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Home My WebLink AboutMN-BPW-2015-01-12BOARD OF PUBLIC WORKS PROCEEDINGS CITY OF ITHACA, NEW YORK Regular Meeting 4:46 p.m. January 12, 2015 PRESENT: Vice-Chair – Jenkins Commissioners (4) – Darling, Goldsmith, Morache, Warden OTHERS PRESENT: Superintendent of Public Works – Thorne Assistant Superintendent of Water and Sewer – Whitney Assistant Superintendent of Streets and Facilities – Benjamin Director of Engineering – West Director of Parking – Nagy Executive Assistant – Gehring EXCUSED: Mayor Myrick City Attorney – Lavine Common Council Liaison – Fleming DAC Liaison – Roberts ADDITIONS OR DELETIONS TO THE AGENDA: Supt. Thorne added item 9.2, Stewart Avenue Bridge over Cascadilla Creek Painting Project, for discussion. No Board member objected. MAYOR’S COMMUNICATIONS: Mayor was not present. COMMUNICATIONS AND HEARINGS FROM PERSONS BEFORE THE BOARD: No members of the public appeared to address the Board. RESPONSE TO THE PUBLIC No response was necessary. REPORTS Superintendent and Staff Director of Engineering West reported that Department of Public Works staff, Planning Department staff, Friends of Stewart Park and the Motion Picture Project will evaluate the buildings at Stewart Park to ensure all stakeholders share a common vision regarding the work that needs to be done. Commissioner Goldsmith suggested including the Parks Commission on those discussions. Director of Engineering West noted that Megan Wilson, Planning staff member, attends all the meetings. She also staffs the Parks Commission meetings. Mark Darling arrived at 4:49 p.m. Asst. Supt. Benjamin reported that he attended a hiring process workshop, crews have been catching up on off-season work, and training several new employees. Interviews for another electrician have been scheduled. Asst. Supt. Whitney reported that valves and hydrants are being replaced on side streets, there have been a couple of water main breaks due to the cold weather, and a broken sewer main on Catherine Street was replaced. Director of Parking Nagy reported the following: Transient Revenue December final number up 17% Over last year up $11,661 Apple Festival up 26% Over last year up $14,171.57 Year to Date up 32% ($163,313.64) Board of Public Works Page 2 January 12, 2015 Regular Meeting On-Street Revenue for December Down 21% $14,245 Year to Date down 4% $28,520 (Due to being short one staff member) LPR Hits 244 Tickets 102 YTD Hits 1,292 YTD Tickets 473 (4.5 months) Boot & Tow Revenues for December Boot Revenue $1,107 YTD $4,045 (2 months) Letters Sent $4,282 YTD $18,523 Dismissed $1,823 YTD $11,848 Total $3,566 YTD $22,568 2 Hour Free Parking for December Customers 4,133 No. of Hours 7,093 Percent of Allotment Used 46% He further stated that the purchase order is ready to purchase 23 pay machines with delivery beginning in March. Two platforms have already been poured; 21 more platforms need to be built. Also, a merchant meeting regarding parking and the pay machines is scheduled for Thursday, January 15, 2015, at 9:00 a.m. APPROVAL OF MINUTES: Approval of the December 22, 2014, Board of Public Works Meeting Minutes - Resolution By Commissioner Morache: Seconded by Commissioner Goldsmith RESOLVED, That the minutes of the December 22, 2014 Board of Public Works meeting be approved as proposed. Carried Unanimously ADMINISTRATION AND COMMUNICATIONS: Election of Board of Public Works Vice Chair for 2015 – Resolution By Commissioner Goldsmith: Seconded by Commissioner Morache RESOLVED, That Commissioner Jenkins be appointed as the Vice Chair of the Board of Public Works for 2015. Carried Unanimously 2015 Board Meeting Calendar Commissioner Goldsmith stated the calendar is very helpful and thanked Executive Assistant Gehring for creating it. The Board agreed. Proposed Agenda Format Modification Commissioner Goldsmith stated the new agenda format looks good, and asked about adding notes about the items to the agenda. Executive Assistant Gehring stated the new format would allow notes to be added to the agenda. VOTING ITEMS: Highways, Streets and Sidewalks: Award of Bid for Route 13 Pedestrian Crossing Improvements at Dey Street and Third Street – Resolution By Commissioner Goldsmith: Seconded by Commissioner Morache WHEREAS, bids were received on December 11, 2014 for the Route 13 Pedestrian Crossing Improvements at Dey Street and Third Street project, CP 718, PIN 395035, and WHEREAS, staff has reviewed the three bids received and made a recommendation for award, and WHEREAS, the New York State Department of Transportation has reviewed the bid package and low bidder information and has authorized the City to award contract, and Board of Public Works Page 3 January 12, 2015 Regular Meeting WHEREAS, the New York State Department of Transportation has not yet received the latest Construction Management Plan and, in consequence, has not been able to issue a “Permission to Award” letter, now therefore be it RESOLVED, That the City of Ithaca Board of Public Works hereby awards, contingent upon receiving “permission to award” authorization from the New York State Department of Transportation, the contract for the Route 13 Pedestrian Crossing Improvements at Dey Street and Third Street project to Nelson & Streeter Construction Co. Inc., dba Airport Striping, P.O. Box 184, Pine City, NY for their low bid meeting specifications of $456,849.90. Commissioner Goldsmith requested to view the design for the pedestrian crossings. He hoped the design was very pedestrian friendly and expressed concern about the potential for pedestrian overpasses over the railroad. Director of Engineering West responded that the pedestrian crossings will be at grade with a lot of coordination with the railroad company. Director of Engineering West reported that a revised resolution was provided because New York State Department of Transportation (NYSDOT) had not yet provided permission to award letter, so the award by the Board of Public Works would be contingent upon receiving permission from NYSDOT. A vote of the resolution resulted as follows: Carried Unanimously DISCUSSION ITEMS: Fee Structure for Snow Removal and Lawn Mowing Offenses Asst. Supt. Benjamin stated that there are several addresses throughout the city that crews must return to consistently to clear sidewalks, particularly the commercial businesses along Elmira Road, but most residential properties are corner lots. Staff believes it is cheaper for the property owners to pay the city for the snow removal than to hire someone. The only time the city has charged more than $50 per incident was when large piles of snow needed to be removed. He further stated that most mowing violations occur at Carpenter Circle and properties with vacant buildings. Discussion followed on the floor regarding the current policy of clearing sidewalks as quickly as possible then sending bills out to property owners, the costs of clearing sidewalks and mowing neglected properties, and how much the city could charge property owners for residential vs. business properties. Commissioner Darling suggested fees be adjusted to be more expensive than private plowers charge. Commissioner Morache suggested that the fees for businesses could be escalated from $1/linear foot for the first offense, $1.50/linear foot for the second offense, $2/linear foot for third offense, etc. For residential properties, fees could be $50 for the first offense, $100 for the second offense, $150 for the third offense, etc. If there is extra work to clear corners, the charges should reflect that work. Supt. Thorne stated that language should be placed in the city code through legislation, along with a resolution from the Board. Commissioner Goldsmith expressed his opinion that the current language talks about charging for actual costs, which should be changed to be an escalating fee structure. Commissioner Darling suggested that Department of Public Works crews could work with Building Department staff to issue tickets along with bills for sidewalk clearing or mowing, especially for the repeat offenders. Commissioner Goldsmith further suggested that the first offense could be a warning, then a high fee could be charged beginning with the second offense. Supt. Thorne said he would talk with the city attorney about changing city code language. Stewart Avenue Bridge over Cascadilla Creek Painting Project Bridge Systems Engineer Gebre joined the Board for the discussion of this top and explained the bridge painting project, which was selected by New York State Department of Transportation for preservation in 2015. He requested the Board review the proposed resolution and make comments for the Board’s next meeting. Board of Public Works Page 4 January 12, 2015 Regular Meeting Discussion followed on the floor regarding the timeline for obtaining approval from the Board and Common Council, the proposed budget, and communicating with Cornell regarding the plan to paint the bridge. Director of Engineer West noted that the resolution was asking for funding for the design of the project, not construction funding. Further discussion followed regarding state and federal funding percentages. The Board agreed to vote on the resolution at the next Board meeting. ADJOURNMENT: On a motion, the meeting adjourned at 5:40 p.m. Kathrin D. Gehring Claudia Jenkins Executive Assistant Vice Chair