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Home My WebLink AboutMN-CLC-2018-05-21 COMMUNITY LIFE COMMISSION MINUTES PRESENT: Chair Labrada Commissioners (8): Bryne, Hall, Keeler, Swayze, Scriber, Hillson, McClinsey OTHERS PRESENT: Alderperson Mohlenhoff, Common Council Liaisons: Fleming, Lewis, Chief of Staff Cogan, Executive Assistant Hallett-Harris ABSENT: Hagood Meeting called to order: 6:00 p.m. Review and Approval of Minutes: 4/16/18 Minutes approved Statements from Public: Theresa Alt – lives on Eddy Street and is a housing activist - Questioned whether commissioners planned to attend the TC Housing Committee Meeting on 3rd Monday at 3:00 p.m.; requested housing issues on future agendas. Cynthia Brock – First Ward City Council - Introduction of herself; thanked members of CLC that emailed DEC in support of an extended public comment period for Morse Industrial site remediation. 15-day extension was granted. Public meeting will be held on June 7th at South Hill elementary. Youth: Child- Friendly Ithaca Resolution (and Free Range Kid Legislation) presented by Thomas Knipe Rusty Keeler, CLC commissioner, founder of Just Play Project and author of presented resolution has recused himself due to conflict of interest; Knipe presented a draft Resolution to formally declare Ithaca a child-friendly and free range kid community; requesting support and assistance of the CLC to present a formal resolution to Common Council; Commissioners requested clarification on the following: ● Is this a commitment to engage youth in planning ● Is there any liability to the city ● How have other communities structured their resolutions -- what worked/ what did not work ● Clarification on line in resolution “rights of kids” The resolution aims to support communities and families in having more opportunities to engage in unstructured free play; Knipe was encouraged to gather information from city attorney regarding liability issues and report to commission; Vote suspended u ntil further information is provided. Public Art: Overview of public art approval process – Megan Wilson Date: May 21, 2018 Time: 6:00 PM Location: Common Council Chambers, 3rd Floor, City Hall Community Life Commission May 21, 2018 2 Wilson reviewed the public art & approval process via powerpoint presentation; there are currently 25 full size murals on city property, including in parking garages, Cass Park and electric boxes; (2012) 21 Boxes Project was completed; 2014 Another 21 Boxes Project was completed-- 40 painted electrical boxes within the city; Electricians re-use electrical boxes when appropriate. The city believes the murals are a deterrent for graffiti, and are also less expensive to maintain than sculptures. Public art approval process is long and cumbersome. The commission is hopeful to find a more efficient method for approval of proposed projects; Common Council has ultimate authority. There is no line-item for public art in the city budget; artists receive grant funds or fund the project themselves. Artists may suggest location, and commission must take into account: artist ability to fulfill proposal; location (avoiding busy thoroughfares); tree coverage and seasonal changes; public input; diversity of projects proposed; and projects to consider: ● Revise the public art approval process to be more efficient ● Evaluate condition of existing murals and determine next steps – repair/remove/update ● Create another round of 21 boxes for NYS owned electrical boxes on routes 13 and 79 ● Cornell University mural on Dryden Rd. parking garage. ● Mural Proposals: Green Street Parking & Columbia Street Pedestrian Bridge Women in Nature (WiN) – (directly across from city hall). Wilson will email CLC additional locations for consideration. Alternate locations were considered due to scale of project: Seneca St. garage or pillars would be a better fit. I There are other parking garages such as Seneca St and Dryden Rd for WiN proposal; commissioner suggested mural be placed closer to IC , as artists are students there. ; Meghan will email photos of add itional locations and have CLC vote via Survey Monkey or email. Communities: Overview of public input process for environmental remediation projects by Nels Bohn & Cynthia Brock Remediation process handout given and reviewed; Cynthia Brock also spoke rega rding how large the Morse/ Emerson cleanup site is; 26 sites for soil contamination; buildings and structures are also contaminated, and there are maintenance concerns as those buildings are not included in the IRM; Department of Environmental Control (DEC) and Department of Health (DOH) are the two agencies that approve remediation; contaminated sites are generally former or current industrial sites (i.e., Gun Hill); the County maintains a database for additional information; there are 16 -20 local sites; DEC will request property owners allow testing on their properties -- owners can approve testing or reject request. If/when contamination is found owners are required to disclose. Community Life Commission May 21, 2018 3 Current IRM is in regards to Morse/Emerson/Chainworks development on South Hill which will be used for residential purposes as well as public space. IRM affects town and city as property straddles both municipalities. On June 7th at South Hill Elementary at 5:30 p.m., there will be a public information night regarding the Morse Industrial/ Emerson/Chainworks development. Look Ahead: Agenda Review for the year: Sean: He attended the meeting w/Rental Housing of Tompkins County and was on Agenda to give introduction of CLC; to them to let them know any issues or concerns they come to us/reach out; Sean: ● Public art – ways to help the city have budget for Art; Columbia Bridge advocate or promote development on larger scale; Carlie: ● Cornell University & Town/Gown relations with the City; IC has new Government Relations person and bringing her to have conversation with; improving student relations with local residents – student life/party culture ● Build relationship with South Hill Civic Assoc., IC & Cornell ● Affordable housing o IC partnership w/WRFI podcast on affordable housing in Ithaca - Carli will send link ● Carli will research public art process and report back to commission ● Carli to research what other communities do for advocacy flags Rusty: ● Investigate % for Arts ordinances to create a line item for public art in the city’s budget ● Natural areas –grant opportunities – Caleb is a great resource to pull in for grants/funding; look for grant opportunities and what that would look like; encourage development on a wider scale; make that connection and see if there are grant ideas/opportunities for this Chair: Energy Navigators – improves home energy efficiency and helps with renovations to reduce leakages, put in solar panels, etc. Poor People’s Campaign have them to speak @ meeting; CLC can draft a formal letter of supporting them or promoting their mission. Mary @ PPC contacted Deb and she directed her to CLC; Community Life Commission May 21, 2018 4 Caroline: ● Not having to apply for grant for each art item; have lines items and a work plan Jody: ● Housing for individuals with disabilities June Agenda: 1. Flying advocacy flags at City Hall: what do similar communities do when advocacy groups request to fly flags (i.e. #BlackLivesMatter, LGBTQ flag)? Deb to provide current policy; 2. Public art process 3. Child Friendly Resolution 4. Public Information - determine the CLC’s outreach and information strategy via city’s new public information officer and PSI commission Adjourned: 8:03pm Next Meeting: Monday, June 18, 2018-- and will include Child Friendly Resolution; Public Art & Half- mast flag research; Adjournment: On a motion, the meeting was adjourned at 8:03 p.m. Respectfully Submitted by, Jody Hallett-Harris, Executive Assistant