HomeMy WebLinkAboutMN-BPW-2008-11-05BOARD OF PUBLIC WORKS PROCEEDINGS
CITY OF ITHACA, NEW YORK
Committee of the Whole Meeting 4:50 p.m. November 5, 2008
PRESENT:
Mayor Peterson
Commissioners (5) - Jenkins, Chapman, Schlather, Tripp, Wykstra
OTHERS PRESENT:
City Attorney - Hoffman
Superintendent of Public Works - Gray
Assistant Superintendent of Streets and Facilities - Ferrel
Assistant Superintendent of Water and Sewer – Whitney
Common Council Liaison – Coles
Executive Assistant - Gehring
Excused:
DAC Liaison – Roberts
Mayor’s Communication:
Mayor Peterson stated she reviewed an eight-page letter her office received, and asked
the City Attorney’s office to review it, that complained about the door tags that were
used during the automatic water meter replacement project. The letter asked for
specific documents and information including research into Johnson Controls, who they
are and what they represent. Mayor Peterson asked the board who, if anyone, would
like a copy of the letter.
Proposed City/State Parks Agreement on Management of Festival Lands
(Including Off-Leash Area) – Update – 30 minutes
City Attorney Hoffman stated that the city has been working with a representative of
New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation (State Parks) to
come to an agreement regarding the Festival Lands on which State Parks will have
management authority and responsibility for the Festival Lands for a 25-year period.
State Parks will give up any claim to or interest in a parcel of land owned by another
state agency on Inlet Island, called Coast Guard Auxiliary Parcel. Ownership of the
Festival Lands will remain with the city and actions that the state can take on the land
will be limited by the terms of the agreement. It was the consensus of the board that
they are in support of the agreement with State Parks.
Commissioner Schlather requested updated information about the Black Diamond Trail.
Mayor Peterson stated that the environmental review was completed earlier in the year.
The county, town, city and State Parks have been discussing the trail. City Attorney
Hoffman stated that all of the recent news regarding the trail has been positive and that
the state has taken various steps to move closer to implementing and developing the
trail. Supt. Gray stated that the trail might be on the Transportation Improvement Plan,
with some monies assigned to the project. More information about the Black Diamond
Trail will be provided at future board meetings.
Board Receives Public Comment – MLK Jr. Freedom Walk (5:30 - 6:00 p.m.) –
45 minutes
Commissioner Schlather gave a brief synopsis of the Martin Luther King Jr. Freedom
Walk and dual designation of State Street to honor Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
Comments were then accepted from the public regarding this issue.
M.D. Morris, State Street, shared his opinion with the board that the notion of dual
designating State Street dilutes the meaning of a Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. memorial
because it would be shared with the original historic name of State Street. He
suggested placing a sign on the façade of the Tompkins County Public Library since Dr.
King was an educator and the library is a place of enlightenment.
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Alan J. Cohen, Hawthorne Place, addressed the Board in support of the dual
designation of State Street. He also supports the idea of re-naming the public library,
but suggests that the County Legislature be contacted as the Tompkins County Public
Library is a county-owned facility and the city does not have jurisdiction over it. He went
on to state his opinion as to why he believes some community members are opposed to
the dual designation of State Street. He met with several people that are under the
misconception the proposal is about changing the name of the street, rather than the
dual designation. Most people are caught up in the original controversy of changing the
name from years ago though currently the proposal is to dual name the street.
Gino Bush, Fayette Street, addressed the Board to thank all of the members of the
committee for all of the hard work that has been accomplished.
Lisa Duggan, Dryden Rd., addressed the Board on the issue of an undue burden that
businesses along State Street perceive they will have if the street name is dual
designated. She stated that there isn’t a burden since there will not be a requirement to
change their stationery. She also believes that having the memorial to Dr. King going
through the heart of the city, through all types of neighborhoods, is very important and
an honor.
Todd Saddler addressed the Board to voice his support for the dual designation of State
Street as Martin Luther King Jr. Street. The benefit of honoring Dr. King far outweighs
the cost of the dual designation of the street.
Eric Rosario addressed the Board to explain his views of the dual designation of State
Street. He stated that he is in support of the dual designation for three reasons:
1. It will respect local history and community icons such as the State Theater.
2. It will honor higher societal ideals like equality of opportunity for all that is
invoked by Dr. King’s name.
3. It would eliminate any financial or administrative hardship that individual
community members might have had if the street were re-named.
He also stated that if it were not for Dr. King’s work, he would not have had the
opportunities he’s had to be a representative of the community. This issue is very
personal for Mr. Rosario since he is the first Latino voted to Ithaca’s Common Council.
He thanked the Implementation Committee for their work and their commitment to a
thoughtful process that sought a solution through dialogue.
Sean Bradwell, Geneva St., addressed the Board to voice his support for renaming the
Tompkins County Public Library, not in spite of but along side the dual designation of
State Street. He also stated that he pledges his resources within the community to
assist in ensuring the dual designation is followed through upon.
Joe Wetmore, business owner, addressed the Board to state that he would be honored
to have his business on a street named after Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. The dual
designation plan accommodates the needs of everybody without extra expense but it
does allow the community to honor a man that has done so much for this country.
Mary Loehr, addressed the Board to encourage a positive vote for the dual designation,
she feels strongly for this vote, particularly because of the members of the committee.
Two historians that were originally against renaming State Street having now agreed
that dual designation is the right thing to do says a lot to Ms. Loehr.
Rebecca Elgie, member of original Circle of Recovery committee, addressed the Board
to voice her support for the dual designation of State Street. State Street would be a
perfect thoroughfare, connecting east and west going through the heart of the city.
Pete Meyers, member of community organization, voiced his support for dual
designation before the Board.
Mayor Peterson departed at 6:00 p.m.
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Commissioner Tripp thanked the members of the public that spoke to the Board and
requested that a resolution be prepared for the Board’s next voting meeting. She
expressed her support for the dual designation of State Street.
Lease of Steamboat Landing Site – Update – 30 minutes
City Attorney Hoffman explained that the lease between the Ithaca Farmers’ Market and
the City would expire at the end of 2008. The city and the Farmer’s Market would like to
continue the agreement that was in place, except that cities are required to go through a
bidding process in order to lease city-owned land. However, for cities that have Urban
Renewal Agencies, land may be leased to those agencies, and then subleased to the
requested entity. City Attorney Hoffman stated that Common Council has approved the
decision to lease the Steamboat Landing site to the Ithaca Urban Renewal Agency
(IURA), who will in turn, sublease the land to the Ithaca Farmers’ Market. The next step
that is required to be completed is to have a written lease been the City of Ithaca and
IURA and a sublease between IURA and Ithaca Farmers’ Market.
A related issue has to do with the Wastewater Treatment Plant, which is immediately
adjacent to the Steamboat Landing site. The plant site is entirely fenced in. When the
wastewater treatment plant was being planned in the early 1980s, it was decided that it
would be a jointly maintained and operated plant by the City of Ithaca and the Towns of
Ithaca and Dryden. An agreement was executed in 1981 that stated the title of
ownership of the land would be conveyed by the City of Ithaca to the three
municipalities. The conveyance of title never occurred. The Mayor notified the Towns
of Ithaca and Dryden and asked if they wanted the conveyance to occur now. The
supervisor of Ithaca disagreed with the definition of the plant site, believing it should
include the Steamboat Landing site.
After giving a synopsis of how the city acquired the land that is now the wastewater
treatment plant and Steamboat Landing sites, City Attorney Hoffman suggested making
lot line adjustments so that the lot lines of the wastewater treatment plant would
correspond with the current tax parcel maps and the current fence line that goes around
the plant site. The proposal that is before Common Council is to lease Steamboat
Landing to IURA for subleasing to Ithaca Farmers’ Market and to make the lot line
adjustments.
Discussion followed on the floor regarding the draft lease, the possible renting of
Steamboat Landing to the public when the Farmers’ Market is not in operation, and the
possible over use of the land. The Board agreed that a general conceptual resolution
will be added to the Board’s next voting meeting.
2009 Budget – Update – 10 minutes
Supt. Gray stated that the purpose of this discussion was to update the board on this
year’s budget, which so far has a 3% increase. New York State’s Legislature may take
action in November on the multi-billion dollar overages. State aid to cities can be cut,
which will cause a big adjustment to our budget.
This week the city was put under a hiring freeze and a purchasing freeze. The hiring
freeze is actually a hiring review where a committee reviews all proposed hiring of any
vacant existing positions to see if the positions must be filled immediately. The
purchasing freeze similarly has the same type of review process whereas large
purchases will be reviewed and determined whether they can be delayed or not.
Discussion followed on the floor regarding speculation as to where the budget might be
cut if funds are decreased at the state level.
Holiday Parking Request – Discussion - 5 minutes
Vicky Taylor from the Downtown Ithaca Alliance was asked to join the board to discuss
the request for free parking during the holiday period in downtown Ithaca from the
merchant community. She stated that having free parking on the day after
Thanksgiving, or “Black Friday,” and the three days prior to Christmas would rebuild the
downtown traffic base that has been injured by all the construction. A study was
completed by the Alliance from February to April 2008; one item that people stated they
Board of Public Works Committee of the Whole Page 4 November 5, 2008
want fixed in downtown Ithaca is parking. If we can bring locals downtown and give
them a good parking experience, they will continue to come downtown.
Supt. Gray stated that it is not uncommon for the garages to not be staffed during “Black
Friday” because it is part of the Thanksgiving Holiday for city employees. However, the
other three days have not customarily had free parking. The city has asked the police
department not to write parking tickets in the past, but to write “courtesy” tickets at
parking meters only. If cars were parked over their time, a ticket would be written but it
would only state something to the effect of “You’re over your time. Happy Holidays!”
Former Mayor Alan Cohen joined the discussion and confirmed this policy and stated
that it began during Mayor Nichols’ term.
Discussion followed on the floor about parking during the holiday season, the possible
loss of revenues, event parking, etc. The Board agreed to provide free parking in the
garages the Friday after Thanksgiving, “Black Friday,” but not the three days prior to
Christmas.
ADJOURNMENT
On a motion, the meeting adjourned at 6:40 p.m.
Kathrin D. Gehring Carolyn K. Peterson
Executive Assistant Mayor