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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMN-BPW-2012-01-25BOARD OF PUBLIC WORKS PROCEEDINGS CITY OF ITHACA, NEW YORK Regular Meeting 4:45 p.m. January 25, 2012 PRESENT: Mayor Myrick Commissioners (5) – Acharya, Goldsmith, Jenkins, Warden, Wykstra OTHERS PRESENT: Superintendent of Public Works – Gray Assistant Superintendent of Water and Sewer – Whitney Assistant Superintendent of Streets and Facilities – Benjamin Executive Assistant – Gehring Traffic Engineer – Logue EXCUSED: Commissioner - Morache City Attorney – Lavine Common Council Liaison – Fleming DAC Liaison – Roberts ADDITIONS TO OR DELETIONS FROM THE AGENDA: There were no additions to or deletions from the agenda. MAYOR’S COMMUNICATIONS: The Mayor had no communications at this time. COMMUNICATIONS AND HEARINGS FROM PERSONS BEFORE THE BOARD: No members of the public appeared to address the Board. RESPONSE TO THE PUBLIC: There was no response necessary. REPORTS: Board Liaisons: Commissioner Acharya reported that most of the projects discussed at the Planning and Development Board meeting involve and impact public works activities. He provided a summary of the projects to the Board. Superintendent and Staff: Asst. Supt. Benjamin reported that Streets and Facilities crews were continuing their work on the Tea Pavilion in Stewart Park. Supt. Gray noted that due to the lack of snow, a lot of tree work was being done as well. Asst. Supt. Whitney reported that Water and Sewer crews are working with the Dept. of Transportation staff on the Third Street sewer main installation project. APPROVAL OF MINUTES: Approval of the October 12, 2011, and January 11, 2012, Board of Public Works Meeting Minutes - Resolution By Commissioner Jenkins: Seconded by Commissioner Acharya RESOLVED, That the minutes of the October 12, 2011, and January 11, 2012, Board of Public Works meetings be approved as published. Carried Unanimously VOTING ITEMS: Highways, Streets and Sidewalks: Appeal of Sidewalk Assessment for 512 North Plain Street – Resolution By Commissioner Warden: Seconded by Commissioner Acharya WHEREAS, Nancy Tresner, owner of 512 North Plain Street received sidewalk defect notices in 2000 and 2011 and communicated with staff regarding her concerns before and after she had a contractor perform sidewalk work in October 2011, and Board of Public Works Page 2 January 25, 2012 Regular Meeting WHEREAS, Nancy Tresner, applied for and received tree damage reimbursement, and WHEREAS, Nancy Tresner filed a written appeal on July 14, 2011, asking to remove the 25% surcharge (prior to any work) and another written appeal on October 12, 2011, asking for additional slabs of sidewalk to be classified and reimbursed as tree damaged, and WHEREAS, staff reviewed information provided by her regarding the appeal, now therefore be it RESOLVED, That the Board recognizes that Nancy Tresner’s contractor completed the sidewalk replacement work in accordance with City specifications, and be it further RESOLVED, That the July 14, 2011, protest letter is no longer relevant, so no decision is required on it, and be it further RESOLVED, That each protest reason was considered as shown in the Sidewalk Assessment Protest Summary for this address, and be it further RESOLVED, That the Board hereby denies the request for an additional slab of tree damage at 512 North Plain Street. Carried Unanimously Appeal of Sidewalk Assessment for 205 Utica Street – Resolution By Commissioner Jenkins: Seconded by Commissioner Goldsmith WHEREAS, Bethany Queen, owner of 205 Utica Street, received a sidewalk assessment for sidewalk work completed adjacent to her property, and WHEREAS, Bethany Queen purchased the property in 2006 after sidewalk work was completed in 2005 but not billed. At the time of sale, the seller did not inform her of the recent sidewalk work and pending bill. The official property tax search did not indicate any pending sidewalk assessment, and WHEREAS, Bethany Queen filed a written appeal on January 3, 2011, asking for the bill to be waived, and WHEREAS, the City Chamberlain confirmed that the sidewalk bill did not appear on the tax search, now therefore be it RESOLVED, That the Board recognizes that City forces completed the sidewalk replacement work in accordance with City specifications, and be it further RESOLVED, That the Board hereby waives the Queen bill for sidewalk work and directs the City Chamberlain to refund any portion that has been paid, and be it further RESOLVED, That the former owners, Meghan Anne Van Leeuwen and Kraig Leonard Haverstick, be billed $1,851.39 for the sidewalk work. Discussion followed on the floor regarding the possibility of obtaining the funds from the previous owners. A Vote on the Resolution Resulted as Follows: Carried Unanimously Water and Sewer: Award of Bid for the Annual Chemical Requirements for Corrosion Inhibitor – Resolution By Commissioner Jenkins: Seconded by Commissioner Wykstra WHEREAS, staff received bids for the 2011-2012 Chemical Requirements on Tuesday November 22, 2011, and WHEREAS, the award of bid for the Corrosion Inhibitor to Coyne Chemical was delayed until the staff at the water plant could request and review additional technical specifications from the low bidder, and Board of Public Works Page 3 January 25, 2012 Regular Meeting WHEREAS, after a period of 30 days, this information was never received by the water plant staff for review and, therefore, did not meet the requirement of the original bid, and WHEREAS, based on this information, staff has recommended that the award of bid for the Corrosion Inhibitor be awarded to the next lowest bidder; now, therefore be it RESOLVED, That the Board of Public Works hereby accepts staff’s recommendation to award the 2011-2012 bid for Corrosion Inhibitor to Slack Chemical Company, Inc. for their bid meeting specifications as follows: Chemical Vendor Price (per unit) Corrosion Inhibitor, per gal Slack Chemical Co. Inc. $9.1770/gal and, be it further RESOLVED, That the Board hereby authorizes the Assistant Superintendent of Public Works for Water and Sewer to enter into agreements (purchase orders) for the bid award. Carried Unanimously DISCUSSION ITEMS: Intersection Improvements at Hector/State/Floral/Elm Streets – Update: Traffic Engineer Tim Logue joined the Board for the discussion of this item. Supt. Gray explained that renovations of this intersection have been pursued for some time, and a grant has recently been received for the project. Traffic Engineer Logue explained that the engineers have attempted to match the needs of the residents with the design and the funding. He further explained that the Board was previously given several options to consider, and they decided to take a pedestrianization approach to this intersection. He noted that two public meetings had been held regarding this project to obtain input from residents. Traffic Engineer Logue displayed a large drawing of the project design and explained the planned renovations in detail. Discussion followed on the floor regarding the design of the project, the proposal to move the crosswalk on Hector Street, and possible changes that could be made to the State/Seneca/Brindley Street intersection after the Floral/Elm/Hector Street Intersection Project was completed. Further discussion followed on the floor regarding installing stop signs for an all-way stop at the intersection. Traffic Engineer Logue explained the requirements the intersection would need in order to qualify for an all-way stop installation. Commissioner Wykstra expressed concern with placing a stop sign at the base of Hector Street for traffic traveling downhill. The Board generally agreed that the intersection should not be an all-way stop for motorists. David Nutter, West Hill resident and active bicyclist/pedestrian, joined the Board for the discussion of this item. He expressed his opinion that the proposed island at the intersection would invite pedestrians to cross the street halfway, wait for traffic then cross the rest of the street. He requested that a crosswalk be painted at the island. He agreed that an all-way stop sign should be installed at the intersection. Discussion followed on the floor regarding speed limits on Hector Street traveling down the hill into the city, and why a designated left turn lane from Floral to Hector was not in the design. Mayor Myrick stated that the proposed design would greatly enhance the pedestrian experience, and noted that the consensus of the Board was to move forward with the bid process for this project. Appeal of Water Bill for 329-31 West Seneca Street Unit 331: Gossa Tsegaye, property owner, joined the Board for the discussion of this item. He explained the reason for his appeal of the water bill, specifically the notification of the possible leak to the property owner. He stated that he has been in the City’s computer database since 2008 to be notified of any issues for this property. However, in this instance, the City notified the previous property owner of the leak report rather than him. Extensive discussion followed on the floor regarding the timeframe in which property owners are notified of high meter readings, and possible water leaks. Mr. Tsegaye reiterated that he Board of Public Works Page 4 January 25, 2012 Regular Meeting was the owner of this property, has been the owner of the property since 2008, and requested that he be listed as the property owner for this address. Mayor Myrick requested that appropriate city staff update its records to reflect that Mr. Tsegaye is listed as the property owner so that he will receive any notices about the property in the future. Mayor Myrick left the meeting at 6:26 p.m. Appeal of Sidewalk Assessment for 104 Worth Street: Bruce Roebal, property owner, joined the Board for the discussion of this item. He expressed disappointment that Mayor Myrick had to leave the meeting. Supt. Gray offered to bring his appeal back on the Board’s agenda for the February 6, 2012 meeting, to ensure that the Mayor is present for the discussion of the appeal. Mr. Roebal accepted that offer, and requested that the Board review the e-mail he sent that contained photographs of neighboring sidewalks, in preparation for the discussion of his appeal at their next meeting. Appeal of Sidewalk Assessment for 221 Cornell Street: Asst. Supt. Benjamin provided an update of this appeal, and explained that the existing four feet wide sidewalk was replaced with five feet wide sidewalk, and the property owner has protested the additional foot width of sidewalk. Discussion followed on the floor regarding calculations used to obtain the amount being charged to the owner, the amount of time between when the sidewalk defect notice was sent to the property owner, and when the sidewalk was replaced by City crews, and if the City should begin notifying property owners up front that if the required sections of sidewalk are not repaired as requested, the City would replace the entire sidewalk at the owner’s expense. Supt. Gray suggested creating a tiered rate structure for replacing sidewalks. The Board agreed to the staff’s recommendation to bill the owner for 92 square feet. Appeal of Sidewalk Assessment for 511 West Clinton Street: Asst. Supt. Benjamin explained that due to the poor condition of the concrete that was used at this property, the City would give the owner the option to replace the sidewalk in 2012 themselves or the City would replace it. If the owner replaces the sidewalk, the assessment would be expunged. If the City replaces the sidewalk, the owner would be charged for one sidewalk replacement. ADJOURNMENT: On a motion, the meeting adjourned at 6:53 p.m. Kathrin D. Gehring Svante L. Myrick Executive Assistant Mayor