HomeMy WebLinkAboutMN-IURACDC-1980-01-14 January _-4 1980
Common Council Chambers - --
AGENDA
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Approval of December 10 , 1979 Minutes
New Business
1 . Presentation by Russ Breiner, Duryea and Wilhelmi ,
on Phase II Neighborhood Improvements ; more
detailed plans for outside areas of GIAC.
2 . Discussion: HUD Monitoring Latter
3 . 312 Program : Authorization to Tom Hoard to hire
Rehab Specialist Services on contractual r--sis .
Old Business
1 . Quarterly Reports :
an^i ('=''pd Accessibility Information "_o..`.
Susan Brown , Project Coordinator
Ci tvw_.ae Errs c ncv Grant
Norm ioilen_beck+
2 . Status of 1s t Year Small Cities Expenditures
- 1st Year Small Cities Grant Year ends Jan . 31 , 1980 -
3 . Resolution Payment of McEvoy Bill , Raymond , Parish '
,' and Pine
4 . Approval of Bid/Contractor - GIAC interior work
(contract to be signed no later than Jan. 31 , 1980) .
!i 5. Report: Cherry Street Industrial Park
v/ 6 . Report : Ithaca Center/West est State Street Develo_ .ant
Services .
Administration
\( 1 . Status of hiring C .D. Coordinator; Resolution r =: a "ding
1 salary; status of e_rplcym ant of consultant
IURA/CDA
Ja=ary 14 , 1979
Ar=7NDA
Page 2 -
.* 2 . Appointment of Committees :
Personnel Committee to develop employee contracts
Program Income Committee to refine program income
policy
*3 . Resolution : Closeout Urban Renewal Parcel
,' 4 . Discussion and Resolution on CD Administrative
/` Manual, Chapter 2
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MINUTES
January 21 , 1980
5 :00 - Council Chambers
Continuation of the January 14, 1930, meeting. •
PRESENT: Mayor Raymond Bordoni , Chairman IURA/CDA
Anne Jones, IURA/CDA
Stu Stein,• IURA/CDA
James Dennis, IURA/CDA
Michael Bottge, Planning & Development
H.M. Van Cort, Director, Planning & Development
Kathe Evans, CD Staff
Richard Daley, City Controller
Press
Mayor Bordoni called the meeting to order at 5:00.
Citywide Emergency Grant
Evans returned to the subject of the Citywide Emergency Grant oho ram and
said that within the period of the grant ' s existence only $700 of the
allocated 510,000 had been spent. To step up the pace she said that an
ad had been put in the Journal which had resulted in some calls to EOC.
She asked the IURA for more suggestions and presented the idea of
using some of the $10,000 for a professional public information program.
Stein asked what the time limit was on spending the $10,000 and Evans
said that as it was an Entitlement Grant there was still some time left until
late summer. Stein said that either the program was not needed or there was
not enough information. He suggested using Neighborhood Civic Associations
and special interest groups to publicize the existence of the program.
During discussion, leafletting and posting notices in Supermarkets and
Laundromats was suggested as well as churches. Evans said she would
pass this information on to program director Norm Hollenbeck and give
him the names of key contact persons.
RESOLUTION: Close-Out Urban Renewal Parcel
Richard Daley presented a recapitulation of IURA Project I and said that
the federal capital project grant close-out was cleared up. He said that
for the past two or three years he had been working with the State trying
to get the remainder of their 1/8th share. He said the City case up with
24% and that the State said they would pay 1/2 of that. Daley referred to the
statement handed out at the beginning of the meeting and he noted that in
August of 1975, the contract had been amended to $153 .000. He said they now
want to amend the contract again to what it will be ($942,918) at which
time they will give the City $168,180.
Dennis asked if this will be total close-out and Daley said yes.
Jan - 1 , 1980
Page 2
Stein asked for confirmation that the City and the Agency own the land without
any strings on it anymore and Daley said this was correct.
Van Cart asked what implications this had on the resale of the land and
Daley referred the Agency to line 2 of the handout.
Stein asked if the Agency can now negotiate in anyway without reference
any longer to State or Federal Government. Daley said that at present
the City and the Agency each own half the land and that the federal government
is completely out of it and that the City is free to negotiate for the sale
of the land.
Stein asked what happens to the $168,000 and Daley said it is the City's
share. Stein stated that therefore the total gross project cost of
$8 and 1/2 million cost the City $940,000 and came to 11 or 12%.
Jones asked if the City was no longer committed to work on the parking lot
next to Millers and Daley said no that everything that had been committed
by the City should be completed.
Daley presented a resolution and Dennis asked who had drawn it up. Daley
said that it was a federal form. Jones MOVED the following RESOLUTION:
RESOLVED:
Section 1.
The following described area has been found to be a substandard and insanitary
area appropriate for urban renewal and has been duly designated as an urban renewal
area within the intent of the urban renewal laws of the State.
-BOUNDARY DESCRIPTION OF THE PROJECT I AREA
Beginning at the intersection of the center-line of East State Street
and the center-line of North Tioga Street;
thence northerly along the center-line of North Tio,a Street to a point
160 feet, more or less, north of the intersection of the center-line of
North Tioca Street and East Seneca Street;
thence easterly along the north line of the City of Ithaca property to
the center line of North Aurora Street;
thence south along the center-line of North Aurora Street to the inter-
section of the cents -line of North Aurora Street and East Seneca Street;
thence southeasterly along the center-line of Seneca Way to the inter-
s
section of the center-line of Seneca Way and East State Street;
CD IUR '
U f'`in: :J.
MINUTE
EC
Jan. 21 , 1980
?acre 3
thence southwesterly along the center-line of East Green Street to the
intersection 'of South Aurora Street and East Green Street;
thence south along the center-line of South Aurora Street to the inter-
section of the center-line cf South Aurora Street and the center-line of
Six Mile Creek; •
thence southwesterly along the center-line of Six Mile Creek to the inter-
section of the center-line of Six Mile Creek and the center-line of East
Clinton Street;
thence westerly along the center-line of East Clinton Street to a point 190
feet, more or less, west of the intersection of the center-line of South
Cayuga Street and the center-line of Clinton Street, which point is the
southerly extension of the west property line of the property now, or
formerly, owned by Gilbert F. Sturrock;
thence north along the west property line of the property now, or
formerly, owned by Gilbert F. Sturrock- to the south property line of
the property now, or formerly, owned by Edward T. and Mildred A. Akers;
thence west along the south property line of the property now, or
formerly, owned by Edward T . and Mildred A. Akers to the west property
line of said property; I
thence north along the west property line of the _ _perty now, or
owned ormerly, oned by Edward T. and Mildred A. Akers to the south property
line of the City Right_ of way;
thence west 10 feet, more or less, along the south property line of the
City Right of kay to the west property line of the City Right of ray;
..hence north along the west property line of the City of Ithaca extended
to the center-line of West Green Street;
thence east along the center-line of Green Street to a point 120 feet, more
or less, east from the intersection of Cayuga Street and Green Street;
thence north along the extension of the east building line of the building
now, or formerly, known as the New York State Electric and Gas Corporation
Building to the south property line of the property now, or formerly,
owned by F. A. Wilcox;
thence west along the south property line of the p:pr.7,pertv new, or formerly,
owned by F. A. Wilcox to the west property line of said property;
perty;
thence northerly along the west property line of the property now, or
formerly, owned by F. A. Wilcox extended to the center-line of East State
Street;
thence east alon` the center-line of East State Street to the point of
beginning.
IUP:A/C9A
(`ICU T 7C
var. 2 , 93"
Pace 4
Section 2.
The e):_stence of said a.ea is i : and a:=est_ng the sound growth and
development of the municipality and is inimical to the nublic health, safety, morals
and welfare of the inhabitants thereof and of the State.
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Section 3.
An urban renewal plan has been prepared and duly approved for the said
designated area. The Ithaca Urban Renewal Agency has undertaken and is carrying out
an urban renewal prefect in said area, hereinafter called :he "project", as
authorized bv and to effectuate the purposes of the housin7 Act of 1949, as amended
and supplemented.
Section 4.
The undertaking and carrying out of the project is essential to the sound growth
and development of the municipality and to the welfare of the inhabitants thereof .
Section 5.
It is necessary and in the public interest that the Ithaca Urban Renewal Agency
avail itself of the financial assistance provided by virtue of the urban renewal
assistance laws of the State for the purpose of carrying out the project.
Section 6.
The Ithaca Urban Renewal rency hereby Expresses its intent and recognizes its
responsibility to do whatever is necessary or appropriate to carry out the project.
vr� TES
an. 21 , 1930
Pane 5
Section 7.
Mayor Raymond Bordoni Chairman of the Ithaca Urban renewal Agency, is
h
atitRO_rirod to execute a third Amendatory Contract amending Contract for State
;rant between the State of New York and the City of Ithaca , New York, and the Ithaca
Urban Renewal Agency, in the lesser amount of $14,696.37, which, together with the
Grant heretofore made of $963,615.00, is not to exceed $948,918.63, which is the
amount of the State Capital Grant Contract to assist in carrying out project activitie
a copy of which is attached hereto.
Section 8.
Richard M. Daley, City Controller of the City- of Ithaca, New York, is hereby
authorized and empowered to execute and file requisitions for finds in a lesser
amount of $14,696.37 , which, together with the Grant heretofore made of $953,615.0Q,
is not to exceed $948,918. 63, which is the amount of the State capital grant contract.
hat this resolution taice effect immediately upon its adoption.
Dennis SECONDED the Notion , and NOTION PASSED.
Status of 1st Year Small Cities Exoenditll'"es
Evans referred the Agency to two handouts slowing t the expenditures
projected for 1st and One Year Small Cities Grant tunes .
She said that HUD now requires a month by month dr v,down
schedule through September 30 , 1980 . The coals will be set
by the Agency and BUD askes that these goals be met. She
added that they want the Agency to complete expenditures
of 1st Year Small Cities at the earliest possible date and
that 25; of 2nd Year Small. Cities funds must be spent by
Sep tember 30 . She then went over the proposed schedules
with the 'URA/CDA to ask for their approval and indicated
her reasoning for setting these goals .
IURA/CDA
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Jan . 21 , 1980
Page 6
During her discussion of the GIAC improvements , Dennis
asked what the situation was with the CIAO lease . He
said that over the weekend he had heard conflicting reports
on the radio and 'asked for clarification .
Van Cort said that the Business and Administration Board will
be meeting to discuss the matter on Wednesday , January 23 .
Evans said that one of the B&A' s concerns over the lease
was that of the reimbursement schedule should the City decide
to move out of the building. Other matters between the
School Board ' s Attorney and the City Attorney need to be
settled as well as Banfield 's suggestions that a contingency
be added stating that a depreciation schedule be built in
for the improvements made by the City if the City decided
to buy the GIAC building.
Van Cort said that the lease passed by the Ecrd of Education
would be discussed by the B&A without intention to amend
it before it was passed .
1
Evans added that the Department of Public Works would be
meeting later on Wednesday the 23rd to accept or re ect
the lowest responsible bids made on the $60 , 000 worth of work .
The specifications and spread sheets must then be sent to
the School Board for approval as stipulated in the lease
agreement.
Jones asked when the lURA would return to discussion of
purchase of the building and Evans said the purchase offer
between the city and the school district was still pending.
Evans continued with her summation of drawdown goals . $63, 000
month, she said, is being spent on administration which
works out to the 10% total grant funds permitted by HUD.
Bordoni asked for details on the ANE Zion Church and Evans •
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explained that the issue affects a number of communities .
When federal money is given to a church, it results in a
conflict between church and state . The historic stand of
our government, she said, is not to uni x these two areas .
A number of preservationists maintain that the improvement
of a church facade is not really a conflict between church
and state but in fact is a benefit to neighborhood facade
improvement in general. A letter was sent to secretary Embry
several months ago regarding this matter, and she said that
in the near future there may be some movement to clarify this
issue .
MITES
Jan . 21 , 1980
Paae 7
Jones asked if the Agency had not hoped to resolve this matter
through the staffing of the Ithaca Landmarks Preservation
Commission . Evans said yelp,' that this had been one of the
coals of the ILPC staffing along with the implementation of
the Historic Restoration Incentive Grant in Historic Districts .
Sordoni asked how this program was going, and Van Cort said
that the ILPC coordinator had begun working that day .
Stein asked what had happened to the Agency 's idea of temporarily
transfering the $30 , 000 slated for the AM.E Church to another
line until the legal question of separation of church and
state had been resolved.
Evans said that HUD recommended not transferring the money
because they are hopeful that the situration will be
resolved.
Stein said he thought it would be better to unfreeze the
money, but Van Cort, who agreed with Stein , said that according
to HUD it was inadvisable .
Evans , after discussion with fir. Van Cort, reported that a
HUD letter had been received saying that •they would ex_:ii t
the Agency from the pending legal case if a local decision
from the City Attorney could be made , stating there was no
conflict between church and state in this matter. City Planner
Jon Meigs helped Evans put together a packet of case law
which is now in Attorney Shapiro ' s hands for review . She
said this was a HUD precedent based on a persuasive letter
from Meigs to Embry and she added that she saw this as a
hopeful sign .
Van Cort said he was worried about the 312 program and
Evans said that other communities were bringing in 312
consultants to help move the applications along.
Bordoni -asked how the March and April drawdown proposals on
GIAC were to be used and Evans said it was for the Phase III
GIAC improvements . Bordoni then asked if any of the remaining
Small Cities fends could be used toward andi-cap -Accessibility
to City Hall and Evans said that no Small Cities money could
. be used out of the target area.
Evans not-ad that once the Vim.. dicap :Access ramp on Southside
Center was c,✓mole Led we needed to make sure that accessible
toilet facilities on the 1st floor were available .
T:A;CAA
MINUTES
Jan . 21, 1980
Pace 8
Van Cort said he agreed with Bordoni retarding the constraints
on these funds but that the Agency had to follow the HUD
Guidelines which sometimes resulted in less than optimum use .
After discussion , it was decided to change the GIAC proposed
drawdown schedule to $12 , 000 per month over four months
beginning in March . Another chance in Evans ' projected
. schedule was made to the Neighborhood Improvements drawdown
schedule to read $20 , 000 per month instead of $30 , 000 .
Stein MOVED approval of the monthly guidelines for expenditures
of 1st and 2nd Year Small Cities funds from February through
September 30 , 1980 as presented, discussed and amended . Dennis
SECONDED and MOTION PASSED.
RESOLUTION: Payment of McEvoy Bill, Raymond, Parrish and Pine
Van Cort stated that no reference to the payment of the McEvoy
report had been found in the Minutes of the IURA/CDA meetings
but he said that it had been clear to him that it had been
the intention of Council and the Mayor to use CD funds for
that purpose . He referred the Agency to copies of the
report handed out at the beginning of the meeting and said
he would appreciate an action at this or the next meeting
with regards to payment of the bill ($23 , 000 ) .
Dennis said he remembered that during a summer council meeting,
the Mayor had recommended sharing the bill with C . D.
Evans said that the report speaks to the longte m anillty
of the City to meet L Develoi=ent goals because
it addresses better management within the City departments
so that we can continue some of the projects done by Community
Development .
Jones said she would like some Guarantee that there would be
some results from the report. She asked if anyone had laid
out guidelines before the report bad been commissioned . Van
Cort said there was a job description that McEvoy look at
specified departments and make recommendations on where
economies be made . He added he thought that some useful
suggasti ns resulted from the report .
Evans said she didn ' t have a copy of the contract in her
files and Van Cort told her to ask Joseph Rundle as the contract
would be with the City .
T URA/CDA
"an. 21 , 1980
Taco 9
Dennis MOVED approval of payment of Raymond , Parrish , Pine and
Werner ' s bill with C.D. funds in an amount of $25 , 000 . Stein
SECONDED AND MOTION PASSED.
Cherry Street Industrial Park
Van Cort discussed the progress of the park. He said the 1st
construction contract had been let last year and that the land
was in process of preparation so that construction on buildings
could begin. At present , he said , a mechanism for selling or
leasing the land must be found. Under usual circumstances , the
City cannot lease land without going to auction and public bid .
A number of alternatives have been investigated included the IURA,
the Tompkins County Area Development Corporation and the Tompkins
County Development Agency.
City Planner Mick Bottge has found that the federal government
will not accept either of the County agencies which leaves the
IURA as a possibility. He said that the reason the FmHA did
not allow involvement of the County agencies was because the
financing money had been granted to the City of Ithaca , At _ :s____ ,
an expeditious means to get the lease signed with the Company
which has publicly committed itself to a Spring construction
deadline is necessary. Bottge said that the Planning and
Developemtn Committee had been briefed some weeks ago , and
since that time Wilcox Press has announced its intention of
building a S2 , 000 , 000 plant in the Cherry Street Project.
Precision Filters is physically and fiscally committed to
begin construction this Spring and to move in there in the Fall .
At present, Bottge said , we are not in a position to have
a lease ready for them without going through the bidding process .
Bottge hopes to change the "City of Ithaca" that now reads on
the financing documents with Farm Home and Appalachia and sub-
stiture "Cite% of Ithaca/IURA" . This would give the Agency the
legal cognizance to 'sit down with the individual company with
the City Attorney, the Planning staff and Tom bailey from the
Area Development Corporation to negotiate the lease without
going through the bidding process . The City is legally capable
of transferring the land from one ownership on th e title to
another . Bottge said the Planning and Developent Committee of
Council authorized him to inform the Agency that they are
very much interested in favor of the transfer.
Van Cort said it' would be on the Council Agenda for the February
_;,eeting and he said it would be appropriate for the Agency to
act on it at the first meeting of that month .
°Stein said he saw the recommendation as having two separate
actions : the offer to transfer title of land whereby the
instead of the City becomes the grantee and the outcome whereby
the IURA can enter into negotiations for leasing contracts .
IURA/CDA
Jan._'INN^ES
21 , 1980
Pace 10
Evans asked who would handle the bookkeeping if this process
should be approved by Council and Bottce said it would be the
same person who would handle it if it stayed under City juris-
diction. All people involved would maintain their original roles .
Van Cort said he homed that Council would give direction that all
city staff continue involvement as originally planned.
Bottee added that except for the City street that will run throuch
the project, City involvement in maintenance will be nil once
the lease is signed .
Van Cort said the City ' s responsibility will only be to collect
the rent and keep up the street.
Stein asked if this presaged the Agency ' s future involvement in
industrial developemnt and Bottce answered that it dealt
with economic development generally which was a valid role
cf the Agency .
After discussion, it was established that a strong expression of
interest in assuming ownership of the Cherry Street Industrial
Park was the unanimous sense of the Board .
Report - Ithaca Center/West Slate Street Development
Van Cort reported there would be a meeting of th-_ Planning
Committee of Council to which the IURA/CDA and other council
members have been invited for Wednesday , January 23 at 8PM in
Council Chambers to discuss consultant services for the Ithaca
Center project. Van Cort hopes the Committee will make a
reccmm elation to Council to retain the American City Cor-
poration for the Ithaca Center and West State Street.
Status of Hiring CD Coordinator; Resolution retard i nc salary;
Status of Employment of Consultant. — — —
Van Cort said that after a lencthy interviewing process that
included advertising, a candidate for the position of CD
Coordinator had been found. He said he thought the person
chosen was worth the wait and stated that she had enthusiastic
recommendations everyone. He noted that all Agency members
had been invited to the interview) but that unfortunately no-one
but Anne Jones had been 'present. He went on to say that Jasrr:ine
Lim was coming from Everett , Washington , where she has been
running their CD program and has a lot of previous CD experience
as well . Van Cort said he reaucstE,d that her starting salary be
$18 , 000 instead of the personnel _7anuil _een _ _d starting salary
of 516 , 000 . Van Cort asked the .1,flency for - r' eval of this
salary) and added that Ithaca ' s salaries are consistently below
the national average as specified by HUD . °•'s . Lim, in 1979
C'DA
YINUmES
Jan 21 , 1980
ace 11
he said , was making $24 , 000 . He said many people interviewed
had not been interested in the job because of the low salary
range offered . Van Cort added that he thought the Agency
fortunate to be able to get someone of her caliber .
Stein asked if this would be on a contractual basis and Van
Cort said yes it would be the same as for Evans and de Combray,
contingent on continuing funding of the CD program.
After discussion, Stein MOVED that the IU RA/CDA acknowledges
the hiring of Jasmine Lim as CD coordinator and authorizes
a starting salary of $18 , 000 with full benefits as outlined
in the CD personnel manual . Ms. Lim shall start work on or about
February 19 , 1980 .
Dennis SECONDED.
Bordoni stated a precedent was being set in the department ,
and said he recognized that it was felt that this position
was being paid less than the norm for that type of work. He
said a position being created that was higher her than others exist-
ing, that department might set the s Cage for disatisiact_on
among the existing , equally Qualified personnel and he asked
that members reflect on this before making a decision.
Van Cort agreed that this was a problem but said that the
CD position was not a secure one as it was on a contractual
basis .
MOTION PASSED.
Appointment of Committees
Van Cort said he would like to have a Cormnittee with which he
could work to develop contracts for the CD employees of 1980 .
and also one Committee to work out a contract on how the INHS loan
fund should be restricted . He said it could be the same people
if necessary and suggested appointing Ad Hoc Committees at this
meeting. Van Cort asked for volunteers .
Stein said that he would volunteer as he had been one who had
been expressing most concern on this matter . Dennis also •
volunteered.
Van Cort said he would have de Combray set up a meeting to
discuss this at their convenience.
CD Administration Manual , chapter II
Van Cort reminded the T __acv that Chapter I , d d log with -,ersonnet
J
had been approved and that now the second chapter, financial
procedures , was before them. He said no new suggestions were
IU-;A/CDA
MINUTES
an. 21 , 1980
Paae 12
included in the manual but that it codified the procedures
--resently used .
Van Cort said a step preceding check signing would be added ,
after comment from Stein.
• Dennis asked if this Chapter was related to HUD suggestions as
a result of their monitoring and audit.
Evans said that it was a comrilation of the Administrative
Manual and Financial Manual sent by HUD. Also included were
recommendations from their Audit report.
Van Cort praised the work of Merry Corbi , a student majoring
in orcanizational behaviour at Cornell who drew up the manual
from HUD directives . Me asked for a resolution that she be
thanked for her assistance in puttinc the manual together .
Jones MOVED that Merry Corbi be thanked for her assistance
in ,i t t i ng the manual together , Stein SECONDED and MOTION
PZ,SSED.
Stein MOVED approval of Chapter II of the CD manual , Dennis
SECONDED, and MOTION PASSED.
Mayor Bordoni called the meeting adjourned .
Respectfully Submitted, Approved ,
� , t
Natalie de Combray Katherine Evans
SPECIAL MEE TING
71'217A/1-7)A
0
5 : 00 - Council Chambers
PRESENT: Mayor Raymond Sordoni , Chairman , IURA/CDA
Clarence Reed , IURA/CDA
Anne Jones , IURA/CDA
James Dennis , IURA/CDA
Stuart Stein, IURA/CDA
H .N . Van Cort, Planning &Development Director
Kathe Evans , CD Staff
Thomas Associates
YMCA Representatives
Stan Goldberg
Press
Mayor Bordoni called the meeting to order at 5 : 15
Designation of Conditional Preferred Sponsorship of the Ithaca
Center Site
Mayor Bordoni introduced representatives of Thomas Associates
and the YMCA who had come to the meeting to discuss - ulans
for development of the site.
Jones expressed her concern about hearing from developers when
Council members , at their January 23 meeting , had said they
would not hear any new proposals .
Dennis agreed he had heard the Council members say this and
added that September 12 , 1979 , had been the cut-off date for
proposals .
Jones said that as the developers were present , she would like
to hear them out and suggested that it would be appropriate to
take another look at the schedule of the Rouse Corporation.
She noted that four months would be needed before developer
consideration could begin and asked why the Agency did not
postpone designation until this part of the survey was completed.
Sordoni saidt:hat the developers present at the meeting were there
because of an error on his part and he explained that during the
busy weeks of his first taking office, he had forgotten that he
had promised the YMCA representatives a chance to present their
proposal. Thomas Associates , too , he said, had been told they
would be riven an opportunity to expand on their original
presentation. However , 'Sordoni stated he wanted no more delay
in the designation of conditional preferred sponsorship and asked
how other Agency members felt .
Discussion followed and it was the sense of the �Soard that
designation should be made after hearing from the developers :resent.
January 28 , 1980
Thomas asked if Council had taken action to designate any
^articular developer and Van Cort explained that designation
was up to the Agency and that Council would confirm the Agency ' s
action at a future meeting.
Thomas then asked if any decision had been taken at the Council
meeting of January 23 and Van Cort said the IURA/CDA takes the
first action which would occur at this meeting.
Thomas introduced his developing team and proceeded with his
presentation. At its conclusion, Thomas Associates proposed to
pay for a market study on the condition they were given a chance
of 1st refusal should the survey proved positive . If the study
turned out to be negative, the City would pay for the consultant ' s
fees and would be free to act from there. The estimated costs
of a respected consultant was $30 , 000 , they said .
Joe McConnell of the YMCA then Presented his plans and said
that the commercial project would pay for the operation of the
YMCA facility. He said his group wanted to develop the site
in order to become more independent of outside financing . A
discussion of the positive aspects of a downtown YMCA followed .
Stan Goldberg of the McRobb/Goldberg next went over the main points
of their proposal .
Stein asked him how locked into the design plans the firm was
and added that he hoped that they were not too locked into
them. Goldberg said they were not locked into the original
plans.
Bordoni said it was the design of the meeting to designate
conditional preferred sponsorship and after discussion, Reed
MOVED that the IURA/CDA, in response to Council ' s request, make
a statement of support of the hiring of the American Cities Cor-
poration using $50 , 000 of Community Development funds . Dennis
SECONDED.
Jones asked if this meant to include the entire ACC proposed
study and Van Cort said that half of the study would depend
on receipt of EDA funds . He said that no City revenue would
be used to finance the study.
Jones then asked if , should the EDA funds not materialize, the
cency would still be happy to have spent their $50 , 000 and
members responded that they would.
MOTION PASSED.
Dennis then MOVED that the IURA/CDA designate bRobb/Goldberg_
as conditional preferred sponsors for the Ithaca Center
site. Reed SECONDED.
I A, C DA
January 28 , 1980
Page 3
Dennis said , in deference to Thomas Associates and the YMCA, that
he made this motion because 9 out of 10 Council members at the
January 23 meeting, had indicated that the McRobb/Goldberg
Proposal was their choice. As these members are elected
officials , Dennis said he felt a commitment toward
carrying out their wishes . He added that he greatly appreciated
the need and desirability of having a YMCA located downtown
but said he felt there would be difficulties for them in raising
the money. He said that McRobb/Goldberg has continually main-
tained they have the funds to begin work.
Peed agreed with Dennis but said he hoped that once the ACC
gets to work, that the YMCA plans will be considered as this was
an intriguing idea for the use of this space.
Stein asked that Dennis ' Motion be amended to include that it
is made in response to Common Council request and that it is
contingent upon specific Guidelines to be discussed before
finalization.
The Agency agreed to the amendment and MOTION PASSED.
Sordoni and Agency members thanked the developers present
for sharing their proposals and the meeting adjourned at 8 : 00 .
Respectfully Submitted, Ap- oved ,
Je
Natalie de Combray Kathe Evans