Minutes 10-22-2007.pdf - Watertown, NY

COUNCIL WORK SESSIONCITY OF WATERTOWNOctober 22, 20077:45 P.M.MAYOR JEFFREY E. GRAHAM PRESIDINGPRESENT:ALSO PRESENT:COUNCILMAN STEPHEN J. BRADLEYCOUNCILMAN PETER L. CLOUGHCOUNCILMAN TIMOTHY R. LABOUFCOUNCILMAN JEFFREY M. SMITHMAYOR GRAHAMCITY MANAGER MARY M. CORRIVEAUATTORNEY ROBERT J. SLYE1. Environmental Protection Fund (EPF) Grant ApplicationMr. Mix and Mrs. Hoffman presented the plans for this application. Mr. Mix explainedthat the grant is due November 30 th . He also explained that they had spoken withAdvantage Watertown and the River Committee about possible projects. They showedthe proposed trail system indicating that trails are one way to increase the recreational useof the Black River. Mrs. Hoffman advised that the JB Wise project has a one milliondollar short fall. Therefore the $750,000 grant application will include $500,000 for theJB Wise project and $250,000 to start the eastern end loop of the trail system.Councilman Clough questioned the trail where it is basically on a sidewalk onHuntington Street and then cuts across Marble Street and Water Street. He stated that itjust doesn’t make sense to him.Mr. Mix explained that to have it be a satisfactory experience, it doesn’t all have to be onthe river.Councilman Clough remarked that while he is not against the project, he just can’tbelieve that people are going to go back and forth like this. He asked about havingarrangements for access with the properties that the City doesn’t own like they have withGuilfoyle.Councilman Smith asked why the trails were being brought out to the road near the watertreatment facility.Mr. Mix explained that this is because of an issue with security and the need to get thepublic away from the facility.Mrs. Corriveau suggested that Council speak with Mr. Pilon about this and should look atthe vulnerability study.

Councilman Clough remarked that he agrees with Councilman Smith. CouncilmanClough addressed Mrs. Hoffman stating that she is spending all of her time on this projectand downtown business owners are asking where she is. He stated that these businessowners need moral support for this City.Mr. Mix commented that the JB Wise lot is in the middle of downtown and this projectincludes the lot.Councilman Clough responded that business owners downtown are saying that the City isnot taking care of their needs. He remarked that while he is not critisizing Mrs.Hoffman’s performance, the fact remains that she is the Downtown DevelopmentSpecialist and the businesses say that they never see her downtown.Mrs. Corriveau responded that personnel matters can be discussed in executive session,but not in open session.Councilman Clough remarked that it is the Council’s duty to discuss it in open sessionwhen there are complaints.Mrs. Corriveau responded that no business owners had called her.Mayor Graham remarked that it seems that there is a contradiction when you have aDowntown Development Specialist and she is associated with a lot of other things. Heremarked that calling someone the Downtown Development Specialist sort of impliesthat she would be working on downtown projects.Councilman Bradley commented that he understands where Councilman Clough iscoming from. He remarked that he has spoken with Mrs. Corriveau about this problemseveral times. He stated that Mrs. Hoffman needs to have a schedule to visit with thedowntown businesses.Commenting on the trail project, Mayor Graham remarked that it is meandering and hedoesn’t know how much use it will get.Mrs. Corriveau advised Council that she spoke at a Corps of Engineers event and talkedabout the trails. People wanted to know how to get there. She explained that Ft. Drumtrails are not all in nature settings. Parts are located behind buildings and on paved roads.Mayor Graham remarked that his concern is when we get to Sewall’s Island since there isno end in sight to this blight. He asked when the City would use the grant money to cleanup the mess.Mrs. Corriveau explained that the process of discussing with DEC what type of testingwill be done on Sewall’s Isaland. Then the plan will be put together to do the cleanup.2

Councilman Smith asked who owns the dams.Mr. Mix indicated that the City owns one and Brookfield owns two.Councilman LaBouf asked where the trail was in the downtown area.Mr. Mix explained that they can get the trail to Knowlton’s. However, the MillStreet/City Center Drive/Factory Street poses a problem for a safe way through thatsection.Councilman Clough questioned why a trail would be built around the two new ball fieldsat Marble Park.Councilman Smith remarked that he still wants to know why the trail would not gobehind the water treatment facility.Mr. Mix explained that this is just for the Marble Street area for now.Mrs. Hoffman also explained that, for this program, if a sidewalk is signed it can be doneas a trail. She explained that there would be interpretive signage with medallions in thesidewalk and signs along the trail.Mayor Graham remarked that he has heard of mobility concerns in the Factory Streetarea.Mr. Mix explained that the sidewalks in residential areas will be very important inconnecting into this trail system.Mr. Mix also remarked that there are other programs available from the State such asRails to Trails and the Title 9 State Parks Program.2. Downtown Wayfinding Signage PlanMrs. Hoffman presented the signage plan to Council. The parking lot signage has thename of the lot on it as suggested by downtown business owners. There are signs forpoints of interest and larger gateway signs. Four kiosks will be placed in the downtownarea, where maps will be available.3. CitiBus Service Hour and Service Area ExpansionMs. Webster, Transit Supervisor, addressed the Council presenting a report outlining theeffect that expanding routes and schedules would have. She presented differentscenarios, but offered to work up other scenarios if the Council so wished.3

Councilman Clough remarked that his main concerns are for the City taxpayers. Heremarked that the City needs to contact business owners outside the present routes as wellas contacting the Town of Watertown.Councilman LaBouf asked if we could do outreach to JRC and NRCL.Ms. Webster indicated that she is sure that Citibus is in tune with JRC.Mayor Graham remarked that we always talk about getting a grant to help with thesetypes of things. However, what should be asked is if it is in the public interest.Councilman LaBouf responded that there is nothing wrong at looking into options andsee if there are benefits out there to help with the costs.Ms. Webster also reviewed the paratransit operations. She also advised that she would bewilling to help with a survey of the business owners to see how much their employeeswould use the bus service. She also advised that she would speak with the state abouthelping with the survey costs.Mayor Graham asked that this be done in a timely manner.Mrs. Corriveau suggested that the Center for Community Studies at JCC could also help.Ms. Webster also advised that the current municipal system will have to change to anoperating authority. This would allow for operations beyond the City boundaries andwould be subject to DOT operating authority. The fleet would have to meet therequirements of the NYS DOT inspection program, being inspected every 6 months. Ms.Webster remarked that this would be a good thing.Shared Municipal Incentive Program Grant ApplicationMayor Graham commented that the fiber optic proposal is something that we were goingto do anyway. He stated that we need to look at things that will change something, notjust projects that might fit. He asked if we were actually changing something ingovernment or if this was just a money grab.Councilman Smith commented that these projects need to be for substantive things andshould cover types of issues such as boundaries and/or fire protection.Councilman LaBouf remarked that we should come up with some common goals andshould have a joint meeting with the Town of Watertown and other interested folks.Mayor Graham suggested that perhaps a discussion could be held with the Town ofWatertown at the November work session.4

Mrs. Corriveau remarked that if we are talking about the transit routes, we limit ourselvesby just talking with the Town of Watertown. The talks should include a service area thatreaches out to Fort Drum. Those discussions could include people form Jefferson County,Fort Drum, St. Lawrence County and Lewis County.Councilman Clough asked about the fifth option of developing a county widetransportation system and putting together an application for a feasibility study.Mayor Graham remarked that while we are an urban setting, the truth is that the area issparsely population.Councilman LaBouf asked if we could put together a summit of players and come upwith some common goals and develop an application for the next time.Councilman Clough left the meeting at 9:50 p.m.Public Nuisance LegislationCouncil had received Attorney Slye’s letter in their agenda packet. Attorney Slyeremarked that the present procedures should not change.Employee Classification and Compensation StudyMrs. Morris addressed the chair and presented Council with copies of the NYS CivilService Classification Questionnaire. She discussed the problems that they have had withrecruitment and retention of employees. She referred to the CEI and CEII positions in theEngineering Department as well as the I.T. Services Technician position. She advisedCouncil that she advertises not only in the Watertown Daily Times, but also in theSyracuse Post Standard as well as newspapers in Albany and Buffalo and on the City’swebsite.Mrs. Morris explained that Fox Lawson would be able to take care of the study and theirunbiased report would definitely benefit the employees. She also mentioned that thesalaries need to be reviewed.Councilman LaBouf asked that a resolution concerning this study be prepared for thenext regular Council meeting.Flower Memorial Library Fine ArtCouncilman Bradley remarked that the Council said no to selling the art a long time ago.Mayor Graham commented that someone obviously asked for this.Councilman Bradley responded that he didn’t think anyone on the board asked for it.5

Mrs. Corriveau advised that she would like to be able to respond to Mr. Godel’s letter.Mayor Graham remarked that these were a gift to the City.Councilman Bradley commented that now that they have been cleaned and will be placedon proper display, more people will look at them.Mayor Graham remarked that the library board understands that this is a Councildecision.Councilman Bradley commented that only one or two of the board members consideredselling them.Councilman Smith stated that gifts to the City should not be auctioned off.Councilman Bradley responded that he has no problem telling the library board no.Mrs. Corriveau explained that they had discussed marketing strategies using brochurescontaining information on the fine arts housed in the library.Mayor Graham suggested that Mrs. Corriveau respond to the library board since the letterwas sent to Mrs. Wheeler.The work session ended at 10:25 p.m.Donna M. DuttonCity Clerk6