HomeMy WebLinkAboutMN-MATC-2018-04-23
MOBILITY, ACCESSIBILITY, AND
TRANSPORTATION COMMISSION
MINUTES
PRESENT: Commissioners (7)
Lerner, Barden, Brylinsky, Lyczko, Roberts, Powers, Parkes
OTHERS PRESENT:
Alderperson Mohlenhoff
Common Council Liaison: McGonigal
Chief of Staff Cogan
Superintendent of Public Works Thorne
Director of Engineering Logue
Transportation Engineer Hathaway
Information Management Specialist Myers
EXCUSED: Commissioners Chang, Reed; CC Liaison Nguyen
Statements From the Public:
Fay Gougakis, City of Ithaca, addressed the commission to voice her opposition to the
new LimeBike Program, and concerns regarding her discrimination and ban from Green
Star Cooperative Market and the dust and smells downtown from all the construction.
Dave Nutter, City of Ithaca, addressed the commission related to bicyclist and
pedestrian safety issues.
Commissioner Response:
There was no response to public comment.
Commission Introductions:
The commissioners, as noted above, each discussed where they live, where they work,
what their specific interests are related to the Commission.
Orientation:
Alderperson Mohlenhoff provided an overview of the City of Ithaca legislative
organizational structure, the role of the new advisory commissions, the specific charge
of the Mobility, Accessibility and Transportation Commission (MATC), and information
about proposed agenda and meeting formats. She encouraged commission members
to feel empowered and comfortable commenting to their chair or herself and/or Chief of
Staff Cogan if they feel something is not working or if they feel different information is
needed or that information be delivered to them in a different way. The Chairs of
Common Council Standing Committees will meet regularly with chairs of the
Commissions in order to maintain the flow of information back and forth. At the May
meeting additional information will be provided and discussed in depth about what
topics might need a working group versus work at the commission meeting. Diversity,
Accessibility, and Sustainability are vital topics of the City’s Comprehensive Plan and
Date: April 23, 2018
Time: 6:00 PM
Location: Common Council Chambers,
3rd Floor, City Hall
Mobility, Accessibility & Transportation Commission
April 24, 2018
2
should always be part of every discussion. In addition, each commission has a specific
member who either has experience working with or living with accessibility issues.
Staff Introductions:
Supporting staff introduced themselves stating their position, tenure and role relating to
the MATC and the City of Ithaca.
Introduced were Superintendent of Public Works Thorne, Director of Engineering
Logue, Transportation Engineer Hathaway, Chief of Staff Dan Cogan, and Information
Management Specialist Myers
Question and Answer Session:
Alderperson Mohlenhoff led a Q&A session with the Commissioners:
The staff present at the meeting indicated that the best way to get in touch with them is
by making an appointment to meet in person, e-mail or by phone. Staff really value face
to face time meetings instead of long e-mails, they encouraged commission members to
stop by the office to see them; however, making an appointment with them is preferred.
For now, it was agreed that commissioners would bring a matter that may require
information from staff to Chair Lerner.
Alderperson Mohlenhoff explained that the City has created an e-mail group
mat@cityofithaca.org. for all the new commissions that the public can use to e -mail the
commissions. She cautioned commissioners that when they choose to reply an e-mails
to the mat@cityofithaca.org, the reply e-mail will show the e-mail they provided on their
application. If commissioners do not want that, they need to inform the Departm ent of
Public Information and Technology. The question then arises as to what makes sense
for who responds to the public, and for now it was agreed that it would be Chair Lerner.
Chair Lerner stated that he will reserve time at the May meeting for the topi c of
communications in general because it’s a bigger discussion than can occur now. He
asked commissioners to think of questions, concerns, thoughts about communication
for the May meeting. Agendas for commission meetings will be distributed no later than
the Thursday prior to the meeting, and will include back-up information on agenda
topics to provide commissioners information they can be prepared to discuss at the
meeting.
Alderperson Mohlenhoff explained that all four commission meetings are held on
Mondays at 6:00 p.m. When Monday is a holiday (city hall is closed) then the
commission will meet that Thursday; in some cases it will be at the Chair’s discretion as
to whether or not have a meeting that month. She further stated that not everyone is
comfortable coming to City Hall for meetings. Therefore, Commissions can meet at
alternate pre-approved locations; however, the City would prefer that meetings remain
at City Hall - except for special topics. When a meeting will be held at an alternate
location, staff will work with the Chair to ensure good communication about the alternate
meeting location for the public.
Mobility, Accessibility & Transportation Commission
April 24, 2018
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Alderperson Mohlenhoff explained that CC Liaison McGonigal is also the Common
Council liaison to the Board of Public Works. He will be able to share information
between the commission and the Board of Public Works on a regular basis. The Board
of Public Works meets on the third Tuesday at 6:00 p.m. in Common Council
Chambers. The Board of Public Works oversees the use of all city parks, water and
sewer topics, vehicles and traffic, bicyclist/pedestrian issues, and snow removal on City
sidewalks to name just a few items that fall under their purview. The Board of Public
Works may ask this commission to work on particular topics as they arise in order to
provide recommendations for them.
Stretch Break:
Commission Members took a four minute recess at 7:14 p.m.
Reconvene:
The commission reconvened into regular session at 7:18 p.m.
Chair Lerner requested permission to extend the meeting until 8:15 p.m. because the
meeting was running a little behind the agenda schedule. Commissioners agreed to
extend the meeting accordingly.
Chair Lerner shared that mobility, accessibility and transportation are broad topics;
however he feels very strongly that mobility and accessibility not become afterthoughts
as they have often been in the past. He encouraged commission members to think of
them as part of the central issue as much so as transportation. He sees continued
education of commission members as a priority, especially in year 1. He is aware that
the four new commissions are an experiment and loves the idea of getting public input
in different ways. How the public interacts with City Hall has been a problem for a long
time; although it has become much better, there’s still a ways to go. How can dialog
between the public and City Hall become more meaningful and less Contentious. We
all have limited time, and choices will need to be made of when to go in depth on a topic
and when to consider a broader scope discussion with less depth.
He hopes to get commissioners involved in homework and to work in between meetings
so that the use of time at City Hall can be as effective as possible. He is looking
forward to the challenge as being fun and interesting and hopes everyone feels the
same way. He reminded commissioners to be careful of staff time, and for the time
being to go through him first with requests.
Prepare for May Work Plan Meeting:
Chair Lerner stated that he has talked with officials at City Hall and commissioners;
there are a lot of topics that could appear in the commissions’ work plan. He suggested
the following topics to start:
1. Rethink the sidewalk snow removal ordinance: what is being asked, more public
input, research on other cities, integrate that information into a proposal, what
does the existing ordinance say and what are problems with it.
2. The Disability Advisory Council left some legacy recommendations that he has
not yet seen; however, he thinks it makes sense for this commission to follow-up.
Mobility, Accessibility & Transportation Commission
April 24, 2018
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3. A rather large parking study that the commission will learn more about over time.
The Director of Parking position is currently vacant and will be filled soon. That
study may be the biggest item on the commission’s agenda for this year. Work
may begin slowly until the new Parking Director has been hired and oriented.
4. “Quick Wins” - it’s hard in local government to find quick wins because if
something was simple that would work for everyone it probably would have been
done years ago. He believes it would be a good time for the commission to think
about how to search for them. There may be some genuine opportunities,
especially where new technology can be used on old problems.
5. He is also aware there is no member of the former Bicycle Pedestrian Advisory
Council on this commission. He has not yet learned whether there are legacy
items that should be discussed. There will also be some smallish topics from the
planning department for the fall.
Feedback on Today’s Meeting:
Chair Lerner asked each commissioner and staff to provide feedback on today’s
meeting. Everyone had very positive, enthusiastic and productive feedback for how the
meeting kept to its time schedule, the productive sharing of information amongst
everyone, and a new appreciation for the work that lies ahead of them.
Adjournment:
On a motion by Commissioner Roberts: Seconded by Commissioner Brylinski that was
carried unanimously, the meeting adjourned at 8:25 p.m.
Respectfully submitted by
Sarah L. Myers, Information Management Specialist