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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMN-BPW-2014-06-09BOARD OF PUBLIC WORKS PROCEEDINGS CITY OF ITHACA, NEW YORK Regular Meeting 4:50 p.m. June 9, 2014 PRESENT: Mayor Myrick Commissioners (6) — Acharya, Darling, Goldsmith, Jenkins, Morache, Warden OTHERS PRESENT: Superintendent of Public Works — Thorne Assistant Superintendent of Streets and Facilities — Benjamin Director of Engineering — West Director of Parking — Nagy Executive Assistant — Gehring Chief of Staff — Sutherland EXCUSED: City Attorney — Lavine Assistant Superintendent of Water and Sewer — Whitney Common Council Liaison — Fleming DAC Liaison — Roberts ADDITIONS OR DELETIONS TO THE AGENDA: Director of Engineering West requested that Item 8.2A, Award of Contract for Old Elmira Road Complete Streets Project — Capital Project 784 — Resolution, be deleted from the agenda to provide staff more time to analyze the received bids. Supt. Thorne further requested that a new Item 8.2A entitled, Approval of South Cayuga Street & West Spencer Street Stairwell for the Public Art Commission's Mural and Street Art Program — Resolution, be added to the agenda. No Board member objected. MAYOR'S COMMUNICATIONS: The Mayor had no communications at this time. COMMUNICATIONS AND HEARINGS FROM PERSONS BEFORE THE BOARD: Robert Nobles, 112 East Falls Street, addressed the Board with concerns about the cost that was listed in the newspaper for installing new signs if the odd /even parking regulations were to be changed. He stated he was worried about increasing taxes. Margherita Fabrizio, 105 Cascadilla Park Road, addressed the Board with concerns about the terrible state of Cascadilla Park Road and the need to repair the road. She expressed concern about the City being so underfunded that it can't maintain or repair infrastructure. She suggested that a task force be created to research what other cities do about their infrastructure and how they obtain funding. Alderperson Fleming arrived at 4:56 p.m. RESPONSE TO THE PUBLIC Commissioner Acharya responded to Mr. Noble to explain that the City would have to install many signs, but that over time, there would be savings that would benefit the City. Commissioner Goldsmith responded to Mrs. Fabrizio by stating that an ASCE report estimates that nationally it would cost cities trillions of dollars to catch up with infrastructure repairs and maintenance. He further stated that it was nice to hear a citizen raise the issue about the lack of funds for basic services. Mayor Myrick responded that Ithaca has been very innovative in obtaining funding, but there are other things that can done: income taxes can be progressive, can be set only by the NY State or Federal legislatures, and the decline in federal funding for cities began with former President Reagan. Board of Public Works Page 2 June 9, 2014 Regular Meeting REPORTS Board Liaisons Commissioner Darling, Natural Areas Commission Liaison, reported that discussions were held about the Six Mile Creek Gorge, swimming in the gorge, parking concerns, conversation with the gorge rangers, concerns with safety, and the need for prior approval for exceptions to the rules, etc. Commissioner Warden, Special Joint Commission Liaison, reported that the grant proposal, in conjunction with the Towns of Ithaca and Dryden, for expanding the process of waste treatment had been submitted and may be awarded soon. Commissioner Acharya, Planning and Development Board Liaison, reported that the board would be holding a special meeting to discuss the Marriott Hotel. He further stated that a lot of projects were being discussed, especially in Collegetown since the zoning changes had gone into effect. Superintendent and Staff Supt. Thorne reported that the bids for Old Elmira Road Complete Streets Project came in higher than expected and staff would conduct an analysis of the project to cut costs. He further noted that the Water Treatment Plant drawings were out to bid until June 24, 2014, and the offer for the 967 East State Street property was accepted. Director of Engineering West reported that the City had received $600,000 for the remediation clean -up at the Ithaca Falls Overlook last year, and now the IURA has received an additional $700,000 for more remediation. He further stated the Seneca Street Garage repairs had begun and would be finished in late September; contracts for the Cass Park Ice Rink Enclosure, and Design of a new Fuel Island at Streets & Facilities were being completed. Asst. Supt. Benjamin reported that crews were working on sidewalks on Plain and Esty Streets, repairing Aurora Street Bridge over Cascadilla Creek, and over 2" of rain fell last night so gullies and culverts were being cleaned out. Director of Parking Nagy reported that the LPR system had been installed on one vehicle; the other would be installed this week, with the beginning date of July 1 st for the system being used in public. He further reported that revenues in the garages were a total of $103,000 above last year's revenues, and staff were cleaning up the garages and making lighting changes. APPROVAL OF MINUTES: Approval of the February 4, 2013, March 25, 2013, and February 24, 2014, Board of Public Works Meeting Minutes - Resolution By Commissioner Acharya: Seconded by Commissioner Jenkins RESOLVED, That the minutes of the February 4, 2013, March 25, 2013, and February 24, 2014, Board of Public Works meetings be approved as proposed. Carried Unanimously ADMINISTRATION AND COMMUNICATIONS: Public Hearing for Sidewalk Assessments for Cornell and Hancock Streets Resolution to Open Public Hearing By Commissioner Morache: Seconded by Commissioner Darling RESOLVED, That the public hearing regarding Sidewalk Assessments for Cornell and Hancock Streets be declared open. Carried Unanimously Garrin Danner, City of Ithaca, addressed the Board to express appreciation to the Board for reducing the assessments for the new sidewalk on Cornell and Hancock Streets. He further stated that the City may have measured his sidewalk incorrectly and requested that his assessment be recalculated. Resolution to Close Public Hearing By Commissioner Darling: Seconded by Commissioner Goldsmith RESOLVED, That the public hearing regarding Sidewalk Assessments for Cornell and Hancock Streets be declared closed. Carried Unanimously Board of Public Works Page 3 June 9, 2014 Regular Meeting VOTING ITEMS: Buildings, Properties, Refuse and Transit: Approval of South Cayuga Street & West Spencer Street Stairwell for the Public Art Commission's Mural and Street Art Program — Resolution By Commissioner Darling: Seconded by Commissioner Morache WHEREAS, the City of Ithaca Public Art Commission (PAC) has been established to, among other duties, review and advise Common Council on proposals for the exhibition and display of public art in City spaces — buildings, facilities, and infrastructure — and to review development proposals for decorative elements in the city's public spaces, and WHEREAS, in 2010, the PAC created a mural and street art program to beautify blank walls within the city while providing local artists from all sections of the community an opportunity to showcase their work, and WHEREAS, the Board of Public Works approved the following City -owned sites for inclusion on the list of potential sites in City of Ithaca Public Art Commission's Mural and Street Art Program by resolution on May 19, 2010: • Walls in the City Garages on Green St. and Seneca St. • Retaining Wall along Ithaca Hotel Site (for temporary image) • DPW facilities next to the Sciencenter and across the street from Sciencenter • Municipal Electrical boxes throughout the City • Retaining walls on West Spencer Street and downstream from the George Johnson Bridge (Plain Street over Six Mile Creek) WHEREAS, as a result of this approval, the PAC has worked with nearly 50 artists to install murals on City -owned property throughout the city, and the response to the new murals has been overwhelmingly positive, and WHEREAS, local artist Caleb Thomas recently submitted a proposal for a mural titled "Astronauts and Flowers" as part of the PAC's Mural and Street Art Program to be installed within the stairwell near the intersection of South Cayuga Street and West Spencer Street, and WHEREAS, the stairwell near the intersection of South Cayuga Street and West Spencer Street was not included among the sites pre- approved for future murals by the Board of Public Works in 2010, and WHEREAS, the PAC discussed Mr. Thomas's mural proposal at its meeting on April 9, 2014, and agreed that the stairwell near the intersection of South Cayuga Street and West Spencer Street would be an appropriate location for the proposed mural, pending approval of the location by the Board of Public Works; now, therefore, be it RESOLVED, That the Board of Public Works approves the City -owned stairwell near the intersection of South Cayuga Street and West Spencer Street, for inclusion on the list of potential sites for the PAC's Mural and Street Art Program; and be it further RESOLVED, That the PAC will continue to work with Planning Department staff to conduct a mutually acceptable public input procedure for engaging nearby businesses, residences, and /or business and neighborhood associations for each specific project, and be it further RESOLVED, That the PAC will work with the City Attorney to ensure that any mural, Request for Proposals, or contract with a participating artist reflects and accommodates the needs and constraints of the City. Carried Unanimously DISCUSSION ITEMS: Odd /Even Parking Task Force Initial Report Kevin Sutherland, Chief of Staff, joined the Board for the discussion of this topic. Mayor Myrick explained that this discussion is the first public discussion of this topic. He provided a short history of the issues with odd /even parking and why the task force was created. Board of Public Works Page 4 Regular Meeting June 9, 2014 Below is the Executive Summary from the Odd /Even Parking Task Force Initial Report dated June 5, 2014: Executive Summary With a desire by city residents to reduce the number of times a vehicle needs to be moved, a fiscal environment where government needs to perform efficiently and effectively with fewer resources, such as a reduced number of Public Works employees and a reduced number of parking enforcement employees, a new method is necessary. The Odd -Even Parking Task Force proposes: • Phase I: Removal of the Odd -Even Parking regulation • Once a week on any given street, no parking from 4am to 4pm. Year round, about one fifth of Ithaca City streets would be closed to parking on any given weekday (see Appendix A: Map of Weekday Street with No Parking). • Major Snow Events. During major snow events, the Mayor or Superintendent of Public Works can declare a parking ban on all major arterial roads and Ithaca's steepest streets (see Appendix B: Map of Parking Ban during a Major Snow Event). • The Creation of a Snow Event Parking Discount for city parking garages. • A comprehensive signage overhaul for the city — for both the no parking weekday roads and the no parking major snow event. Phase 11: Removal of the city -wide 24 hour Parking regulation (except where specifically posted) Phase III: Utilization of License Plate Recognition technology to identify and ticket violators, and contact residents if needed With these changes, the task force believes; • Residents will only have to move their cars once a week, instead of daily, • Department of Public Work Crews will be able to schedule street work with less disruption to the public, • Greater efficiency in street cleaning and snow removal, • Enforcement will be more efficient, • Revenue will stay the same over time. In order to accomplish this, the task force recommends; • Review and update of the list of streets on the major snow event route, • Temporary Hiring of 6 people to install the new parking signs in order to complete the project in three months. Additionally, the task force recommends: • Upon implementation of the new parking regulation, an exploration of trash service automation. Mayor Myrick noted that the proposal would require an installation of comprehensive signage, which would be a capital cost of approximately $150,000, but that this initial expense would be recouped over time. He expressed appreciation and enthusiasm toward the task force for creating the recommendations, and stated the next task of the task force might be to remove the 24 hour parking regulation. Chief of Staff Sutherland thanked the members of the task force for their work and expertise. He explained that the proposal was shared with all department heads, and only two issues were brought up during the review of the proposal: adding handicapped parking spaces near the current spaces so disabled residents won't need to travel far on the days their streets are closed to parking; and Ithaca Carshare would require additional parking spaces. He noted that four community meetings would be held to obtain comments from the public in the near future. Commissioner Acharya noted the estimated savings the City would benefit from if the proposal is approved. He agreed with the Mayor about removing the 24 hour parking regulation, but one step should be completed at a time so as to not confuse people. Chief of Staff Sutherland agreed. Chief of Staff Sutherland noted that until funding was approved by Council, he could not move forward with the proposal. He stated he would submit a capital project request for this project. Supt. Thorne expressed support for the proposal, noting that staff efficiency would increase, which would save the City money. Board of Public Works Page 5 June 9, 2014 Regular Meeting Discussion followed on the floor regarding the 12 hour timeframe beginning at 4 a.m., the information provided for how other cities handle street cleaning, discounted parking in the garages during snow emergencies, coordinating street cleaning days with trash collection days, and possible effective dates. Chief of Staff Sutherland listed the dates and times of the community meetings that would be held throughout the City: Date Time Location Thursday, June 12, 2014 5:30 — 7:00 p.m. Southside Community Center Monday, June 16, 2014 5:30 — 7:00 p.m. Belle Sherman Elementary Cafeteria Tuesday, June 17, 2014 5:30 — 7:00 p.m. GIAC Gymnasium Tuesday, June 17, 2014 7:30 — 9:00 p.m. LACS Black Box Theater The Board generally agreed with moving forward with the proposal. Chief of Staff Sutherland stated the final report would be provided for a future board meeting. Rusty Water Conditions on Woodcrest Avenue Mayor Myrick explained the correspondence that was provided to the Board from a resident on Woodcrest Avenue. Supt. Thorne explained that there are many cast iron water pipes throughout the city, and, over time, rust builds up in the pipes that reduce the diameter of the pipe, causing lower water pressure. The pipe along Woodcrest Avenue had a large build -up of rust and was pressure flushed, which loosened up a lot of the rust. Because Woodcrest Avenue was a dead -end street, the lack of water movement caused the rust to remain in the pipes. He stated that complaints had been submitted about the excessive amount of rust that came out of the tap, even after the pipes were flushed. Supt. Thorne further stated that pressure flushing was a much more cost effective way to cleaning the pipes compared to replacing them, though it did take longer than expected to clear up the rust. He suggested notifying residents well in advance of any planned flushing to warn them. Commissioner Warden noted that substandard piping was initially installed, which contributed to the rust build -up, and that rust would continue to build up over time. Commissioner Darling asked about the replacement /maintenance schedule for the City's water pipes. Asst. Supt. Benjamin responded that the current cycle was at 300 years, though it should be about 120 years. Commissioner Warden further responded that the City was currently on an emergency fix and repair cycle only. Alderperson Fleming stated she would take to the residents in the area to obtain feedback about how the water is flowing now. ADJOURNMENT: On a motion, the meeting adjourned at 6:23 p.m. Kathrin D. Gehring Executive Assistant Svante L. Myrick Mayor