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Home My WebLink AboutMN-E&NQ-2007-03-26 Environmental and Neighborhood Quality Committee Meeting Minutes March 26, 2007 — Common Council Chambers Meeting called to order @ 7:05 p.m. FYI - The Community and Neighborhood Services Committee is now the Environmental and Neighborhood Quality Committee and it meets on the 4th Monday of every month! Approval of the February 2007 minutes—will be available for April 2007 meeting. Additions to agenda- #11 —Discussion on Micro-businesses and Zoning Variances. #12—A Resolution in support of Increased State Transit Operation Assistance Appropriation and Creation of Review Panel. Public comment—New owner of Franklin Plaza located at Third and Meadow St. shared her concerns about the eye sores of trucks, large tubes, and fence in desperate need of repairs. Would like to beautify that corner with landscaping and just overall friendlier looking. Is willing to do her part as new owner but also request that the City do their part as well. Responses &Privileges—Common Council commend Dewi on her concerns and ideas about beautification of that area and will keep in contact with Dewi. The Mayor shared that she had remarks from the press conference re: New City Judge—she will forward her personal comments to the editorials. GIAC Update—Marcia Fort—Director-Friday, March 23rd there was no-school (Superintendent's Conf. day) GIAC held program from 9:00 a.m. —5:00 p.m. The program participants and staff traveled to the Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown—transportation was provided by the CDL bus, which is used to train community members to receive their CDL Driver's License. A very cost effective way to utilize our resources within our organization. Upcoming in April is a 9-5 week for programming at GIAC. We have a special family trip planned to Baltimore, MD. Not only is it a family trip but also an Educational learning experience as well. We will be visiting the Great Blacks in Wax Museum and the Reginald F. Lewis Museum. The Great Blacks and Wax museum features a powerful, moving exhibit whereas the Reginald F. Lewis Museum exhibits the history of African Americans in Maryland. As of today we have one full charter bus and progressing on the 2nd bus. Teen Program Talent Night—well attended at the Women's Community Building. The talent show involved out local teens as well as teens from surrounding communities as well. On Saturday job fair was held—a great deal of support from our community to help our teens locate jobs. Representatives from the Town of Ithaca, Greenstar and Cornell Dining were present,just to name a few. Meal Program—Children(aged under 13) in our program as well as from the community have the opportunity to come to GIAC and have a meal from 5:30—6:30 p.m. Monday, Wednesdays and Thursdays. This program will run thru the school year. Additional donations have been made to GIAC to help support this program therefore the program will now be able to remain in effect for the summer of 07' as well as the school year in 07-08. Senior Breakfast in held last Friday of every month. Eight to ten activities are scheduled per month for seniors from shopping, eating, theatres etc. Effective Sept. the breakfast has now moved back to GIAC. @ staff have volunteered to be regular chef and assistant for the seniors' breakfasts. Please feel free to join us at any Friday breakfast to meet and fellowship with our community seniors. Computer lab—A grant fro IURA has allowed us to re-open the Alice Miller Computer Lad at GIAC—new computers, new furniture, and carpet and hand made stations. In addition, we have received a gracious donation that will allow us to hire a lab instructor and supervisor. The re-opening is planned for April. GIAC is the beneficiary of used computer equipment, staff and volunteers to complete the lab for our teens and pre-teens. This will allow our many children access to computers as well as the greater community. Parking for GIAC staff—plan is in progress—there will be GIAC staff assigned parking—5 spaces on Albany Street and 10 on Court Street. Signs will be posted reserved for GIAC staff 8:30 a.m. —4:30 p.m. This will definitely help alleviates the parking issues. Staff—26-year employee Cassandra Nelson retiring from GIAC—she became of fulltime employee after doing an internship from Cornell University. Teens as well as staff"sad" about her leaving but wish her the best. We realize that she will be hard to replace. Administrative Assistant(Financial Management)position has been vacant since the fall. Recruiting for summer positions—summer camp, Alex Haley pool and the summer basketball leagues. Monies from the city and grant funds have allowed GIAC to host late night programming for teens—this program is going well. Many teens outside the"regulars"have been attending programming on Friday nights regularly. Many thanks to Marcia for leading our community—recommendation to visit the Babe Ruth museum—concern about revenue loss when NYSEG starts the coal tar removal process -please include"Delta Sigma Theta" in Cassandra's retirement gala. Rich Driscoll—Dick Ruswick(Attorney), Sheldon Curt—Maple sapling—sculpture—Thank you for having founded 1990 Arts council— 18 month—want/needed AAS Council—about arts—Court Street to State Street— has been Clinton House 1995. Grant making, Assistance for Art makers and access and information—Hybrid- Co. Assisted in 23 new art centers. Service—Comments tank you for update (Marcia)—Get on bus rally(to Albany) update—Did Not Happen— Future trip planned—yes—Joel—Thankful you are here in Ithaca—not just entertainment—includes education. Human Services coalition—General Information Center—211/information. Kathy Schlather/Ed Swayzee Funding for 2-1-1 Title 20 monies—funded primarily by County, City, and United Way. Students and Interns— information referral. 2-1-1 —later added to State Budget call owed- $remained upgrade to system (to be compatible) — Small pros—run with students—Hire 1 staff person—train. Not in this year's budget. 2-1-1- is a big program of United Way of NY State,working with county to be part of system. This will allow for county response to be in City of Ithaca—but on-going money is needed. Recently received a$5000 grant from Home Depot which will allow for the current system to meet basic standards for 2-1-1. This service has been nationally active for 10 years. It allows us to serve more people—better—but State funding council -unable to keep going unless State funding is on-going. At least 10.6 million is needed to continue and build out to other communities—Senate money in/Assembly in favor,but no money in as of yet. House bill currently trying to get signed on. Support of 2-1-1 a Resolution will be forwarded to the appropriate Committee by April 41h. Dogs Park—Handouts and Maps distributed. Discussion/thoughts about Southwest area- concerns are parameters—NYS not listed in resolution. Dog owners are willing to help with costs by possibly building fees into licensing costs. List of dog park parameters acceptable—Dan will proceed and move ahead. Snow and ice removal - Exterior—Policy Issue No sidewalks—residents shoveling,but when City came through recovers area and would make an effort to help. Those just physically unable to remove snow- What are the options for these residents? The City does have a schedule of clean-up of snow when it comes their priorities are: University Ave, Fulton Street, Rte 13 , make sure travel lanes on clear, —bus lines—BJM, IMMA, Fall Creek and Bell Sherman Short course in City—Cul de Sacs—Miles of sidewalk, space for parking lots—Floral Ave, Cliff St., Inlet Island—IPD, 6 Mile Creek, Youth Bureau, on Street parking leaves Collegetown parking garage—top level. Sidewalks by—intersection radius—snow off commons—Valentine's Day storm (snow removal was not completed until approximately 2 weeks after snow fall)—DPW is open for suggestions. Snow removal—regardless it is legally the property owner's responsibility. This years Valentine's snow fall came at a time when sidewalk crew was not fully hired. Currently there are 22 people—day/night(6- 7 at night shift) for snow removal. Parks and Forestry, water/Sewer—staff members helped with Valentine's Day snow fall. . First year we had to call staff in for weekend snow removal. DPW—was commended on their efforts during the snow fall and after clean-up. A big concern about Williams Street—what is the procedure to follow? common(sense)knowledge—Use your judgment! DPW—Depend s on drivers to do the right thing. DPW Parking- Odd/Even Parking- Snow exacerbates it! —Without odd/even in summer. Parking Policy Committee—look into odd/even parking. Generally contributed for snow removal—set up to make sure availability for traveling. This particular topic will be on Board of Public Works Agenda. Micro business—2 level home, single occupant home. A Couple who operate a business in the upstairs area. A variance for a Micro businesses—illegal to have such as business but very reasonable for planning department to look into. This needs to be passed on to the Planning Committee. Transit Resolution- Dan—Moved- 2nd by Joel Zumoff- Discussion—Change in Resolution carried unanimously. RESOLUTION Attached Gayraud Townsend motioned to adjourn meeting and Joel 2nd -meeting adjourned @ 10:15 p.m. From Regular Common Council Meeting—April 4, 2007 Support of Increased State Transit Operating Assistance Appropriation and Creation of Review Panel- Resolution By Alderperson Korherr: Seconded by Alderperson Cogan WHEREAS, Governor Spitzer's 2007-2008 Executive Budget includes a proposed funding increase in State Transit Operating Assistance (STOA) Appropriations of$4.9 million for the Upstate Formula Group that includes TCAT (Tompkins Consolidated Area Transit), Inc. and Broome County Transit, and WHEREAS, this increase will help maintain Tompkins County's outstanding public transportation system, which has experienced two consecutive years of record ridership, and WHEREAS, the Department of Transportation and the Department of Budget have undertaken an initiative to convene a panel of transit experts to develop a fair and equitable allocation of STOA based on performance measures, and WHEREAS, these performance measures will encourage all public transportation systems to achieve greater operational efficiencies and to better serve the riding public; now,therefore be it RESOLVED, That the Common Council of the City of Ithaca hereby supports the inclusion of a$4.9 million increase in State Transit Operating Assistance Appropriations for the Upstate Formula Group as contained in Governor Spitzer's 2007-2008 Executive Budget, and be it further RESOLVED, That the City of Ithaca supports the creation of the aforementioned review panel to make recommendations for future STOA allocations that will be fair, equitable and based on performance measures, and be it further RESOLVED, That the City Clerk be authorized to send certified copies of this resolution to Michael F. Nozzolio, Senator, 54th District; James L. Seward, Senator, 51st District; George H. Winner, Senator, 53rd District; and Barbara Lifton, Assemblywoman, 125th District. Carried Unanimously 9-0 (Alderperson Tomlan absent from vote)