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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMN-BPW-2018-03-06 BOARD OF PUBLIC WORKS PROCEEDINGS CITY OF ITHACA, NEW YORK Special Meeting 5:16 p.m. March 6, 2018 PRESENT: Vice-Chair Jenkins Commissioners (3) – Greene, McCormick, Morache OTHERS PRESENT: Superintendent of Public Works – Thorne Common Council Liaison – McGonigal Executive Assistant – Servoss EXCUSED: Mayor Myrick Commissioner – Warden City Attorney – Lavine Director of Engineering – Logue Assistant Superintendent of Water and Sewer – Whitney Assistant Superintendent of Streets and Facilities – Benjamin SPECIAL ORDER OF BUSINESS: A Proposed Resolution to Declare Lead Agency Status for the Environmental Review of the East State/MLK Jr. Street Sanitary Sewer Upgrade project By Commissioner Greene: 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 WHEREAS, the Department of Public Works is proposing to replace a 10” sanitary sewer on East State/MLK Jr. Street between the Tuning Fork and Mitchell Street with a 15” sanitary sewer in the same alignment, and WHEREAS, the project is a “Type I” action under CEQR because it is within 100 feet of the East Hill Historic District and is therefore a “Type I” action under SEQR as well, and WHEREAS, the Town of Ithaca (who must approve partial funding for the project) has agreed that the City may be the lead agency; 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 East State/MLK Jr. Street sanitary sewer upgrade project. Supt. Thorne explained that this review was required for a priority project to replace the sewer main on East State Street. This project must be completed before the water and sewer lines in Collegetown are replaced. The Town of Ithaca funds approximately 42% of the costs of the replacement, which is close to $1 million. Normally, the City does not complete a SEQR for sewer main replacements, but the Town Board felt the review was needed. The reason this is time sensitive because it needs to be completed prior to the next Town Board meeting on March 12, 2018, at which time the Town will begin their month -long review. If the project isn’t started by mid-April, it will not be completed this year. Staff attended the last Town Board meeting and requested that the City be lead agency. A Vote of the Resolution Resulted as Follows: Carried Unanimously Board of Public Works Page 2 March 6, 2018 Special Meeting Environmental Review for the East State/MLK Jr. Street Sanitary Sewer Upgrade - Resolution By Commissioner Morache: Seconded by Commissioner McCormick WHEREAS, the Board of Public Works has declared itself to be the lead agency for the environmental review for a project (“the Project”) to upgrade the East State/MLK Jr. Street sanitary sewer 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 includes the replacement of a 10” diameter sanitary sewer pipe with a 15” diameter sanitary sewer pipe in the same alignment, and WHEREAS, the Project is a Type 1 action according to CEQR and therefore a Type 1 action according to SEQR, and WHEREAS, a Full Environmental Assessment form was prepared by staff for CEQR and for SEQR, and WHEREAS, on March 6, 2018, the Board of Public Works declared itself lead agency for the environmental review for CEQR/SEQR, and WHEREAS, the Board of Public Works, acting as lead agency, has, on March 6, 2018, reviewed and accepted as complete CEQR/SEQR Full Environmental Assessment Forms Parts 1, 2 and 3 and other project materials prepared by staff, now therefore be it RESOLVED, That based on the information in Parts 1 and 2, and for the reasons stated in Part 3, the Board of Public Works determines that the project for the East State/MLK Jr. Street Sanitary Sewer Upgrade located in the City of Ithaca will result in no significant negative environmental impact 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. Commissioner McCormick noted that there are minor impacts on the environment, mostly just sound during construction. Supt. Thorne explained that the project is needed because there is a 12 inch sewer pipe flowing into a 10 inch pipe, which flows into an 18 inch pipe. This is causing a constriction, so the 10 inch pipe will be replaced with a 15 inch pipe, which is the proper size of pipe. This project is a basic sewer pipe replacement. Commissioner McCormick stated that because the project has some impact on traffic, the City should do what they can to let people know about the project and the traffic impacts. Supt. Thorne responded that staff would work with the City Clerk’s office to get the word out to the public in every way we know how, including using Swift911, social media, various webpages, local listservs, etc. Commissioner Greene asked how this project might impact the City Centre project. Supt. Thorne responded that if all goes well, this project should last 4 months, though staff is prepared for a 6 month timeframe. He further stated that the developers for the City Centre project were informed at the February Project Construction Coordinating meeting, and he will be setting up bi-weekly project meetings to ensure everything was coordinated between utility companies, Cornell and Ithaca College staff, TCAT, and city staff . He further noted that there would be one-lane closures with flaggers, first working on the south side of East State Street, and then moving to the north side. After the sewer line is replaced, the road will be repaved; asphalt plants close in October. A Vote of the Resolution Resulted as Follows: Carried Unanimously ADJOURNMENT: On a motion, the meeting adjourned at 5:27 p.m. Kathrin D. Servoss Claudia Jenkins Executive Assistant Vice-Chair