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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMN-PARKS-2017-04-11 1 CITY OF ITHACA PARKS COMMISSION Tuesday, April 11, 2017, Noon to 1:30 p.m. Streets and Facilities Conference Room, 245 Pier Road, City of Ithaca MINUTES Present: Commissioners: Margart Hobbie Dan Krall Ellen Leventry Roberta Moudry Martha Gioumousis (Tompkins Country Beautification Coordination) Staff: Jeanne Grace, City Forester Kevin Vorstadt, Forestry Technician Jim Dalterio, Cass Park Martha Gioumousis, Tompkins Country Beautification Coordination Others: Rick Manning, Friends of Stewart Park Diana Riesman, Friends of Stewart Park/Wharton Studio Museum Mike Mooney (graphic designer and Asst. Prof, Ithaca College) Discussion: Proposal to merge Natural Areas, Shade Trees, Conservation Advisory Committee, Parks Commission into one committee. Dan questions if this is a sensible choice. There is an Administration Committee meeting on April 19, 6pm. He plans to attend and speak in opposition to this. Goal is efficiency and reduction of staff support. Ellen, Dan, Jeanne are not supportive of this change. Margaret feels it can work in theory, but proposal is for a 2.5 hour evening meeting every month, and she believes that people will not want to do this. Dan believes that we look staff-heavy, with three staff members attending. But he says that this actually indicates the import and extent of our work. Ellen returns to this topic and end of meeting. She feels that these groups are not compatible because they address different subject matters, with different charges. 2 Ellen also feels that this is an effort to have staff cover one large meeting, as some of these other groups are not covered by staff. Jeanne sees consolidation as an opportunity for the city to eliminate some committees and highlight and support those commissions that are doing work, reporting their work, promoting activity. There is also the issue of the extensive park study. An important question to consider: or reconfigure a parks commission that is working closely with a consultant on a park master plan. OLD BUSINESS 1. City Parks Logo Design (Mike Mooney) Mike Mooney is a graphic designer who teaches in Park School at Ithaca College. He will be working with his students to develop a logo for the city parks. He does not live in Ithaca, but is familiarizing himself with the city and the parks. Jim notes that the Cass Park logo is roughly 20 years old and could be eliminated. Dan suggests that we might consider living with individual park logos that would not be the overarching city parks logo (they could co-exist). Ithaca Children’s Garden is leased from the city. They are installing a new large sign, which is still being approved. Their logo remains, but we would also want a city parks logo on it. We would be adding the city logo later. It is important that people see that it is part of the city park system and it is free. He has looked at samples from other cities. New York City has a very simple and identifiable logo. Mike asks if there are any specific natural features that are characteristic of parks. Any tree, stone, water feature that is part of the park system? Jeanne notes that there are pocket parks, and the two large parks (Stewart and Cass). We have a diverse collection of parks. Seeks an icon to capture in the brand. Margaret notes that the primrose was used at one point. Ginkgo is proposed, but it is not prevalent. Margaret notes that the willow is really a prevalent tree and one that people associate with Stewart Park and Ithaca. Ellen explains that Todd (Stewart Park logo designer) is communicating with Mike so that the signage and logos will not conflict. Mike asks about timeline. Mike will be visiting city parks, and will develop a logo with his students in the next month. Ellen asks that we have something solid by August, something that we would tweak and approve during June and July. Her plan is that this would go to Common Council. 3 Mike asks about colors. Jeanne says that the trucks are navy blue. Dan points to color blocks on a sheet and notes that the parks are really oases in the city fabric and that is green and the lake is blue. He suggests that that is something to consider when develop the logo. Martha asks if it could be a simple logo, very simple. Ellen asks about type of tree. Evergreen, deciduous? Definitely deciduous. Jeanne notes that oak trees are plentiful. Asks about leaf and water? Dan asks about color blocks with representations in the blocks. Diana notes that Museum of the Earth uses that strategy for a logo. Dan proposes that we meet again with Mike at the May commission meeting. 2. Proposal for Temporary Signage in Stewart Park (Rick Manning) The signs he is presenting are temporary signs. These represent current regulations. Diana suggests placing the sign in the metal pipe construction that now holds the DPW sign. Jeanne suggests that they check with Mike Thorne, and ask that new temporary signs can be hung. Does this need to go through BPW? Jeanne notes that there are several inaccurate signs in the park could be removed. Jeanne suggests that they ask Mike Thorne to remove the old sign and pipe structure, and place a new temporary sign. The sign will be metal and mounted on a metal stake. Jim suggests a few changes to the wayfinding sign. The pavilions have specific names (Tea, Picnic, Wharton Studio). These historic names could be used. Mike Thorne will tell Jeanne what level of approval will be needed to remove old sign and install new ones. Dan asks why the DPW sign is there. Can that sign be removed? Next discussion: Rick suggesting placement of dog stations. Jim suggests that they not be placed by parking lot, as people take the plastic bags. Station will have a bag and a receptacle. Martha notes that the bags are biodegradable and expensive, but they are not composted. The question is where to put dog waste stations where they will be used and most effective. Rick is looking to place two stations. One at midpoint, and one at entrance used by Fall Creekers. 4 Jeanne asks Jim how often they empty the dog stations, as this will have to be part of park maintenance. Idea is to install them and see if they work. There are two new benches that are being sponsored. They have concrete pads. Sites had been previously identified. The concrete pads accommodate strollers and wheelchairs. The benches are used. One is for Susan Christopherson, Cornell planning professor. The Swan Pond will be completed by the end of May. There is a lot of flooding currently. Jeanne noted that there are areas of Stewart Park that have flooded. 3. Wharton Design Study (Diana Riesman) Diana has images to show a two-phase proposal for developing the Wharton Building. This is a grant proposal. Phase One (DPW is still in building), there would be black and white images in the window. Original terra cotta blocks would be partially exposed, interpretative plague. Building is a visitors’ center for the park. Building would be painted, and there would be a ramp. Phase Two shows large glass doors that open the building. About 1000 sq ft. would be used inside for exhibitions, a meeting room, event room, and an outside deck with bench seating. Seating could be made two-sided. Inside the gallery, the metal tracks are still in the ceiling, and this would be made visible. DPW would still occupy part of the building. Ellen asked about bathrooms. They would remain at current location at building. Dan asks about the hedges in the renderings, and suggests that they might not work in this area. Rick suggests that they make a metal fence of st ylized movie reels. MEMBER AND STAFF REPORTS 1.Ithaca Falls Sign Design (Jeanne Grace) Sarah Fiorello of Cornell Botanic Gardens brainstormed with the group. The group included Tom Knight, planner from the tourism board, Christine O’Malley from Historic Ithaca, a diverse group. Dan McClure was also contacted. He is an amateur historian who has information about gorge areas. Two signs have been developed, a natural history and an industrial history sign. The force of the water is the common theme. Sarah will design the signs. They will be similar to the cemetery signage. Natural history sign will be at bumpout of bridge. Industrial sign will be closer to the view of that area. There will be a sign showing other area gorges, as Ithaca Falls is the “gateway gorge.” 5 The next meeting is April 26 to solidify ideas. As an aside, Dan notes that the cemetery’s University Avenue sign is not firm, and he suggests that Durand be notified. At the falls, city will do installation. Signage will come here for us to endorse acceptance by BPW.