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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMN-CC-1990-04-021') 5 COMMON COUNCIL PROCEEDINGS CITY OF ITHACA, NEW YORK Special Meeting 7:00 P.M. April 2, 1990 PRESENT: Mayor Nichols (000" Alderpersons (9) - Booth, Cummings, Peterson, Johnson, Daley, Blanchard, Golder, Romanowski, Schroeder OTHERS PRESENT: City Clerk - Paolangeli City Attorney - Guttman Superintendent of Public Works - Thadani City Engineer - Gray Deputy Police Chief ABSENT: Alderperson Hoffman (excused) �.1 PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE: Mayor Nichols led all present in the Pledge of Allegiance to the CIA American flag. SPECIAL ORDER OF BUSINESS: Reconstruction of Hudson Street Mayor Nichols read the following statement to Council: "As I have informed you previously the resolution of Council on the Hudson Street project subjects the City of Ithaca to the strong possibility that the project cannot go forward or will in any event subject the City to grave dangers of serious financial costs. This is an economic burden the City cannot bear. After my decision to halt construction on the project, even after the Contractor had been ordered to begin work, I made every effort to forge a compromise that would meet almost all the demands of the neighborhood without jeopardizing the project itself. That compromise was accepted by the Department of Public Works staff and adopted by the Board of Public Works on March 28, 1990. Under the action of the Board of Public Works, which will be in effect if Council's action is rescinded, Hudson Street will not become an "arterial ". Many important changes will be made from the original design. There will be no widening for the top two - thirds of the street, and there will be STOP signs at the top of the hill and at Columbia Street. (Those signs as well as the change of the sign at Hudson and Aurora Streets from "Yield" to "Stop" have already been installed.) There will be an absolute minimum number of trees removed, and there will be extensive replanting to more than compensate for any loss of trees. Curb lawn grass will not be replaced by bricks. The Board of Public Works has also committed itself to a procedure in future projects that will involve neighborhoods early in the conceptual planning process as well as in more specific details. We were in a bad situation on the Hudson Street project. Under we the circumstances it has been necessary to make a compromise that meets the legitimate requests of the residents of Hudson Street as much as possible and protects the interests of all City residents. The action proposed by me and adopted by the Board of Public Works meets those objectives. The action taken by Council does not. As Mayor it is my responsibility to represent the entire City while giving due consideration to the needs of each neighborhood. 2 April 2, 1990 As a result of the realization by members of Council and the South Hill neighborhood of the consequences of its action of March 28th I anticipate that Common Council will tonight vote to reconsider and will adopt a resolution that will enable work on the reconstruction project to begin tomorrow. I hope that my expectation will be fulfilled. However, if for any reason my hope for a more constructive solution is not fulfilled, this message will be my formal veto of the Council action of March 28. In the event that the veto is necessary and is not overturned, the project will go forward as directed by the Board of Public Works." Motion to Reconsider Action of Common Council on March 28 1990 By Alderperson Daley: Seconded by Alderperson Cummings + RESOLVED, That this Common Council approves the motion to reconsider the action of Common Council on March 28, 1990 regarding the Hudson Street Reconstruction Project. d Alderperson Daley introduced the following resolution and asked that Council consider this resolution to replace the resolution adopted by Council at the Special meeting held on March 28, 1990: Hudson Street Reconstruction Project_ Amendments By Alderperson Daley: Seconded by Alderperson Cummings WHEREAS, the residents of the Hudson Street neighborhood have petitioned for certain changes to the Hudson Street Reconstruction Project as currently designed by John S. MacNeil Engineers, and WHEREAS, the South Hill Civic Association has worked to effect a compromise solution which would protect the fiscal interests of the entire City while ameliorating some of the negative impacts of the Reconstruction, which impacts remain particularly severe in the 100 and 200 blocks of Hudson street, and WHEREAS, it is the policy of the City of Ithaca to preserve and enhance the quality of life in our residential neighborhoods, while maintaining our infrastructure consistent with reasonable safety standards; now, therefore, be it RESOLVED, That in the future planning and design of major urojects, such as the Elm Street Reconstruction, the early articipation of the public will be sought in deciding the ,ptions to be considered as well as in the on -going process of choosing among specific design alternatives, and be it further RESOLVED, That appropriate steps be taken to designate Hudson Street as a bicycle route, and be it further RESOLVED, That the following changes to the Hudson Street Reconstruction Project be made: 1. WIDTH. The width for paving shall be narrowed from 30 to 27 feet for the project from Hillview Place to the Coddington Road. From Columbia to Hillview the street shall be tapered as a transition from 30 to 27 feet. The width from Columbia Street to Aurora Street will be 30 feet. 2. Hudson Street shall be designated as a local collector street, in accordance with its residential character. 3. TREES AND LANDSCAPING. a). Tree removal shall be kept to 5 -8, as indicated on the 3/23/90 DPW proposal. rr �l'7 3 April 2, 1990 b). Earth disruption around remaining tree roots shall be done carefully, by hand if necessary. Appropriate protective fertilizing and pruning shall be done. Supervision will be provided by the City Forester and Shade Tree Committee. c). A minimum of 38 additional trees shall be planted, including an allee from the Therm drive to the City line. d). Substantial additional landscaping shall be implemented under the auspices of the Parks Commission, Shade Tree Commission, and the City Forester, working with individual residents and home - owners to determine the specific details. This will be done to reduce noise and dirt and to help retain the residential character of the street. 6. STOP SIGNS. Stop signs shall be installed immediately in three locations: on Hudson at Aurora; a 4 -way on Hudson at Columbia; and at the top of Hudson where it will be deemed most effective, either at the Coddington Road, or Therm Road /Hudson Place intersections, or below the Therm curve. 7. Additional informational signage shall be incorporated into this project including: a). Clear signage indicating the continuation of Coddington Road into the City. b). "Stop Ahead" signs in advance of all new Stop signs. c). Retention of existing truck limitation sign at Aurora Street and implementation of a similar sign at Coddington Road. d). Legal posting of 15 mph school zone. 8. Crosswalks at school and stop signs shall be marked with a permanent application technique, such as that utilized by Cornell. 9. There shall be a minimal taking of private property. 10. COMMUNITY PARTICIPATION. a) The City invites the South Hill Civic Association to (600.1 form a working subcommittee to meet on a regularly scheduled basis with representatives from the Design Engineering Firm, the BPW, DPW, and the 2nd Ward Alderperson to provide oversight, working within the parameters of the existing design engineering and drawings, as modified by this resolution, for the duration of the Hudson Street Reconstruction Project. b) The City will work with the SHCA to examine zoning, parking and enforcement laws and practices, making adjustments to accommodate neighborhood concerns. -� 4. CURB LAWN. No pavers be of brick, or any other material, shall used between the curb and sidewalk. Curb lawns shall be i grass. 5. CURVES. The radius of the Therm curve shall be limited to <1 the the minimum legal standard for a local collector street. The designs for the curves at Giles and the school are acceptable to the majority of residents. 6. STOP SIGNS. Stop signs shall be installed immediately in three locations: on Hudson at Aurora; a 4 -way on Hudson at Columbia; and at the top of Hudson where it will be deemed most effective, either at the Coddington Road, or Therm Road /Hudson Place intersections, or below the Therm curve. 7. Additional informational signage shall be incorporated into this project including: a). Clear signage indicating the continuation of Coddington Road into the City. b). "Stop Ahead" signs in advance of all new Stop signs. c). Retention of existing truck limitation sign at Aurora Street and implementation of a similar sign at Coddington Road. d). Legal posting of 15 mph school zone. 8. Crosswalks at school and stop signs shall be marked with a permanent application technique, such as that utilized by Cornell. 9. There shall be a minimal taking of private property. 10. COMMUNITY PARTICIPATION. a) The City invites the South Hill Civic Association to (600.1 form a working subcommittee to meet on a regularly scheduled basis with representatives from the Design Engineering Firm, the BPW, DPW, and the 2nd Ward Alderperson to provide oversight, working within the parameters of the existing design engineering and drawings, as modified by this resolution, for the duration of the Hudson Street Reconstruction Project. b) The City will work with the SHCA to examine zoning, parking and enforcement laws and practices, making adjustments to accommodate neighborhood concerns. 4 April 2, 1990 Alderperson Daley stated that after circulating this resolution today he asked the members of the South Hill Civic Association that are present here this evening if this resolution, as it is written, would be acceptable. It was their feeling that this resolution was acceptable in the form in which it was written and presented tonight. Alderperson Cummings referred to the second "Whereas" in the resolution and stated she wished to acknowledge that the neighbors in the South Hill area have been willing to balance strong neighborhood needs with broader City budgetary concerns d erve much credit for that action and she and she believes they es would hope the press would take note of this. Mayor Nichols added his acknowledgement to Alderperson Cumming's statement and he thanked the South Hill residents for agreeing to this compromise, even though he knew it must be hard for may of them to do so. Further discussion followed on the floor with comments from Alderpersons Schroeder, Golder, Booth and Peterson. Motion to Rescind Resolution of Common Council on March 28 1990 By Alderperson Cummings: Seconded by Alderperson Daley RESOLVED, That this Common Council rescinds the resolution that was passed at the Special Common Council meeting on March 28, 1990 regarding the Hudson Street Reconstruction Project. Ayes (9) - Cummings, Daley, Peterson, Blanchard, Johnson, Romanowski, Golder, Booth, Schroeder Absent (1) - Hoffman Carried Motion to Acce t the New Resolution on the Hudson Street Reconstruction Project By Alderperson Cummings: Seconded by Alderperson Daley RESOLVED, That this Council accepts the new resolution on the Hudson Street Reconstruction Project as presented by Alderpersons Daley and Cummings. Ayes (9) - Cummings, Daley, Peterson, Blanchard, Johnson, Romanowski, Golder, Booth, Schroeder Absent (1) - Hoffman Carried ADJOURNMENT' . On a motion the meeting adjourned at 7:35 p.m. 7 Callista F. Paolan."eli City Clerk Benjami Nichols Mayor W,