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Home My WebLink AboutMN-PRNR-2019-05-13 PARKS, RECREATION AND NATURAL RESOURCES COMMISSION MINUTES PRESENT: Chair - Roth Commissioners - (7) Freyburger, George, Hoffman, Leventry, Moeller, Sanders-Jauquet, Shelley OTHERS PRESENT: Common Council Liaisons – Brock, Kerslick Financial Management Assistant - Swartz Deputy Youth Bureau Director – D’Alterio EXCUSED: Grace, Myers Statement from the Public: None Commission Response: N/A Agenda Review: No changes. Chair and Staff Reports: Sexual harassment training reminder – Needs to be completed by September 1, 2019. ADA training, June 11, 2019 6-8 PM (2 seats available) – Monika Roth will send a reminder email as the training gets closer. If available please consider attending. Staff Reports: Jim D’Alterio requested the following Capital Projects for approval: 1. Cass Park Rink renovation Phase 2 Year 2. 2. Professional services for upgrading Cass Park athletic fields, outbuildings and pavilion. 3. Cass Park large pool gutter and surfacing replacement. Jeanne Grace requested the following Capital Projects for approval: 1. Hardscaping between sidewalk and curb for Cayuga street at side of Dewitt Park. 2. Repair of the swan pond overlook at Stewart Park. 3. Continued funding to repair the deteriorated vaults at the city cemetery. 4. Funds for park signage. A capital project committee will meet during the summer to approve or reject the projects submitted. W e will review the projects and discuss at next month’s meeting to make a resolution of the items to support. Old Business: Deer (Oak Sentinel sites) monitoring plans – Jeanne Grace may be asking for volunteers for monitoring as it gets underway. Over the past 10 years the deer/car accidents have been consistent according to the police reports, but not all deer/car accidents get reported. Monika Roth will check with Cornell to see what studies they have. It was also suggested to check with insurance companies to see what their records show. Signage update – Ellen Leventry and Jeanne Grace worked on pricing of the signs and also met with Iron Design who is doing the design work. The icons did not work out, so they will be going strictly with text and no icons. Working on fun facts for park signage text. Date: May 13, 2019 Time: 6:00 PM Location: Common Council Chambers, 3rd Floor, City Hall Parks, Recreation and Natural Resources Commission May 13, 2019 2 Memorial policy proposal (Tyler Moeller, Hannah George, Mickie Sanders-Jauquet and Monika Roth) The subcommittee outlined a proposed memorial policy with donation guidelines. It will be discussed more in future meetings. Suggestions made: 1. Applications get sent to this commission to review. 2. Do installation of Memorials only in the month of April. 3. Add ADA compliant drinking fountains to the wish list. 4. Include Parks, Natural Areas and the City Cemetery as locations for donations and memorials. 5. Make a clear statement that the city can deny a request. 6. Everyone agreed that a 10 year maintenance period is acceptable, which could be renewed after 10 years for additional donation. 7. Wish needs could include flowers, trail maintenance, ADA drinking fountains, dog service stations, along with trees, benches and picnic tables. 8. Discussed donor recognition – signage, booklet/pamphlet with donor names, donor party. 9. Develop a brochure to publicize the donation & memorial opportunities, also put on city website. Proposal to be updated according to suggestions for review at next meeting. Natural Areas group meeting (Commissioners Monika Roth, Hannah George, Dan Hoffman and advisors Paul Paradine and Todd Bitner) The subcommittee is currently gathering information. There are distinct Natural Areas; Six Mile Creek, Ithaca Falls, Fuertes Bird Sanctuary (adjacent to Stewart Park) and Negundo Woods (not officially designated). Each has unique issues to be addressed. Discussion about homeless camps in Negundo Woods. It was suggested that the City create a Director of Parks and Recreation and/or a Natural Areas Manager. The subcommittee will meet monthly to further discuss natural area needs and approaches to addressing issues. Tyler Moeller and Scott Freyburger are interested in joining this group. New Business: Evaluation of our work thus far, one year after getting started - Commissioners will be getting a survey from Dan Cogan or Deb Mohlenhoff about this commission. It was suggested that there be an orientation for new commissioners regarding the process of city government and the steps that need to be taken in processing ideas. Environmental review subcommittee report: (see attached) Dan Hoffman presented about a large proposed mixed-use project at 510 W. State/MLK Street (including adjoining lots that front on Corn and Seneca Streets). Issues include: parking, height of buildings out of character with neighborhood, inconsistent with Downtown Design Guidelines. Dan Hoffman made a motion that this commission comment on the inconsistencies of this building, to other buildings in the area, at this Thursday’s planning meeting. Tom Shelley second and all were in favor. Minutes – Review and approve 4/8/19: Dan Hoffman made minor changes. Dan Hoffman made a motion to approve with the changes and Tom Shelley second. All were in favor. Other Member Announcements: Tom Shelley informed us that the Environmental Rights Amendment passed both the House and Assembly of the Senate in New York State. In 2021, there will be a second vote for the next legislature to get set up, then it goes for referendum. Ellen Leventry - Memorial Day, May 27, 2019, 9:00 AM – 12:00 PM there will be a City Cemetery clean up. Next meeting is June 10, 2019. Parks, Recreation and Natural Resources Commission May 13, 2019 3 Adjournment: On a motion the meeting was adjourned at 8:10 PM. Debbie Swartz Financial Management Assistant Monika Roth Chair - Parks, Recreation and Natural Resources Commission Parks, Recreation, & Natural Resources Commission -- Environmental Reviews (for 5/13/19 meeting) New Project under consideration, since April 2019 PRNRC meeting (from Visum Development): - Mixed-use Apartments & Retail, 510 W. State/MLK St (also fronts on N. Corn & W. Seneca Sts) o “To be treated as 3 separate buildings, re: “aesthetics” - Demolition of existing commercial bldg. on State St & existing 2-family house on Seneca St - 6 stories in CBD-60 district, 4 stories in B-2d district (along Seneca St) - 77 residential units (“affordable to those making 50-70% of Area Median Income”) - No off-street parking required or proposed (except for bikes) Downtown Design Guidelines (for “West State Street character area”) Character (of w. State St area) to be protected: Distinctive area Many different building types Pedestrian-friendly, street trees, wider sidewalks, some streetscape elements Many buildings are at or near sidewalk edge DH: Most buildings on State St are 2-3 stories, a few are 4; on Seneca, most are 2 Now - Affordable for smaller, local businesses, and for homeowners & renters Site Design: Internal pedestrian connectivity encouraged Through-block connectivity (for pedestrians) encouraged Open space “should be incorporated, where feasible” (DH: gardening space?) Adaptive Reuse & Incorporating Existing Bldgs encouraged (“esp in W. State St character area”) Sensitive Site Design Transitions encouraged (“to reduce conflicts between adjacent properties”) Appropriate Cladding Materials suggested Maintaining Compatibility with Traditional Scale at the Street encouraged ----------------------------------------- Continuing Project Reviews (w/ expected action at 5/28 Planning Bd meeting): - Arthaus on Cherry St (possible final site plan approval) - Chainworks (possible preliminary site plan approval for Phase 1; still needs PUD approval) - 815 S. Aurora St / 49-unit student housing complex (updates; review of FEAF Parts 2 & 3) - Cornell’s North Campus Residential Expansion (continued discussion; “no action” on 5/28)