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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMN-BPW-2011-06-22BOARD OF PUBLIC WORKS PROCEEDINGS CITY OF ITHACA, NEW YORK Regular Meeting 4:54 p.m. June 22, 2011 PRESENT: Mayor Peterson Commissioners (6) – Acharya, Goldsmith, Jenkins, Morache, Warden, Wykstra OTHERS PRESENT: City Attorney – Hoffman Superintendent of Public Works – Gray Assistant Superintendent of Public Works – Whitney Assistant Superintendent of Public Works – Benjamin Common Council Liaison – Zumoff Executive Assistant – Gehring EXCUSED: DAC Liaison – Roberts ADDITIONS OR DELETIONS TO THE AGENDA: Supt. Gray requested the addition of “Review of 2011 Proposed Budget” to the agenda. No Board member objected. PUBLIC HEARING FOR PROPOSED NEW SIDEWALK ON SOUTH PLAIN STREET AT BAKER PARK: Resolution to Open Public Hearing By Commissioner Acharya: Seconded by Commissioner Wykstra RESOLVED, That the public hearing regarding the proposed new sidewalk on South Plain Street at Baker Park be declared open. Carried Unanimously Executive Assistant Gehring read, for the record, a letter submitted by property owner Dolores Turk: “Because I will not be attending your meeting, I am writing this. I do not think it’s fair to me to pay the cost you are estimating. There is much more things to be done on Plain St. side of park (trees). Because of recent deaths of my daughter and husband, I cannot take on anymore expenses. My husband was at Beachtree Care Center for six months. I paid for his care, which was real costly. Still getting bills from the hospital and doctor. And now you want to add another. If there was little kids, I could understand. These are teenagers. Thanks, Dolores Turk” Resolution to Close Public Hearing By Commissioner Jenkins: Seconded by Commissioner Acharya RESOLVED, That the public hearing regarding the proposed new sidewalk on South Plain Street at Baker Park be declared closed. Carried Unanimously MAYOR’S COMMUNICATIONS: Mayor Peterson announced that there would be a joint public hearing related to means restriction on city bridges on June 28, 2011, from 7:00 to 9:00 p.m. She hoped the hearing would provide an opportunity for a dialogue between the public, Common Council, and Board of Public Works. COMMUNICATIONS AND HEARINGS FROM PERSONS BEFORE THE BOARD: No members of the public appeared to address the Board. Board of Public Works Page 2 June 22, 2011 Regular Meeting RESPONSE TO THE PUBLIC There was no response necessary. REPORTS: Superintendent and Staff: Asst. Supt. Benjamin reported that crews were working on Ferris Place because of ground water in the area from a spring causing water to come up through the pavement. He further stated the crews would begin mowing residential lawns that have not been kept mowed according to requirements of the Exterior Maintenance ordinance. Asst. Supt. Whitney reported that crews were working on a water main break on Willard Way last night; crews are working on the Seneca Street sewer main replacement which should be completed by mid-August; the water tank rehabilitation project has begun with the anticipated completion dates as follow: August for the Cornell Street tank, end of September for the Maple Avenue tank, and mid-October for the Oakwood Lane tank. Supt. Gray reported that the Seneca Street Parking Garage was recently closed for repairs; staff are researching what funds might be available for Transportation Improvement Projects; preparing work for next year’s budget (capital projects have been submitted for next year already); and the state legislature will be considering various financial issues that would impact some of the city’s budget decisions. VOTING ITEMS: Parking and Traffic: A Resolution for Award of Design Contracts for Transportation Improvement Projects (TIP) – Resolution By Commissioner Goldsmith: Seconded by Commissioner Acharya WHEREAS, professional services proposals were received on April 11, 2011 for Intersection Bulb-outs on Green and Seneca Streets (CP 769, PIN 375462) and the Floral Avenue Multi-Use Facility (CP 770, PIN 375463), and WHEREAS, staff has reviewed the eight proposals received and made recommendations for award, and WHEREAS, due to a staff error, Capital Project 769, was established by Common Council in an amount of $36,000 instead of $52,000, which is an approved amount on the Transportation Improvement Program, and WHEREAS, engineering studies and designs are a Type II action requiring no further review under the State Environmental Quality Review Act and the City Environmental Quality Review Ordinance, now therefore be it RESOLVED, That the City of Ithaca Board of Public Works hereby awards the professional services contracts for Intersection Bulb-outs on Green and Seneca Streets (CP #769) and the Floral Avenue Multi-Use Facility (CP #770) to Erdman Anthony and Associates, of Rochester, New York, for amounts not to exceed $52,000 and $92,000, respectively, and be it further, RESOLVED, That the award of contract for CP #769 in the amount of $52,000 is contingent on an approval by Common Council to increase the capital project total to $52,000, and be it further, RESOLVED, That the Mayor of the City of Ithaca be hereby authorized to enter into said contracts under the usual terms and conditions. Carried Unanimously Creeks, Bridges, and Parks: Approval of Membership Rate Adjustments for Newman Golf Course – Resolution By Commissioner Wykstra: Seconded by Commissioner Goldsmith WHEREAS the Board of Public Works approved Newman Golf Course Membership Rates for the 2011 season, and WHEREAS those rates were in effect as of April 1, 2011, and Board of Public Works Page 3 June 22, 2011 Regular Meeting WHEREAS continuous rains and flooding at Newman Golf Course kept the course unplayable for most of the months of April and May, and WHEREAS the time lost represents approximately 25% of the playing season, and WHEREAS, on June 1st only 48 memberships had been signed, and WHEREAS 125 memberships were signed in 2010, and WHEREAS normally 90% of all memberships are signed by June 1st, now therefore be it RESOLVED, That the current rates for new memberships be discounted 20% as of June 15th for the balance of the 2011 season, and be it further RESOLVED, That those individuals who have paid for full 2011 memberships at the rates in effect on April 1, 2011, be offered a benefit card that can be used in one of the following two ways: • Either to provide free cart rentals or free guest greens fees, not to exceed a total of 10 of such in any combination, such benefit to expire on November 1, 2011, OR • To provide a 20% discount on a membership for the 2012 season. Carried Unanimously Tom Hanna, Friends of Newman Golf Course representative, joined the Board for the discussion of this item. Asst. Supt. Benjamin noted that Newman Golf Course has been slow, with decreased patronage; he recommended rate adjustments. He stated that other local golf courses have had similar issues and made concessions to increase memberships. Discussion followed on the floor regarding promoting play for the rest of the season, sustaining or increasing membership in future years, and whether the Board could authorize the Superintendent to make the rate adjustments administratively. Mayor Peterson disagreed with allowing administrative modifications to golf course rates since the Board meets three times per month, and should discuss and vote any proposed rate changes. DISCUSSION ITEMS: Proposed Fall Creek Stream Corridor Project: Tompkins County Planner, Scott Doyle, joined the Board for the discussion of this item. He explained that Phase 1 was part of a larger stream mitigation project for Tompkins County. He noted that priorities in the Fall Creek area were to increase recreational access, and that this project would be the beginning phase of the initiative. He further explained that the County would be funding the planting portion of the stream mitigation project. Discussion followed regarding proposed plans, improving access to the creek for launching kayaks and canoes, connecting the stream trail with the Cayuga Waterfront Trail, the use of the area for parking by the school district, and the dangers of crossing Cayuga Street. Planner Doyle proposed changing a portion of Cayuga Street by the high school into a school zone, which will lower the speed limit in the area. Mayor Peterson noted that the project would need to go through site plan review, which would include a detailed discussion about the street crossing. The Board generally expressed support for this project. Request for Easement(s) for Remediation of South Hill Contamination: Kevin Sullivan, representative of WSP Environmental, and Community Development Director Nels Bohn joined the Board for the discussion of this item. City Attorney Hoffman explained that an easement was requested by Emerson Power Transmission for the purposes of remediating the TCE vapors from the soil on South Hill Board of Public Works Page 4 June 22, 2011 Regular Meeting through the use of a vent stack. The easement would provide a location for the vent stack. Mr. Sullivan provided a short explanation of the project, noting that the majority of the project would occur underground. He stated that the highest point of land for the project was at the corner of the East Spencer Street and Turner Place, which is city property. Discussion followed regarding impacts to the neighborhood, individual homes in the area having mitigation systems, tracking the vapors during mitigation, and the request for an easement. Mr. Sullivan stated that Emerson Power Transmission could begin the project as early as July 2011. Further discussion followed regarding expected maintenance requirements of the sewer pipe that would be installed in the ground on city property, the size of the footprint of the vent stack, and the exact location of the vent stack on the plot of land. Supt. Gray stated that once the sewer main had been installed, it would not need further maintenance unless a new house was built on the property or the main needed to be rebuilt. Resolution: By Commissioner Goldsmith: Seconded by Commissioner Jenkins WHEREAS, Emerson has been working with New York State Department of Environmental Conservation on remediation of contamination resulting from the Morse Chain facility on Ithaca’s South Hill; and WHEREAS, Emerson has proposed a mitigation program intended to draw vapors out of the soil around a 300 foot section of an old city sewer main, and to vent them through a 25 foot tall stack; and WHEREAS, Emerson proposes to locate the stack on city-owned land near the intersection of Turner Place and East Spencer Street, and requests a temporary easement for construction and a permanent easement (for an area approximately 10’ x 10’) to maintain the stack; now therefore be it RESOLVED, That the Board of Public Works finds that the proposed easement in the corner of this city-owned parcel would not interfere with the city’s current use of the parcel or with any foreseeable need for active public use in the future, and recommends that the Common Council consider the easement request at its earliest opportunity. Carried Unanimously Parking Lot at 611 West Buffalo Street: Supt. Gray explained the concerns expressed by residents in the area about the parking lot. He stated Chamberlain Parsons had requested that the Police Department not enforce the parking permit requirements yet to allow those residents that have purchased permits to received one month of free parking. He further noted that the Ithaca Bakery had been contacted about the permit requirement. BPAC’s Concerns for Pavement Markings: This item was not discussed. Request to Install a Mobile Pagoda/Pavilion in Thompson Park: Mayor Peterson explained that Alan Vogel, a resident of Trumansburg, had requested to install a mobile pavilion in Thompson Park in honor of his son, a former resident of the Fall Creek neighborhood. Commissioner Goldsmith expressed disapproval of placing the pavilion in Thompson Park, stating that the park was too small and already has several large items located in it. Commissioner Acharya disagreed, stating he would not mind the pavilion being placed in Thompson Park. Discussion followed regarding the pavilion’s design, expected use of the pavilion by residents and customers from Gimme Coffee, obtaining staff recommendation for a location within the park, and accessibility issues. Commissioner Acharya left meeting at 6:50 p.m. Board of Public Works Page 5 June 22, 2011 Regular Meeting Meeting adjourned at 6:50 p.m. to the second floor conference room to review the proposed 2012 budget for the Department of Public Works. ADJOURNMENT: On a motion, the meeting adjourned at 8:43 p.m. _________ Kathrin D. Gehring Svante L. Myrick Executive Assistant Mayor