Meet EBAG

May 2nd, 2008 News

Last week, the City of Buffalo created an Erie Basin Advisory Group, (hereafter referred to as “EBAG”).

Back in February, a Labatt’s pond hockey tournament was held at Erie Basin Marina…

At that time, Mayor Brown called for the end of the annual Oct 15th to May 1st closing of the Erie Basin Marina and stated that a committee would be formed to provide recommendations on how best to utilize the marina area and the surrounding Erie Basin year round.

“Erie Basin is one of Buffalo’s greatest quality of life assets,” said Mayor Brown. “I am inviting ideas on how to make it an even better waterfront experience that all city residents and visitors can enjoy. I want to make our city great for all Buffalonians, Western New Yorkers and tourists and I’m interested in innovative recommendations on how to best achieve that goal along our city’s waterfront. To that end, I will make the Erie Basin Marina Beach open to public access by Memorial Day. At the same time, it’s important to consider the interests of the area’s residents, boaters, anglers and other parties who have long enjoyed their access to this important city waterfront location.”

EBAG is charged with:

* Remove barriers to the water
* Reviewing access hours
* Opening the Erie Basin Marina beach
* Determining appropriate signage
* Assessing security issues
* Hours of various operations
* Water access, including the beach
* User friendliness/beautification
* Park programming
* Identification of initial long term opportunities

If you want to find out what this group has been focusing on, best head over to Buffalo Rising, where Newell is veritably fired up about it all. Tim Tielman wants a “beach ring“, perhaps with a clam bar, and naturally, a beach.

But the beach would only be for lounging. Swimming would be prohibited due to minor concerns like pollution, shipping lanes, and liability exposure. Read more of Newell’s series here, and naturally dogs must be permitted.

The full list of EBAG members is here, and I’m curious to discover the selection process. Was there an application procedure? Who vetted the people competing for a slot? What, e.g., are Tim Tielman’s qualifications (over anyone else in town - like, say Jay McCarthy - to be a “public space advocate”?) Gosh, so many questions.

Chair - Brian Reilly, Chief Economic Development Officer, City of Buffalo

Boaters - Jimmy Jankowiak, Peter Stevens

Anglers - George Johnson, Black Anglers co-chair

Business - Mike Wolasz, Operations Director, Erie Basin Marina

Homeowners - Len Shabat, Waterfront Village Advisory Group

Marine Drive Apts. - Elizabeth Harris, Tenant Council President

Public Space - Tim Tielman, Public Space Advocate

Special Events - Sue Gonzalez, Special Events Coordinator, City of Buffalo

Public Works - Steve Stepniak, Acting Commissioner, DPW

Police - Dan Derenda, Deputy Commissioner, BPD

Congressional - Bonnie Kane Lockwood, Office of Congressman Higgins

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5 Responses to “Meet EBAG”

  1.  

    Chris Smith Says:
    May 2nd, 2008 at 9:25 am

    Here’s how the process now works at the county level, perhaps it’s something the city should consider to increase the number of voices in the planning community.

    http://www.erie.gov/exec/committees/

  2.  

    Chris Smith Says:
    May 2nd, 2008 at 9:39 am

    That is an allusion to the argument that developed in the “Path of Desire” thread at BRO about why Tielman is always the point man on all public space issues. The kid clumsily brought it up, but he has a point. The city puts these teams and committees together without much of a public notice or search procedure. I would apply to a committee if I knew they were soliciting members or input, however, I don’t see these notices on the city website. I check the city website at least once a day for RFP notices, property information, and press information…

    Tim isn’t a bad guy, but it would be nice to add to the voices on projects.

  3.  

    Jim Ostrowski Says:
    May 2nd, 2008 at 9:44 am

    Never ask how anyone got appointed to a government board around here unless you have really good life insurance.

  4.  

    indabuff Says:
    May 2nd, 2008 at 10:00 am

    Chris,

    Call, email, or stop in and say hi to your council person…tell them that you have an interest in getting involved with community planning or whatever for the city…they can help get you connected…

    - - -

    Why is it we have advisory groups for things like a Marina or Dog Park and not something like examining the state of Buffalo schools?

  5.  

    Don Staszczyk Says:
    May 21st, 2008 at 7:44 pm

    How would someone contact the Mayor’s Erie Basin Advisory Board?

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