Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAboutMN-BPW-2013-01-07BOARD OF PUBLIC WORKS PROCEEDINGS CITY OF ITHACA, NEW YORK Regular Meeting 4:45 p.m. January 7, 2013 PRESENT: Mayor Myrick Commissioners (5) - Jenkins, Darling, Morache, Leccese, Acharya OTHERS PRESENT: City Attorney - Lavine Acting Supt. of Public Works/Asst. Supt. Streets & Facilities - Benjamin Assistant Superintendent of Water and Sewer – Whitney Common Council Liaison – Fleming Information Management Specialist - Myers Civil Engineer – West Assistant Civil Engineer – Yost Transportation Engineer – Logue EXCUSED: Commissioner Goldsmith DAC Liaison – Roberts ADDITIONS TO OR DELETIONS FROM THE AGENDA: There were no additions to or deletions from the agenda. MAYOR’S COMMUNICATIONS Mayor Myrick noted that today’s meeting was the first at which Asst. Supt. Benjamin is attending as “Acting Superintendent of Public Works.” He expressed his thanks and appreciation to Mr. Benjamin for stepping in to this role. He further reported that a search committee for a new Superintendent of Public Works is being set up. The committee will consist of three members of Common Council (Alderpersons Fleming, Dotson, and Proulx), and three members of the Board of Public Works. He asked Board members to consider whether they would like to volunteer to serve on the committee, and asked that the appointment of Board members to the search committee be added to the agenda for the January 14, 2013 meeting. He further explained that the committee will meet at least once as a group to review applications, and decide who to interview. There will then be one to two full days of interviews scheduled, after which the committee will make a recommendation of one of the candidates to the Mayor for appointment, which will require Common Council approval. Mayor Myrick reported that Commissioner Goldsmith will be on sabbatical until June 2013. He is in the process of reviewing applications from students who would like to serve temporarily as an “alternate” member of the Board. He hopes to make the decision soon so they can be appointed at the February 6, 2013 Common Council meeting. COMMUNICATIONS AND HEARINGS FROM PERSONS BEFORE THE BOARD: The following people addressed the Board on the topics noted: Mike McLaughlin, owner of Pudgies Pizza on Old Elmira Road, regarding the proposed reconstruction of Old Elmira Road. He submitted a petition signed by all affected property owners on the road requesting that the City openly share the details of this project with the affected property owners and the community to allow time to review and provide input before the construction commences. They further requested that staff and officials fully examine all the risks and dangers that this project may create during and after its completion. John Knapp, owner of the car wash located at 209 Old Elmira Road and owner of the property at 211 Old Elmira Road, explained that he only became aware of this proposed project five weeks ago. He encouraged the city to have an independent study of the project conducted regarding bicycle, pedestrian, and business access improvements. 2 January 7, 2013 RESPONSE TO PUBLIC: Mayor Myrick expressed support for the statements made about including affected property owners and the public involved with the proposed project on Old Elmira Road. Civil Engineer West stated that public meeting on the project has been scheduled tentatively for January 31, 2013. He also encouraged any Board members that may be interested to attend the meeting as well. PUBLIC HEARING FOR AUTHORIZATION TO RECONSTRUCT THE COMMONS: Resolution to Open Public Hearing: By Commissioner Jenkins: Seconded by Commissioner Acharya RESOLVED, That the Public Hearing for authorization to reconstruct the Commons be declared open. Carried Unanimously No one appeared to address the Board regarding authorization to reconstruct The Commons. Resolution to Close Public Hearing: By Commissioner Darling: Seconded by Commissioner Jenkins RESOLVED, That the Public Hearing for authorization to reconstruct the Commons be declared closed. Carried Unanimously REPORTS: Acting Supt. Benjamin reported that highway crews are working on a collapsed retaining wall near College Avenue at Cascadilla Gorge. They are trying to complete the work before students return because of the very busy location of the project. He further reported that crews are continuing snow removal from sidewalks and around parking meters. The tree crew will remove some trees that are in poor condition from Kelvin Place in the next few days. Asst. Supt. Whitney reported that the water storage tank is being drained so that it can have its annual inspection. There was a water main break at the 500 block of University Avenue which crews are working on, as well as replacement of non-functional hydrants, and work continues on water service installation for the Collegetown Terrace Project. APPROVAL OF MINUTES: Approval of the December 3, 2013 Board of Public Works Meeting Minutes – Resolution By Commissioner Acharya: Seconded by Commissioner Leccese RESOLVED, That the minutes of the December 3, 2012 Board of Public Works meeting be approved as published. Carried Unanimously VOTING ITEMS: HIGHWAYS, STREETS, AND SIDEWALKS: Declaration of Lead Agency Status for the Environmental Review of the East State/Martin Luther King Jr. Street and Mitchell Street Traffic Signal and Street Widening Project - Resolution By Commissioner Acharya: Seconded by Commissioner Morache WHEREAS, the State Environmental Quality Review Act (SEQR) and the City of Ithaca Environmental Quality Review Ordinance (CEQR), Section 176 of the City Code, require that a lead agency be established for conducting environmental review of projects in accordance with local and state environmental law, and WHEREAS, State Law specifies that for actions governed by local environmental review, the lead agency shall be that local agency which has primary responsibility for approving and funding or carrying out the action, and 3 January 7, 2013 WHEREAS, SEQR and CEQR both provide for an uncoordinated review for “Unlisted” projects that involve more than one agency, and WHEREAS, as a traffic control device, the proposed construction of a traffic signal at the intersection of East State/Martin Luther King Jr. Street and Mitchell Street is a Type II action under both SEQR and CEQR and therefore requires no environmental review; however, the widening of East State/MLK Jr. Street is an “Unlisted” action under SEQR and CEQR; now, therefore, be it RESOLVED, That the City of Ithaca Board of Public Works does hereby declare itself lead agency for the environmental review of the proposed the East State/Martin Luther King Jr. Street and Mitchell Street Traffic Signal and Street Widening Project. Carried Unanimously Environmental Review Declaration for the East State/Martin Luther King Jr. Street and Mitchell Street Traffic Signal and Street Widening Project - Resolution By Commissioner Morache: Seconded by Commissioner Darling WHEREAS, the Board of Public Works has declared itself to be the lead agency for the environmental review for a project (“the Project”) entitled “East State/Martin Luther King Jr. Street and Mitchell Street Traffic Signal and Street Widening Project” 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 Project involves widening East State/Martin Luther King Jr. Street by approximately 10 feet along a linear distance of approximately 300 feet (from approximately Eddy Street to Mitchell Street) in order to accommodate an additional dedicated left turn lane for eastbound traffic, and construction of a new traffic signal at the intersection with Mitchell Street, and WHEREAS, the Project is an Unlisted action according to CEQR and an Unlisted Action according to SEQR, and WHEREAS, a Short Environmental Assessment form was prepared by staff for CEQR and for SEQR, and WHEREAS, on January 7, 2013, the Board of Public Works declared itself lead agency for an uncoordinated environmental review for CEQR/SEQR, and WHEREAS, the Conservation Advisory Council has received a copy of the CEQR/SEQR short forms and a preliminary plan for the project, and WHEREAS, the Board of Public Works, acting as lead agency, has, on January 2, 2013, reviewed and accepted as complete Short Environmental Assessment Forms Part I and Part II prepared by staff, now therefore be it RESOLVED, That the Board of Public Works determines that the Project will result in no significant negative environmental impacts and that a Negative Declaration for purposes of Article 8 of the NYS Environmental Conservation Law be filed in accordance with the provisions of Part 617 of the State Environmental Quality Review Act and that a Negative Declaration for purposes of Section 176 of the City Code be filed in accordance with the City Environmental Quality Review Ordinance. Carried Unanimously DISCUSSION ITEMS: Friends of Stewart Park Grant Report for Stewart Park Rehabilitation: The City of Ithaca has been awarded $75,290 in State funding to complete the first phase of rehabilitation of the Cascadilla Boathouse to allow limited supervised use of the second floor gymnasium space. A secondary outdoor stairway will be constructed to bring the space to code, animal infestations will be removed and animal entrances will be restricted in the third floor attic. 4 January 7, 2013 Friends of Stewart Park would like to apply for a Tourism Grant (for approximately $70,000) to make improvements to the Large Pavilion, including replacing the roof, replacing or repairing columns, upgrading the lighting, and painting. President of Friends of Stewart Park, Scott Wiggins along with Rick Manning and Cascadilla Boat Club Co-President Fabins joined the Board for the discussion of this request. They explained how the proposed grant project would improve public access to the park as well as the boat house, and to express their thanks to the City for its work on the small tea pavilion. The grant application is due at 11:00 a.m. on January 8, 2013, and they would like to have a letter of support from the City for the proposed project to include with the grant application. The Board expressed its support for the work proposed in the grant application, and for Mayor Myrick to sign a letter in support on behalf of the Board and the City of Ithaca. Proposal for “Looking Into History” Exhibit at the Wharton Building in Stewart Park from the Ithaca Motion Picture Project: The Ithaca Motion Picture Project, in collaboration with The History Center, is applying for a Tompkins County Tourism Grant to create a multimedia exhibit in the Wharton Building (DPW maintenance building) at Stewart Park. Diana Reisman and Scott Callan from the Ithaca Motion Picture Project joined the Board for this topic, and to provide a brief power-point presentation of the proposed project and grant application they are in the process of completing for submission on January 8, 2013. Ms. Reisman explained their commitment to revitalizing the park and that they would like to have a letter of support for the project from the City to submit with the application. They explained further that the proposed exhibit would be something that the public would “look into” from the outside and that no public access inside the building would be permitted. They explained some of the exhibits would include the history of Ithaca, Ithaca Aviation, Ithaca’s connection to the Erie Canal, etc. This effort would help to promote and attract tourism to the area in general. Ms. Reisman stated that she has discussed the proposal with Youth Bureau Director Allen Green, and Acting Supt. Benjamin and they will work with the City to make sure their storage and other needs are met. It was noted that this grant application is competing with the previous one noted above. The Board expressed its support for the work proposed in the grant application, and for Mayor Myrick to sign a letter in support on behalf of the Board and the City of Ithaca. Sidewalk Overview – Recap of 2012: Assistant Civil Engineer Lynne Yost, Assistant Civil Engineer, provided information about the sidewalk program and about the length of sidewalk that was replaced by the City in 2012, and joined the Board for the discussion and any questions they might have. Discussion followed on the floor regarding the policy for repair/replacement of tree damaged sidewalk. Commissioner Jenkins expressed her concern about the City’s tree in the tree lawn causing damage to the sidewalk that the property owner is then responsible for. Some property owners would like the tree removed so that it won’t cause damage to the sidewalk but the City will not issue a permit to do so.. She noted the unfairness then to the property owner in that situation when they’re faced with the cost of the repair/replacement of the sidewalk. Acting Supt. Benjamin reported that staff is finding ways to improve the protection of tree roots and therefore protection of sidewalks, but that does not help present conditions, or address the liability concerns of property owners. Mayor Myrick stated that this problem is an area in the new sidewalk policy that will be difficult to work with. He stated that the Shade Tree Advisory Committee of the City is very committed to the protection and preservation of all City trees and does not support the removal of them other than for specific reasons such as disease or danger to surrounding areas. He would like to set up a sub-group made up of Common Council members, Board of Public Works members, Shade Tree Advisory Committee members, 5 January 7, 2013 and staff to review this topic and determine what changes could be recommended that would assist property owners and preserve the trees. Commissioner Morache stated that the sidewalk policy that the Board approved in 2012 was a stop-gap measure. It is an improvement on the past policy, and can be used until the code change is made after it goes to referendum for a vote by the public in November. If that vote fails, then the Board is back at square one. The City has no money in its budget to pay for tree damaged sidewalks so that is why the policy is now written that the cost for repair of tree damaged sidewalks is the property owners’ responsibility. 2013 Board Meeting Calendar: A number of holidays land on Mondays in 2013, which will affect Board meetings. The Board agreed to cancel those meetings that fall on City Holidays and to schedule special meetings as needed. Water Line Protection Direct Mailing from American Water Resources: City Clerk Julie Holcomb received an e-mail from American Water Resources, which she shared with staff. American Water Resources is planning to send mail to Ithaca Residents trying to sell insurance on the water lines that run through their properties, especially the portion from the water main to their houses. Asst. Supt. Whitney recommends that homeowners should contact their insurance agent to ensure this policy is cost effective for them. A brief discussion followed on the floor regarding the need for the Board to discuss at some point in the near future billing for the storm water utility costs. NEW BUSINESS: A discussion was held on the floor regarding the need to inform property owners, tenants, residents about their responsibilities for sidewalk maintenance, snow removal – especially around curb cuts, and property owners being responsible for the water laterals to their properties. The Board suggested that information be presented on the city’s website on a cyclic basis under the subject of “Did you know you were responsible for:?”, or to include cyclic information in water bills - something on colored paper that would get attention, such as tree maintenance, spring street cleaning etc. Each year the City has a turn-over in its population so the same information is needed each year for new residents. Mayor Myrick said that he would talk with City Clerk Holcomb about including this information in the City’s monthly newsletter, putting information together to include in water bills on an annual/cyclic basis regarding above topics. Information would not have to be changed necessarily just cycled through each year at the appropriate time for new residents on the website, newsletter, and in water bills. Mayor Myrick stated that he would ask the City Attorney to report back to the Board on the storm water utility billing issue and whether the City needs to wait for the State’s enabling legislation to move forward or what the options are for the City with regard to this topic. ADJOURNMENT: On a motion the meeting adjourned at 6:05 p.m. Sarah L. Myers Svante L. Myrick Information Management Specialist Mayor