutes –
Resolution
By Alderperson Zumoff: Seconded by Alderperson Townsend
RESOLVED, That the minutes of the December 6, 2006 Regular Common Council
Meeting be approved with noted corrections.
Carried Unanimously
ADJOURNMENT:
On a motion the meeting adjourned at 8:20 p.m.
______________________________ _______________________________
Julie Conley Holcomb, CMC Carolyn K. Peterson,
City Clerk Mayor