HomeMy WebLinkAboutMN-PRNR-2019-03-11PARKS, RECREATION AND
NATURAL RESOURCES
COMMISSION MINUTES
PRESENT:
Chair - Roth
Commissioners - (6) Freyburger, George, Hoffman, Moeller, Sanders-Jauquet, Shelley
OTHERS PRESENT:
Common Council Liaisons – Brock, Kerslick
Financial Management Assistant - Swartz
City Forester – Grace
Deputy Youth Bureau Director – D’Alterio
EXCUSED: Leventry, Myers
AGENDA REVIEW:
Add under new business – Ithaca Babe Ruth, Inc. shed agreement, it will be an item to vote on.
Statement from the Public: Paul Fairbanks is concerned with the growing number of geese in
the community. It is mating season and it is timely now to take action to control the population.
He is a member of the Friends of Newman and the group would be willing to help in the process.
Commission Response: Jeanne Grace stated this is an issue that the City has been reviewing.
NY State Parks & US Fish & Wildlife has contacted the City recently about participating in a
program where they round up the geese to process them for food banks. A group of volunteers
will be needed. Tom Shelley made a motion, Scott Freyburger second, to write a letter in support
of moving forward with a geese management program, stating that the City should get involved
and copy the State. Six commissioners are in favor, none opposed and Dan Hoffman abstained.
City of Ithaca Planning Department:
JoAnn Cornish, Director of Planning and Development and Lisa Nicholas, Deputy Director of
Planning, reviewed the Department’s 2019 Work Plan. Input is specifically sought on the
following: Southside Plan; Waterfront Area Study and waterfront development projects; a new
county office building proposed for Sears & Tioga Streets; infill housing; and various
Environmental Reviews related to development projects.
Tom Shelley mentioned the PRNR meeting is not in sync with the project review meetings. It is
difficult to give timely input. If there are comments or questions, contact JoAnn or Lisa
directly. The Planning Department will distribute project information to the PRNR Commission for
comment prior to any approvals.
City Facilities: The Planning Department has analyzed the City facilities and the greatest need
for new or improved space is the Ithaca Police Department. Some communication between the
City Police and the County Sheriff about a joint facility.
Date: March 11, 2019
Time: 6:00 PM
Location: Common Council Chambers,
3rd Floor, City Hall
Parks, Recreation and Natural Resources Commission
March 11, 2019
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Dredging update: Funding is secured for Cascadilla Creek dredging to start in the winter of 2019 -
2020 when the water level is down. Sediment will be stored on adjacent vacant property slated
for future development. A Sediment Management Facility is bein g constructed in the city's
southwest area behind Lowes and it should be built by the end of next year.
College Town Improvements: Water & sewer lines will be replaced this year. NYSEG will follow
by burying utility lines in 2020. In 2021, streetscape improvements will be implemented on
College Ave. from Dryden Road to Mitchell Street.
Green Street Bus Terminal: There was mention of a public health concern regarding the buses
being in one location downtown (odors & fumes). Common Council will vote to extend the trial
period another six months before a final decision is made about the terminal location. The Green
Street Parking Garage may be able to accommodate a bus garage in the planned redesign. It is
just a concept being thought about at this time.
JoAnn has committed to coming up with a step by step process for handling items that come to
the attention of the PRNR Commission. There are items PRNR could help with as the Planning
Department has an extensive work plan and needs to address those items before taking on
anything new. Most departments have more requests than resources so if something new is
requested, justification should be given for why a new task should be given priority. If the PRNR
group wants to support certain ideas, the Planning Department is open to their assistance.
Old Business:
Deer management update – Jeanne Grace met with Mike Smith from the Town of Ithaca. The
Town has three deer management sites located on West Hill. They are interested in more sites
for next year, possibly on East Hill, which could include the City Reservoir. The City Attorney said
there would have to be changes to City Code to accommodate the program. Jeanne will plant
oak seedlings in April to monitor deer for 90-120 days. We should also gather other data such as
traffic accidents, as justification for a deer management program in the City Reservoir. The PRNR
Commission will gather data by fall to be prepared to make recommendations . We have until
next February 2020 to work with the Town. The deer subgroup will continue to work on this in the
coming months.
Memorial Policy update – No update at this time.
Park signage update – Ellen Leventry is working with Iron Design on icons (Ellen was not present
at the meeting and she did not provide an update). Concern that if icons are slowing down the
process, maybe we should just go with wording on the signs that was discussed previously.
Natural Areas group formation – A subgroup still needs to be formed and a process established
for review of Natural Area needs.
Environmental review subcommittee report:
The subcommittee recommends that we submit the following comments on the Art House project,
the five story residential structure on Cherry Street.
1. Drainage – Is the proposed drainage adequate?
Parks, Recreation and Natural Resources Commission
March 11, 2019
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2. The public access through the property from Cherry Street to the corridor flood channel,
should be more inviting. The plans show a narrow path that goes in front of the building
only.
3. On the waterside of the building the first floor includes parking, which would be seen from
the inlet. Can there be landscaping or some type of screening to make it more pleasing?
4. One plan had a proposed deck into the bank of the inlet. We feel it should be dropped
from the project, as it would interfere with the recreational path.
5. There is a visual concern with the height of the building.
Monika made a motion to bring these concerns to the planning board, Tom Shelley second and
all were in favor. Dan will summarize and share these concerns.
New Business:
Ithaca Babe Ruth Shed Agreement – Jim D’Alterio received a memo from the Ithaca Babe Ruth
Inc. about replacing their current 9’x12’ shed with a 12’x12’ shed at their expense, on field 8.
They currently have a shed agreement with the City. They pay for the space on an annual basis
and their fee will increase for a bigger shed. Jim is asking for support from PRNR to recommend
this action to the Board of Public Works and then it would go to Council for approval. It will be a
prefab shed and it will look like the current shed on field 9. Monika Roth made a motion to
support this replacement shed on field 8, Scott Freyburger second and all were in favor. Monika
will draft a memo to BPW stating our support of the shed replacement and continuing agreement
with Babe Ruth.
The noisy generator at Cass Park was also discussed. The generator is there because we are on
a demand billing with NYSEG and are charged our highest 15-minute usage. The generator was
brought in to lessen the electric cost. In the Cass Park Field Plan , it is being looked at to replace
84 light fixtures with LED lights, which should be cheaper than running the generator.
Minutes – Review and approve 2/11/19:
Jeanne Grace and Dan Hoffman made some minor changes. Tom Shelley made a motion to
approve with the changes, Dan Hoffman second and all were in favor.
Announcements:
On 3/12/19 the Environmental Management Council is sponsoring a free public discussion on
“The Green New Deal: Pathway to Ecological Sustainability?” 5:00-7:00 pm at the Tompkins
County Public Library.
The 2019 Citizen Pruner Training Program is underway, for more information contact Monika at
mr55@cornell.edu.
Discussion was started about how to maintain open green spaces in the City with all of the
proposed projects developing. Should there be a zoning requirement for recreational green
space requirements for large commercial and residential projects. How do we provide city
residents with access to natural areas through connecting trails and ensure public safety as well
as the preservation of natural areas? Feasibility studies could provide a plan for moving forward
in a rational way and we need to make sure we can maintain what we currently have. Discuss
this further at our next meeting.
Parks, Recreation and Natural Resources Commission
March 11, 2019
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Next meeting is April 8, 2019
Adjournment:
On a motion the meeting was adjourned at 8:01 PM.
Respectfully submitted by,
Debbie Swartz
Financial Management Assistant