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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMN-BPW-2015-04-13BOARD OF PUBLIC WORKS PROCEEDINGS CITY OF ITHACA, NEW YORK Regular Meeting 4:50 p.m. April 13, 2015 PRESENT: Mayor Myrick Commissioners (5) – Darling, Goldsmith, Greene, Jenkins, Warden OTHERS PRESENT: City Attorney – Lavine Superintendent of Public Works – Thorne Assistant Superintendent of Water and Sewer – Whitney Assistant Superintendent of Streets and Facilities – Benjamin Director of Engineering – West Director of Parking – Nagy Common Council Liaison – Fleming Executive Assistant – Gehring Sidewalk Program Manager – Hathaway EXCUSED: DAC Liaison – Roberts ADDITIONS OR DELETIONS TO THE AGENDA: Supt. Thorne requested the addition of a discussion about relocating on-street parking meters to Eddy Street. No Board member objected. MAYOR’S COMMUNICATIONS: Mayor Myrick reported that Commissioner Morache had resigned from the Board due to a shift in his life circumstances. He wished Mr. Morache good luck and stated a letter of appreciation for his service on the Board would be forwarded to Mr. Morache. COMMUNICATIONS AND HEARINGS FROM PERSONS BEFORE THE BOARD: Marc Messing, Town of Ithaca, addressed the Board to report that members of the Cascadilla Boat Club called the police this morning because he parked his boat in the parking lot and sat on a bench to watch youth practice rowing. Cynthia Brock, City of Ithaca Alderperson, read a 2003 letter from Leslie Chatterton regarding a structural analysis of the boathouse. Alderperson Brock noted that the current discussions have been held many time over the years and encouraged the Board to develop a working group to analyze the use of the boathouse. Kevin Baew, President of Cascadilla Boat Club, addressed the Board regarding the proposed boathouse license, apologizing for not attending previous Board meetings. He thanked the Board for the opportunity to support young rowers. He reported that approximately 600 people were able to get on the water due to the club’s programs in 2014, including youth and adult rowers. The club is committed to providing access to the water for all members of the public, not just members of the club. He hoped the Board would continue to provide support to the club. RESPONSE TO THE PUBLIC No response was provided. REPORTS Board Liaisons Commissioner Warden, liaison to the Special Joint Commission, reported that the Ithaca Area Waste Water Treatment Facility (IAWWTF) had been approached by Verizon to allow a cell tower to be put on the property, and the facility is moving toward becoming a local energy producer. He stated that the IAWWTF currently creates almost enough energy to run the plant, and there is potential to create much more. Board of Public Works Page 2 April 13, 2015 Regular Meeting Superintendent and Staff Director of Engineering West reported the following: 1. the City will be receiving a $20,000 grant from Tompkins County Tourism for evaluating the structures at Stewart Park; 2. funds for the creek way project have been obligated by the state meaning that those projects will move forward into design; and 3. the Commons project is moving forward with the installation of the East Gateway, installation of lighting and pavers are progressing, and plantings are scheduled to be installed in Bank Alley next week. Asst. Supt. Benjamin reported the following: 1. street cleaning continues; 2. Tioga Street ramps are continuing to be installed, 3. stump grinding continues, 4. the copper fixtures were stolen from Stewart Park bathrooms this morning; and 5. a former employee who just retired a couple of weeks ago passed away this morning. Asst. Supt. Whitney added to Commissioner Warden’s report, stating that the IAWWTF has been working for the past several years on enhancing and increasing the energy project at the plant. Staff hope to be at a Net 0 for energy usage. He further reported the following: 1. Water Treatment Plant staff has been working with the state Dept. of Environmental Conservation on improvements to the City’s water intake facilities; 2. Staff has been working on several capital projects, including water main replacements; 3. there have been ten water main breaks over the past couple of weeks; and 4. there were 78 water main freezes throughout the City over the winter. Director of Parking Nagy reported that placement locations for the on-street parking pay stations have been chosen in Collegetown and downtown, and he provided options for utilizing the old parking meters that will be removed. Supt. Thorne reported the following: 1. the Old Elmira Road project should begin again at the end of April; 2. Tioga Street will be repaved early this year by city crews; 3. Staff are trying to stagger the projects that are located close together in the north end of the city; 4. as soon as NYSDOT has completed their Route 13 project near the high school, the City will begin working to repave North Cayuga Street; and 5. staff has been meeting regularly with NYSEG to coordinate projects. ADMINISTRATION AND COMMUNICATIONS: Approval of Minutes: Approval of the March 23, 2015, Board of Public Works Meeting Minutes - Resolution By Commissioner Jenkins: Seconded by Commissioner Goldsmith RESOLVED, That the minutes of the March 23, 2015, Board of Public Works meeting be approved proposed/with noted corrections. Carried Unanimously CREEKS, BRIDGES, AND PARKS: Support for Licensing of Cascadilla Boathouse – Resolution By Commissioner Darling: Seconded by Commissioner Warden WHEREAS, the Cascadilla Boathouse (the “Boathouse”) has long facilitated access to the waters surrounding Stewart Park, and WHEREAS, the public will benefit from multiple initiatives intended to expand public access to said waters, particularly in non-motorized boats and watercraft, and WHEREAS, authority to license parkland is vested in the Common Council, a committee of which is currently considering a draft license agreement permitting the Cascadilla Boat Club (“CBC”), continued use of the Boathouse (the “Draft License”), and WHEREAS, the Boathouse has since 1978 hosted CBC, enabling CBC to provide rowing programs to area community members, with a strong emphasis on area youth, and Board of Public Works Page 3 April 13, 2015 Regular Meeting WHEREAS, the licensing of the Boathouse by an organized boating program enables members of the public wishing to boat in Stewart Park to more fully enjoy the recreational and athletic opportunities of the Park and its unique geography on the shores of Cayuga Lake, and WHEREAS, a robust rowing program available to the public enjoying Stewart Park requires a substantial investment in rowing equipment, organizational management, and Boathouse administration, and WHEREAS, such investment would likely prove out of reach for the City in light of financial and staffing constraints, absent a public-private partnership of the sort undertaken in the Draft License, and WHEREAS, the Draft License permits CBC to share the first floor of the Boathouse with the Ithaca Youth Bureau (“IYB”) in support of IYB expanding public youth access to the water, and WHEREAS, the Draft License as proposed would provide the City with $12,727.14 annually in license revenue, with upward adjustments in accord with the Consumer Price Index, and WHEREAS, said license is for a term of three years, and WHEREAS, Section 6 of said license provides the City unfettered ability to revoke or modify said license upon at least nine months’ written notice that the Common Council has so resolved, now therefore be it RESOLVED, That the Board of Public Works (supports)urges the Common Council to pursue the licensing of the Boathouse to CBC via the Draft License as one (possible) effective means of enabling the public to enjoy the recreational and athletic boating opportunities offered by Stewart Park, and be it further RESOLVED, That the Board additionally urges the Common Council to guide the City in developing other complementary uses of the Boathouse or the grounds or other facilities of Stewart Park so as to offer the public non-motorized boating opportunities beyond, but in concert with, the rowing opportunities offered by CBC, and be it further RESOLVED, That in support of the preceding Resolved, the Board urges the pursuit of substantial flexibility in the Draft License, particularly in terms of revocability, so as to maximize the City’s ability to develop other complementary uses of the Boathouse or surrounding grounds that might coexist with CBC. Mayor Myrick distributed the following memo to the Board in support of the license for Cascadilla Boat Club: To: Common Council Board of Public Works Parks Commission Department Heads From: Svante L. Myrick, Mayor Re: Water Sports on Cayuga Lake Date: April 13, 2015 Like so many of us, I love Ithaca’s natural setting, perched on the end of Cayuga Lake. And like so many of us, I have long wished that we as a City could provide so much more in the way of public access to water sports on and around Cayuga Lake. Today, I would like to announce that the City will take a new and decisive step to expand that public access. By this memorandum, I am convening a Water Sports Working Group for the express purpose of exploring potential on the City’s waterfront for expanding water sports opportunities for the public—be it kayaking, canoeing, rowing, stand-up paddleboards, or many other possibilities. I am tasking this Working Group with exploring a broad set of options: from more docks to publicly-available boat Board of Public Works Page 4 April 13, 2015 Regular Meeting storage, from guided tours to a boat-rental concession, from public operation to a public-private partnership. I am also requesting that we explore a broad geography: anywhere that the City owns land on the waterfront. By beginning with more options, I believe we will end up with better results. The ideas created by this Working Group will be subject to practical, legal, safety, and perhaps especially financial constraints. All the same, I ask that we think broadly and seek creative solutions to roadblocks encountered. Because this endeavor’s success requires a detailed knowledge of the practical management of our City- owned land, I am asking our Superintendent of Public Works (or his designee) to chair this Working Group, with essential support from the many other City departments necessary to the effort (I invite each department head on this memorandum to identify appropriate participation from their department in the Working Group). It is no coincidence that I am sending this memorandum during the City’s consideration of a new license agreement with the Cascadilla Boat Club (“CBC”). That process has rightly focused attention on our shared desire for more water sports opportunities in the City. It has also rightly focused attention on the very real success that CBC has had in expanding access to the water via rowing. I believe that we can and should embrace that success via the proposed license agreement currently under consideration, which I hope the Common Council will soon vote into effect. I believe too that we must explore more options for public access to water sports, which is why I am convening this Working Group. I hope and expect that the Working Group will identify opportunities that complement and expand upon the water access created by CBC for the years to come. I know that this work will take time, and likely will result in recommendations for summer 2016 or beyond. Those recommendations will likely be considered by some combination of the Common Council, the Board of Public Works, and the Parks Commission, among others. I look forward to my own participation in this project as well. Mayor Myrick stated that the memo would be forwarded to the Parks Commission and Common Council. He will request participation from all three bodies, and members of the public to look at the boat club and public access to the water. He believes the best way to move forward is to approve the three year license and then work on a plan for the future. He asked for volunteers from the Board to participate on the committee. Commissioner Warden expressed his agreement with the Mayor about keeping the Cascadilla Boat Club functioning while the City works on the issues through committee work. He noted that no one had mentioned anything about not wanting the boat club to continue operating, but most comments have been about allowing members of the public access to the water. He requested information from Mr. Messing and the boat club regarding why the police were called this morning. Amending Resolution By Commissioner Goldsmith: Seconded by Commissioner Darling RESOLVED, That Whereas clauses 5, 6, and 7 be deleted, and be it further RESOLVED, That the tenth Whereas clause be amended as follows: “WHEREAS, said license should be for a term of one year, and” and be it further RESOLVED, That the Resolved clauses be amended to read as follows: “RESOLVED, That the Board of Public Works supports the Common Council to pursue the licensing of the Boathouse to CBC via a one year Draft License as one possible means of providing the public to enjoy the recreational and athletic boating opportunities offered at Stewart Park, and be it further RESOLVED, That the Board additionally supports the Common Council to create a working group made up of Board, staff, and community members to guide the City in developing other complementary uses of the Boathouse or the grounds or other facilities of Stewart Park so as to offer the public non-motorized boating opportunities beyond, but in concert with, the rowing opportunities offered by CBC, and be it further Board of Public Works Page 5 April 13, 2015 Regular Meeting RESOLVED, That in support of the preceding Resolved, the Board supports the pursuit of substantial flexibility in the Draft License, particularly in terms of revocability, so as to maximize the City’s ability to develop other complementary uses of the Boathouse or surrounding grounds that might coexist with CBC.” Mayor Myrick responded that a one year license would cause negotiations to be continuous and if the committee is still not prepared with a final plan, negotiations would need to occur continuously. He supports the three year license. Discussion followed on the floor regarding retaining the proposed three year license with the nine month termination clause. Commissioner Greene noted that continuous, annual negotiations might become cumbersome and the Board should not put extra burden on city staff. Amendment to the Amending Resolution By Mayor Myrick: Seconded by Commissioner Darling RESOLVED, That the one year term of the license in the Amending Resolution be changed back to three years. A Vote on the Amendment to the Amending Resolution Resulted as Follows: Ayes (5) – Myrick, Jenkins, Darling, Warden, Greene Nays (1) – Goldsmith Abstentions (0) Carried 5-1 A Vote on the Amending Resolution Resulted as Follows: Carried Unanimously A Vote on the Main Resolution Resulted as Follows: Carried Unanimously DISCUSSION ITEMS: 2015 Sidewalk Construction Contract Sidewalk Program Manager Eric Hathaway joined the Board for the discussion of this topic. He explained that there are several suggested changes to the current sidewalk work plan due to conditions that were found while staff inspected the sidewalks. He explained the categories for the changes:  Construction conflicts  Changes in the scope of work required  The need for design work  Public comments that were received Discussion followed on the floor regarding the planned projects, whether any of the sidewalk work might be completed by city crews or not, and that the 2015 budget was created on the assumption that city crews would complete some incidental work utilizing CHIPS and Sidewalk Improvement District funding. Director of Engineering West reported that IURA had agreed to grant $100,000 for sidewalk work on Spencer Road in conjunction with the Ithaca Neighborhood Housing Service (INHS) project, and further funding should be contributed from the INHS project itself. In addition, a half mile more sidewalks would be installed on Old Elmira Road this year. Supt. Thorne stated that the changes had been made to the contract that is currently out for bid, which would be ready for award at the next Board meeting. City Attorney Lavine recommended that the revised work plan be approved by the Board at its next meeting. Frozen Water Pipes Mayor Myrick explained the letter from St. Paul’s United Methodist Church, which stated the church hired a private contractor to assist in thawing their water pipes in February 2015. Supt. Thorne explained the second letter, which requested that the City charge the resident on their average water usage rather than the full water bill because they were advised to keep their water continuously running to avoid frozen pipes. Board of Public Works Page 6 April 13, 2015 Regular Meeting Commissioner Warden noted that the City was not obligated to thaw water pipes. Supt. Thorne responded that when the water pipes froze, residents called the Water and Sewer Division, who told them that the City would thaw the pipes for free but residents would have to be put on a wait list, or the residents could hire a private contractor at their cost. Asst. Supt. Whitney reported that about six residents hired a contractor. Discussion followed on the floor regarding the options provided to residents and property owners, the difficulty in determining exactly where water pipes were frozen, and that this winter was especially harsh. Mayor Myrick would like to have a policy created for next winter that states the City would reimburse residents for hiring a plumber to thaw water lines if the lines were frozen within the City’s right of way. Alderperson Fleming objected, stating that everyone takes a risk when owning property and not everyone can be bailed out, particularly those that don’t pay taxes to begin with. Asst. Supt. Whitney explained how it is determined where a line has frozen, either on the City’s right of way or on private property. Commissioner Warden added that, as a professional plumber, he explains the consequences with every customer whose water lines are not able to be put in the ground deep enough to keep the lines from freezing and how to prevent the pipes from freezing. Supt. Thorne explained the second letter from a resident that requested her water bill be reduced to her average water usage, rather than the full water bill for the time period that she was required to continuously run her water, and stated that more people fall under this situation. The Board agreed to deny the first request and approve the second request. Alderperson Fleming asked about the potential for people to take advantage of the city. Supt. Thorne responded that the City has not had this many pipe freezes, and proof of the frozen pipes would be getting on the list at Water and Sewer. Mayor Myrick suggested that the forgiveness would only be accessible if the City experiences below freezing temperatures for three or more days. Discussion followed on the floor regarding alternatives to running water to keep pipes from freezing. Commissioner Warden expressed concern that the Board was setting a precedent, since the City went above and beyond with their service of thawing pipes. He suggested emphasizing the extraordinary situation that occurred this year. Draft Resolution to Amend Vehicle and Traffic Schedule XII: Parking Prohibited at All Time and Schedule XX: Continuous Parking (aka “24 Hour Parking”) WHEREAS, the Board of Public Works is authorized by Section 346-4 of the City Code to adopt and to amend a system of Schedules in order to administer the Vehicle and Traffic Law, and WHEREAS, the Office of the City Engineer proposes the installation of bicycle lanes in the 500-1200 blocks of N. Cayuga St. as detailed in a memo to the BPW dated April 9, 2015, the plan for which necessitates the consolidation of on-street parking to the east side of the street in the 500-1000 blocks and the elimination of all on-street parking in the 1100-1200 blocks, and WHEREAS, the Board of Public Works concurs, now therefore be it RESOLVED, That the following amendments to the Vehicle and Traffic Schedules shall be made: Schedule XII: Parking Prohibited at All Times Name of Street Side Location (From/To) Cayuga Street West Farm St. to Lincoln St. Cayuga Street Both Lincoln St. to City Line Schedule XX: Continuous Parking Board of Public Works Page 7 April 13, 2015 Regular Meeting Name or Street Side Location Cayuga Street East From Marshall St. to Lincoln St. Transportation Engineers Logue and Johnson joined the Board for the discussion of this topic. Transportation Engineer Logue explained the resolution, noting that in February 2015 the Board discussed the addition of a bike lane on Cayuga Street during this year’s reconstruction of North Cayuga Street. He noted that staff sent out a request for input, and received over 30 pages of public comments. There were 15 people against adding the bike lane; 71 people approved adding the bike lane. He further explained the parking occupancy from a recent traffic count that was performed and the proposed number of parking spaces once parking is removed from one side of the street. He noted that most of the time, there would be enough parking, but occasionally, there may not be enough. He stated staff was comfortable recommending consolidating parking on one side of the street and including a bike lane on the other side. Discussion followed on the floor regarding where parking meters end on North Cayuga Street, adding more parking meters near the businesses north of Cascadilla Street, utilizing on-street parking as a type of traffic calming, issues that may be caused if a bike lane was put between the curb and vehicle parking, installing bike lanes on both sides of the street, protective barriers between the street and the bike lane, and public outreach. Commissioner Warden left the meeting at 6:27 p.m. Transportation Engineer Logue recommended that parking be consolidated on the east side of the street and bike lanes be installed on both sides. Transportation Engineer Johnson stated that the Bike Boulevard planned for Tioga Street would be very complementary to a bike lane on North Cayuga Street Alderperson Fleming left the meeting at 6:32 p.m. NEW BUSINESS: Parking Meter Discussion Director of Parking Nagy explained that there are 328 meters that would be replaced with pay stations. He suggested moving some of those meters to the 200 block of Oak Avenue and on College Avenue. He noted that people do not park at the existing metered spaces, but fill up the non-metered areas. He further noted that there are meter posts on Eddy Street, but no meters. He suggested installing parking meters on those posts. Mayor Myrick stated he would not mind if people parked for 24 hours at a meter as long as they pay for that time, but the current meters have a 2 hour limit. Director of Parking Nagy noted that installing on-street parking meters would assist to clear out a lot of the parking to allow easier bus travel during commute times. Discussion followed on the floor regarding where to locate parking meters, and using meters to control parking. The Board generally agreed with the plan presented by Director of Parking Nagy. ADJOURNMENT: On a motion, the meeting adjourned at 6:47 p.m. Kathrin D. Gehring Svante L. Myrick Executive Assistant Mayor