HomeMy WebLinkAboutMN-CC-2009-10-14COMMON COUNCIL PROCEEDINGS
CITY OF ITHACA, NEW YORK
Continuation of October 7, 2009 Meeting 7:00 p.m. October 14, 2009
PRESENT:
Mayor Peterson
Alderpersons (9) Coles, Dotson, Rosario, Clairborne, Tomlan, Zumoff, Schuler,
Myrick, Mohlenhoff
OTHERS PRESENT:
City Clerk – Conley Holcomb
City Attorney – Hoffman
City Controller – Thayer
Superintendent of Public Works – Gray
Assistant Superintendent of Water & Sewer – Whitney
Acting Assistant Superintendent of Streets & Facilities – Benjamin
Board of Public Works Commissioners: Brock, Jenkins, Wykstra
EXCUSED:
Alderperson Cogan
15. INDIVIDUAL MEMBER FILED RESOLUTIONS:
15.4 Water Supply – Adoption of the Rebuild Option to Address the City of
Ithaca’s Future Water Supply Needs – Discussion / Possible Resolution
Motion to Substitute
By Alderperson Dotson: Seconded by Alderperson Schuler
RESOLVED, That the following Resolution be substituted for the motion currently under
consideration.
Carried Unanimously (9-0)
Water Supply – Adoption of the Rebuild Option to Address the City of Ithaca’s
Future Water Supply Needs – Resolution
By Alderperson Dotson: Seconded by Alderperson Schuler
WHEREAS, the current water source for the City of Ithaca's water treatment and
distribution system relies upon the Six Mile Creek watershed and the filtration plant built
in 1903, located on Water Street in the City of Ithaca, and
WHEREAS, due to the age of the filtration plant and impending changes in water quality
standards, significant upgrades to the system are required, and
WHEREAS, City staff and consultants retained by the City to study this issue have
proposed an upgraded system capable of meeting new water quality standards, the
components of which system (including replacement of the filtration plant, dredging of
the upper reservoir, and modifications to the intake system, settling lagoons and access
routes to the raw water reservoir and pipeline) are described in the Environmental
Impact Statement for this action and which system is identified as the “Rebuild Option,”
and
WHEREAS, an alternative to such upgrades is the purchase of finished water from the
Southern Cayuga Lake Intermunicipal Water Commission (SCLIWC) that has been
drawn from Cayuga Lake at Bolton Point in the Town of Lansing, which arrangement
would require the expansion of the SCLIWC's facility, the construction of a new water
transmission main (pipeline) between the SCLIWC facility and the existing city
distribution system, and the decommissioning of the existing system, identified as the
"Purchase Option", and
WHEREAS, in a series of joint meetings of the Common Council and the Board of
Public Works during Summer 2007, in meetings of the Community and Organizational
Issues Committee during 2008, and in various special meetings (including as a
Committee of the Whole) during 2009, the Common Council gathered information and
carefully analyzed both the rebuild option and the purchase option in terms of the needs
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Continuation of October 7, 2009 Regular Common Council Meeting
2
of the City, including the impact on the environment, the relevant issues of control and
governance, the capital and operational costs, the quality and sufficiency of its water
supply, the safety of its citizenry, and other factors, and
WHEREAS, there has been vigorous public debate on this topic for many years, but
particularly since 2006 when the topic began to appear regularly on the agendas of
relevant City bodies, and many citizens have expressed their opinions on this topic; and
further, many aspects of this decision involve detailed analysis where differences in
initial assumptions can create significant changes in projected impacts, and
WHEREAS, in terms of the impacts on the environment, certain mitigation measures
and other related recommendations for both options were identified in the
Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) prepared in connection with this decision, and
WHEREAS, these mitigation measures and other recommendations were outlined in the
findings adopted by the Board of Public Works and Common Council to sufficiently
minimize or avoid adverse environmental effects to the maximum extent practicable for
either option, and
WHEREAS, in terms of energy use and greenhouse gas emissions, largely because of
the opportunity for gravity flow of raw water, the rebuild option is more energy efficient
than the purchase option, and even taking into account the larger environmental
impacts of chemical use and dredging for capacity under the rebuild option vs. the
purchase option, the overall analysis in the EIS indicates that the carbon footprint of the
rebuild option is smaller than that of the purchase option, and
WHEREAS, the Local Action Plan adopted by the Common Council in 2006 calls for a
20% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions below 2001 levels by 2016, and the Local
Action Plan committee has noted that, while both the rebuild option and purchase option
will produce significantly more emissions than current operations, working against the
goal to reduce emissions, the rebuild option’s emissions would be lower, particularly if
actions are taken to maximize energy efficiency, therefore reducing the amount to be
offset by other City actions, and
WHEREAS, the design and construction of a new water plant provides the City with a
unique opportunity to incorporate hydropower facilities into its operations, which could
help to reduce the City’s carbon footprint, and
WHEREAS, in terms of control and governance, the rebuild option provides the City of
Ithaca with a greater ability to determine operating policies and future capital
improvements, possibly incorporating innovations in technology and design, than does
the purchase option, while not precluding opportunities for cooperation with other
local/regional producers of finished water, and
WHEREAS, in terms of costs, both options appear to be cost effective, with the rebuild
option projected to require a similar water rate as the purchase option; further, the costs
for the operation and maintenance of the Six Mile Creek reservoir area, including the
dams and other infrastructure, will continue to be paid by water system consumers
under the rebuild option, but would likely have to be funded through other means under
the purchase option, and
WHEREAS, in terms of public safety, the rebuild option – together with the SCLIWC
water system and the Cornell University water system – provides the community with a
level of redundancy that already has proven to be mutually beneficial; further, the
rebuild option’s gravity-fed supply of water could ensure that there is continuous
dependable water available for fire protection, even in the face of a large scale regional
loss of electricity, and accordingly is supported by the Ithaca City Fire Department;
finally, the water system facilities located within the watershed reservoir area, including
access roads and trails, provide emergency access for rescue operations and related
activities, again as noted and endorsed by the Ithaca City Fire Department, and
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WHEREAS, in terms of water quantity, despite concerns about the impact of climate
change-related changes in regional precipitation patterns that could lead to reduced
amounts of water in Six Mile Creek, in the absence of detailed study of this issue,
historical data (1930 - 2005) and related hydrologic modeling seem to indicate that there
will be ample raw water in Six Mile Creek to meet the present and future water needs of
the City of Ithaca many decades into the future, and
WHEREAS, in terms of water quality the rebuild option will produce finished water that
meets existing water quality requirements and can readily meet future anticipated water
quality requirements and regulations; further, the raw water is drawn from a source that
is located high in the watershed and is protected from nearby residential, agricultural,
commercial and recreational uses and development, thereby reducing its vulnerability to
potential contamination from such sources, including emerging contaminants, and
WHEREAS, in the interest of water quality, the City has, since the construction of the
present water treatment plant and its supporting/concomitant infrastructure (dams,
reservoirs and raw water main), invested effort and resources to protect the Six Mile
Creek Watershed, such as the planting of tens of thousands of trees during the 1920s
and in 1930, and the purchase of land, including more than 750 acres of land outside its
municipal boundaries over decades, and
WHEREAS, the City benefits from the work of the Natural Areas Commission in
advocating for minimizing impacts of public works (including water supply) activities in
the Six Mile Creek Natural Area, recently exhibited by their work with the Department of
Public Works and the Board of Public Works on jointly adopted and tested guidelines for
work in this area, and
WHEREAS, the Town Board of Caroline has, by resolution passed unanimously on
February 12, 2008, expressed its support for the City’s continued use of Six Mile Creek
as its water source, while noting the measures that the Town has taken and is planning
to take to control erosion along the creek through the Barrile stream restoration project,
hence decreasing the amount of sediment flowing downstream toward the City of
Ithaca’s reservoir, and the City also benefits from the stream monitoring efforts of
various other individuals and groups, including volunteers under the aegis of the
Community Science Institute, and
WHEREAS, in terms of implementability both options present comparable challenges,
however the rebuild option requires no additional real property purchases or easements,
in contrast with the purchase option, which requires such on six private properties with
the construction of the East Shore transmission main, and
WHEREAS, all three local water systems, including the City’s and that of the Southern
Cayuga Lake Intermunicipal Water Commission and Cornell University, have a history
of providing, and have expressed continued willingness and intent to provide, water and
other related assistance to the other two systems when circumstances create short-term
needs, for instance during construction of a new City water treatment plant, among
other situations
WHEREAS, pursuant to Article V of the Ithaca City Charter, the Board of Public Works
has responsibility for the improvement of the City's water system, and related actions
incidental thereto (Sections C-65 and C-79), and the establishment of water rates and
other charges to pay for the same (Sections C-66 and C-79), has control of the Water
Department, its property and of the appropriations made therefor, subject to the
direction and review of the Common Council (Section C-61), and
WHEREAS, the Common Council is aware that, pursuant to the foregoing authority and
responsibility, the Board of Public Works has also carefully analyzed both the rebuild
option and the purchase option in terms of the needs of the City, including the safety of
its citizenry, the quality and sufficiency of its water supply, the impact on the
environment, the capital and operational costs, the relevant issues of control and
governance, and other factors, and
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WHEREAS, the Board of Public Works expressed their view, with a 5-0 vote on July 8,
2009, that the rebuild option, when implemented with the mitigative measures outlined
in their Findings, effectively minimizes or avoids adverse environmental effects, and
adopted the rebuild option as their choice in this matter, and
WHEREAS, the Planning and Development Board, in a resolution approved
unanimously on September 10, 2009, recommended the rebuild option, and “join[ed]
with the Board of Public Works in urging Common Council to appropriate funds for the
design and implementation of rebuilding the water supply plant located on Water Street
in the City of Ithaca,” and
WHEREAS, the Common Council believes that it is in the best interest of the City of
Ithaca, and of its citizens, to proceed with a decision on a future water supply, therefore
allowing discussion to focus on implementation of the choice,
now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That the City of Ithaca Common Council hereby adopts the rebuild option
to replace the City’s water filtration plant on Water Street and to improve its water
system, including related improvements to the Six Mile Creek water source and intake
system, conditioned on the implementation of the mitigation measures identified in the
Common Council’s findings statement.
Amending Resolution:
By Alderperson Zumoff: Seconded by Alderperson Myrick
RESOLVED, That all references to the “Rebuild Option” be capitalized.
Carried Unanimously (9-0)
Amending Resolution:
By Alderperson Zumoff: Seconded by Alderperson Rosario
RESOLVED, That the 11th Whereas clause be amended to read as follows:
“WHEREAS, the design and construction of a new water plant potentially provides the
City with an [unique] opportunity to incorporate hydropower facilities into its operations
at some time in the future, which could help to reduce the City’s carbon footprint, and”
Discussion followed on the floor regarding the history of the City’s interest in the use of
hydropower, and the opportunities that this project may present regarding planning for
future hydropower use.
A vote on the Amending Resolution resulted as follows:
Ayes (5) Rosario, Zumoff, Tomlan, Myrick, Mohlenhoff
Nays (4) Clairborne, Schuler, Dotson, Coles
Failed (5-4)
Amending Resolution
By Alderperson Rosario: Seconded by Alderperson Clairborne
RESOLVED, That the 11th Whereas clause be amended to read as follows:
“WHEREAS, the design and construction of a new water plant provides the City with an
[unique] opportunity to incorporate hydropower facilities into its operations, which could
help to reduce the City’s carbon footprint, and”
A vote on the Amending Resolution resulted as follows:
Ayes (6) Clairborne, Rosario, Zumoff, Tomlan, Myrick, Mohlenhoff
Nays (3) Schuler, Dotson, Coles
Carried (6-3)
Amending Resolution
By Alderperson Rosario: Seconded by Alderperson Dotson
RESOLVED, That the 14th Whereas clause be amended to read as follows:
“WHEREAS, in terms of public safety, the rebuild option – together with the SCLIWC
water system and the Cornell University water system – provides the community with a
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level of redundancy that already has proven to be mutually beneficial; further, the
rebuild option’s largely gravity-fed supply of water could ensure that there is continuous
dependable water available for fire protection, even in the face of a large scale regional
loss of electricity, and accordingly is supported by the Ithaca City Fire Department;
finally, the water system facilities located within the watershed reservoir area, including
access roads and trails, provide emergency access for rescue operations and related
activities, again as noted and endorsed by the Ithaca City Fire Department, and”
A vote on the Amending Resolution resulted as follows:
Ayes (8) Coles, Dotson, Clairborne, Rosario, Zumoff, Tomlan, Myrick, Mohlenhoff
Nays (1) Schuler
Carried (8-1)
Amending Resolution
By Alderperson Rosario: Seconded by Alderperson Myrick
RESOLVED, That the 16th Whereas clause be amended to read as follows:
“WHEREAS, in terms of water quality the rebuild option will produce finished water that
meets existing water quality requirements and can readily meet future anticipated water
quality requirements and regulations; further, the raw water is drawn from a source that
is located high in the watershed [and is protected from nearby residential, agricultural,
commercial and recreational uses and development, thereby reducing its vulnerability to
potential contamination from such sources, including emerging contaminants], and”
Alderperson Rosario explained that he is proposing the removal of this language as its
meaning is not clear. He stated that if it is meant to indicate that there are additional
protections in place, it is not consistent with the Findings.
Alderperson Coles stated that the Environmental Impact Statement was puzzling
regarding emerging contaminants. She referenced a number of articles that indicated
that there are three wastewater treatment plants that empty into the Cayuga Lake and
that the lake is only tested upon inquiry. She urged that the language in the Resolution
not be changed.
Mr. Rick Gell and Mr. Steve Eckler, O’Brien & Gere Engineers, Inc., joined the
conversation. Mr. Gell confirmed that there are no lake-wide watershed protections for
Cayuga Lake, but there are watershed protections for Six Mile Creek. He further noted
that no data was found to indicate that one water source was influenced by human
activity more than the other. Mr. Eckler stated that there is no data in the Findings
Statement that would support the last phrase in the 16th Whereas clause.
Alderperson Tomlan suggested that the language be amended to read “enjoys various
protections from”.
Mr. Gell stated that discussions have been held with the Board of Public Works
regarding enhancing existing watershed regulations.
A vote on the Amending Resolution resulted as follows:
Ayes (3) Myrick, Rosario, Mohlenhoff
Nays (6) Coles, Dotson, Clairborne, Zumoff, Tomlan, Schuler
Failed (3-6)
Amending Resolution
By Alderperson Dotson: Seconded by Alderperson Schuler
RESOLVED, That the 16th Whereas clause be amended to read as follows:
“WHEREAS, in terms of water quality the rebuild option will produce finished water that
meets existing water quality requirements and can readily meet future anticipated water
quality requirements and regulations; further, the raw water is drawn from a source that
is located high in the watershed and enjoys various protections, and potential for further
protections [is protected] from nearby residential, agricultural, commercial and
recreational uses and development, thereby reducing its vulnerability to potential
contamination from such sources, including emerging contaminants, and”
Carried Unanimously (9-0)
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Motion to Call the Question
By Alderperson Schuler: Seconded by Alderperson Dotson
RESOLVED, That the Question be called.
Ayes (4) Clairborne, Schuler, Mohlenhoff, Coles
Nays (5) Dotson, Rosario, Zumoff, Tomlan, Myrick
Failed (4-5)
Alderperson Zumoff questioned whether the language in the Resolved clause should
include the words “as practicable” as that language was added to the Findings
Statement resolution. City Attorney Hoffman responded that Common Council has met
its responsibility pursuant to the Findings Statement and the rationale is stated in the
resolution. Adding the word “practicable” in the suggested location would conflict with
the Findings Statement.
Amending Resolution
By Alderperson Tomlan: Seconded by Alderperson Zumoff
RESOLVED, That the Resolved clause be amended to read as follows:
“RESOLVED, That the City of Ithaca Common Council hereby adopts the rebuild option
to replace the City’s water filtration plant on Water Street and to improve its water
system, including related improvements to the Six Mile Creek water source and intake
system, conditioned on the implementation of the mitigation measures as identified in
the Common Council’s findings statement.”
Carried Unanimously (9-0)
City Attorney Hoffman stated that Common Council had addressed his concerns
regarding providing a rationale for the water source decision. He further disclosed that
he owns a house / lot on Giles Street that borders on a portion of the City-owned Six
Mile Creek Natural Area. He noted that he does not believe that the water source
decision will have a significant impact on the value of the property in question or that his
ownership of the property adversely affects his ability to provide sound legal advice to
the City on the legal requirements related to this issue.
Mayor Peterson thanked Alderperson Dotson for her work on this resolution and for
Council’s actions to take her concerns regarding specific language into consideration.
She noted that this has been a long standing issue that started in 1996 and has
included the collection of a lot of information, and lots of studies. She noted that this is
a historic moment as this is an important, long-term decision for the City.
Alderperson Coles recognized the various Council members that have worked on this
issue along with the Mayor throughout the past 13 years, and noted that she is glad that
the issue is coming to a conclusion as it has been one of the most controversial topics
among Council members.
Main Motion as Amended
A vote on the Main Motion as Amended resulted as follows:
Carried Unanimously (9-0)
The Resolution as Amended reads as follows:
Water Supply – Adoption of the Rebuild Option to Address the City of Ithaca’s
Future Water Supply Needs – Resolution
By Alderperson Dotson: Seconded by Alderperson Schuler
WHEREAS, the current water source for the City of Ithaca's water treatment and
distribution system relies upon the Six Mile Creek watershed and the filtration plant built
in 1903, located on Water Street in the City of Ithaca, and
WHEREAS, due to the age of the filtration plant and impending changes in water quality
standards, significant upgrades to the system are required, and
WHEREAS, City staff and consultants retained by the City to study this issue have
proposed an upgraded system capable of meeting new water quality standards, the
components of which system (including replacement of the filtration plant, dredging of
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October 14, 2009
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7
the upper reservoir, and modifications to the intake system, settling lagoons and access
routes to the raw water reservoir and pipeline) are described in the Environmental
Impact Statement for this action and which system is identified as the “Rebuild Option,”
and
WHEREAS, an alternative to such upgrades is the purchase of finished water from the
Southern Cayuga Lake Intermunicipal Water Commission (SCLIWC) that has been
drawn from Cayuga Lake at Bolton Point in the Town of Lansing, which arrangement
would require the expansion of the SCLIWC's facility, the construction of a new water
transmission main (pipeline) between the SCLIWC facility and the existing city
distribution system, and the decommissioning of the existing system, identified as the
"Purchase Option", and
WHEREAS, in a series of joint meetings of the Common Council and the Board of
Public Works during Summer 2007, in meetings of the Community and Organizational
Issues Committee during 2008, and in various special meetings (including as a
Committee of the Whole) during 2009, the Common Council gathered information and
carefully analyzed both the Rebuild Option and the purchase option in terms of the
needs of the City, including the impact on the environment, the relevant issues of
control and governance, the capital and operational costs, the quality and sufficiency of
its water supply, the safety of its citizenry, and other factors, and
WHEREAS, there has been vigorous public debate on this topic for many years, but
particularly since 2006 when the topic began to appear regularly on the agendas of
relevant City bodies, and many citizens have expressed their opinions on this topic; and
further, many aspects of this decision involve detailed analysis where differences in
initial assumptions can create significant changes in projected impacts, and
WHEREAS, in terms of the impacts on the environment, certain mitigation measures
and other related recommendations for both options were identified in the
Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) prepared in connection with this decision, and
WHEREAS, these mitigation measures and other recommendations were outlined in the
findings adopted by the Board of Public Works and Common Council to sufficiently
minimize or avoid adverse environmental effects to the maximum extent practicable for
either option, and
WHEREAS, in terms of energy use and greenhouse gas emissions, largely because of
the opportunity for gravity flow of raw water, the Rebuild Option is more energy efficient
than the purchase option, and even taking into account the larger environmental
impacts of chemical use and dredging for capacity under the Rebuild Option vs. the
purchase option, the overall analysis in the EIS indicates that the carbon footprint of the
Rebuild Option is smaller than that of the purchase option, and
WHEREAS, the Local Action Plan adopted by the Common Council in 2006 calls for a
20% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions below 2001 levels by 2016, and the Local
Action Plan committee has noted that, while both the Rebuild Option and purchase
option will produce significantly more emissions than current operations, working
against the goal to reduce emissions, the Rebuild Option’s emissions would be lower,
particularly if actions are taken to maximize energy efficiency, therefore reducing the
amount to be offset by other City actions, and
WHEREAS, the design and construction of a new water plant provides the City with an
opportunity to incorporate hydropower facilities into its operations, which could help to
reduce the City’s carbon footprint, and
WHEREAS, in terms of control and governance, the Rebuild Option provides the City of
Ithaca with a greater ability to determine operating policies and future capital
improvements, possibly incorporating innovations in technology and design, than does
the purchase option, while not precluding opportunities for cooperation with other
local/regional producers of finished water, and
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8
WHEREAS, in terms of costs, both options appear to be cost effective, with the Rebuild
Option projected to require a similar water rate as the purchase option; further, the costs
for the operation and maintenance of the Six Mile Creek reservoir area, including the
dams and other infrastructure, will continue to be paid by water system consumers
under the Rebuild Option, but would likely have to be funded through other means
under the purchase option, and
WHEREAS, in terms of public safety, the Rebuild Option – together with the SCLIWC
water system and the Cornell University water system – provides the community with a
level of redundancy that already has proven to be mutually beneficial; further, the
Rebuild Option’s largely gravity-fed supply of water could ensure that there is
continuous dependable water available for fire protection, even in the face of a large
scale regional loss of electricity, and accordingly is supported by the Ithaca City Fire
Department; finally, the water system facilities located within the watershed reservoir
area, including access roads and trails, provide emergency access for rescue
operations and related activities, again as noted and endorsed by the Ithaca City Fire
Department, and
WHEREAS, in terms of water quantity, despite concerns about the impact of climate
change-related changes in regional precipitation patterns that could lead to reduced
amounts of water in Six Mile Creek, in the absence of detailed study of this issue,
historical data (1930 - 2005) and related hydrologic modeling seem to indicate that there
will be ample raw water in Six Mile Creek to meet the present and future water needs of
the City of Ithaca many decades into the future, and
WHEREAS, in terms of water quality the Rebuild Option will produce finished water that
meets existing water quality requirements and can readily meet future anticipated water
quality requirements and regulations; further, the raw water is drawn from a source that
is located high in the watershed and enjoys various protections, and potential for further
protections from nearby residential, agricultural, commercial and recreational uses and
development, thereby reducing its vulnerability to potential contamination from such
sources, including emerging contaminants, and
WHEREAS, in the interest of water quality, the City has, since the construction of the
present water treatment plant and its supporting/concomitant infrastructure (dams,
reservoirs and raw water main), invested effort and resources to protect the Six Mile
Creek Watershed, such as the planting of tens of thousands of trees during the 1920s
and in 1930, and the purchase of land, including more than 750 acres of land outside its
municipal boundaries over decades, and
WHEREAS, the City benefits from the work of the Natural Areas Commission in
advocating for minimizing impacts of public works (including water supply) activities in
the Six Mile Creek Natural Area, recently exhibited by their work with the Department of
Public Works and the Board of Public Works on jointly adopted and tested guidelines for
work in this area, and
WHEREAS, the Town Board of Caroline has, by resolution passed unanimously on
February 12, 2008, expressed its support for the City’s continued use of Six Mile Creek
as its water source, while noting the measures that the Town has taken and is planning
to take to control erosion along the creek through the Barrile stream restoration project,
hence decreasing the amount of sediment flowing downstream toward the City of
Ithaca’s reservoir, and the City also benefits from the stream monitoring efforts of
various other individuals and groups, including volunteers under the aegis of the
Community Science Institute, and
WHEREAS,in terms of implementability both options present comparable challenges,
however the Rebuild Option requires no additional real property purchases or
easements, in contrast with the purchase option, which requires such on six private
properties with the construction of the East Shore transmission main, and
WHEREAS, all three local water systems, including the City’s and that of the Southern
Cayuga Lake Intermunicipal Water Commission and Cornell University, have a history
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October 14, 2009
Continuation of October 7, 2009 Regular Common Council Meeting
9
of providing, and have expressed continued willingness and intent to provide, water and
other related assistance to the other two systems when circumstances create short-term
needs, for instance during construction of a new City water treatment plant, among
other situations
WHEREAS, pursuant to Article V of the Ithaca City Charter, the Board of Public Works
has responsibility for the improvement of the City's water system, and related actions
incidental thereto (Sections C-65 and C-79), and the establishment of water rates and
other charges to pay for the same (Sections C-66 and C-79), has control of the Water
Department, its property and of the appropriations made therefor, subject to the
direction and review of the Common Council (Section C-61), and
WHEREAS, the Common Council is aware that, pursuant to the foregoing authority and
responsibility, the Board of Public Works has also carefully analyzed both the Rebuild
Option and the purchase option in terms of the needs of the City, including the safety of
its citizenry, the quality and sufficiency of its water supply, the impact on the
environment, the capital and operational costs, the relevant issues of control and
governance, and other factors, and
WHEREAS, the Board of Public Works expressed their view, with a 5-0 vote on July 8,
2009, that the Rebuild Option, when implemented with the mitigative measures outlined
in their Findings, effectively minimizes or avoids adverse environmental effects, and
adopted the Rebuild Option as their choice in this matter, and
WHEREAS, the Planning and Development Board, in a resolution approved
unanimously on September 10, 2009, recommended the Rebuild Option, and “join[ed]
with the Board of Public Works in urging Common Council to appropriate funds for the
design and implementation of rebuilding the water supply plant located on Water Street
in the City of Ithaca,” and
WHEREAS, the Common Council believes that it is in the best interest of the City of
Ithaca, and of its citizens, to proceed with a decision on a future water supply, therefore
allowing discussion to focus on implementation of the choice,
now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That the City of Ithaca Common Council hereby adopts the Rebuild Option
to replace the City’s water filtration plant on Water Street and to improve its water
system, including related improvements to the Six Mile Creek water source and intake
system, conditioned on the implementation of the mitigation measures as identified in
the Common Council’s findings statement.
Carried Unanimously (9-0)
ADJOURNMENT:
On a motion the meeting adjourned at 8:05 p.m.
______________________________ _______________________________
Julie Conley Holcomb, CMC Carolyn K. Peterson,
City Clerk Mayor
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