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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMN-PARKS-2017-05-09 1 CITY OF ITHACA PARKS COMMISSION Tuesday, May 9, 2017, Noon to 1:30 p.m. Streets and Facilities Conference Room, 245 Pier Road, City of Ithaca MINUTES Present: Commissioners: Martha Gioumousis Margart Hobbie Ellen Leventry Roberta Moudry Staff: JoAnn Cornish, Director of Planning & Development Jeanne Grace, City Forester Kevin Vorstadt, Assistant City Forester Jim Dalterio, Cass Park Others: Josephine Martell, Common Council liaison Rick Manning, Friends of Stewart Park Jean Gerow, Ithaca Children’s Garden OLD BUSINESS 1. Cass Park Road Names (Jeanne Grace) Jeanne provided background and proposes that a portion of Cass Park Access Road not be named. Two names for this area proposed are Runway Road and Cove Road (section of road leading past dock area, referred to “cove” by Cass staff). Jean Gerow discussed the names for Southern Cass Park Access Road adjacent to the Ithaca Children’s Garden/Playground/Pavilion. She reviewed Turtle Lane, Cattail Lane and Garden Lane and the reasons that these might be good names for this road. All names refer to the landscape, natural and cultural histories and the present use of the area. Margaret suggests not using Garden Lane as there is a Garden Avenue on the Cornell Campus. Ellen prefers Turtle Lane, Martha likes both. Josephine prefers Turtle Lane because it refers to indigenous populations, and the presence of turtles in the inlet area. The sense is that Turtle Lane is the best of the three choices. The commission supports the choice of Turtle Lane, and the use of Runway Road and Cove Road for the areas 2 noted above. Martha asks if two names are the best treatment of this area, and Jeanne explains that those working in the area have thought about this. Ellen would like to see signage that explains the natural and cultural history of the turtle to the area. Martha asks if Cove Road could be Cove Way. The group is unsure of conventions/best practices for usage of avenue, road, lane, way. Jeanne will check this and get back to the group. And then the group can choose between Cove Road and Cove Way. Jeanne Grace notes that Jean Gerow should be at the BPW meeting to shepherd this name change through the process. Jeanne will write the proposal and send to Ellen. 2. City Parks Logo Design (Ellen Leventry) Mike Mooney and his Ithaca College class have proposed five possible logos for the city parks: a white oak leaf in a two-tone circle; a set of footprints with roots growing in them; three color circles with goose, gingko leaf and acorn; ICP with a goose in the P of Ithaca City Parks; and a leaf with varied greens in a stained glass-type pattern. Discussion about trees prevalent in Ithaca. Jeanne affirmed that there is a diversity of trees here. The issue is clarity and visibility. Roberta notes that many cities use a leaf as a logo. The preferred logo is the white oak leaf in a two-tone circle. Preferred text would have “City of” be the smaller part of the text. Preferred text is the text of the second image (footprints). Ellen will ask for first image and text of second logo to be used. She will also ask him to create a small, contained logo, with text wrapped around the circle. MEMBER AND STAFF REPORTS 1. Ithaca Falls Sign Design (Margaret Hobbie) Dan McClure came to the meeting and has a great deal of historical information. He wanted to see more of Ezra Cornell’s history incorporated into the presentation of history there. Sarah Fiorello of the Cornell Botanic Gardens will draft copy for the signs. Power of the water is the overriding theme. Another interesting thing. Salt, gypsum and gas are also products of this geology. Margaret Hobbie said that this committee and project is moving along. Margaret had 3 a brochure that she wrote in 1990 on Ithaca Falls. She has been working at the historical society on Ithaca Falls material. She notes that there are many paintings of the Ithaca Falls at the historical society. She also looked at the Sanborn Fire Insurance Maps to see how the site has changed since the 1880s. The area by the flat area is known as the Tail Race, which is one proposal for the name of the park. Another suggestion is Mill Race. Martha suggested that it be called what people actually call it – Ithaca Falls Park. Jeanne suggests that we complete the Cass Park names approved and then move to the Ithaca Falls park naming. Ellen asks if we have a preference now. Jeanne states that the BPW will name the park. The commission prefers Ithaca Falls Park as the name for the park at the base of Ithaca Falls. It is a good idea to settle on the name before the signage is created. **As an adjunct to this discussion, JoAnn Cornish raised the issue of Titus Triangle Park, formerly Fair Street Park. This is the park that Dan Krall has worked on tirelessy for years. JoAnn suggests that we consider proposing to BPW that this park be renamed in honor of Dan Krall. Jeanne suggests Krall Corner Park. The commission endorses this proposal. 2. Goose population control (Josephine Martell) There has been one good addling session, resulting in discovery of nests and removal of 26 eggs. As present, Stewart Park is home to two families of six and eight babies. Ellen asked if the geese were aggressive. Kevin noted that there was one couple that was aggressive but otherwise it went well. The water was high and there was not a lot of trouble from geese. There was snow and high water and that may have helped reduce the number of nests. DEC is interested in coming back in and banding geese to get more data points and find out where they are going. The city website will be providing more information about why it is important to not feed geese and goslings. There will be follow up with the media, to get more coverage of geese and the waterfront. Jeanne notes that the geese typically reappear in June. 3. Cemetery vault study (Ellen Leventry) Vertical Access is collecting information and reporting on the repair/restoration of cemetery vaults. If it is a vault in the cemetery, who owns it? Martha asks if these are ongoing use vaults. Ellen notes that many of the vaults are not used -- remains were removed by families when vaults were being vandalized. One vault is a corporation vault, owned by the city, used for mayors. There is a Cornell family vault. But now under jurisdiction of the city. Jim asked if all vaults are empty. Some have been bored into for structural study purposes. Doors or original openings are not viable, so the bore hole with an inserted camera is the way to determine if there are remains inside. 4 While the city clerk has some records, they are mostly records of burials. There are not accurate records of reinternment. 4. Stewart Park signage (Rick Manning) Shows image of signs, inexpensive laminated board through DataFlow. Hoping to get these done by July 4. Jeanne will find out how these need to be approved. As things evolve, signage will change. He would like Dan, Margaret and Ellen to review text, and offer feedback in a week. Ellen would like to see the NOs stated clearly, even if it is not aesthetically pleasing. For example, people are not allowed to smoke in parts of the park. Rick will send text to Jeanne and she can circulate the text and people can comment. He notes that the wayfinding sign is complicated, with some directions appearing confusing. Rick notes that there is a fundraiser tonight for Friends of Stewart Park, and a cleanup day on Saturday morning. 5. Committee restructuring (Ellen Leventry) Ellen reports that there was a meeting last Tuesday. The working group had a meeting and invited others. They were soliciting suggestions for how to manage working groups within four large committees. Representatives from a number of groups are not happy with the consolidation of committees and commissions to four committees with smaller working groups as subsidiaries. As part of their rationale, the working group said commissions are not full. Commissions, however, have been told to not appoint new members. One expressed concern is that secondary working groups will not have voting power, and that anything would then go to one of the four large committees that will have multi-hour evening meetings. Another concern is that some groups that have been merged have opposing missions (natural space and parks, for example). There was a general feeling of people who regularly attend committees/commissions that they have not been heard. Jeanne notes that committees need to be trained, that chairs need to know how to run a meeting. They need support staff. Ellen suggests that committees that are not functioning could be asked to either shape up in three months or disband, or ask for additional support. Jeanne noted that with some issues straightforward decisions can be made and implemented, that do not require committee action. A lot can get done between committee and staff without BPW involvement. Ellen also feels it is inefficient. At present Parks Commission goes to BPW, not through Common Council. It adds another layer of bureaucracy for a parks working group to go to a Parks, Rec and Natural Areas committee that may then go to Common Council or BPW. Jeanne does feel that it is important to have staff support that can answer questions and direct committee work into action or recommendations. Working groups will not have staff assigned. 5 JoAnn states that it is hard to find sufficient staffing for these committees and they definitely need to be staffed. Martha, Ellen and JoAnn note that an additional layer of work/bureaucracy is being created. Multiple meetings for volunteers may not be attractive or possible.