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Home My WebLink AboutMN-CC-2009-01-12COMMON COUNCIL PROCEEDINGS CITY OF ITHACA, NEW YORK Special Meeting 5:00 p.m. January 12, 2009 PRESENT: Mayor Peterson Alderpersons (9) Coles, Dotson, Rosario, Clairborne, Tomlan, Zumoff, Schuler, Myrick, Cogan OTHERS PRESENT: City Clerk – Conley Holcomb City Controller – Thayer Acting Planning & Development Director – Cornish Superintendent of Public Works – Gray City Planner – Kusznir Youth Bureau Director – Green Deputy Economic Developer – DeSarno Assistant City Engineer – West Board of Public Works Commissioner – Brock EXCUSED: Alderperson Korherr PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE: Mayor Peterson led all present in the Pledge of Allegiance to the American Flag. SPECIAL ORDER OF BUSINESS: 2.1 Capital projects overview City Controller Thayer reviewed the capital project process, which starts with departmental submissions in April each year. He stated that in recent years only “mission critical” projects have been considered. He explained that the Planning Department collects the department submittals and schedules a meeting of the Capital Project Committee which consists of the Mayor, Superintendent of Public Works, City Controller, and Director of Planning & Development. The Capital Project Committee reviews all project requests and determines whether the requests are complete or whether additional information is needed. Upon completion of their review, the Committee forwards a list of recommended projects to the City’s Senior Staff for review. Senior Staff reviews the projects and determines whether there are opportunities to consolidate projects, combine resources, avoid duplication of work, or otherwise improve the original requests. After this discussion, the recommended projects are forwarded to the Mayor for inclusion in the budget. City Controller Thayer explained that the more extensive Capital Improvements Review Committee process has not been activated for many years due to the City’s restricted financial status. He stated that the Mayor tries to balance proposed capital projects with the amount of debt being paid off with the overall goal of reducing the City’s debt limit. He stated that during the last several years, additional projects have been approved mid-year which jeopardizes the overall debt reduction goals. Discussion followed on the floor regarding the lack of Common Council involvement in the capital project and budget process. City Controller Thayer stated that the Mayor has been trying to remove operating costs from the capital budget, but it takes time to accomplish that task. City Planner Kusznir led Common Council through a review of the forms used for capital project submissions. Discussion followed on the floor with Alderperson Coles stating that she would like to see a city-wide, comprehensive list of all the needs of the City that could be prioritized annually. Common Council members Rosario, Coles, and possibly Clairborne volunteered to work with the Mayor, Superintendent of Public Works Gray, Acting Director of Planning and Development Cornish, and City Controller Thayer to revise the capital project process so that it is more inclusive of Common Council. They stated that January 12, 2009 it is important for them to understand which projects are being proposed for funding so that they can make informed decisions during the annual budget process. 2.2 Economic Stimulus package Mayor Peterson reported that she is attempting to obtain additional information from Senator Schumer’s office regarding stimulus package opportunities. She stated that efforts should be coordinated with Tompkins County Legislature if possible. Alderperson Rosario voiced concern about housing stimulus ideas being presented to Tompkins County without Common Council review, as some projects are not “shovel ready”, have not been through site plan review, or may not have support. Discussion followed on the floor regarding what projects would qualify for stimulus eligibility and how funding will be distributed. Mayor Peterson stated that this topic would be on the January City Administration Committee agenda and the February Common Council agenda for approval. 2.3 Council Priority Plans for 2009 Mayor Peterson explained that Department Heads have recently provided her with lists of outstanding projects from 2008 and proposed new projects for 2009. She stated that she was hoping that Common Council could identify their priorities for 2009 so that these projects could be well coordinated. Discussion followed on the floor with the Common Council members sharing their ideas for priority projects for 2009: • Development of a policy on how to respond to significant environmental issues within the City (perhaps an Environmental Officer should be hired/assigned to either the Planning or Engineering departments) • The franchise agreement with Time Warner is due for renewal in 2013 and a “wish list” of items to be included in the next agreement needs to be established. • Neighborhood Improvement Plans, i.e. North End planning initiative • Project management software, creation of priority work plans for the City and creation of committee structures around those plans. • Long-term sustainability of City government (uncontested races; how does the City attract people to the positions and what changes are needed) • The availability of tremendous intellectual resources in the community to utilize on projects rather than hiring consultants • Re-organization of wards based on upcoming 2010 census; this is directly related to how Common Council functions and sustainability of government. • Improving the capital project and budget process • Quality of life issues/neighborhood issues; there needs to be somewhere to discuss these issues. • Standing sub-committees might be needed and fewer standing committees • Occasional meetings to discuss issues that each ward is working on • Regular Committee of the Whole meetings for broad discussions with three- minute time limit for each Council member to raise pressing or nagging issues/concerns to see where shared concerns exist. • The redundancy in committee structures with department assignments or issues that need to go to two committees before going to Common Council. January 12, 2009 • Committee chair meetings • Expectations regarding Board / Liaison appointments. Discussion followed on the floor regarding whether there was a need for a January Community & Organizational Issues committee meeting and possible alternate dates for that meeting. 2.4 Committees for 2009 This item was not discussed. ADJOURNMENT: On a motion the meeting adjourned at 7:20 p.m. ______________________________ _______________________________ Julie Conley Holcomb, CMC Carolyn K. Peterson, City Clerk Mayor