Cortland Common Council Agenda: May 16th, 2023

(Photo Source: Kevin L. Smith of The Cortland Voice).

Here is the agenda for Tuesday’s (May 16th, 2023) Cortland Common Council meeting. The meeting will take place at City Hall (25 Cortland Street, Cortland NY 13045) at 6pm. According to the City of Cortland website, the meeting will also be live streamed Via Zoom video.

Here is the Zoom Meeting ID: 923 566 4700

Agenda

Call to Order

• Roll Call
• Salute to the Flag
• Moment of silence/reflection
• Privilege of the floor
• Mayor’s report
• Ward Reports
• Approval of Minutes

Proclamations

Proclamation #1 - Declaring May 13, 2023 Muscular Dystrophy Association and Cortland Professional Firefighters International Association of Firefighters Local 2737 Boot Day Drive

• WHEREAS, the Muscular Dystrophy Association (MDA) and Cortland Professional Firefighters International Association of Firefighters (IAFF) Local 2737 is promoting a "Fill the Boot" drive on May 13, 2023; AND
• WHEREAS, the Muscular Dystrophy Association has requested that May 13, 2023 be proclaimed as "MDA/IAFF Local 2737 Boot Drive Day"; AND
• WHEREAS, to date over $679 million has been raised by over 300,000 firefighters through seven decades to save and improve lives of MDA families; AND
• WHEREAS, the Muscular Dystrophy Association is the leading health agency providing scientific, medical and emotional support for individuals and families affected by neuromuscular disease; NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT
• RESOLVED, I, Scott Steve, Mayor of Cortland, do hereby proclaim May 13, 2023 as Muscular Dystrophy Association and International Association of Firefighters Local 2737 Boot Drive Day in the City of Cortland, and I urge citizens to learn more about Muscular Dystrophy through news media coverage or by calling their local Muscular Dystrophy Association office for more information.

Proclamation #2 - Recognizing Tom Michales for Receipt of SUNY Cortland’s Civic Leadership Award

• WHEREAS, the Institute for Civic Engagement at SUNY Cortland recognizes and honors our neighbors’ exceptional accomplishments in helping others; AND
• WHEREAS, this year, the Institute launched an award for Civic Leadership to recognize faculty, staff, students, and members of the greater Cortland community who have helped others engage with government as a way to address community needs and improve people’s lives; AND
• WHEREAS, the Institute for Civic Engagement has recognized Tom Michales for his long-standing service as a civic leader; AND
• WHEREAS, Tom has served as a member of the Common Council for nearly 20 years, during which he has engaged daily to improve the quality of life for his neighbors, constituents and the community by connecting the work of City government with their interests and needs; AND
• WHEREAS, Tom’s service on the Common Council has been defined by his availability and willingness to listen to and support others who work in service to the community; AND
• WHEREAS, Tom’s active engagement with and giving of his time is often demonstrated in quiet and unnoticed ways that better the lives and work of others; NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT
• RESOLVED, that the City of Cortland Common Council hereby joins the SUNY Cortland Institute for Civic Engagement in honoring Tom Michales for helping citizens and government engage to improve the lives of others and the quality of life in our community.

Supporting Documents

• Supporting Documents #1

Resolutions

Agenda Item #1 - Authorize Additional Funds for the City’s 2023 Sidewalk Program

• WHEREAS, many of the City of Cortland’s sidewalks are old and deteriorated; AND
• WHEREAS, the City has provided funds to assist homeowners with a portion of the cost of sidewalk repairs and replacements since 2001 to ensure pedestrian safety; AND
• WHEREAS, the City committed $20,000 to the 2023 Sidewalk Program, which is now fully committed, due, in part, to an increase in the assistance available in recognition of the increased costs of labor and materials over the past several years; AND
• WHEREAS, the City received requests exceeding the allocated amount for sidewalk work after the original funds were committed, which applications have been wait-listed due to the lack of additional funds, and further has several additional applications outstanding; NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT
• RESOLVED, that the City does hereby appropriate up to an additional $20,000 for the 2023 Sidewalk Program from ARP funding to address the need identified by its citizens for safer walkways in the City.

Agenda Item #2 - Authorize Public Hearing on Proposed Local Law No. 13 of 2023 to Amend Chapter 11 of the City Code Relative to City Parking Regulations and Enforcement”

• WHEREAS, parking in the City of Cortland has historically been an issue due to a lack of parking space in the business district, and that includes varied time allowances for streets and parking lots, and an odd/even parking lot scheme; AND
• WHEREAS, parking over the past several years has been further complicated by the introduction of permit parking, both general permits and residential permits, especially with respect to public parking lots; AND
• WHEREAS, on November 15, 2022, the Common Council passed Resolution No. 208, entitled Authorize Agreement for Electronic Parking System, authorizing the Mayor to execute an agreement with Passport Parking Enforcement/United Public Safety Inc.; AND
• WHEREAS, the Chapter 11 of the City Code outlines the parking regulation and enforcement provisions, including that of public parking lots, but the same is inconsistent with the City’s parking plan moving forward; AND
• WHEREAS, this new benefit for the City and its residents, requires the Council to approve a local law in order to effectively revise Chapter 11 of the Code accordingly; NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT
• RESOLVED, that a public hearing on a proposed local law to amend Chapter 11 of the City of Cortland Administrative Code relative to City parking regulations and enforcement thereof, including that of public parking lots, shall be held on the 20th, day of June, 2023 at 6:00 p.m. at City Hall, 25 Court Street, Cortland, New York and notice of such public hearing shall be published in the official newspaper of the City of Cortland.

Agenda Item #3 - Approve Special Event and Related Permits for St. Anthony’s Day Festival 

• WHEREAS, St. Anthony’s Church has submitted a Special Event Application for the purposes of holding the St. Anthony’s Day Festival at 50 Pomeroy Street on June 10-11, 2023; AND
• WHEREAS, St. Anthony’s Church has submitted an application for the closing of Pomeroy Street from Elm Street to Central Avenue from the hours of 3:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. on June 10, 2023 and from 8:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. on June 11, 2023; AND
• WHEREAS, St. Antony’s Church has submitted a Sound Device Permit Application for 6:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. June 10, 2023 and 12:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. June 11, 2022; AND
• WHEREAS, St. Anthony’s Church has submitted an Operating Permit Application for an occupant load of more than 100 persons, and the use of a stage, tents and propane gas storage containers; AND
• WHEREAS, the Police Department, Fire Department and City Clerk’s Office have reviewed applicable aspects of these permit applications and recommended their approval; NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT
• RESOLVED, that the Common Council does hereby approve a Special Event Permit, an Application for Street Closing, a Sound Device Permit without fee, and an Operating Permit for the St. Anthony’s Day Festival to be held on June 10 - 11, 2022.

Agenda Item #4 - Approve Special Event and Related Permits for Juneteenth Celebration

• WHEREAS, the Cortland County Community of Color (C4) has submitted a Special Event Permit Application for the purposes of holding a Juneteenth Celebration event in Courthouse Park from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. on June 17, 2023; AND
• WHEREAS, organizers have submitted a Sound Device Permit Application for the event; AND
• WHEREAS, organizers have submitted an Operating Permit Application for an occupant load of more than 100 persons; AND
• WHEREAS, the Police Department, Fire Department and City Clerk’s Office have reviewed applicable aspects of these permit applications and recommended their approval; NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT
• RESOLVED, that the Common Council does hereby approve a Special Event Permit, a Sound Device Permit without fee, and an Operating Permit for the Juneteenth Celebration event in Courthouse Park from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. on June 17, 2023

Agenda Item #5 - Approve Special Event and Related Permits for Cortland LGBTQ Center’s Cortland Pride Community Festival

• WHEREAS, Cortland LGBTQ Center has submitted a Special Event Application for the purposes of holding the Cortland Pride Community Festival in Courthouse Park from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. on July 15, 2023; AND
• WHEREAS, organizers have submitted a Sound Device Permit application for the event; AND
• WHEREAS, the Police Department, Fire Department and City Clerk’s Office have reviewed applicable aspects of these permit applications and recommended their approval; NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT
• RESOLVED, that the Common Council does hereby approve a Special Event Permit and a Sound Device Permit without fee for the Cortland LGBTQ Center’s Cortland Pride Community Festival to be held in Courthouse Park from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. on July 15, 2023.

Agenda Item #6 - Authorize Contract Amendment No. 5 to the Engineering Services Agreement with Bernier, Carr & Associates for Clinton Ave, Phase III

• WHEREAS, the City of Cortland is committed to completing the ongoing Clinton Ave. Gateway Project; AND
• WHEREAS, the project schedule has been lengthened from substantial completion in November 2022 to punch list items to be completed in 2023; AND
• WHEREAS, the City of Cortland recognizes this extension results in the need for additional services, including construction inspection, sidewalk and vault design as well as contractor negotiations for claims of hardship, at the lump sum cost of $98,000.00; NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT
• RESOLVED, that the City of Cortland Common Council hereby authorizes Mayor Steve to sign Contract Amendment No. 5 to the Engineering Services Agreement with Bernier, Carr & Associates for Clinton Ave. Phase III (Project No. 2018-020) engineering and design services for $98,000.00.

Agenda Item #7 - Declare DPW Equipment Surplus and Authorize its Sale

• WHEREAS, the City of Cortland has deemed multiple Department of Public Works (DPW) vehicles and various types of equipment obsolete or surplus; AND
• WHEREAS, the City also sees a need to sell the identified assets and place all proceeds into budget line A.5010- 5405-00 for the purchase of new material and equipment; NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT
• RESOLVED, that the City of Cortland Common Council hereby declares the following vehicles and equipment surplus, authorizes its sale, and appropriates all proceeds of the outlined surplus equipment and then appropriate all of the proceeds to budget line A.5010-5405-00 for the purchase of new material and equipment.

Agenda Item #8 - Authorize Memorandum of Agreement with the County of Cortland for Disposal of Leachate and Sludge

• WHEREAS, the County of Cortland owns and operates the Cortland County Landfill (“Landfill”) located at 4708 Town Line Road, McGraw, New York 13101; AND
• WHEREAS, the City of Cortland owns and operates a Wastewater Treatment Facility located at 251 Port Watson Street, Cortland, New York 13045; AND
• WHEREAS, the operation of the Landfill generates and will in the future generate leachate; AND
• WHEREAS, the operation of the Wastewater Treatment Facility generates and will in the future generate sludge; AND
• WHEREAS, the City of Cortland and the County of Cortland wish to formalize their agreement relative to the disposal and acceptance of leachate and sludge by a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA); AND
• WHEREAS, under such MOA, the County shall be entitled, at no cost, to dispose at the Wastewater Treatment Facility of any or all of the leachate produced at the Landfill, and transport leachate through sewer lines, via truck, or some other means of delivery for which the City shall provide treatment of said leachate at no cost; AND
• WHEREAS, the City shall be entitled, at no cost, to dispose at the Landfill of any or all sludge produced at the Wastewater Treatment Facility, or to deliversludge for use in composting or vermicomposting located on County property; AND The initial term of this Agreement shall be 25 years, with the option to extend for additional ten (10) year terms by mutual agreement of the parties in writing. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT
• RESOLVED, that the City of Cortland Common Council does hereby authorize Mayor Steve to sign a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) with the County of Cortland to permit the County to dispose of landfill leachate at the City Wastewater Treatment Facility at no cost, and permit the City to dispose of Wastewater Treatment Facility sludge at the County Landfill for use in composting or vermicomposting on County property; AND BE IT FURTHER
• RESOLVED, that the initial term of this Agreement shall be twenty five (25) years, with the option to extend for additional ten (10) year terms by mutual agreement of the parties in writing.

Agenda Item #9 - Authorize Purchase of Fountain System for Aeration and Circulation of Water at Yaman Beach

• WHEREAS, the City of Cortland is home to Yaman Park where residents have access to a public beach and swimming, a boat launch, picnic shelters, grills, a skate park, and a playground; AND
• WHEREAS, the public beach at Yaman Park has the original chlorination and pump system from the 1970’s that is no longer functional, and is cost prohibitive to replace; AND
• WHEREAS, the Cortland Youth Bureau and EcoPond have conducted a water study which included a pond evaluation, water quality testing and options for water circulation; AND
• WHEREAS, the water testing returned within normal limits, but a fountain or aeration system was recommended to keep the water aerated and circulated for swimming; AND
• RESOLVED, that the City of Cortland Common Council hereby authorizes the transfer of $19,160.00 from sales tax revenue to budget line A.7180.540502 and to use said funds for purchase a fountain system for aeration and circulation of water at Yaman Beach.

ADJOURNMENT