HomeMy WebLinkAboutMN-IURACD-1990-12-03 Minutes of the IURA/CDA
December 3, 1990, 4 pm
Third Floor Conference Room, City Hall
Present: Benjamin Nichols, Chair, Susan Cummings (present for
items I - V ) , Anne Jones, Doug Dylla.
Staff: Matthys Van Cort, Herman Sieverding (present for items V
through XI) , Patricia Norton, Harry Sicherman, Wies van Leuken.
I. Call to order
The meeting was called to order at 4:10 pm, by Benjamin Nichols,
Chair.
II. Approval of Minutes of November 5, 1990.
Jones moved and Cummings seconded a motion to approve the minutes
of November 5, 1990. They were approved unanimously.
III. Chair Reports
The Mayor reported that it was difficult for some agency members
to meet on the first Monday of the month. All members agreed to
meet on the first Tuesday of the month with the exception of the
next meeting, which will take place on January 8, 1991.
The Mayor reported that the proposals for the Annex are due
December 14. Intensive work will be required to prepare a
proposal for a vote by Common Council in February. Sicherman
asked about block grant money for the Annex. This was discussed,
but Agency members decided to wait, and see what kind of proposals
would be submitted first before considering this possibility.
The Mayor stated that it might. be necessary for the Agency to
meet on short notice after December 14, to discuss the proposals.
III-A. Appointment Doug Dylla
The letter from the Mayor, dated 11-8-90, appointing Doug Dylla
to the IURA/CDA was entered into the minutes. As of today's
meeting, he is a member of the Agency.
III-B. Resignation James Dennis: Resolution of appreciation
The Mayor explained that the Agency's by-laws state that a
member's resignation goes into effect once his/her successor has
been appointed.
IURA/CDA Minutes 2
December 3, 1990
Jones moved and Cummings seconded the following resolution.
WHEREAS, James Dennis has given generously of himself in
numerous capacities directed toward community improvement
through responsible and foresighted management of growth and
change, and
WHERE, James Dennis has in this regard served faithfully as an
Ithaca Urban Renewal/Community Development Agency member
since 1977, and
WHEREAS, James Dennis has throughout this period of service
contributed both his professional expertise, his personal
insights, and his sense of humor to the benefit of the
Agency and the City. and
WHEREAS, James Dennis has resigned from the IURA/CDA and will be
sorely missed, now
THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Ithaca Urban Renewal/Community
Development Agency thanks Jim Dennis and expresses its deep
appreciation for his years of service as a member of the
Agency and wishes him well in all his future endeavors.
Approved unanimously.
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IV. Staff Reports
A. Appointment Acting CD Administrator
Van Cort reported that Patricia Norton currently is the acting CD
administrator and that she is doing a fabulous job. The Budget
and Administration Committee will meet to review Norton's title,
salary and fringe benefits. Van Cort will report on their
recommendations at the next meeting.
IV-B. Approval Consulting Services for 1991
Norton reported on the outreach for a CD consultant for the first
10-11 months in 1991. An RFP has been written and distributed.
Ads have been placed in area newspapers and 20 consultants have
been approached by direct mail. She requested advice, from the
Agency on a point system to rate the proposals. Cummings asked
Sicherman what we should look for. Sicherman suggested to look
at technical expertise and to check references. He added that he
did submit his proposal before this meeting so there was no
conflict.
Sicherman's contract will expire in early January, 1991. Van
Cort stated that CD requires an experienced consultant to work
IURA/CDA Minutes 3
December 3, 1990
with staff for about 15 to 30 hours per month. The consultant
will provide more service in the beginning of 1991 due to the
grant application. The Consultant's costs will be less than
$15,000. This figure does not include the CD grant application.
Application costs will depend on the type of CD application
submitted. Van Cort stated that during the 1990/1991 application
cycle the CD administrator, who was very experienced, had to
substantially increase her hours to complete the application.
This increase amounted to 10% of her total hours for the year.
The Mayor recommended that Van Cort and Norton review the
proposals together and bring the highest ranking ones to the
Budget and Administration Committee for final review. The other
members concurred with this recommendation. Van Cort mentioned
that he has a list of questions for reference checks. Cummings
advised to check the references of the top 4 candidates. Cummings
added that she was interested in a consultant who could generate
Economic Development proposals.
IV-C. Publicity: report
Van Leuken proposed to distribute the IURA/CDA agenda to Common
Council, the City Attorney, the City Clerk, and to both the City
desk and the Daily Calendar of the Ithaca Journal. It was
further proposed to send an agenda to the chair of the Planning
yand Development Board. In .,wit ,on, approved sinates:.should be
seat t,the City, Clerk, the Chair of the Planning and Development
Board and the Chair of the Planning and Development Committee of
Common Council. The use of City Hall mailboxes was recommended.
This distribution schedule was accepted by the Agency.
V. Housing and Neighborhoods
Mutual Housing: Report
Dylla reported that the State has still not made it clear
whether funding for the Floral Avenue Mutual Housing project will
be available. He stated that plans are being developed for a
Mutual Housing project on the Pogo lot. Partial funding for this
project might come from CD monies now allocated for Floral
Avenue, the 1991/1992 CD grant application, or both.
Jones asked if the neighborhood was involved. The mayor
responded that it was.
Van Cort reported on a meeting with Marty Luster regarding the
funding for the Floral Avenue project. He planned to follow up
the meeting with a letter. Funds from the Floral Avenue project
could be switched to the Pogo project but that would eliminate
the Floral Avenue project. After a thorough discussion it was
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IURA/CDA Minutes 4
December 3, 1990
decided that the Agency would pursue State funding until January
31, 1991 and inform Marty Luster of our decision. If there is no
commitment from the State by that date, the present Mutual
Housing funds for Floral Avenue will be reprogrammed to the Pogo
parcel.
VI. Budget and Administration
Financial Statement
The financial statement: "Grant Balances, period end November
1990" was entered into the minutes.
VII. Economic Development
A. Outreach Efforts
No discussion took place regarding general outreach efforts.
VII-B. Hi-Way Hi-Fi, Update
The packet of correspondence regarding HI-Way Hi-Fi, with 3
documents dated May 25, 1990 (1) and November 20, 1990 (2 and 3)
were entered into the minutes. A discussion took place. The
owner never responded to the May 25 letter, and has given no
indication as to whether he can carry out his project as defined
in the 1989/1990 CD application. Norton agreed to write him a
letter explaining that the Agency needed to receive a new
proposal from him and that this proposal should be received
before January 31, 1991.
VII-C. Heritage Upholstery and Drapery Center: Resolution to
rescind our commitment
Norton explained that 2 letters had been sent to the owner of
Heritage Upholstery asking for clarification of her business
status. There has been no response so far. The Agency
recommended to sent a copy of the most recent letter by
registered mail, with receipt requested.
Dylla moved and Jones seconded a motion to rescind our
commitment.
RESOLVED, that the IURA/CDA rescinds its commitment to Heritage
Upholstery and Drapery Center, as documented in the
1990/1991 CD application.
Approved unanimously.
IURA/CDA Minutes 5
December 3, 1990
VIII.Public Facilities and Infrastructure
A. Name of Industrial Park
Dylla moved and Jones seconded a motion to change the name of the
Ithaca Industrial Park, to Carpenter Business Park.
RESOLVED, that the IURA/CDA recommends to name the Ithaca
Industrial park the CARPENTER BUSINESS PARK.
Approved unanimously.
Van Cort informed the Agency that B&W Supply has expressed an
interest in the front parcel of the Business Park. It was
established that so far the leasing policy for Cherry Street
Industrial Park had been used for the Carpenter Business Park.
It was decided to check 'whether the 1986 policy was the most
recent one. Sicherman suggested that the requirement of 17 jobs
per acre is too precise.
VIII-B HOMES., Inc.
Discussion tabled till the next meeting.
IX. Old Business
No reports.
X. New Business
Sieverding reported on the developments with Ironics and the
Carpenter Business Park. He referred to his letter to the
IURA/CDA, dated November 30, 1990. This letter was entered into
the minutes. The content of the letter was discussed by the
Agency. Van Cort explained that the present management of
Ironics is different from the one that pulled out of a previous
CD application.
Dylla moved and Jones seconded a resolution to approve
Sieverding's proposal.
RESOLVED, that given the importance of Ironics to the City of
Ithaca, the IURA/CDA moves to sell 5200 square feet of the
Carpenter Business Park to Ironics, on the condition that
Ironics execute an option agreement with the IURA/CDA for
one of the Carpenter Business Park sites.
Approved unanimously.
XI. Adjournment
The meeting was adjourned at 5:50pm.
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