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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMN-BPW-2013-02-04BOARD OF PUBLIC WORKS PROCEEDINGS CITY OF ITHACA, NEW YORK Regular Meeting 4:45 p.m. February 4, 2013 PRESENT: Mayor Myrick Commissioners (5) — Acharya, Darling, Jenkins, Leccese, Morache OTHERS PRESENT: Acting Superintendent of Public Works — Benjamin Assistant Superintendent of Water and Sewer — Whitney Assistant City Engineer — West Common Council Liaison — Fleming Executive Assistant — Gehring Transportation Engineer — Logue EXCUSED: Commissioner Goldsmith City Attorney — Lavine DAC Liaison — Roberts ADDITIONS TO OR DELETIONS FROM THE AGENDA: There were no additions to or deletions from the agenda. MAYOR'S COMMUNICATIONS: The Mayor had no communications at this time. COMMUNICATIONS AND HEARINGS FROM PERSONS BEFORE THE BOARD: Anne Clavel, City of Ithaca, addressed the Board opposed to proposal to eliminate parking requirements for new construction. More than 50% of Ithaca's population is students coming from a long distance, requiring travel by vehicle. David Nutter, Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Council Chair, addressed the Board regarding the proposed East State Street and Mitchell Street intersection design. He stated the Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Council agrees with the design recommended by Transportation Engineer Tim Logue. The Council further supports the complete street concept for Old Elmira Road, which includes sidewalks and bike lanes on both sides of the street. Tom Hanna, Friends of Newman representative, addressed the Board regarding Newman Golf Course to notify the Board that despite the weather, Friends of Newman is working during the winter with dedicated seasonal staff that is volunteering their time to create plans for next season. Friends of Newman will be requesting more funds from Commons Council to increase wages for staff to Living Wages. He further expressed support of the proposal to eliminate minimum parking requirements for new construction. Donna Fleming, Alderperson, read a statement on behalf of Susan Blumenthal, former Council Alderperson, regarding the East State Street /Mitchell Street intersection. She expressed concern regarding potential issues, including safety and side street impacts that could occur from modifications to the intersection. RESPONSE TO THE PUBLIC Mayor Myrick responded to Mr. Hanna's statement regarding the living wage adjustment. He stated that Council approved the living wage requirement for all employees after July 1, 2013. He stated that the City Controller would look into whether additional funds would be required for Newman Golf Course. ADMINISTRATION AND COMMUNICATIONS: Leadership Tompkins Update on a New Mobile Vending Program Executive Assistant Kathy Gehring introduced members of the Leadership Tompkins Community Action Project Group working on a proposal for a new Mobile Vending Program. She also explained the proposal from Jess Seaver to create a Food Truck Roundup next to Thompson Park. Board of Public Works Page 2 February 4, 2013 Regular Meeting Liz Brahn, Tim Jett, and Drew DeFan joined the Board for the discussion of this topic. Ms. Brahn began the presentation and explained the project they were working on. She noted the goals of the project, which includes offering information guidelines and suggested best practices for a pilot program to foster smart growth of mobile vending in the City of Ithaca. She further explained the tasks the project group have conducted and plan to work on in the coming weeks, including researching other cities' successful mobile vending policies, interviewing existing mobile vendors, requesting information and feedback from restaurant owners, and gathering input from stakeholders. The group noted that a final report would be available in early spring (April or May). The report will contain a list of resources, a draft of policy suggestions and guidelines, and a map of the city with suggested locations. They requested feedback from the Board. Commissioner Acharya expressed his approval of the draft policy, stating the policy may be beneficial for mobile vendors and restaurant owners alike. He suggested the zoning map be consulted when determining potential locations for mobile vendors. Mayor Myrick stated he was encouraged by the work the CAP group has completed, and this type of microenterprise would be good for the City. REPORTS Superintendent and Staff Director of Engineering West reported that staff met with business and property owners last week about the Old Elmira Road project at the library to obtain feedback, and alternative designs would be presented to the Board later this month. He further reported that New York State Dept. of Transportation would be accepting applications for transportation enhancement projects that fit within two tiers: $250,000 to $10 million, and more than $10 million. He requested feedback from the Board about the types of projects that should be submitted. The Board unanimously suggested Stewart Avenue Reconstruction Project. Acting Supt. Benjamin reported that water connections on East State Street have been completed, with another service due to be installed beyond Mitchell Street; crews were working on the Tea Pavilion in Stewart Park and snow removal; and issues have been discovered on South Hill with sump pumps and freezing water running across the sidewalks. Asst. Supt. Whitney reported that a sewer main collapse was repaired on Hillview Place between Aurora and Hudson Streets; services would be installed soon for Seneca Way Apartments; and the City has been invited by the US Fish and Wildlife Service to participate in a joint grant opportunity with them on a piece of the Cayuga Inlet that was surveyed in 1999, with DEC, Tompkins County, Town of Newfield, Fish and Wildlife Service, NYSDOT, and Finger Lakes Land Trust. VOTING ITEMS: Buildings, Properties, Refuse and Transit: Award of Contract for Professional Services for the Commons Repair & Upgrade Project — Resolution By Commissioner Acharya: Seconded by Commissioner Morache WHEREAS, Common Council has established Capital Project 724 to reconstruct the Commons in the amount of $9,000,000, and WHEREAS, the Engineering Office, in conjunction with the Department of Planning and Development, is recommending that the City contract for professional project management services for this project due to existing staff work load, and WHEREAS, the Engineering Office, in conjunction with the Department of Planning and Development, solicited qualifications publicly, received three responses, interviewed candidates, and recommended PTR Management Consulting, LLC, 122 Pine Tree Road, Ithaca, NY, and WHEREAS, after developing and agreeing to a scope of work, staff recommends a contract with PTR Management Consulting, LLC, not to exceed $200,000 and WHEREAS, funds for the professional services are available from Capital Project 724, now therefore be it Board of Public Works Page 3 February 4, 2013 Regular Meeting RESOLVED, That the Board of Public Works authorizes the Superintendent of Public Works to enter into contract with PTR Management Consulting, LLC for professional services related to overall project management for the Commons Repair & Upgrade Project at a total contract cost not to exceed $200,000. Carried Unanimously Highways, Streets and Sidewalks: Resolution to Approve Preliminary Design for the East State /Martin Luther King Jr. Street and Mitchell Street Traffic Signal and Street Widening Project By Commissioner Morache: Seconded by Commissioner Jenkins WHEREAS, Common Council has established Capital Project 775 to widen a portion of East State /Martin Luther King Jr. Street and install a traffic signal at the intersection with Mitchell Street, and WHEREAS, in January meetings of the Board of Public Works, the Board was presented preliminary design alternatives and also met the requirements for environmental review in accordance with Section 176 of the Ithaca City Code (CEQR) and in accordance with Article 8 of the New York State Environmental Conservation Law (SEQR), and WHEREAS, the Engineering Office held a public meeting on January 15, 2015, in order to further present the alternatives and to solicit public input on the project, and WHEREAS, the Board has received written comments from the public and a recommendation for preliminary design concept "2.B" from the City Transportation Engineer, now therefore be it RESOLVED, That the Board of Public Works hereby approves preliminary design alternative "2.13" and directs the Engineering Office to proceed into detailed design and construction documents for bidding based on this alternative, recognizing that the exact layout of the traffic signal poles and mast arms may differ from the drawing based on a range of factors, including staff judgment, standards or requirements, or underground utilities. Transportation Engineer Logue joined the Board for the discussion of this topic. Discussion followed on the floor regarding traffic studies, traffic models, colored paving for crosswalks and bike lanes rather than painting the road, installing a turn light for vehicles coming downhill on Mitchell Street to East State Street while vehicles traveling east on East State Street turning left onto Mitchell Street. A Vote on the Resolution Resulted as Follows: Carried Unanimously Parking and Traffic: Resolution to Recommend the Elimination of Parking Minimums By Commissioner: Seconded by Commissioner WHEREAS, Common Council approved as part of the 2013 Budget, the hiring of a Director of Parking to oversee Ithaca's public parking resources, including on- street parking, parking lots and public garages, at a projected cost of $104,000 annually to the taxpayers, and WHEREAS, the parking resources of the City of Ithaca operate at a loss to the taxpayers of approximately $1,000,000 per year, and WHEREAS, the Director of Parking will be hired on a conditional basis and be evaluated based on their ability to generate revenue from the City's parking resources, ostensibly covering the cost of the Director of Parking's salary, and WHEREAS, the off - street parking required by the zoning ordinance creates a parking supply that competes with public parking, and WHEREAS, the proliferation of curb cuts for off - street parking and private driveways reduces the amount of parking available to the public by effectively privatizing public street infrastructure for exclusive use without compensation to the City, and Board of Public Works Page 4 February 4, 2013 Regular Meeting WHEREAS, this competing private parking supply and reduced public parking supply will undermine the effectiveness of the new Director of Parking and reduce the parking revenue potential for the City, and WHEREAS, in the long term, allowing the market to provide only that parking it deems necessary will likely tighten overall supply, thus increasing the value and revenue potential of City -owned parking resources, and WHEREAS, it is unfair to expect the Director of Parking to be evaluated based on performance when the zoning policies of the City work against his /her success, and WHEREAS, it is unfair to the taxpayers to expect them to bear an extra salary burden while simultaneously undermining their investment with the current zoning policy, now therefore be it RESOLVED, That the Board of Public Works recommends to Common Council that they eliminate parking minimums City -wide in all zoning districts, so as to support the success of the Director of Parking and maximize potential revenue from the City's parking resources. Transportation Engineer Logue remained with the Board for the discussion of this topic. Commissioner Morache began the discussion regarding the resolution by explaining that his intent was to specify the consequences to public works if parking minimums were continued. Alderperson Fleming strongly disagreed with making any policy changes before the Director of Parking position was filled. She stated the new person may have other recommendations and strategies related to parking minimums. Mayor Myrick explained that the Director of Parking position was supposed to manage parking, not change policy. He doesn't believe that removing the minimum parking requirements for new construction would have an impact on the supply of on- street parking for a year or more. Discussion followed on the floor regarding discouraging visitors from bringing vehicles to the City, utilization of public parking options, parking permits for on- street parking locations, advertising the parking garages, and ensuring the residential parking permitting system is used. Director of Engineering West left the meeting at 5:54 p.m. Transportation Engineer Logue noted that removing the minimum parking requirements was not a ban on parking, but it takes away the requirement that developers provide onsite parking for new construction projects. Vote on the resolution resulted as follows: Carried Unanimously DISCUSSION ITEMS: Resolution recommending the establishment of Parking Benefit Districts This item was not discussed. ADJOURNMENT: On a motion, the meeting adjourned at 6:03 p.m. Kathrin D. Gehring Svante L. Myrick Executive Assistant Mayor