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effect if Council's action is rescinded, Hudson Street will not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,