HomeMy WebLinkAboutMN-CAB-1996 I 1'719 I.
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CITY OF ITHACA
108 EAST GREEN STREET •
ITHACA, NEW YORK 14850
OFFICE OF TELEPHONE: 607-274-6546
ITHACA COMMONS COORDINATOR FAX: 607-272-7348
COMMONS ADVISORY BOARD MEETING MINUTES
FEBRUARY 2, 1996
DISCUSSION OF COMMONS ISSUES WITH MAYOR ALAN J. COHEN
PRESENT: Gearhart, Chair Gillis, Hogue, Lieberman, Martins, Patz, Schuler, Shenk, Smith.
OTHER: Mayor Alan J. Cohen, J. Meigs- Planning Dept.
Safety and Security
Garages: lighting, cleanliness, safety after 6 pm
MAYOR: Recognizes the need for improvement, some assistance will be obtained
from DPW and some from the Community Police Officer when he/she is
appointed.Lighting was reduced some years ago as part of Energy
Commission's energy use reduction program, lighting level will be returned
Commons: police presence, drug dealing, level of acceptable behavior
better lighting, cleanliness
visible and apparent effort to make Commons safe and friendly
SUPPORT A CAMPAIGN... CLEAN, SAVE AND FRIENDLY
Community when and who
Officer:
MAYOR: Everyone needs to work harder at keeping things clean. Shop owners need to
help by keeping the area in front of their shop swept and free of litter. The
Community Police Officer could make a difference in controlling illegal and
anti- social behavior. Police need more information and training regarding
community policing before the Commons officer is selected. Today's youth
do not have the same values and many do not respect elders or authority,
they have many needs which must be addressed and new programs are
being developed to do this. Would like to see an older style lighting on The
Commons, similar to the lighting in De Witt Park.
Graffiti: Mural project by Wetmore, need more support from DPW and Police.
Wetmore is working with the Ithaca Festival and Mack Travis to do a Mural in
on the wall of the Home Dairy Alley.
MAYOR: Wants the City and public to be more aggressive in controlling graffiti.
There is a poly surface coat that can be used on walls etc. to make graffiti
removal easier. The project needs money and support form Common Council.
An Equal Opportunity Employer with an Affirmative Action Program"
Boards & Regs
Codes and more cooperation from Building Department: signage, renovations,
Regulations: upper story development, up front information, high % of appeals to NYS
Truth or make more user friendly and then PR it
Perception: guides and pamphlets
MAYOR: There is a new code from New York State that should help with some older
buildings. A booklet or guide should be produced to help understand the
rules and regs and make it easier to follow the necessary procedures.
Asked to see the work done on both the City guide and Commons guide.
Agreed that a large part of the problem is perception; would like to correct
problems and work at better public relations.
Support for CAB/Coordinator
Budget: programs and marketing
Policies: vendors, cronies, lawyers, militants, pressure groups, threats, etc.
Function: what issues do you want addressed
facility management
MAYOR: A meeting with the Coordinator needs to take place first to review these
topics and discuss the details. The Commons needs more advocacy; Board
members need to appear before the Common Council and Board of Public
Works more often.
Parking
Free: two hours free at meters as in Coming
get meters and garages to both say free after the same time, now 6pm/6:30pm
respectively
Better better management, better advertising and PR, user friendly
Policy: cleaner
MAYOR: Would like to see a parking program like Corning's. This issue needs to go
to Common Council for support; the CAB needs to speak up if they would
like to see such a program. Communities that have these programs need to
be studied to determine if it promotes a healthy downtown and in turn who
benefits. It requires $1 million dollars in sales tax to return $15,000 in sales
tax revenue to the City.
The Bid
What do you (we) want the Bid to be and do, is there a vision to base/plan it on or around?
Discussion of where we are and where we are going.
Have a great plan and support it.
MAYOR: Supports BID.
Other ideas and concerns for discussion
MAYOR: Community needs more education about tourism and the benefits of a good
tourism program.
Focus of the population has switched from the City to Lansing, hope that it
will switch back to the City when the Routes 96 and 13 improvements are
finished.
Respec∎ lly s itted,
J- Dem , ommons Coordinator
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CITY OF ITHACA
100 EAST GREEN STREET
ITHACA, NEW YORK 14850
OFFICE OF TELEPHONE: 607-274-6546
ITHACA COMMONS COORDINATOR FAX: 607-272-7348
COMMONS ADVISORY BOARD MEETING MINUTES
FEBRUARY 16, 1996
PRESENT: Gillis, Chair; Hogue, Martins, Schuler, Smith, Wetmore.
EXCUSED: Gearhart, Lieberman, Patz, Shenk.
The BID items prepared by Wetmore and handed out at the CAB meeting on February 2, were
presented for discussion by Wetmore. These items were modified as follows:
1. No Change.
2. First sentence needs better wording. Second sentence eliminated.
3. No Change.
4. No Change. (Strongly supported.)
5. No Change. (Strongly supported, it gives people an opportunity to fmd their place in
the organization.)
6. Committees of the BID.... add, which will be chaired by a BID board member.
Strongly supported, allows active involvement by members of the BID who are not
on the board but want to participate.)
7. No Change. (YES, strongly supported, DIE concerned that Cornell and others not in
geographical area be able to participate if they want.)
8. Eliminate.
9. No Change. Ask H. Sieverding if any recent studies would provide recommendations
that could be used. It is important that some of the goals selected be attainable in the
first few years.
10. Strongly supported, with the addition of Art Pierce's suggestion that A minimum of
4 Property owners, who do own a business in that property.
11. No Change.
12. No Change.
The CAB 's primary concern is to see the BID pass. We support the BID Committee's effort.
These are our suggestions to help make the BID pass.
Respectfully submitted,
Jean S Deming, Commons Coordina Ir/
An Equal Opportunity Employer with an Affirmative Action Program"
. The BID has to avoid even the appearance of conflict of interest. In order to achieve this:
a)The BID shall not do business with any company in which a member of the Board of
Directors, including the executive director, have ownership, either in whole or in-part.
b)No member of the LTD's Board of Directors shall be paid for any work performed for
the bid.
c) The above prohibitions shall last for one year after the person leaves office.
d)No member of the BID planning group be considered for any paid position within the BID.
2. The membership can, at any time, and at its own initiative, petition to recall a board member
elected to represent the class making the petition. The Board of Directors shall not have
the power to remove board members for any reason.
3. The BID's bylaws can only be changed by a vote of the membership.
4. The initial Board of Directors for the BID shall be elected by the membership.
5. There shall be standing committees for the three main purposes of the bid:
a)Retail promotions •
b)Marketing
•
c)Government advocacy
6. There will be a process,explicitly described in the bylaws,whereby nonboard members shall
have a right to voting seats on the committees of the BID.
7. The BID shall not be a closed organization,abut shall be open to the rest of the community
a)Meetings shall be open to the public
b)There shall be an organizational place for groups_like Cornell to be a part of the BID .
8. There shall be a process whereby the membership can force the board to take action.
9.Before submitting the plan to the city,there:shall be detailed marketing'plans to show how
BID is going to accomplish its goals'of retail promotions?and.tnat Ceting. ,'
10. The makeup of the Board of Directors shall be: •
3 city representatives
1 Tenant
3 Business owners
4 Property owners, who do not own a business in that property
4 Property owners, who do own a business in that property
11. A letter of understanding with the city shall be acquired before officially submitting the plan to
the city. This letter shall include:
a)An agreement of what current city services are
b)an agreement of what city support shall be.
12. The BID plan, in its entirety,shall be made available for public comment before submission to the
city.
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CITY OF ITHACA
1OB EAST GREEN STREET
ITHACA, NEW YORK 14850
OFFICE OF TELEPHONE: 272-1713
ITHACA COMMONS COORDINATOR CODE 607
COMMONS ADVISORY BOARD MEETING MINUTES
MARCH 1, 1996
PRESENT: Gearhart, Chairman Gillis, Lieberman, Martins, Schuler.
EXCUSED: Hogue, Patz, Smith, Shenk, Wetmore.
OTHER: S. Grubb, C. Stadelmaier.
A quorum was not present so the minutes of the past meetings could not be approved.
THE SCIENCENTER SOLAR SYSTEM PROJECT UPDATE was given by Sally Grubb.
Color photos of the plaques that will be mounted on the monuments that represent the planets
in the solar system were shown. The new photo process is very expensive but does not fade or
need a lot of maintenance. Members asked if a maintenance fund would be established. Grubb
said that no mention of that had been made at this time. She said that Sciencenter staff had been
meeting with the City Forester and the City Electrician to select the best locations for the
monuments. Fire lanes and vendor spaces along with festival layouts had been discussed with
the Commons Coordinator. All solar system monuments except the Sun will be installed on or
next to planters. The sun monument will be located near the Fleet Corner of Bank Alley; all the
appropriate City staff members have been involved in the discussion. It was suggested that
Grubb call C. Reeves, Vice Chair of BPW and arrange a time to inform the BPW of the status
of the project. Graffiti was mentioned as a problem,comments were made that the young people
of Community would be involved in the project and therefore, hopefully respect it. All were
supportive of the project and members asked to be kept informed of the projects progress.
JUICE WORKS MOBILE VENDING CART OWNER. CHRIS STADELMAIER,
requested an additional one foot beyond regulation for the width of his cart awning. The five
feet of width would allow for coverage that would overhang the cart and keep rain out of his
food products. The CAB said it would be okay if there were no Building Department regulations
prohibiting such. Stadelmaier also requested that his season begin on April 15 and end on Oct
15. Members stated that this was not possible, that he could begin whenever he wanted and end
by using the optional one month extension but vending carts had to pay by the existing April
1 through Sept. 30 schedule. A discussion about Stadelmaier's displeasure with the exclusion of
the Ithaca Festival Friday and Saturday from the vending permit took place. Board members
stated that the decision to remove these days from the vending permit was made by Common
An Equal Opportunity Employer with an Affirmative Action Program"
Commons Advisory Board minutes of March 1, 96 continued
Council upon the request of the Festival and against the wishes of CAB. It was suggested that
Stadelmaier meet with Festival Coordinator, Laurel Guy to seek help with this issue.
A REOUEST SUBMITTED BY THE YOUTH BUREAU'S MOBILE VENDING CART
project advisor, Jeff Furman, to give an extension on cart length to include the eight inch cart
handles was granted.
PERMISSION WAS GRANTED FOR THE FOLLOWING MOBILE VENDING PERMITS
pending completion of requirements: King David, Youth Bureau,Youth Scoops/Ben and Jerry's
and Juice Works. These vending permits are for the April 1-September 30 season.
A REOUEST FOR A PERMIT FOR A BOUNCE FOR BEATS FUND RAISER was made
by Sigma Alpha Mu Fraternity of Ithaca College. The fraternity would like to bounce a
basketball on the Commons for 24 hours while collecting cash and pledges for the Make a
Wish charity. Members stated that the activity should be rotated around the Commons locations
every few hours during the day and evening, be located at the Bank Alley entrance during late
night hours and be reviewed with the Police Department to insure safety and security measures
are taken to protected the students and the money. The activity was approved for Sat. April 13.
THE COMMONS FOUNTAIN will require approximately $75,000- $85,000 in repairs to be
restored to 1975 original working order. The Art and Design Commission does not support this
expense. The City's landscape architect has resigned so free in house assistance in redesigning
is not available. Efforts are being made to come up with an expensive solution to the redesigning
of the two fountain pools.
THE NEW COMMONS TRASH AND RECYCLING BARRELS are on order. There is a
$20,000 budget to purchase cans for the Commons and Collegetown. Cans will be assembled
in units of three cans, one can for soft recyclables, one can for hard recyclables and one larger
can for trash. Each unit will cost approximately $900.
Respectfully sub ,fitted,
.4110j.1. 66-ee- '
Jean S. De g
COordin or
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CITY OF ITHACA
1OE EAST GREEN STREET
ITHACA, NEW YORK 14850
OFFICE OF TELEPHONE: (607)274-6546
ITHACA COMMONS COORDINATOR FAX: (607)272-7348
COMMONS ADVISORY BOARD MEETING MINUTES
DECEMBER 6, 1996
PRESENT: Chairman Gillis, Hogue, Lieberman, Schuler, Smith,hoe, w etmore.
ABSENT: Martins, Patz, Vargas.
RESIGNED: Gearhart. OTHER: Alan J. Cohen
Members were introduced to Joshua Mandell, the Assistant Commons Coordinator.
The future of the Commons Advisory Office. The Coordinator's Position. and the CAB were
discussed with Mayor Alan J. Cohen. The Office of the Coordinator will function with the current staff
until the end of April. Deming will train Mandell to take over the modified duties of the office. The
position will be part-time permanent, performing the duties pertaining to the functions of government
such as: permits, information, Commons policy and general facility concerns such as maintenance and
safety etc. Existing City/DII events such as: Summer Concert Series, Art Walk, Apple Harvest and
Holiday Traditions will be taken over completely by the BID. All records needed to plan these events
will be turned over to the BID. The Commons Office will continue to provide civic programming and
assistance to Community Groups planning Commons activities. The Commons Coordinator and the CAB
will work closely with the BID to assure a smooth transition and provide assistance and support with
the 1997 event schedule.The Mayor stated that the future of the Office and the CAB will be re-evaluated
at the end of 1997 to determine its long range functions.
The BID is looking at office space in the Rothschilds Building, the Clinton House and in Center
Ithaca. Art Pearce is accepting applications for the Director's position. The three BID conveners are: S.
Blumenthal, Common Council; A. J. Cohen, Mayor; and D. Cafferillo, City Controller. When the BID
board is elected on January 16, CAB would like to request that a BID board member serve on the
Commons Advisory Board. A motion was passed unanimously to proceed with the arrangements for
BID representation on CAB.
Mayor Cohen asked members to suggest candidates for the CAB vacancies,
The next meeting will be held on the first Friday in February,
p• ully submi ,
Je.,I . Deming, o rdinator
An Equal Opportunity Employer with an Affirmative Action Program