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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMN-BPW-1989-02-01BOARD OF PUBLIC WORKS COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE Meeting of February 1, 1989 NOTES Present: Commissioners Cannon, Reeves, Sprague; Council Liaison Nichols, Supt. Dougherty, Asst. Supt. Fabbroni, City Engr. Gray. Commissioner to -be Phil Cox was also in attendance. Commissioner Reeves chaired the meeting. The following were additions to the Agenda: 7. Empire State Games. 8. Dryden Road Parking Garage Permit Request. 9. Hot Truck at 600 Block of Stewart Avenue. 10. Report on Hudson Street Preliminary Design. 11. Commons Advisory Board Update. 1. EMPIRE STATE GAMES %or Discussion followed about Mayor Gutenberger's resolution allowing the Empire State Games Local Organizing Committee to use Room 211 in City Hall during 1989 at no charge. Presently, the Ithaca Centennial Office is located in this room and should be winding down in the near future. The Mayor noted that Marcia Lynch will probably be staying on and coordinating this event. After discussing the small rental fee the City would receive if they were to rent this office, the BPW decided that the promotional and financial benefits the City would receive from the Empire State Games would be far greater, and will formally vote on this resolution at their next BPW meeting. 2. HOT TRUCK AT 600 BLOCK OF STEWART AVENUE Benson Farb of 636 Stewart Avenue, told the BPW the problems he has with the location of this truck. Mr. Farb stated that he has not had any sleep because of the loud, drunken crowds that this truck attracts. He asked the BPW to do something immediately to move this vehicle - he suggested relocating it to the graveyard. Mr. Farb noted the hours that this truck works: Friday, Saturday - 11 pm to 5 am, Sunday - 6:30 pm to 2 am, Monday through Thursday - 10:30 pm to 2:30 am. Mr. Farb also noted that the police have been called to this location because of fights which have started. Bob Terry, who owns property in this area, also felt this truck should be moved. He said that Cornell has installed "no parking" signs on this City street. Mr. Terry also said that the previous location was not a problem. Discussion followed. It was noted that the City Attorney is looking into this. Commissioner Reeves asked Supt. Dougherty what could be done. Supt. Dougherty stated that this truck has no public works permit, but possibly a police department vendors permit. Supt. Dougherty said that he would contact the police department after this meeting and ask them to notify the owners of this truck that they are creating a problem and ask them to move. Mr. Terry noted that he would like to be kept informed of the City Attorney's findings. 3. ENCROACHMENT REQUEST AT 132 UNIVERSITY AVENUE Assistant City Attorney Beers - Schnock said that she spoke with Tom West in the Engineering Dept. concerning this request. From their research, she stated that the steps were okay, but the wall is definitely on City property, and she would need to study this further. Discussion followed. It was noted that this request originated because due to the sale of the property. Assistant City Attorney Beers - Schnock stated that she will draw up an encroachment agreement for the steps, and would report back to the BPW concerning the wall. 4. SIDEWALK ASSESSMENTS Assistant City Attorney Beers - Schnock relayed BPW based on the City Charter Section 5.30. should be prepared and notification should be three times before a public hearing is held. the BPW cannot authorize anything relative make suggestions to Common Council. 5. NYSEG STREET LIGHT CHANGEOVER her findings to the She said that a map in a local newspaper She also noted that to payments, but can Discussion followed about letter from the City's Energy Commission endorsing NYSEG's proposal to replace all existing mercury vapor street lights with high pressure sodium luminaries. City Engr. Gray noted that the Civil Engr. has done a study on this. Discussion followed about the annual cost savings to the City and the difference between the high and low pressure lights. The BPW decided to wait for a report from the Civil Engr. before making a decision. Commisssioner Cannon referred some of the concerns the Commons Advisory Board had concerning lighting on the Commons. He said that they had already spoke to someone from NYSEG. He also said that the lights under the pavilions are dirty and should be cleaned. One suggestion they had was to get the merchants to leave their window lights on. Supt. Dougherty noted that the lighting in the walkways was tested and it did not come in lower than the normal standards are. 6. ELMIRA ROAD SIDEWALKS Alderperson Schlather was present for discussion. Discussion started about the letter from Tallmadge Tires. Commissioner Cannon stated that he feels there is a need for sidewalks. Commissioner Sprague feels there is not. The origin of this request was discussed. Supt. Dougherty noted that this has been discussed on and off, and noted that the Planning Dept. had made the newly built motel install sidewalks. Discussion followed about the liability concerns the merchants have. Commissioner Cannon felt a pedestrian study should be done. Supt. Dougherty asked what results of this study would require the installation of sidewalks. Alderperson Schlather noted that the merchants are unanimous in opposition to the installation of sidewalks. Commissioner Cannon felt sidewalks would make the area safer and asked about the bus stops. There are no "regular" stops on the Elmira Road; the Transit drivers are very accommodating to the passengers and drop them off wherever they'd like. Council Liaison Nichols felt that in the long run sidewalks would need to be provided. Discussion followed about possible deals that could be made with the merchants, i.e. sale of surplus land cheaply, to help offset the cost of installing sidewalks. The BPW decided to instruct staff to conduct a pedestrian study in the spring, and to further this discussion in May or June when the results from this study are available. 7. COLLEGETOWN CLEAN -UP CONTINUING DISCUSSION Alderperson Killeen was present to report to the BPW about the most recent meeting held on this topic. He stated that Collegetown merchants are skeptical and many boycotted this meeting because they felt the City isn't doing what it should be doing. He said that the merchants need to be convinced that the City is doing their job in Collegetown. He also said that the Mayor was trying to point out to the merchants all the activities that will be going on in their area, i.e. Empire State Games. Supt. Dougherty stated that street cleaning (in good weather) takes place on Sunday, Tuesday and Thursday. The major problem with street sweeping is cars are parked on both sides of the street, and the cleaner can't get close enough to the curb. Commissioner Reeves questioned the parking ordinances in Collegetown. Asst. Supt. Fabbroni said that trash pick -up days for the business section are Tuesday and Friday; in residential areas the days are Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday. It was noted that recycling days are the same as trash days. Discussion followed. Alderperson Killeen noted that since the construction of the parking garage, most of the merchants group in Collegetown has dissipated. The concensus of the BPW was to discuss the street cleaning /trash pick -up map and parking ordinances in Collegetown at their next COW meeting. c.— a N REPORT FROM SUPERINTENDENT Supt. Dougherty noted that extra financing was required for the Quarry Street retaining wall and that the B &A Committee has approved this funding, pending the approval of the BPW. Supt. Dougherty also noted that the preliminary design for Hudson Street has been received from the engineers, MacNeill Engrs., and that a Public Information Meeting is scheduled for February 8, 1989 at 7:00 p.m. at the South Hill School. Meeting adjourned at 6:02 p.m. Notes by Lisa Cornell Administrative Secretary