HomeMy WebLinkAboutMN-BPW-2015-07-13BOARD OF PUBLIC WORKS PROCEEDINGS
CITY OF ITHACA, NEW YORK
Regular Meeting 4:52 p.m. July 13, 2015
PRESENT:
Mayor Myrick
Commissioners (5) – Darling, Goldsmith, Greene, Jenkins, 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
Common Council Liaison – Fleming
Executive Assistant – Servoss
EXCUSED:
City Attorney – Lavine
DAC Liaison – Roberts
ADDITIONS OR DELETIONS TO THE AGENDA:
Dir. of Eng. West requested the addition of item13C, entitled “Contract for Giles Street and
North Cayuga Street Repaving Project.” No Board member objected.
Supt. Thorne requested that item 12A and 13A be exchanged. No Board member objected.
MAYOR’S COMMUNICATIONS:
The Mayor had no communications at this time.
COMMUNICATIONS AND HEARINGS FROM PERSONS BEFORE THE BOARD:
Scott Laffer, City of Ithaca, addressed the Board regarding his request for storage for rowing
shells. He stated that Cascadilla Boat Club has a policy that limits the rowing group by
allowing only one guest per member; rowing shells hold four people and the membership and
storage fees are too expensive for the rowing group. He stated they have the boats and
insurance, just need storage.
Alderperson Cynthia Brock stated that Mr. Laffer has reached out to Cascadilla Boat Club, but
membership requirements limit the group of adults that like to row together. They were looking
for either the opportunity to store their trailer next to a floating dock, or rent a storage facility.
She stated that there was space available next to the Cascadilla Boat Club’s leased property in
Stewart Park.
RESPONSE TO THE PUBLIC
No response was provided.
REPORTS
Board Liaisons
Commissioner Warden, SJC liaison, reported that the Wastewater Treatment Facility is now
creating at least 50% of its own energy. He stated that Jose Lozano was studying the issue of
microbeads that are in several commercial products, and he feels the City should assist with
publicizing that microbeads were in those products.
Superintendent and Staff
Dir. of Eng. West reported on the following:
The Cayuga Waterfront Trail Pedestrian Bridge was put in place this morning,
The concrete path on Cascadilla Rim Trail was installed this morning,
Bids were opened recently for mill and pave projects and the Safe Routes to Schools
Project, and
The Stewart Park Large Pavilion bathrooms should be opened by the end of the week
Asst. Supt. Benjamin reported that the South Aurora Street Repaving Project had fallen behind
due to recent weather. NYSEG was working to catch up.
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Regular Meeting
Asst. Supt. Whitney reported on the following:
The water service on Willard Way would be completed this week,
Water and Sewer crews were working with Streets and Facilities crews on South Aurora
Street, and
Crews were working on the settling basins at the new Water Treatment Plant.
Dir. of Parking Nagy reported on the following:
New pay machines for on-street parking were turned on last week: 65 transactions
were made on the first day; 201 transactions on the second day; 354 transactions the
third day; 727 transaction the fourth day; and 831 transactions the fifth day.
The contract with ParkMobile was being drafted and he would present it to Downtown
Ithaca alliance Board on July 20, 2015, with a breakfast meeting with the merchants at
the end of the month. He was handing out brochures to merchants personally.
The two-hour free parking program would end on July 31, 2015, with the validation
program beginning around the same time.
Supt. Thorne reported on the following:
City staff were working with New York State Department of Environmental Conservation
(NYSDEC) on the dredging project, having received a draft Memorandum of
Understanding (MOU). Staff are reviewing and commenting on the MOU.
Design would begin for the project after the MOU was signed, with the dredging
planned to begin in Spring 2017.
ADMINISTRATION AND COMMUNICATIONS:
Approval of the August 18, 2014, and June 22, 2015, Board of Public Works Meeting
Minutes - Resolution
By Commissioner Jenkins: Seconded by Commissioner Warden
RESOLVED, That the minutes of the August 18, 2014, and June 22, 2015, Board of Public
Works meeting be approved proposed/with noted corrections.
Carried Unanimously
WATER AND SEWER:
Appeal of Water Bill for 214 Elmira Road – Account #4900299202 – RESOLUTION
By Commissioner Darling: Seconded by Commissioner Warden
WHEREAS, on 2/27/2014, the Finger Lakes ReUse, Inc. took ownership of the water service
at 214 Elmira Road, and
WHEREAS, the building at 214 Elmira Road (former BOCES School) had a 2-inch meter and a
corresponding minimum billing of 112-HCF or $1,184.96 per 2014 quarter, and
WHEREAS, at the request of Finger Lakes ReUse, and after a review by the City Plumbing
Inspector, the 2-inch water meter was replaced with a 1-inch water meter on 9/5/2014, the
corresponding minimum bill for a 1-inch meter was reduced to 32-HCF or $338.56 per quarter,
and
WHEREAS, the total metered water usage for 214 Elmira Road during the time frame between
2/27/14 and 9/5/14 was 4-HCF, and
WHEREAS, the Owners are requesting relief for the two quarters in 2014 where the water
billing was based on the 2-inch meter minimum, and
WHEREAS, the difference between the minimum billing for a 2-inch and a 1-inch meter is 112-
HCF – 32-HCF = 80-HCF or ($1,184.96 – $338.56 = $846.40 per quarter), for two quarters
totaling $1,692.80, and
WHEREAS, the owners have been paying the minimum bill each quarter all along, and
WHEREAS, Water Department Staff recommends that, based on the minimal actual metered
consumption, a practical and equitable resolution to the matter would be to refund the
$1,692.80 difference between the 1-inch meter and 2-inch meter minimum bills, now therefore
be it
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RESOLVED, That the billing for the two quarters in 2014 at the 2-inch water meter minimum
quarterly rate of $1,184.96 be reduced to the 1-inch water meter minimum quarterly rate of
$338.56, and the Board of Public Works requests that the City Chamberlain issue a refund of
$1,692.80 on the minimum charges for water and sewer consumption.
Carried Unanimously
DISCUSSION ITEMS:
Appeal of Water Service Installation Bill for 292 Westwood Knoll – Resolution
By Commissioner Greene: Seconded by Commissioner Warden
WHEREAS, on August 13, 2014 the Water & Sewer Division of the City DPW installed new
water and sewer services at 292 Westwood Knoll , and
WHEREAS, on December 19, 2014 the homeowners were sent a bill for the new water and
sewer services which included $720.00 for street patching by the Streets & Facilities Division
of the DPW, and
WHEREAS, on January 20, 2015 the homeowners requested a $720.00 reduction in the bill
since their driveway paving contractor had also patched the pavement in the road, and
WHEREAS, the homeowners driveway paving contractor had repaired the street without
coordination with the DPW, without obtaining a street work permit, and without providing proof
of required insurance coverage to do such work within City Street, and
WHEREAS, the work done by homeowners paving contractor did not include the necessary
saw cutting and preparation of existing pavement with tack coat to effect a proper repair, and
WHEREAS, the work and material specifications are unknown and the area patched has now
settled with the existing pavement surrounding the patch now broken up, and
WHEREAS, the Streets and Facilities Division of the DPW will still have to perform work to
properly patch the area, now therefore be it
RESOLVED, That the $2,685.91 City of Ithaca billing (invoice #19845) for the installation of the
new water and sewer services in the street remain as billed without a $720.00 reduction for
pavement patching.
Carried Unanimously
Rowing Shell Storage Request
Mayor Myrick expressed support for the proposal submitted by Scott Laffer, especially with all
the options that were provided. Supt. Thorne responded that the Water Resources Committee
felt the only suggestion that could be implemented quickly was boat storage, and his inclination
would be to keep boat storage in a park (Cass and/or Stewart Parks). The request to install a
dock in the Floor Control Channel would require a permit from NYSDEC.
Commissioner Goldsmith stated that it has been documented that boat storage was an issue
everywhere and state parks had begun providing some storage. He expressed support for the
City offering boat storage for residents.
Alderperson Cynthia Brock and Scott Laffer joined the Board for the discussion regarding the
docks at Cass Park. Mrs. Brock stated that two of the available docks were fixed, the third
dock had posts sticking up, which made it difficult to put boats in the water, and none of the
docks would be appropriate for 40 foot rowing shells.
Discussion followed on the floor regarding the safety of storing rowing shells outside.
Commissioner Warden expressed support for the City doing what it could to assist this group
of rowers that wanted access to the water that were not members of Cascadilla Boat Club. He
suggested charging a nominal fee that could be saved for future dock installations.
Further discussion followed on the floor regarding the existence of boat storage outside the
boat club building, other rowing/boating groups that could benefit from storage, and other cities
providing boat storage and access to water. In addition, Alderperson Brock suggested the City
begin working with NYSDEC to install a dock on Inlet Island because of the shopping and
dining opportunities.
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The Board generally agreed to Option 1A, allowing trailer storage in Stewart Park,
immediately, and to work on Option 2, installation of a floating dock in the Flood Control
Channel, as a more permanent solution.
Supt. Thorne noted that there were several docks already along the inlet and flood control
channel that were not used. Alderperson Brock stated those docks did not have a way to tie
boats to them. Supt. Thorne continued to state that staff could begin working with NYSDEC,
but he believed there would be a lot of hoops to jump through that may delay the installation of
new docks.
Commissioner Goldsmith noted that most of the questions the Board was discussing were also
being addressed by the Water Resources Committee.
Contract for Giles Street and North Cayuga Street Repaving Project
Dir. of Eng. West reported that a bid was published for the reconstruction of North Cayuga
Street and Giles Street, but only one bidder responded. He stated that once staff reviewed the
bid, it was determined that the bid was published incorrectly, which caused the contractor to
submit a bid over budget. Staff was confident that an award of contract would be provided to
the Board at its next meeting, but would like to offer an opportunity for a discussion now.
Discussion followed on the floor regarding the submitted bid, how the published bid was
incorrect, and the budget that was corrected. Dir. of Eng. West noted that staff were
negotiating the contract with the bidder.
ADJOURNMENT:
On a motion, the meeting adjourned at 5:46 p.m.
Kathrin D. Servoss Svante L. Myrick
Executive Assistant Mayor