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Home My WebLink AboutMN-IURAGOV-2017-12-15Approved: 2/16/18 108 E. Green St. Ithaca, NY 14850 (607) 274-6565 MINUTES ITHACA URBAN RENEWAL AGENCY Governance Committee (GC) 8:30 AM, Friday, December 15, 2017 Third Floor Conference Room, City Hall, Ithaca, NY Present: Eric Rosario, David Whitmore, Susan Cummings Excused: Kathy Schlather Vacancy: 1 Staff: Nels Bohn, Charles Pyott Guests: None I. Call to Order Chairperson Rosario called the meeting to order at 8:40 A.M. II. Agenda Additions/Deletions None. III. Public Comments (3‐minute maximum per person) ― None. IV. Review of Meeting Minutes: August 18, 2017 Whitmore moved, seconded by Cummings, to approve the August 18, 2017 meeting minutes, with two minor modifications. Carried Unanimously 3‐0 V. Old Business A. Performance Review: IURA Accountant Bohn recommended the Committee open an Executive Session to discuss the details of the performance review. No objections were raised. ― EXECUTIVE SESSION ― Whitmore moved, Rosario seconded, to open the Executive Session at 8:43 a.m. Whitmore moved, Cummings seconded, to adjourn the Executive Session at 8:55 a.m. No action was taken during the Executive Session. Ithaca Urban Renewal Agency IURA GC Minutes December 15, 2017 Page 2 of 5 Moved by Cummings, seconded by Whitmore: IURA Accountant ― Merit‐Based Salary Increase WHEREAS, Ms. Cook was hired as IURA Accountant on May 28, 2015 and is currently working 22 hours per week at a salary level of $33,578 ($29.35/hour), and WHEREAS, the IURA senior staff has recently completed a performance review for Ms. Cook, and WHEREAS, Ms. Cook has successfully accomplished all specific goals from her prior performance review and assumed several new accounting tasks within her scheduled workweek, and, WHEREAS, Ms. Cook frequently surpasses expectations for her overall performance, and WHEREAS, the management staff recommend a salary increase be approved for Ms. Cook in recognition of her high quality job performance, and WHEREAS, the adopted 2017 IURA budget included $5,000 of unallocated funding for merit‐based salary increases, and WHEREAS, at their August 17, 2017 and October 20, 2017 meetings, the Governance Committee reviewed Ms. Cook’s performance evaluation and recommended the following, now therefore be it RESOLVED, that the IURA hereby approves the recommended salary increase for Ms. Cook in the amount of $2,000 per year ($1.75/hour), and be it further RESOLVED, that such salary increase shall become effective the first full pay period following adoption by the Ithaca Urban Renewal Agency, and be it further RESOLVED, that the IURA Executive Director is hereby authorized to execute any and all documents necessary to implement this resolution. Carried Unanimously 3‐0 IURA GC Minutes December 15, 2017 Page 3 of 5 VI. New Business A. Adoption of FY2018 IURA Budget Cummings suggested adding a footnote to the budget, as she has previously mentioned, illustrating that the IURA has $1M in potential bond issuance authority from the City of Ithaca. Bohn explained he revised Exhibit A (Schedule of Salaries) and Exhibit B (Schedule of Personnel Expenses) to reflect a correction to one of the salary lines: it was originally listed at approx. $800 less than what it should have been. Cummings asked if there were a way to identify the specific breakdown in salaries, in terms of the proportion of time devoted to IURA activities vs. the proportion of time devoted to City activities. Bohn replied he would investigate what could be done. He added that the City already allows the IURA to retain $40,000 a year from the Cayuga Green Loan (Parcel E). Furthermore, if a potential Green Street Garage redevelopment project becomes a viable project, the IURA could see some additional returns. Cummings emphasized she would like to explore other ways for the IURA to earn income on property redevelopment projects. She also suggested establishing revolving loan funds that could operate more independently and would not be constrained by HUD. Bohn replied that the Authorities Budget Office of NYS issued guidance that public authorities are restricted from making grants or loans with their own funds unless expressly authorized in statute. The IURA enabling legislation does not appear to expressly authorize or prohibit making loans, so this issue would need to be resolved. B. Assessment of Fair Housing (AFH) Report Bohn reported that HUD just formally approved the IURA’s AFH, which was gratifying to learn, since approximately half of the reports from other communities have apparently been rejected by HUD. He added that HUD mistakenly indicated the IURA’s AFH due‐ date was in 2017 and not 2018; so the IURA report was actually submitted 12 months early. C. Committee Member Recruitment Rosario observed that the Committee has periodically experienced trouble maintaining a quorum; and there remains one vacancy on the Committee. Cummings has identified a potentially excellent addition to the Committee, former Mayor John Gutenberger, who has retired from Cornell's Office of Community Relations. Bohn indicated he would forward the recommendation to the IURA Chairperson. IURA GC Minutes December 15, 2017 Page 4 of 5 VII. Other Business A. Review of IURA Financials Report: November 2017 Bohn explained that the Spencer Road Sidewalk Project should be completed by the end of Summer 2018, while the Wading Pool Project should be completed by the beginning of Summer 2018, two 2016 CDBG‐funded projects important to expend funds in 2018 for the IURA to comply with the CDBG spend‐down regulations. Every other project listed in the Grants Summary is progressing reasonably well, with regular drawdowns. In terms of Loan Repayments, only e2e Materials and The State Theatre are delinquent, although the latter has almost caught up with its payments and has also agreed to set up automated payments with M&T Bank. e2e Materials is at a crucial stage of its evolution and has been trying to commercialize its technology through a licensing opportunity; so it will not make any loan payments until it has resolved that. In terms of Lease Payments, everyone is current. B. IURA Strategic Planning Update Bohn reported that he received feedback from the County and the Consortium that it would be open to the IURA’s joining the Greater Tompkins County Municipal Health Insurance Consortium, if legislation could be drafted and passed by the State legislature. Bohn will obtain some draft model legislation to move forward with that process, including recruiting sponsors for the legislation. C. 2019‐2023 Consolidated Plan ― HUD Entitlement Grant Bohn reported that IURA staff originally thought it would need to start the planning process for the 2019‐2023 Consolidated Plan in 2018, but subsequently discovered it has another year to do so. D. IURA & Common Council Actions of Interest to Committee Bohn reported that the Request for Proposals (RFP) for a potential Green Street Garage redevelopment project has been issued. The IURA is authorized to negotiate the property sales price and the development details, subject to City of Ithaca Common Council approval. Bohn has already held several meetings with potential developers, several of whom have shown serious interest. E. Staff Report Bohn reported that Habitat for Humanity of Tompkins & Cortland Counties has withdrawn from the 402 S. Cayuga Street Project, since it does not believe it is financially feasible for the organization. IURA GC Minutes December 15, 2017 Page 5 of 5 VIII. Adjournment The meeting was adjourned by consensus at 9:45 A.M. — END — Minutes prepared by C. Pyott, edited by N. Bohn.