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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMN-BPW-2010-02-03BOARD OF PUBLIC WORKS PROCEEDINGS CITY OF ITHACA, NEW YORK Committee of the Whole Meeting 4:48 p.m. February 3, 2010 PRESENT: Mayor Peterson Commissioners (4) - Jenkins, Brock, Tripp, Wykstra OTHERS PRESENT: City Attorney - Hoffman Superintendent of Public Works - Gray Acting Assistant Superintendent of Streets and Facilities - Benjamin Assistant Superintendent of Water and Sewer – Whitney Common Council Liaison – Zumoff DAC Liaison – Roberts Executive Assistant – Gehring Common Council Alderperson – Myrick Common Council Alderperson – Coles Water Plant Project – Discussion Mayor Peterson reported that the Special Board of Public Works meeting was confirmed for Friday, February 5, 2010, at 1:00 p.m. with consultants from O’Brien and Gere and Watek to discuss the membrane pilot study for the water plant project. Discussion followed on the floor regarding the purpose of a client committee versus a stakeholder committee. Mayor Peterson stated that client committees, which included community members, were formed to provide input and feedback regarding projects; they do not have authority to manage projects. Commissioner Jenkins and City Attorney Hoffman arrived at 4:54 p.m. Further discussion followed on the floor regarding ensuring the water supply project client committee and other advisory groups are not over-represented and that Board members are all provided with the same information. Extensive discussion followed on the floor regarding other groups that worked on projects where their input was considered and valuable to the decisions made, though management of the project remained with the City. Collegetown Trash and Recycling Plan – Update Alderperson Svante Myrick joined the Board to present an update on this topic. He reported that students from Cornell University met with City personnel, including Acting Asst. Supt. Benjamin, Alderperson Eddie Rooker, and former Alderperson Mary Tomlan, to discuss the reduction of street trash in Collegetown. He explained that Acting Asst. Supt. Benjamin agreed to place eight additional trash/recycling cans at four locations to increase the number of trash and recycling cans in Collegetown. He further stated that four cans (two trash, two recycling) would be placed on the 100 block of Dryden Road near the entrance of the parking garage, two on each side of the road; and four cans (two trash, two recycling) would be placed in the middle of the 400 block of College Avenue at the curb bump-out and across the street from the curb bump-out. He further explained that trash pick-up routes would not need to be altered in order to include the eight extra cans and it would not cost the City anything extra to pick up the extra trash from those sites. Alderperson Myrick noted that the student organization, The Sustainability Hub, would enumerate the amount of trash in Collegetown prior to the installation of the additional trash and recycling cans and after the cans had been installed. He further stated that the Board would be provided with an update after the installation of the new cans. The student organization would then propose suggestions for installation of additional trash and recycling cans on other streets in Collegetown. Discussion followed on the floor regarding the design of the new trash and recycling cans to prevent household trash from being dumped in them by residents and businesses. The Board expressed their support for this project. Board of Public Works Page 2 February 3, 2010 Committee of the Whole BPW Meeting Time – Discussion Alderperson Coles joined the Board for the discussion of this item. Mayor Peterson explained that City Administration Committee unanimously approved beginning Common Council monthly meetings earlier in the evening on the first Wednesday of the month. Discussion followed on the floor regarding modifying the Board of Public Works meeting schedule to accommodate the new start time of the Common Council monthly meeting. Supt. Gray explained that historically the Board had two meetings per month, and several sub-committee meetings per month. He further stated that meeting times changed periodically due to membership requests. Discussion followed on the floor regarding establishing time limits for all comments and other time conservation methods to reduce meeting length. The Board agreed to continue to meet three times per month, but would consider meeting on a different day in order to accommodate Common Council on the first Wednesday of the month. Parking Policy for Persons with Disabilities – Discussion Traffic Engineer Tim Logue joined the Board for the discussion of this item. He explained that through a request for on-street reserved parking space for a person with disabilities, it was determined that the handicap parking policy should be revised. The revised handicap parking policy was reviewed by the Disability Advisory Council (DAC), who proposed modifications to the handicap parking policy, including changing the title to “Parking Policy for Persons with Disabilities.” Traffic Engineer Logue further explained that the availability of on-street parking for persons with disabilities is not required by the Americans with Disabilities Act. He further explained the proposed changes to the policy, which included eliminating the requirement that only homeowners could request handicap parking spaces, eliminated the requirement of a $200 security deposit for the installation of the sign, required proof that the applicant was eligible for a handicap hang tag through the state, and provided staff increased flexibility in decision-making. He further stated that the criteria for approving additional handicap parking spaces would be based on the number of existing spaces in the neighborhood and other traffic safety issues. He noted that recommendations from staff would be reviewed by the Board of Public Works for either approval or denial. DAC Liaison Roberts reported that the DAC was concerned with the amount of personal disability information requested from individuals. He further explained that the DAC wanted to ensure residents were aware that parking spaces are not reserved for specific individuals and anyone with a handicap hang tag could use handicap parking spaces. DAC Liaison Roberts thanked Traffic Engineer Logue for his work on the policy. Discussion followed on the floor regarding the placement of handicap parking spaces and the height of plantings next to handicap parking spaces. Commissioner Jenkins suggested that only grass be allowed to be planted next to handicap parking spaces due to the difficulties people with disabilities have with getting out of their vehicles and onto sidewalks. Mayor Peterson left the meeting at 6:00 p.m. The Board expressed their support for the proposed policy. City Attorney Hoffman requested an opportunity to further review the current and proposed policies, and to provide his comments to the Board at the February 10, 2010, Board meeting. No Board member objected. 2010 Vehicle and Traffic Schedule Update – Discussion Traffic Engineer Logue explained that the Board had the authority to approve vehicle and traffic schedule updates for the City Code. He stated that the City Clerk has expressed interest in publishing the traffic schedules with the City Code. He further stated that the goal of this work was for the Board to adopt the proposed schedules and then update them as needed. The Board agreed to vote on the updated traffic schedule at the February 10, 2010, voting meeting. Board of Public Works Page 3 February 3, 2010 Committee of the Whole Golf Course Rates – Discussion Commissioner Tripp suggested that the golf course fees be adjusted so that the course is able to financially support itself. Discussion followed on the floor regarding clientele and rate adjustments. Further discussion followed on the floor regarding expenses, revenue projections, and maintenance costs. Commissioner Brock requested further statistics regarding the usage of the golf course and the amount the City subsidizes the course. Discussion followed on the floor regarding other possible uses for the land. City Attorney Hoffman explained that the land is parkland and must be used for recreational purposes. The Board agreed to discuss this topic further at the February 10, 2010, voting meeting. 2010 Construction Projects – Discussion Commissioner Brock requested information regarding road construction planned for Taughannock Blvd./Route 89 and suggested that rumble strips not be installed within city limits because they decrease the amount of space accessible to bicycles on the side of the road. Acting Asst. Supt. Benjamin reported that New York State Department of Transportation (NYSDOT) planned to repave Route 89 in 2010 from the city line to the county line and he hoped to coordinate with NYSDOT to repave Route 89 within city limits at the same time, including widening the shoulders on the road. Discussion followed on the floor regarding other projects planned for city crews in 2010. Further discussion followed on the floor regarding appropriate locations to install new sidewalks during planned road construction and additional road construction projects that are not scheduled for 2010. Encroachment Request for 423 East Lincoln Street – Discussion City Attorney Hoffman explained the request for a new encroachment for a porch to be constructed at 423 East Lincoln Street. He noted the unusual circumstances for this request which include the lack of a recent property survey, the property being surrounded on three sides by three different streets, and that the house may have historically had a porch attached to it in the same location the current owner proposes to construct a new porch. Commissioner Wykstra requested historical information on the property. Discussion followed on the floor regarding fee amounts for the new encroachment. Acting Asst. Supt. Benjamin agreed to obtain photographs of the property and the landscape surrounding the property. The Board agreed to include this item on the February 10, 2010, voting meeting agenda. ADJOURNMENT On a motion the meeting adjourned at 6:45 p.m. Kathrin D. Gehring Carolyn K. Peterson Executive Assistant Mayor