HomeMy WebLinkAboutMN-PRNR-2020-01-13
PARKS, RECREATION AND
NATURAL RESOURCES
COMMISSION MINUTES
PRESENT:
Commissioners – (8) Roth (Chair), Cotman, Darling, Figary, Freyburger, Hoffman, Leventry, Shelley
OTHERS PRESENT:
Common Council Liaisons – Brock, Kerslick
Financial Management Assistant – Swartz
City Forester – Grace
Deputy Youth Bureau Director – D’Alterio
Advisor - Paradine
EXCUSED: Moeller
1. Call to order:
1.1. Statement from the Public: Jan Lawless, an Ithaca resident was surprised that the sculpture in Baker Park was
approved. She contacted Community Life and also spoke to Mike Thorne. She wants to know when the public can
speak about this and be heard.
1.2. Commission Response: For the record this commission does not have an Art in the Park Policy, but will be
working on this for the future. This commission only has input with the location of art, not the art itself. Graham
Kerslick added that we need to develop a process and he would like to see this commission develop a policy
addressing the matter of art in parks. The Baker Park sculpture was approved by the PEDC of Council and the Cass
Park Giant was not approved, but may still come back for a vote. It was suggested to contact members of PEDC to
request a re-vote. Be sure to give council the signatures that were collected opposing the sculpture. There is a
question of diversity on the public art sub-committee of Community Life.
1.3. Agenda Review: Natural Areas, will review under work plan review 2020.
2. Welcome to New Members – Emily Cotman, Mark Darling and Stephanie Figary.
3. Staff Reports – 2020 projects
Jim D’Alterio – Working on Capital Projects. Continuing work on Cass Park enclosure, preparing grant contract and
specs for bid document. Working on bid for professional services to evaluate improvements needed for Cass Park
athletic field, out buildings and pavilion. Working with engineering to develop at least one new parking lot in Cass
Park near the Children’s Garden west of the Waterfront trail and hopefully one around the pavilion. Warranty work to
be done in the spring of 2020 on resurfacing the tennis courts that were originally done in 2019. R esubmitting the
pool liner and gutter replacement funding proposal for the Cass Par pool. The NY State Parks will be installing a
kiosk and bike repair station at the Black Diamond Trailhead entrance in Cass Park. All installation and maintenance
will be done by the State Parks.
Jeanne Grace – Ash trees and Hemlock trees will be treated for pests – Emerald Ash Borer and Hemlock Wooley
Adelgid. Continuing to remove the Ash trees that are not treated this winter. Creating a self-guided tree tour for the
City Cemetery. City Park signs should be installed this year. Blueway Trail signs should also be installed in Cass
and Stewart Park. Continuing to work on the vaults in the City Cemetery. W ill work on deer management with the
Town of Ithaca this winter. The playground at Stewart Park will be completed this year and the Carousel should be
running as usual. Cornell Engineering group would like to design and build a foot bridge over a tributary of Six Mile
Creek at Mulholland Wildflower Preserve. Six Mile Creek Trail Feasibility Study mentions new city water line planned
for south side of creek. What is expected impact on trees, etc.? Jeanne Grace will let Kent Johnson know that we
want to review the consultant’s final report. Will know more about Geese management plans for Stewart Park area
from US Fish & Wildlife in the coming months.
Date: January 13, 2020
Time: 6:00 PM
Location: Common Council Chambers,
3rd Floor, City Hall
Parks, Recreation and Natural Resources Commission
January 13, 2019
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4. Old Business:
4.1. Memorial policy postponed to February Board of Public Works (BPW). Proposed policy does not have to go to
council, only the BPW. (Monika and Tyler will complete work on this, to be reviewed at February PRNR meeting).
4.2. Deer – Jeanne presented the proposal to BPW recommending the City joins the Town of Ithaca Deer
Management Program to give the Town permission to set up two sites in the Six Mile Creek Natural Area for deer
baiting and culling. This proposal has been vetted by the City Attorney and Mayor. BPW at their December 2019
meeting gave approval to proceed with this plan. The management program will begin in February. A suggestion
was made that the area be posted when the management program is in effect and there is active culling.
4.3. Tree retention - Tree retention on private property policy recommendations is on the PEDC January agenda.
Given the proposed ADU policy, it is important to consider the impact on important large trees that may be removed.
Trees capture significant amounts of carbon and removing them is counter to the City’s Green New Deal.
4.4 Art in Parks – Brainstormed some criteria that we would use in developing a policy. This policy will only pertain to
the PRNR commission role in evaluating appropriate sites and art in parks.
The art piece should not detract from the beauty of the park. It should add value and compliment the park it
is placed in. Greenspace in parks is generally acceptable and appreciated; art should not detract or clutter
open spaces.
Functional art is appropriate for neighborhood parks (e.g. artistic benches, tables, play structures).
There should be terms of installation, 3 months to 2 years and ensure that art is endowed to pay for
maintenance.
A sculpture garden with a wide variety of art is not appropriate for a neighborhood park.
Establish a public process to get neighborhood input is important.
Would be good to have design guidelines per park as to scale and appropriateness of art.
Granting the city a license to use in photography.
Review insurance requirements in the beginning of the process.
Review NYC park policy – size, insurance, maintenance, restoration of site (Ellen Leventry will share link)
Change the process to ensure PRNR is involved earlier in the process of reviewing art.
Action: Letter will be written to Council to reinforce PRNR position. Com mittee to work on policy – Monika Roth,
Mark Darling and Emily Cotman.
5. New Business:
5.1. 2020 work plan review –
Memorial Policy will be done.
Deer management in Six Mile Creek will be done with the Towns program. Commission member sentiment
seems to favor the idea of developing a deer management program within the City. This will be a long
process but we have good examples of plans from nearby towns and other upstate municipalities. Plan
should include information on the scope of the problem, why manage, various options that could be pursued
and a process for public input and buy in.
Park signage is moving forward in 2020.
Tree removal on private property recommendations is moving forward to PEDC, next steps would be to
actually draft a policy that is adopted.
Natural areas review is needed and a possible Natural Areas Manager position created. The Natural Areas
working group will include – advisors: Hannah George, Todd Bitner and Paul Paradine; plus, commission
members (3).
Green space, roof top gardens, etc. Zoning to require developers to provide green space as part of
developments - Tom Shelley and Paul Paradine volunteered to work on this.
Green New Deal – need to keep reinforcing the importance of trees and what they contribute to carbon
capture, reducing cooling needs, etc.
Adopt a park – PRNR needs to conduct neighborhood meetings to get input on what neighbors would like to
see in their parks and if they want to get involved with the park improvements. PRNR members should
review the parks plan, visit and inventory park needs, and then figure out which parks are ready for
neighborhood input (some need a master plan or major infrastructure improvements which neighborhood
groups could not take on). Volunteer groups could be involved in spring clean-up a certain area of a park,
like the Adopt a Highway program, where minimal staff time would be required other than collecting trash
bags. Would need an insurance waiver signed by volunteers.
Parks, Recreation and Natural Resources Commission
January 13, 2019
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City web site – Melanie Bruce from GIS and Melody Faraday with the City are moving forward with updates;
Jeanne and Kevin are working with them .
Document management – Tyler Moeller will work on this and we will continue to send documents along with
the agenda instead of piecemeal sharing.
OTHER ADDITION – Make a case for a Director of Parks and Recreation as per the Parks Plan.
Action: Focus more on working groups to get things done outside of our monthly meetings, with additional people.
5.2. Suggestions for improved operations: order of the agenda; working groups – sign up - commit to time between
meetings, chair for groups; other ideas?
Agenda items – Approval of m inutes should be moved up in the order of the agenda.
Minutes – send suggested changes via email before meeting.
5.3. Park grant ideas – small amount of funding available from the County & IURA funding .
The county has a parks grant for $5000 for infrastructure improvements, recreational equipment or staffing
costs. Has to be a project that is completed in 6 months.
IURA grant – Community Development Block Grants. Application deadline noon on February 28, 2020. Can
be used for public facilities including parks & playgrounds and pedestrian safety improvements, among other
items. Suggestions for grants:
o Make the trail from Cliff Street down to Cass Park more accessible. Not park land, but city-owned.
o Move old Stewart Park playground equipment to Wood Street Park.
o Picnic tables at Washington Park.
Action: W ill do more investigating on these grants. Monika Roth and Scott Freyburger will meet with Jeanne Grace
on some more project ideas.
Monika Roth is asking for 10-15 minutes additional meeting time, no one opposed.
6. Environmental reviews. Thomas Shelley – The county sent a 239 letter written about the city resolution to not
allow multiple primary structures on one lot. A 239 review occurs when a municipality is considering a zoning
ordinance, local law, comprehensive plan change or site plan approval. The county has a legal obligation under NYS
code general municipal law part 239 to write a letter of review of that action.
Projects before the planning board are the same as before: City Harbor (next to Golf Course) – design still includes 3
car trail crossings which causes concern; Carpenter Business Park (Cayuga Medical / Community Garden area).
Projects not yet before the planning board - The Children’s Garden is proposing a building to be built in their current
parking lot, so the parking would be relocated to the other side of the waterfront trail. Also creates a concern about
cars crossing the trail. There is an attempt to find a way to avoid cars driving across the trail.
7. December minutes – review / approve. Dan Hoffman made minor changes and Tom Shelley made a motion to
approve with those changes. Scott Freyburger second, all returning members were in favor and the new members
abstained.
8. Member Announcements
Scott Freyburger is on a City ADA subgroup, investigating an ADA coordinator position. If anyone would like
to be involved contact Scott Freyburger.
Graham Kerslick announced that the City is hiring a Director of Sustainability. Please pass this information
to anyone that would be interested.
9. Next meeting – Monday February 10, 2020
Possible presentation about the Ithaca Children’s Garden proposed new building.
10. Adjournment: On a motion the meeting was adjourned at 8:22 PM.
Debbie Swartz
Financial Management Assistant
Monika Roth
Chair - Parks, Recreation and Natural Resources Commission