(Photo provided by Kevin L. Smith of The Cortland Voice).
Here is the agenda for Tuesday’s (February 6th, 2024) 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
Public Hearings
Public Hearing #1 - Relating to a proposed local law to reduce the speed limit from 30 mph to 25 mph on a portion of Main St. and Miller St.
The proposed local law would reduce the speed limit from 30 mph to 25 mph on Main St. from where it intersects with Groton Ave./Clinton Ave. and Port Watson St./Tompkins St.; and on Miller St. from where it intersects with N. Main St. and Morris Ave. Members of the public wishing to be heard on this matter are invited to speak. The text of the proposed local law is included in Agenda Item No. 1 below.
Call to Order
- Roll Call
- Salute to the Flag
- Moment of silence/reflection
- Privilege of the floor
- Financial Reports
- Mayor’s report
- Ward Reports
- Approval of Minutes
Supporting Documents
Resolutions
Agenda Item #1 - Adopt Proposed Local Law to Reduce the Speed Limit from 30 mph to 25 mph on a Portion of Main St. and Miller St.
WHEREAS, Article VI § 11-51 of the City of Cortland Administrative Code establishes maximum speed limits within the City § 11-51; AND
WHEREAS, the Common Council seeks to reduce the speed limit from 30 mph to 25 mph on Main St. from where it intersects with Groton Ave./Clinton Ave. and Port Watson St./Tompkins St.; AND WHEREAS, the Common Council seeks to reduce the speed limit from 30 mph to 25 mph on Miller St. from where it intersects with N. Main St. and Morris Ave.; AND
WHEREAS, pursuant to §20 of the Municipal Home Rule Law of the State of New York, a public hearing was held on February 6, 2024 regarding the proposed local law; NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT
RESOLVED, that said local law shall read as follows:
CITY OF CORTLAND, NEW YORK
LOCAL LAW NO. 2 OF THE YEAR 2024
“AMENDMENT OF CHAPTER 11, ARTICLE VI RELATING TO SPEED REGULATIONS WITHIN THE CORPORATE LIMITS WITHIN THE CITY OF CORTLAND ON CERTAIN CITY STREETS”
Be it enacted by the Common Council of the City of Cortland as follows:
Section 1. Enactment and Title.
Chapter 11. Vehicles and Traffic.
Article VI. Speed Regulations
§11-51. Maximum Speed Limits; Portions of Certain City Highways or Streets.
C. Twenty-Five (25) miles per hour (MPH) is hereby established as the maximum speed at which vehicles may proceed within the corporate limits of the City, on or along the following highways or streets, or portions thereof:
- Portion of Main Street: On Main Street between the intersection of Main Street with Groton Avenue/Clinton Avenue, and the intersection of Main Street with Port Watson Street/Tompkins Street;
- Miller Avenue: On Miller Street between the intersection of Miller Street with North Main Street, and the intersection of Miller Street and Morris Avenue.
D. Twenty (20) miles per hour (MPH) is hereby established as the maximum speed at which vehicles may proceed within the corporate limits of the City, on or along the following highways or streets, or portions thereof:
- Graham Avenue: On Graham Avenue between the intersection of Graham Avenue with Groton Avenue, and the intersection of Graham Avenue and Prospect Terrace.
Section 2. Separability.
If any part of provision of this Local Law or the application thereof to any person or circumstance be adjudged invalid by any court of competent jurisdiction, such judgment shall be confined in its operation to the part or provision or application directly involved in the controversy in which such judgment shall have been rendered and shall not affect or impair the validity of the remainder of this Local Law or the application thereof to other persons or circumstances, and the Common Council of the City of Cortland hereby declares that it would have passed this Local Law or the remainder thereof had such invalid application or invalid provision been apparent.
Section 3. Findings.
All ordinances, local laws and parts thereof inconsistent with this Local Law are hereby repealed.
Section 4 Effective Date.
This Local Law shall take effect immediately upon filing in the Office of the New York Secretary of State in accordance with section 27 of the Municipal Home Rule Law.
Agenda Item #2 - Confirm Mayor’s Appointment of Kevin Kwiatkowski to the Wastewater Treatment Board
WHEREAS, §C17-3 of the City Chart provides that the Wastewater Treatment Board shall consist of five (5) members appointed by the Mayor, with confirmation by the Common Council; AND
WHEREAS, a vacancy exists on the Wastewater Treatment Board; AND
WHEREAS, Mayor Steve has appointed Kevin Kwiatkowski to the Wastewater Treatment Board; NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT
RESOLVED, that the Common Council does hereby confirm Mayor Steve’s appointment of Kevin Kwiatkowski to the Wastewater Treatment Board for the remainder of the vacant term expiring December 31, 2024.
Agenda Item #3 - 2024 City of Cortland Common Council New York State Legislative Agenda
WHEREAS, the City has long supported many of the components of the NYCOM Legislative Agenda, which serves a lobbying effort for all participating NYCOM members; AND
WHEREAS, establishing guiding principles and specific items for the New York State Legislative agenda will assist the Mayor and staff in accomplishing the goals and objectives of the City to New York State representative; AND
WHEREAS, at the January 16, 2023 Common Council meeting, an overview of potential items was presented to Common Council by staff and discussed provided updates and amendments to the materials presented; NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT
RESOLVED, that the City of Cortland Common Council adopts the 2024 New York State Legislative Agenda as included in this meeting’s supporting documents.
Agenda Item #4 - Authorize Supplemental Agreement No. 6 with Fisher Associates for the Downtown Revitalization Project Inspection and Administration
WHEREAS, the City of Cortland desires to continue and complete the ongoing Downtown Revitalization Initiative (DRI) project; AND
WHEREAS, there is a need for additional services to be provided through Contract Amendment No. 6 to the city’s Engineering Services Agreement with Fisher Associates; AND
WHEREAS, the supplemental services and costs relate to additional construction inspection and administrative services due to the increased project period and changes from initial project assumptions; NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT
RESOLVED, that the City of Cortland Common Council does hereby authorize Mayor Steve to sign Supplemental Agreement No. 6 to the Engineering Services Agreement with Fisher Associates in the amount of $239,334.00 for the Downtown Revitalization Initiative (DRI) project.
Agenda Item #5 - Authorize Sale of Police Department Impound Lot Vehicles Declared to be Abandoned Under State Law
WHEREAS, the Cortland City Police Department operates and maintains an impound lot where vehicles are towed when found to be in violation of the Vehicle and Traffic Law or Penal Law of the State of New York; AND
WHEREAS, the Police Department routinely has vehicles which have been declared abandoned under New York State law when owners do not pay impound fees, and must periodically dispose of these vehicles through auction or sale as scrap; AND
WHEREAS, the Cortland City Police Department currently has eleven (11) abandoned vehicles in storage at the impound lot which must be disposed of due to space limitations; NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT
RESOLVED, that the City of Cortland Common Council does hereby authorize the Cortland City Police Department to sell the following eleven (11) vehicles which have been declared abandoned under New York State law; AND BE IT FURTHER
RESOLVED, that the Common Council directs that all proceeds from such sale be placed into city budget line A3120-42665 (Sale of Equipment).
Agenda Item #6 - Authorize Sale of Police Department Surplus Equipment
WHEREAS, the Cortland City Police Department is in possession of equipment which has exceeded serviceable life and function and/or no longer meets applicable standards; AND
WHEREAS, the Police Department recommends that such equipment be declared surplus and sold at auction; NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT
RESOLVED, that the City of Cortland Common Council declares as surplus the following equipment possessed by the Cortland City Police Department and authorizes the sale of such surplus equipment; AND BE IT FURTHER
RESOLVED, that the Common Council directs that all proceeds from such sale be placed into city budget line A3120-42665 (Sale of Equipment).
Agenda Item #7 - Authorize Youth Bureau Grant Application to the Robert J. Vitkus Fund for Solar Lighting in Yaman Park.
WHEREAS, the Cortland Youth Bureau provides our community with high quality facilities that strive to meet the diverse needs of our community; AND
WHEREAS, the Cortland Youth Bureau is invested in improving facilities for its residents while seeking outside funding to assist with costs associated with improvements; AND
WHEREAS, the Youth Bureau has identified a grant opportunity to install solar lighting in Yaman Park, which would provide an effective, sustainable, low cost and low maintenance and sustainable means to improve accessibility and safety; NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT
RESOLVED, that the Cortland Youth Bureau is hereby authorized and directed to submit an application for grant funding from the Robert J. Viktus fund through the Central New York Community Foundation for an amount not to exceed $75,000.00.
Agenda Item #8 - Authorize the Youth Bureau Grant Application to the Bright Ideas Grant for Temporary Staging for Court House Park.
WHEREAS, the Cortland Youth Bureau hosts numerous performances, concerts, and special events throughout the summer in city parks; AND
WHEREAS, Court House Park is home to weekly concerts and performances requiring an elevated stage for performers; AND
WHEREAS, a temporary stage is needed to continue hosting free concerts and performances in the parks until a replacement for the retired Showmobile can be acquired; AND
WHEREAS, the Youth Bureau maintenance staff is ready and able to construct a temporary stage in Court House Park consisting of lumber and other weather proof materials which will be kept at Court House Park for the summer and winterized or put in storage for the winter; NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT
RESOLVED, that the Cortland Youth Bureau is hereby authorized and directed to submit the application for grant funding from the Bright Ideas grant through the Central New York Community Foundation for an amount not to exceed $3,000.00.
