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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMN-BPW-2010-04-07BOARD OF PUBLIC WORKS PROCEEDINGS CITY OF ITHACA, NEW YORK Committee of the Whole Meeting 4:53 p.m. April 7, 2010 PRESENT: Mayor Peterson Commissioners (4) -Jenkins, Brock, Wykstra, Goldsmith OTHERS PRESENT: City Attorney - Hoffman Superintendent of Public Works - Gray Acting Assistant Superintendent of Streets and Facilities - Benjamin Assistant Superintendent of Water and Sewer – Whitney Common Council Liaison – Zumoff DAC Liaison – Roberts Executive Assistant – Gehring Environmental Engineer – Gibson EXCUSED: Commissioner Tripp ADDITIONS TO OR DELETIONS FROM THE AGENDA: Supt. Gray stated that the property owners of 525 West Buffalo Street would not be able to attend the Board meeting and requested the deletion of Item 3, Appeal of Water Service Repair for 525 West Buffalo Street, from the agenda. No Board member objected. Water Plant Project Update – Discussion Supt. Gray reported that the contract addendum had been circulated, O’Brien & Gere signed the contract and it had been returned for execution. City Attorney Hoffman added that all city staff signed and executed the contract addendum as well. Supt. Gray further explained that the water membrane pilot studies should begin within the week and suggested scheduling a field trip for the Board to visit the pilot study location. Environmental Engineer Gibson stated that all three pilot studies should be operating at the same time for simultaneous data collection. Site Selection for Sediment Management Facility Discussion followed on the floor regarding scheduling a visit to Montour Falls’ dredging spoil site on April 16, 2010. BPW Meeting Time – Discussion Discussion followed on the floor regarding several possible days and times for the Board meetings, including holding two meetings per month and forming subcommittees. Commissioner Wykstra suggested making all Board meetings voting meetings. No Board member objected. DAC Liaison Roberts arrived at 5:15 p.m. Mobile Vending in Collegetown – Discussion Vendor applicant Woepa Zegid joined the Board for the discussion of this item. Supt. Gray explained the request for mobile vending that Mr. Zegid submitted to sell hot dogs in the Collegetown area. He stated that Mr. Zegid applied to use a 10’x6’ trailer in a metered parking space. He further stated that there are currently two on-street food vendors in the City that were grandfathered in when the City made the decision to discontinue on-street food vendors in the City. The City has not approved requests for on-street food vending since then. Mayor Peterson noted the location the applicant requested was in front of the Performing Arts Center, which is on Cornell property, and the City’s property south of the Performing Arts Center does not have enough space for a vending cart on the Board of Public Works Page 2 April 7, 2010 Committee of the Whole Meeting sidewalk. Discussion followed regarding the width of the sidewalk, the possibility of Mr. Zegid renting a parking space each day, and other locations within Collegetown available for mobile vending. Supt. Gray noted that the parking spaces are metered and have a two-hour parking limit. Further discussion followed on the floor regarding other possible locations Mr. Zegid could place his vending trailer in Collegetown, the regulatory structure for mobile vending within the City, and potential congestion that could occur with customers waiting on the sidewalk if the vending trailer were parked in a metered parking space. Mayor Peterson requested assistance from a Board member to review the request and make a site visit. Commissioner Wykstra volunteered to speak with Junior Traffic Engineer Johnson, make the site visit, and to review property maps. Water Tank Painting & Cathodic Protection Project – Discussion Environmental Engineer Gibson joined the Board for the discussion of this item. He explained that the City water tanks range in size from 100,000 to 1,500,000 gallons, and three of the water tanks are made of steel, which require maintenance including repainting and roof replacement. He further explained that the water tanks on Maple Avenue were built in 1911, on Oakwood Lane in 1936 and on Cornell Street in 1937. He summarized the Request for Proposal (RFP) that was sent to consultants and explained the criteria used to select a consultant. He explained that five consultants responded to the RFP, including TG Miller, which is a local company. He noted that TG Miller had recently performed a similar project for Bolton Point. Supt. Gray stated the Board would need to approve the contract with TG Miller, which they agreed to vote on the approval of the contract at the April 14, 2010 meeting. Discussion followed on the floor regarding the work involved with the repainting and repair of the three water tanks noted above. 5. Protests to Sidewalk Snow Removal Bills – Discussion 5.1 704-06 & 708 North Cayuga Street 5.2 348-50 Elmira Road Supt Gray explained the appeals, noting that they are similar to the previous protests the Board reviewed 908 and 910 N. Cayuga Street. Discussion followed on the floor regarding whether the entire width or a substantial amount of the sidewalk must be cleared to provide for proper accessibility. DAC Liaison Roberts stated that the entire width of the sidewalk must be clear. Mayor Peterson left the meeting at 6:03 p.m. Acting Asst. Supt. Benjamin explained that material had been put on the ice and the sidewalk had been substantially cleared at 704-06 North Cayuga Street, whereas 708 North Cayuga Street did not have the same material applied nor was it cleared as well. Discussion followed on the floor regarding sidewalks that the City clears, billing policy, the number of invoices that had been sent out to date, and notification to residents. Commissioner Brock suggested publishing information in the Ithaca Journal each Fall explaining property owners’ responsibilities for snow removal from sidewalks, and expressed her opinion that the Board support Acting Asst. Supt. Benjamin’s recommendations. No Board member objected. ADJOURNMENT On a motion the meeting adjourned at 6:30 p.m. Kathrin D. Gehring Carolyn K. Peterson Executive Assistant Mayor