HomeMy WebLinkAboutMN-PLED-2016-07-13
Approved at the
August 10, 2016 PEDC Meeting
City of Ithaca
Planning & Economic Development Committee
Wednesday, July 13, 2016 – 6:00 p.m.
Common Council Chambers, City Hall, 108 East Green Street
Minutes
Committee Members Attending: Joseph (Seph) Murtagh, Chair; Graham Kerslick,
Ducson Nguyen, Cynthia Brock, and Josephine
Martell
Committee Members Absent: None
Other Elected Officials Attending: Mayor Svante Myrick
Staff Attending: JoAnn Cornish, Director, Department of
Planning, Building, Zoning, and Economic
Development; Nels Bohn, Director, Ithaca Urban
Renewal Agency (IURA); Nick Goldsmith,
Sustainability Coordinator, City of Ithaca; Phyllis
Radke, Director of Zoning Administration;
Deborah Grunder, Executive Assistant
Others Attending: Peter Bardaglio, Ithaca 2030 District; Sue Kittel,
Workforce Diversity Advisory Commission (WDAC)
Chair Seph Murtagh called the meeting to order at 6:01 p.m.
1) Call to Order/Agenda Review
2) Public Comment and Response from Committee Members
3) Special Order of Business
a) Presentation – Ithaca 2030 District
Peter Bardaglio and Nick Goldsmith presented the ‘Ithaca 2030 District’ to the group.
Why a 2030 District?
Approved at the
August 10, 2016 PEDC Meeting
There are twelve (12) established districts in addition to Ithaca, New York. A 2030
District will monitor common targets and meters, shows efficie ncies of scale, and has
an information sharing platform.
These districts are private-sector led; public-sector supported. Participation is
voluntary. The goal is that all new buildings will be carbon neutral by 2030. Existing
buildings will be 50% carbon neutral across the board. The Energy Star Portfolio
Manager now available and is user friendly.
4) Announcements, Updates, and Reports
a) Old Library Project
The Ithaca Landmarks Preservation Commission (ILPC) and the Ithaca Planning
and Development Board held a joint meeting on July 12, 2016 to discuss the old
library project. The ILPC thinks the building is too big. There is not variance
possible and no certificate of appropriateness was issued.
b) City of Ithaca Water Issue
Discoloration – Dan Cogan, City of Ithaca Chief-of-Staff, addressed the
committee to discuss and inform them about the discoloration in the City’s water
supply and what it being done to alleviate the situation. The discoloration is
caused by the iron in the pipes. The Water & Sewer Division is working hard to
adjust the processing of the water without having to chlorinate it. Permits from the
Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) have been difficult of obtain.
Lead Testing – Recent tests have showed high levels in some a reas of Cass and
Stewart Parks. The City must decide what to do with these areas – do we take off
line or replace?
Lead testing in City facilities must be done every three (3) years. All levels are
below the guidelines except one (1) faucet in City Hall tested too high and was
replaced.
Alderperson Brock asked for confirmation that the City didn’t test or are not
required to test. She stated it’s unclear whether there is a law that states this
needs to be done.
Cogan stated he will check on that, but further stated that the City has always
tested thirty homes. They will now test 60 homes. Water and Sewer estimates
that 500 homes likely have lead piping.
Approved at the
August 10, 2016 PEDC Meeting
5) Action Items (Voting to Send onto Council)
a) Mural Proposal – ‘Portals to Peace’
Resolution to Select Artwork for a Mural Installation on the West-Facing Entry Wall
of the Green Street Parking Garage
Moved by Alderperson Nguyen; seconded by Alderperson Kerslick. Carried
unanimously.
WHEREAS, the City of Ithaca Public Art Commission (PAC) has be en established to,
among other duties, review and advise the Common Council on proposals for the
exhibition and display of public art in the City’s public spaces, and
WHEREAS, in 2010, the PAC created a mural and street art program to beautify blank
walls within the city, while providing local artists from all sections of the community an
opportunity to showcase their work, and
WHEREAS, the Board of Public Works approved several locations for future murals and
street art, including walls in the City garages on Green Street and Seneca Street, by
resolution on May 19, 2010, and
WHEREAS, local artist Lachlan Chambliss has submitted his mural proposal “Portals to
Peace” as part of the PAC’s Mural and Street Art Program, and
WHEREAS, Mr. Chambliss was selected by a group of community members to paint a
mural that celebrates Muslim culture, and
WHEREAS, the PAC held a public comment period on the mural design and location at its
meeting on June 22, 2016 to gather input on the proposed installation, and the pub lic
responses to the proposal have been positive, and
WHEREAS, the mural will be privately funded, and the installation will be budget -neutral
to the City, and
WHEREAS, while a quorum was not present at its meeting on June 22, 2016, a majority
of the members in attendance supported sending the proposal to Common Council for its
consideration; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That the City of Ithaca Common Council selects Lachlan Chambliss’s mural
proposal “Portals to Peace” to be installed on the west -facing entry wall of the Green
Street Parking Garage and to be added to the City of Ithaca’s public art collection; and be
it further
Approved at the
August 10, 2016 PEDC Meeting
RESOLVED, That the selected artist may proceed with the installation of his mural upon
the execution of an agreement with the City as reviewed by the City Attorney.
Mural Proposal for the Green Street Parking Garage: “Portals to Peace” by Lachlan Chambliss
MURAL DESCRIPTION:
“Portals to Peace” creates five doorways that pull the viewer into different scenes representing the journey to peace.
The scenes are inspired by Muslim culture yet represent universal themes; they include details to celebrate various
international geographic areas and traditions. The detailed archway of each portal reflects the accurate architecture
of the respective regions referenced below.
Doorway 1) Market scene with money, goods and food items symbolic of charity/alms giving. Items like coconuts,
bananas and dates salute West African ideas of charity and sustenance.
Doorway 2) Journey to truth with scene of mountainous valley references North Africa.
Doorway 3) Mea l under moonlight hosts a Western European picnic spread; symbolic of sharing with others and the
body as a vessel of peace.
Doorway 4) Tranquil domestic scene reflecting the daily effort to find peace. The scene implies a space to mediate,
relax and read with a library in vision. Window design and decor salute Asia.
Doorway 5) Light. Our internal light of peace we seek to discover, the external guidance from the universe we seek to
know.
This mural would be completed by Summer/Fall 2016 at the Downtown Ithaca Green Street Parking Garage. The
mural is a door design, a path to someplace which is appropriate for a ramp space literally meant to take you into
a different space. The mural will brighten the dark area and the dark area will add to the whimsical nature of the
design.
Approved at the
August 10, 2016 PEDC Meeting
b) Public Art Projects: Commons Electrical Boxes and Rainwater Art
Resolution to Select Artwork for Commons Boxes: An Electrical Box Mural Project
Moved by Alderperson Brock; seconded by Alderperson Martell. Carried
unanimously.
WHEREAS, the City of Ithaca Public Art Commission (PAC) has been established to,
among other duties, review and advise the Common Council on proposals for the
exhibition and display of public art in the City’s public spaces, and
WHEREAS, in 2010, the PAC created a mural and street art program to beautify blank
walls within the city while providing local artists from all sections of the community an
opportunity to showcase their work, and
WHEREAS, the Board of Public Works approved several locations for future murals and
street art, including municipal electrical boxes throughout the city, by resolution on May
19, 2010, and
WHEREAS, in 2012 the PAC launched a project to beautify 21 municipal electrical boxes
through the creation of mini-murals by selected artists, and a second round of the project
was completed in 2014, and
WHEREAS, due to the success of the two projects, the PAC has initiated a third round of
electrical box murals to be completed in 2016, including the three new electrical boxes
installed on the Commons, and
WHEREAS, the project will be funded through a grant from the Community Arts
Partnership of Tompkins County and will be budget-neutral to the City, and
WHEREAS, the PAC issued a Request for Proposals earlier this spring and after
reviewing all of the submissions with the Commons Management Team, distributed 3
proposals for public comment, and
WHEREAS, the PAC held a special meeting on July 7, 2016 to review public comment,
and while a quorum was not present, all members in attendance as well as the liaisons
supported Common Council’s selection of the artwork submitted by Erica Brath, Jennifer
Gioffre and David Todd, and Catherine Montgomery to be installed on the 3 new electrical
boxes on the Commons; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, that the City of Ithaca Common Council selects the submissions of the
following artists for Commons Boxes: An Electrical Box Mural Project: Erica Brath,
Jennifer Gioffre and David Todd, and Catherine Montgomery (as shown in “Common
Boxes Mural Proposals (2016)”); and be it further
Approved at the
August 10, 2016 PEDC Meeting
RESOLVED, that the selected artists may proceed with the installation of their murals on
their appointed electrical box upon the execution of an agreement with the City (as
reviewed by the City Attorney).
Approved at the
August 10, 2016 PEDC Meeting
Commons Boxes Mural Proposals (2016)
Box #1 – North Cayuga Street: “Commons’ers” by Erica Brath
Description: “With this design I hope to illustrate the energy of the newly redesigned Commons, a
central gathering spot for people from around Ithaca and beyond. I’ve incorporated several elements
of downtown culture, including the Ithaca Festival parade, with the main dancers and performers;
Press Bay Alley with the strung lights, Circus Culture acrobats and, probably the most popular new
attraction for the block-long stretch, the now-annual Wizarding Weekend with a Quidditch rider on
a Boxy Bike; and the Apple Festival—the stilt walker is juggling apples. I’ve also incorporated the
surrounding elements of Taughannock Falls in the center, and Cornell University and Ithaca College
by red in the left (Cornell side of the Commons) corner and blue (Ithaca College side of the
Commons) on the right.”
Box #2 – Bank Alley: “Cayuga Migration” by Catherine Montgomery
Description: “This figurative work features the silhouettes of local birds set in a black and copper
background. This piece has a sense of place bringing a graphic urban ascetic and softening it with
out abundant and prominent local fauna.”
Description: “We’d like to transform the North Aurora street electrical box into a delicious display
of treats. Inspiration came to us from two sources. First was the proximity of the electrical box to
Madeline’s, everyone’s favorite dessert stop on the commons. Second, the shape and metallic case
of the box itself reminded us of a classic dessert refrigerator. We think this design is unique
because instead of simply covering the electrical box, we would be incorporating the form into the
design, including its locked doors as part of the art work.”
Resolution to Select Artwork for the Public Art Commission’s Rainwater Art Project
Moved by Alderperson Kerslick; seconded by Alderperson Martell. Carried
unanimously.
WHEREAS, the City of Ithaca Public Art Commission (PAC) has been established to, among
other duties, review and advise the Common Council on proposals for the exhibition and
display of public art in the City’s public spaces, and
WHEREAS, the PAC has proposed the installation of rainwater art – artwork that is only
visible during periods of rain – on City-owned sidewalks around downtown Ithaca, and
WHEREAS, the installation will be temporar y, and the artwork will wear away with foot
traffic, weather, and shoveling, and
WHEREAS, the Board of Public Works approved nine locations for the project b y resolution
on April 25, 2016, and
WHEREAS, the PAC wanted community involvement in the project and released an online
survey in June 2016 that allowed the public to vote for the favorite rainwater art designs,
and
WHEREAS, the project will be funded through a grant from a private foundation and will
be budget-neutral to the City, and
WHEREAS, at its meeting on June 22, 2016, the PAC reviewed the top 10 designs selected
by the communit y and unanimously voted to recommend that the Common Council approve
the designs, as shown in “2016 Rainwater Art,” for installation on City-owned sidewalks
around downtown Ithaca, as approved by the Board of Public Works; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, that the City of Ithaca Common Council selects the design shown in “2016
Rainwater Art,” as recom mended by the Public Art Commission, for installation on
approved City-owned sidewalks around downtown Ithaca as part of the Rainwater Art
Project.
c) Residential Energy Score Project
DRAFT Resolution to Endorse Tompkins Residential Energy Score Program -
July 13, 2016
Moved by Alderperson Martell; seconded by Alderperson Brock. Carried
unanimously.
WHEREAS the City of Ithaca has goals of reducing energy use and greenhouse gas
(GHG) emissions, and according to the March 2016 Tompkins County Energy
Roadmap, in order to meet the goal of reducing GHG emissions 80% by the year
2050, the community will need to achieve at least a 35% reduction in energy use in
existing buildings through retrofits and upgrades; and
WHEREAS the Comprehensive Plan recommends that the City “collaborate with
Tompkins County and/or local municipalities to explore required disclosures of
energy use for all properties” and the adopted Energy Action Plan recommends to
“investigate point of sale energy audits” and to “explore voluntary certification
programs and incentives such as Energy Star or HERS Index;” and
WHEREAS the NYS Reforming the Energy Vision initiative has a goal of helping
consumers make better and more informed energy choices; and
WHEREAS a residential energy score program would benefit residents of all income
levels by providing the ability to better understand and reduce energy-related living
costs; and
WHEREAS a project team, composed of representatives of the Towns of Caroline,
Danby, Ithaca, Ulysses and the City of Ithaca, with consultation from Cornell
Cooperative Extension of Tompkins County and the Tompkins County Planning
Department, was formed in 2013 to work on a residential energy score project; and
WHEREAS the Town of Ithaca, working on behalf of the project team, submitted and
was awarded grant funding from NYSERDA’s Cleaner, Greener Communities
program, and contracted with subject matter experts Performance Systems
Development to develop deliverables for the project; and
WHEREAS the original project proposal was to develop and adopt a local law or
ordinance to require a home energy rating to be disclosed at the time of listing for
sale, however due to pubic feedback and the lack of incontestable legal authority to
enact such a law, the project team opted to develop a voluntary program and
phased implementation plan; and
WHEREAS extensive public outreach guided the creation of the first draft report of
the program and implementation plan, completed on February 24, 2016. The
second draft was informed by more than 250 comments collected from additional
public outreach, and was presented to the governing boards of the five partner
municipalities between May 23 and June 15, 2016, with a comment period ending on
June 17, 2016, and comments on the second draft were incorporated into the final
report, titled “Tompkins Residential Energy Score Program and Implementation
Plan;” and
WHEREAS the grant contract with NYSERDA requires the project team to present
the final report to the governing boards of each of the five partner municipalities for
consideration of adoption, including a formal vote; and
WHEREAS funding for implementation of the RESP program will be primarily sought
from outside sources, and the City’s endorsement of the program will strengthen
funding requests; now therefore be it
RESOLVED, that the City Council of the City of Ithaca endorses the Tompkins
Residential Energy Score Program and Implementation Plan, dated July 6, 2016.
6) Discussion
a) Community Investment Incentive Tax Abatement Program (CIITAP) –
Diversity
Members of the Workforce Diversity Advisory Committee (WDAC) were present to
continue the discussion from the previous meeting. It’s the WDAC that in order to
believe in diversity, you must work hard to accomplish diversity. There are a large
number of people who do not feel involved or important.
There is a concern that the City can approve this at the City level, but it’s the IDA
that won’t for the entire county.
Alderperson Brock suggested a possible meeting between the City and the IDA to
try to agree to have this approved not only at the City level but at the county level as
well.
The City agrees and accepts the WDAC recommendations. Nels Bohn will generate
a resolution to bring back to the August Planning and Economic Development
Committee meeting.
The WDAC’s recommendations will be circulated. Moved by Alderperson Kerslick;
seconded by Alderperson Martell. Carried unanimously.
b) Off- Street Parking Rentals
Phyllis Radke, Director of Zoning Administration, attended the meeting to clarify
certain zoning regulations regarding the renting of residential parking.
It is not legal to rent residential parking for commercial use. Collegetown parking
requirements have been changed to having a ‘no parking’ requirement. The CPOZ
zone was taken out in the 1990s. Now more people have more parking.
When a parking lot is built, there has to have enough spaces to accommodate the
needs of the building.
7) Review and Approval of Minutes
a) May and June 2016 – Moved by Alderperson Kerslick; seconded by Alderperson
Nguyen. Passed unanimously.
8) Adjournment
Alderperson Kerslick motioned to adjourn; seconded by Alderperson Martell.
Passed unanimously. The meeting adjourned at 8:50 p.m.