HomeMy WebLinkAboutMN-Parks-2015-02-10Approved: 5/12/15
PARKS COMMISSION
Minutes of Regular Meeting
February 10, 2015
Cornell Cooperative Extension
Attended by: Commissioners: Ellen Leventry (Chair), Margaret Hobbie, Lawrence
Fabbroni. Staff: Megan Wilson, Jeanne Grace, Jim D’Alterio; Common Council liaison
Josephine Martell; Board of Public Works Liaison Bill Goldsmith. Visitors: Chrys
Gardner and Josh Dolan of Cornell Cooperative Extension; Aidan Chambliss, community
volunteer; Marc Messing. There was not a quorum.
Minutes
Margaret Hobbie agreed to take minutes for the February meeting. The minutes for January
were accepted with one correction. Jeanne Grace pointed out that the Sciencenter does not
currently maintain the city-owned area next to Conley Park but plans to do so in the future (New
Business #1, last sentence of first paragraph).
New Business
1. Permaculture Project at Conley Park
Chrys Gardener reported on work at the Permaculture Project and distributed handouts
describing the overall organization of the park, specific plantings that are in place, and
proposed specific plantings for 2015. Over 300 volunteer hours were logged in 2014.
The southwest corner of the park (“The Boomerang”) is yet to be developed, in part
because the future of the last block of Adams Street is uncertain.
Part of the plans for 2015 include installation of a sign box (mostly to facilitate
communications with volunteers) and the construction of two arbors and an herb spiral
near the existing path. The commissioners and staff present supported the arbors and
herb spiral but asked for further consideration of the sign, which should be part of the
larger discussion of park signage.
Jeanne Grace asked the project organizers to stress that Conley Park is a city park,
perhaps by using the city seal on all literature. She also observed that the park has no
staging area (for the DPW to dump mulch, etc.).
Chrys Gardener suggested that the Adopt-a-Park guidelines be revised to be more open to
plantings by volunteers. The commissioners agreed to revisit this part of the guidelines.
2. Interpretive Signage at City Cemetery
Jeanne Grace presented a proposal from Historic Ithaca and the Friends of the City
Cemetery to create and install three interpretive signs for the City Cemetery, to be placed
at the entrances on University Avenue, Stewart Avenue, and Cornell Avenue. The
project sponsors are looking for support in concept from the Parks Commission as part of
a grant proposal to the Tompkins Charitable Gift Fund.
Approved: 5/12/15
Larry Fabbroni wants to be sure that the Parks Commission is involved in the aesthetics
and content of the signs as the project moves forward. Bill Goldsmith proposed a fourth
location at DeWitt Place. The commissioners present supported the proposal in concept,
and Ellen Leventry read a letter from Dan Krall in support of the project.
3. Repair of Stone Wall at City Cemetery
Jeanne Grace reported that the historic stone wall at the cemetery entrance on University
Avenue was damaged by an automobile several years ago and the City has finally
received the insurance settlement of $31,000. For a total expenditure of $39,000 a larger
stretch of wall extending up the hill could be included in the repair work, and this is
planned for 2015. All existing stones will be replaced and the work will be done by
Ithaca Stone Setting.
Those present agreed that the current condition of the wall and stairs is a safety issue and
that the project should go forward.
We discussed possible ways to discouraging parking in the four spots closest to the stairs
(bollards, for example, or something more attractive). Jeanne Grace will discuss the
matter with Frank Nagy. Several of those present also expressed concern over the
condition of the stone wall farther down the hill.
4. 2015 Updates and Goals for the Parks Commission
New Parks Commission Chair Ellen Leventry proposed some procedural changes and
goals for 2015.
A. We agreed to revise the agenda format to start with Old Business at each meeting.
Guests presenting items of new business will be invited for 12:45 and will be held to
strict blocks of time.
B. Larry Fabbroni agreed to serve as Vice Chair.
C. We will ask Roberta Moudry to continue to record the minutes when she is in
attendance.
D. The March meeting will include a legal update from the City Attorney’s office, to
help us understand the definitions of leasing, licensing, and other matters relating to
private use of city-own lands.
E. The commission will continue to work with staff to determine which city-owned
parcels are indeed parkland. We will ask the City Attorney to be prepared to address
this at the March meeting if he has time.
F. During 2015 we will take a hard look at the distribution and function of parks in
different parts of the city, and to consider whether the City needs more parks as
density increases in certain neighborhoods.
G. We will finalize sign guidelines, and submit a resolution to the Board of Public
Works in March affirming that City Code requires an identifying sign in each park.
Approved: 5/12/15
Old Business
Marc Messing reported on recent Common Council discussions of the legal questions
surrounding Stewart Park, the Cascadilla Boat Club, and uses of park lands by private entities.
This and similar issues will be the main topic of the March meeting.
The meeting was adjourned at 1:30.
Respectfully submitted,
Margaret Hobbie
Member, Parks Commission