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.
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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
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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
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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
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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.
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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
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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