Save the date!
Come to the November 15, 2011 Collegetown Neighborhood Council for a Q &A with newly elected Third and Fourth Ward Common Council members.
The meeting will take place from 4:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. at St. Luke's Lutheran Church at 109 Oak Avenue in Collegetown.
Saturday, October 29, 2011
Odd/Even Parking Update
Neighbors Take Note!
Odd/Even Parking Regulations Go into Effect November 1, 2011.
The City of Ithaca would like to remind its residents and visitors that
between November 1, 2011 and April 1, 2012, the City’s Odd/ Even
Parking Regulation will be in effect. The regulation reads:
“Effective November 1- April 1 of each year no person shall park a
vehicle between 2:00 a.m. and 6:00 a.m. on the odd-numbered side of all
City streets on the odd-numbered days of the calendar month, and on the
even-numbered side of all City streets on the even-numbered days of the
calendar month. “
To explain this regulation in simple terms: when you park your car for
the evening (before midnight) on even numbered days, park on the side of
the street where the house numbers are even, and on the odd side of the
street on odd numbered days of the week. This tip does not work if you
park after midnight because the date has changed, so follow the city
code language. In addition, beware of instances when the 31st of the
month changes to the 1st of the month as both are odd-numbered days.
If your street is not marked with 24 hour parking signs, and there is
only parking on one side of the street, you must move your car to
another street on the off evenings.
The City also has a year-round 24 hour parking restriction that is
effective Monday – Friday. This means that no matter what street you
live on, you must move your vehicle every 24 hours during the week.
Vehicles that have not moved in 72 hours could be considered abandoned
and become subject to towing at the owner’s expense.
Your compliance with this regulation ensures that the city streets are
kept free from accumulated snow and debris, and that parking spaces
remain available to residents, commuters, and visitors.
For more information on these parking regulations, please contact the
City Chamberlain’s Office (607) 274-6580.
Odd/Even Parking Regulations Go into Effect November 1, 2011.
The City of Ithaca would like to remind its residents and visitors that
between November 1, 2011 and April 1, 2012, the City’s Odd/ Even
Parking Regulation will be in effect. The regulation reads:
“Effective November 1- April 1 of each year no person shall park a
vehicle between 2:00 a.m. and 6:00 a.m. on the odd-numbered side of all
City streets on the odd-numbered days of the calendar month, and on the
even-numbered side of all City streets on the even-numbered days of the
calendar month. “
To explain this regulation in simple terms: when you park your car for
the evening (before midnight) on even numbered days, park on the side of
the street where the house numbers are even, and on the odd side of the
street on odd numbered days of the week. This tip does not work if you
park after midnight because the date has changed, so follow the city
code language. In addition, beware of instances when the 31st of the
month changes to the 1st of the month as both are odd-numbered days.
If your street is not marked with 24 hour parking signs, and there is
only parking on one side of the street, you must move your car to
another street on the off evenings.
The City also has a year-round 24 hour parking restriction that is
effective Monday – Friday. This means that no matter what street you
live on, you must move your vehicle every 24 hours during the week.
Vehicles that have not moved in 72 hours could be considered abandoned
and become subject to towing at the owner’s expense.
Your compliance with this regulation ensures that the city streets are
kept free from accumulated snow and debris, and that parking spaces
remain available to residents, commuters, and visitors.
For more information on these parking regulations, please contact the
City Chamberlain’s Office (607) 274-6580.
Monday, October 24, 2011
From the City of Ithaca: Important Election Referedum Information
Questions can be forwarded to the City Clerks Office
at (607) 274-6570 or julieh@cityofithaca.org
City of Ithaca Propositions on November Ballot
How many times have you walked into a voting booth and stared at
propositions on the ballot that you knew little to nothing about? As
you quickly scan the text, you think to yourself “I don’t remember
hearing anything about these issues”. Finally, you make an educated
guess on the topic and fill in a bubble, not really sure you made the
“right” decision.
The City of Ithaca wants to make sure that all voters understand the
issues they are voting on. This year, the City has 3 propositions on
the general election ballot, the first is in preparation for the
redistricting efforts next year, and the others are a result of efforts
to streamline and simplify the City of Ithaca Charter and Code and to
eliminate obsolete, redundant, repetitive and contradictory language.
Pursuant to New York State Municipal Home Rule Law, Common Council has
the authority to amend the Charter by Local Law. They do this on a
routine basis to ensure that the City’s legislation is consistent with
current operating procedures.
Common Council unanimously adopted local laws in March and June of 2011
on the following issues; however, approval of the voters is required
because they modify the powers and authority of either the Mayor or
Common Council.
Please look for these important propositions on the back of your
ballot!
Proposition #1: Staggered two year Council terms following Census
Issue:
Since at least 1980, following each federal census, Common Council has
tried to anticipate redistricting so that legal requirements for
population and legislative representation are met. The way it has
chosen to do this is to have those Council members elected in a year
ending in “1” receive 2-year terms. As a result, all 10 Council
seats have been up for election in the years ending in “3,” at which
time half of the seats are filled for 2-year terms and half for 4-year
terms thereby restoring the staggered terms.
Common Council considered this issue and recommended using the same
approach for 2011 and 2013 and in future years following a census. By
making this an automatic action following each census, the possibility
of having Council members elected from the same ward but representing
people within different ward boundaries and election districts would be
eliminated.
The question you will be asked on the ballot is:
Shall a local law be approved, that would amend the Ithaca City
Charter, in order to (1) establish two-year terms for the members of
Common Council elected in the general election following every 10-year
federal census (for example, in 2011 or 2021, etc), and (2) provide that
in the following general election (for example, in 2013 or 2023, etc),
two members of Common Council shall be elected from each ward - one for
two years, and one for four years?
Proposition #2: Designation and Appointment of City Officers
Issue:
There are currently 3 terms used interchangeably and at times
inconsistently regarding the appointment of City Officers in the Charter
and City Code. Common Council recommends that only two terms be used:
“appointed by the Mayor” and “appointed by the Mayor with the
approval of Common Council”. They have also recommended that the
methodology of appointment for each City officer be defined in the
“Appointment of City Officers” section of the Charter (§C-5), and
only in that section. The proposed revisions do not change who currently
has the authority to appoint any City department head; however, Common
Council has proposed a change in the appointment process for certain
Deputy and Assistant positions. There are four deputy/assistant titles
that are currently appointed by the Mayor with the approval of Common
Council. Council has proposed that the respective department heads be
given the authority to appoint these positions, so that all deputies and
assistants are appointed by the same process.
There is outdated language in the Charter that needs to be removed as
it is inconsistent with other laws and practices.. For example, a
referendum was approved by the voters in 1997 giving the Police Chief
the authority to appoint and remove all subordinate police officers;
however, when that language was enacted, an older section of the Charter
was overlooked and not repealed that gave the Mayor those same
authorities. This proposition deletes the contradictory language and
maintains the Police Chief's authorities. Similarly, outdated language
in the Charter gives the Board of Public Works and the Board of Fire
Commissioners the authority to prescribe the duties of the respective
department heads and also gives the Superintendent of Public Works and
the Fire Chief the authority to fix the compensation of staff. In
another section of the Charter, it states that the Mayor is the
supervisor of all department heads and, as such, prescribes the duties
of the department heads within the parameters of their respective job
descriptions. All salaries are established through negotiated labor
contracts which are ratified by the respective unions and Common
Council. This proposition will remove the outdated and contradictory
language.
The question you will be asked on the ballot is:
Shall a local law be approved, that would amend the Ithaca City Charter
and Code, in order to (1) clarify and simplify the descriptions of the
positions of various, appointed City officers (primarily, the heads of
City departments), (2) remove Charter language that grants authority to
or places constraints upon certain department heads that are
inconsistent with State law and/or best practices, and (3) provide for
the appointment of deputy and assistant department heads by their
respective department heads, rather than by the
Mayor?
Proposition #3: Basic Authorities of Department Heads and Deputies
Issue:
Currently, there is a wide variation in whether, how and where
the authorities of department heads and deputies are delegated and
described in the City Charter and Code. Some positions have expansive
definitions that include minor details about daily work duties; other
positions are not mentioned at all. The proposed changes to the
Charter will consolidate the basic authorities and responsibilities
inherent in all department head and deputy positions into one section.
This proposition is required because of the new authority of 4
Department Heads to appoint their Deputy or Assistant positions as
opposed to the Mayor with the approval of Common Council if Proposition
#2 is approved.
The question you will be asked on the ballot is:
Shall a local law be approved, that would amend the Ithaca City
Charter, in order to (1) provide a single, consistent description of the
general authority and duties of the City’s various department heads
– including their power to appoint and discipline all departmental
employees, and (2) create a streamlined description of the general role
of the City’s deputy and assistant department
heads?
You can find more information, including the full text of the Local
Laws adopted by Common Council regarding these propositions on the
City’s website, www.cityofithaca.org
at (607) 274-6570 or julieh@cityofithaca.org
City of Ithaca Propositions on November Ballot
How many times have you walked into a voting booth and stared at
propositions on the ballot that you knew little to nothing about? As
you quickly scan the text, you think to yourself “I don’t remember
hearing anything about these issues”. Finally, you make an educated
guess on the topic and fill in a bubble, not really sure you made the
“right” decision.
The City of Ithaca wants to make sure that all voters understand the
issues they are voting on. This year, the City has 3 propositions on
the general election ballot, the first is in preparation for the
redistricting efforts next year, and the others are a result of efforts
to streamline and simplify the City of Ithaca Charter and Code and to
eliminate obsolete, redundant, repetitive and contradictory language.
Pursuant to New York State Municipal Home Rule Law, Common Council has
the authority to amend the Charter by Local Law. They do this on a
routine basis to ensure that the City’s legislation is consistent with
current operating procedures.
Common Council unanimously adopted local laws in March and June of 2011
on the following issues; however, approval of the voters is required
because they modify the powers and authority of either the Mayor or
Common Council.
Please look for these important propositions on the back of your
ballot!
Proposition #1: Staggered two year Council terms following Census
Issue:
Since at least 1980, following each federal census, Common Council has
tried to anticipate redistricting so that legal requirements for
population and legislative representation are met. The way it has
chosen to do this is to have those Council members elected in a year
ending in “1” receive 2-year terms. As a result, all 10 Council
seats have been up for election in the years ending in “3,” at which
time half of the seats are filled for 2-year terms and half for 4-year
terms thereby restoring the staggered terms.
Common Council considered this issue and recommended using the same
approach for 2011 and 2013 and in future years following a census. By
making this an automatic action following each census, the possibility
of having Council members elected from the same ward but representing
people within different ward boundaries and election districts would be
eliminated.
The question you will be asked on the ballot is:
Shall a local law be approved, that would amend the Ithaca City
Charter, in order to (1) establish two-year terms for the members of
Common Council elected in the general election following every 10-year
federal census (for example, in 2011 or 2021, etc), and (2) provide that
in the following general election (for example, in 2013 or 2023, etc),
two members of Common Council shall be elected from each ward - one for
two years, and one for four years?
Proposition #2: Designation and Appointment of City Officers
Issue:
There are currently 3 terms used interchangeably and at times
inconsistently regarding the appointment of City Officers in the Charter
and City Code. Common Council recommends that only two terms be used:
“appointed by the Mayor” and “appointed by the Mayor with the
approval of Common Council”. They have also recommended that the
methodology of appointment for each City officer be defined in the
“Appointment of City Officers” section of the Charter (§C-5), and
only in that section. The proposed revisions do not change who currently
has the authority to appoint any City department head; however, Common
Council has proposed a change in the appointment process for certain
Deputy and Assistant positions. There are four deputy/assistant titles
that are currently appointed by the Mayor with the approval of Common
Council. Council has proposed that the respective department heads be
given the authority to appoint these positions, so that all deputies and
assistants are appointed by the same process.
There is outdated language in the Charter that needs to be removed as
it is inconsistent with other laws and practices.. For example, a
referendum was approved by the voters in 1997 giving the Police Chief
the authority to appoint and remove all subordinate police officers;
however, when that language was enacted, an older section of the Charter
was overlooked and not repealed that gave the Mayor those same
authorities. This proposition deletes the contradictory language and
maintains the Police Chief's authorities. Similarly, outdated language
in the Charter gives the Board of Public Works and the Board of Fire
Commissioners the authority to prescribe the duties of the respective
department heads and also gives the Superintendent of Public Works and
the Fire Chief the authority to fix the compensation of staff. In
another section of the Charter, it states that the Mayor is the
supervisor of all department heads and, as such, prescribes the duties
of the department heads within the parameters of their respective job
descriptions. All salaries are established through negotiated labor
contracts which are ratified by the respective unions and Common
Council. This proposition will remove the outdated and contradictory
language.
The question you will be asked on the ballot is:
Shall a local law be approved, that would amend the Ithaca City Charter
and Code, in order to (1) clarify and simplify the descriptions of the
positions of various, appointed City officers (primarily, the heads of
City departments), (2) remove Charter language that grants authority to
or places constraints upon certain department heads that are
inconsistent with State law and/or best practices, and (3) provide for
the appointment of deputy and assistant department heads by their
respective department heads, rather than by the
Mayor?
Proposition #3: Basic Authorities of Department Heads and Deputies
Issue:
Currently, there is a wide variation in whether, how and where
the authorities of department heads and deputies are delegated and
described in the City Charter and Code. Some positions have expansive
definitions that include minor details about daily work duties; other
positions are not mentioned at all. The proposed changes to the
Charter will consolidate the basic authorities and responsibilities
inherent in all department head and deputy positions into one section.
This proposition is required because of the new authority of 4
Department Heads to appoint their Deputy or Assistant positions as
opposed to the Mayor with the approval of Common Council if Proposition
#2 is approved.
The question you will be asked on the ballot is:
Shall a local law be approved, that would amend the Ithaca City
Charter, in order to (1) provide a single, consistent description of the
general authority and duties of the City’s various department heads
– including their power to appoint and discipline all departmental
employees, and (2) create a streamlined description of the general role
of the City’s deputy and assistant department
heads?
You can find more information, including the full text of the Local
Laws adopted by Common Council regarding these propositions on the
City’s website, www.cityofithaca.org
Wednesday, October 19, 2011
Unable to Attend the Collegetown Neighborhood Council Mayoral Meeting? Read on!
If you were unable to attend the CNC Mayoral Forum yesterday, the Ithaca Journal and Cornell Daily Sun sum it up.
Sunday, October 16, 2011
Upcoming Elections - Your vote counts!
We just received a visit from Third Ward Common Council candidate, Donna Fleming. Donna is running unopposed and is knocking on doors throughout our neighborhood to introduce herself and share why she wishes to serve our community. For those of you who have not yet met Donna, she is our immediate past president of the Belle Sherman/Bryant Park Neighborhood Association. She served in this role for a number of years and will continue to advocate for us in this larger role as a city representative. We are fortunate to have her commitment to Ithaca and our neighborhood. If she doesn't have the chance to greet you in person, you will be able to read about her current and past public service positions, as well as the issues she will focus on (which are all meaningful to many of us). Here are the issues you can read on her flyer:- Pleasant, peaceful, orderly and walkable neighborhoods
- Diverse business development offering meaningful consumer choices and fair wages
- Strong infrastructure: reliable sewage systems; clean water
- Efficient public transportation; safe streets and sidewalks
- The expansion of local arts and agriculture
- Local initiatives to reduce carbon emissions
- Marybeth Tarzian
Wednesday, October 12, 2011
More on Belle Sherman Cottages
The Ithaca Journal published a short article on the Belle Sherman Cottages today. Most of the earlier post is correct with the exception of the completion of the model home. According to the most recent report, it should be completed in the spring. In addition, since the last post, work on the property infrastructure has begun in earnest.
Read more here: http://www.theithacajournal.com/article/20111011/NEWS01/110110353/Site-work-begun-Belle-Sherman-Cottages?odyssey=tab|topnews|text|FRONTPAGE.
Read more here: http://www.theithacajournal.com/article/20111011/NEWS01/110110353/Site-work-begun-Belle-Sherman-Cottages?odyssey=tab|topnews|text|FRONTPAGE.
Wednesday, October 5, 2011
You know you live near a college campus when.....
you are lulled to sleep or kept awake by the sounds of the practicing marching band.
Last night, as I prepared for my slumber, I could hear the faint sound of the Cornell Marching Band practicing at Schoelkopf Stadium. This is not an unusual occurrence during the fall season. I actually enjoy the distant thumping of drums and crashing of symbols. For our neighbors closer to campus, however, the charm of this aspect of student life is wearing thin.
I received a note from residents living on Dryden Road, which is practically ON Schoelkopf Field. The band used to end practice by 10:30 p.m., but last night it wore on until 11 p.m. or so. This is the first time this issue has surfaced, perhaps because the band is violating the city noise ordinance.
A plan to contact the University and City is underway. We will post an update on a resolution soon. Hopefully we can still enjoy listening to "Give My Regards to Davy", but while we are still upright! Until then, read about the band facility which will allow the band to practice indoors!
Last night, as I prepared for my slumber, I could hear the faint sound of the Cornell Marching Band practicing at Schoelkopf Stadium. This is not an unusual occurrence during the fall season. I actually enjoy the distant thumping of drums and crashing of symbols. For our neighbors closer to campus, however, the charm of this aspect of student life is wearing thin.
I received a note from residents living on Dryden Road, which is practically ON Schoelkopf Field. The band used to end practice by 10:30 p.m., but last night it wore on until 11 p.m. or so. This is the first time this issue has surfaced, perhaps because the band is violating the city noise ordinance.
A plan to contact the University and City is underway. We will post an update on a resolution soon. Hopefully we can still enjoy listening to "Give My Regards to Davy", but while we are still upright! Until then, read about the band facility which will allow the band to practice indoors!
Monday, October 3, 2011
Mayoral Candidate Forums
With November quickly approaching, we should be hearing about more mayoral forums. One that takes place closest to our neighborhood, is being held by the Collegetown Neighborhood Council (CNC) on October 18, from 4:30-6:00 p.m. at St. Luke's Church, 109 Oak Avenue in Collegetown.
If you are not familiar with the CNC, it is organized by the Office of Community Relations at Cornell. They meet at least once per month at St. Luke's Church and address many issues that concern our neighborhood including construction, environmental health, housing, planning, safety, and transportation.
Gary Stewart directs this office and can be reached at (607)255-4666 or gjs28@cornell.edu.
If you are not familiar with the CNC, it is organized by the Office of Community Relations at Cornell. They meet at least once per month at St. Luke's Church and address many issues that concern our neighborhood including construction, environmental health, housing, planning, safety, and transportation.
Gary Stewart directs this office and can be reached at (607)255-4666 or gjs28@cornell.edu.
Sunday, October 2, 2011
Introducing the Belle Sherman/Bryant Park Blog!
Welcome to the new blog for the Belle Sherman/Bryant Park Neighborhood Association! The purpose of this blog is to keep you updated on neighborhood, city and county news that is relevant to BSBP.
Since this is a new endeavor, please share your feedback, ideas and submissions to include on the blog. We will do our very best to accommodate everyone. Similar to our neighborhood list serve, we will post rules for this blog shortly.
This is a work in progress, so the blog will change as we learn more about building the website. So far, it has been a fairly easy exercise. In the meantime, enjoy reading the following posts and exploring other websites we have included in the tabs above. And don't forget to follow the blog by signing up under the "Followers" tab at the bottom of the page!
Since this is a new endeavor, please share your feedback, ideas and submissions to include on the blog. We will do our very best to accommodate everyone. Similar to our neighborhood list serve, we will post rules for this blog shortly.
This is a work in progress, so the blog will change as we learn more about building the website. So far, it has been a fairly easy exercise. In the meantime, enjoy reading the following posts and exploring other websites we have included in the tabs above. And don't forget to follow the blog by signing up under the "Followers" tab at the bottom of the page!
Saturday, October 1, 2011
Lock your cars!
Word recently spread about a rash of car break ins at multiple homes throughout the neighborhood. This is a reminder to remove any valuables from your vehicle and lock your doors.
The perpetrators are bold, walking up driveways near our homes. Please keep your eye out for any unusual activity and please contact the police if you witness any of this criminal activity.
The perpetrators are bold, walking up driveways near our homes. Please keep your eye out for any unusual activity and please contact the police if you witness any of this criminal activity.
Belle Sherman Cottages Underway
If you haven't ventured east of Cornell Street lately, you haven't noticed that the Belle Sherman Cottage development is well underway (click on the link to see a newly completed website with information about the houses).Land has been cleared and construction equipment has been delivered. 19 single family homes and 10 town houses will fill the site, along with a playground and easy access to the foot path. Developer Toby Miller told the neighborhood association in May that a model home would be erected by December with completion of the full project by December 2013. As can be seen from the new sign on Mitchell Street, Agora Developers is teaming up with Audrey Edelman to sell the houses.
We will welcome the new residents of this development into our neighborhood association once they move in. Even though they will reside in the Town of Ithaca, we feel it is important to include them in our community.
Some neighbors will share the website with HR staff at Cornell and Ithaca College so they in turn can share the information with incoming faculty and staff. If you know of other organizations or individuals who might be interested, please feel free to promote the development as a family friendly neighborhood.
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