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Home My WebLink AboutMN-PRNR-2019-07-08PARKS, RECREATION AND NATURAL RESOURCES COMMISSION MINUTES PRESENT: Commissioners – (8) Roth (Chair), Freyburger, George, Hoffman, Leventry, 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: 1. Call to order: 1.1. Statement from the Public: Paul Fairbanks thanked PRNR for the efforts on the geese issue. Friends of Newman got a permit for oiling eggs which prevented some of the hatching. He is also happy with the progress at Stewart Park. Friends of Newman will be meeting with the developer of the City Harbor Project, most likely in the fall, to get more information of how the golf course will be affected. Several issues that are unclear relating to the development include: clubhouse and 9th green impacts, parking and road to docks, etc. 1.2. Commission Response: PRNR will take a look at the plans for the City Harbor Project and will revisit any concerns. Monika also asked to be informed of the date Friends of Newman will meet with the developer, Organic Waterfront. 1.3. Agenda Review: No changes 2. Staff Reports: Jeanne Grace – Cornell has pledged $75,000 towards the City Cemetery, which will be spent on vault repairs. The Stewart Park Playground build is moving forward and a contractor will be secured soon to start the 2nd phase this fall. Parkitect is the designer of the playground and it is a prebuilt system. All went smoothly with the Reggae fest and fireworks that happened recently at Stewart Park. Two motion sensor cameras were installed in the large pavilion to monitor the area for vandalism. Jim D’Alterio – Tennis courts are done and open. Pickle ball is getting the most use at this point. Cass Park Pool is up and running. Youth Bureau is putting in another CFA grant application with the state regarding the Cass Park Rink enclosure and Jim would like a letter of support from this commission. Motion: Tom Shelley made a motion to support the CFA grant application for Cass Park Rink enclosure, second by Ellen Leventry. All in favor. Monika will write a letter of support for the grant application. 3. Old Business: 3.1. Budget support update - Monika sent a letter in support of the capital projects for Jeanne Grace and Jim D’Alterio, as discussed at last month’s meeting. 3.2. Memorial policy update - The sub group is working out the details of the policy. Once all recommendations are solidified, the subcommittee will present a final plan to this commission for approval, before taking recommendations to the BPW and Council for their review/action. 3.3. Natural areas update – No meeting held. 3.4. Deer update - Jeanne Grace: The city planted 4 sites of 20 oak seedlings to monitor the deer population and gather data. Will report back once information is collected. 3.5. Geese update - Jeanne reported that 375 were removed by US Fish & Wildlife in June. It will be important to continue the roundup in the coming years in order to have an impact on the population. 3.6. Signage update – Ellen Leventry and Jeanne Grace will meet with Iron Design this Wednesday to discuss further. It will be useful to have a mix of sign sizes appropriate for the park size. The use of symbols on signs has been scrapped because it would make the sign too cluttered and the symbol would be too small to see. Date: July 8, 2019 Time: 6:00 PM Location: Common Council Chambers, 3rd Floor, City Hall Parks, Recreation and Natural Resources Commission July 8, 2019 2 4. Environmental review subcommittee report: No new large projects. The Planning & Economic Development Committee, this Wednesday 7/10/19, will be discussing revisions to West State Street zoning, which will affect the proposed project on 510 W. State St. and 501 W. Seneca St. 5. New Business: 5.1. PRNR will be looking for a commissioner to fill the vacancy created by Beth Myers resignation. PRNR members are invited to suggest candidates. 5.2. Project request from Council members Ducson Nugyen and Seph Murtaugh to research ordinances pertaining to tree removal on private property. The Shade Tree subcommittee has indicated that they are willing to do the research. The Project Request form from council members suggested the research be completed by September however, this commission is requesting to change the due date to October to allow for more time. Cynthia Brock mentions Singapore as a city to research on their tree ordinances. Motion: Dan Hoffman made a motion to assign research on tree removal on private property to the Shade Tree committee and to ask the committee to report to PRNR in September, second by Tom Shelley. All in favor. Monika and Jeanne will communicate with the Shade Tree committee at their next meeting. 5.3. Mayor’s Green New Deal – Monika Roth suggested this commission send a statement to Common Council about the city meeting the carbon neutral goals by enhancing tree planting and protecting green space. Dan Hoffman would also like to mention parks and natural areas. Tom Shelley and Scott Freyburger will work on research and developing a statement. 5.4. Waterfront plan open house is July 11, 2019 3-5 PM and 6-8 PM at Ithaca Farmer’s Market, Steamboat Landing, 545 3rd St, Ithaca. Please attend if possible or you can forward a comment to jenniferk@cityofithaca.org. 5.5. ADA training – Scott Freyburger went to an ADA Public Entities meeting. ADA is a civil rights law that was passed in 1990 and amended in 2008. It aims to achieve equal opportunity and access for people with disabilities. Dr. Cook from northeast ADA center is based at Cornell and Scott will forward her phone number to this commission as a resource on accessibility in state and local government. Things of interest to this group would be signage at the parks, ADA coordinator position at the city (there is a group that is making a proposal for this position) and service animals. Dogs and miniature horses are the only two animals that can be service animals. Emotional support animals are not covered under ADA. Only two questions can be asked legally regarding service animals; 1) Is the animal required for a disability? 2) What task has the animal been trained to perform? Jim D’Alterio stated in both parks, Stewart and Cass, there have been modifications to make them ADA compliant. Stone dust paths were created for accessibility around the parks. The bathrooms were made ADA compliant including the stalls, paper towel dispenser height and the door handles at the correct height. There was also a lift and removable stairs installed at the pool to comply. Julie Holcomb handles any ADA issues that come up for the city, but there is not currently a position where someone is proactively working on ADA issues. Cynthia Brock supports an ADA coordinator position for the city, she does receive complaints about no accessibility for boating and paddling. Jeanne Grace is looking into an accessible floating dock for the Blueways Trail. 6. Minutes – Review and approve 6/10/19: Dan Hoffman made changes to June minutes. Tom Shelley made a motion to approve minutes with the changes and Dan Hoffman second the motion. All in favor. 7. Member Announcements: Hannah George – This is invasive species awareness week and the Town of Ithaca is doing an event at East Shore Park this Thursday, 7/11/19 between 5:00-7:00 PM. Tom Shelley - There is an Environmental Management Council Meeting this Thursday between 4:00-5:30 PM at the TCAT conference room, at 737 Willow Ave., Ithaca. 8. Next PRNR meeting is August 12, 2019. 9. Adjournment: On a motion the meeting was adjourned at 7:40 PM. Debbie Swartz, Financial Management Assistant Monika Roth, Chair - Parks, Recreation and Natural Resources Commission