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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMN-BPW-1989-09-06L A BOARD OF PUBLIC WORKS COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE September 6, 1989 NOTES Present: Commissioners Cannon, Cox, Daley, Sprague, (Reeves excused); Council Liaison Nichols, Acting Supt. Fabbroni, City Engineer Gray. Commissioner Daley chaired the meeting. The following were additions to the Agenda: 6. Sludge at the Ithaca Area Wastewater Treatment Facility. 7. Amendment to Sign Ordinance. * CITY -OWNED PROPERTY DISPOSITION COMMITTEE Two BPW volunteers are needed to serve on this committee. Commissioners Daley and Reeves were chosen. 1. ADDITIONAL LIGHTING REQUEST IN SOUTHSIDE AREA Residents from the Southside area were present to discuss their request for additional lighting in their neighborhood. City Engr. Gray noted that staff did a physical survey of the area and noted that the first thing that could be done is to trim the tree branches but that this would change the appearance of the streets. Commissioner Daley read Police Chief McEwen's response to the BPW's request for crime statistics and /or the presence of a night patrol officer at a Committee meeting. Chief McEwen could not provide either, as he does not have the computer capability to provide statistics in this particular area and since patrols are rotated continuously, no one officer patrols this area exclusively. Rev. Benson spoke to the BPW about the high volume of traffic in this area, and noted that this area is known for open drinking and drugs. He desired a well -lit area. Mr. Haywood felt that all City committees should take a closer look at Southside. Rev. Reeves was concerned about teenage hoodlums hanging out in the dark and urged the BPW for a quick resolution to this problem. Commissioner Daley noted that the Police Chief felt that additional lighting in this area would be good. Discussion followed about the City -wide lighting conversion and projected five -year plan. Commissioner Cannon suggested that NYSEG be contacted to convert this area first. He also noted that he has discussed this with Mayor Gutenberger, and the Mayor noted that the Shade Tree Advisory Committee may need to be consulted. City Engr. Gray noted that the fastest things to do would be to trim back branches to open the cone, contact NYSEG to upgrade fixtures and possibly increase wattage, and then evaluate in six months. Commissioner Cox felt that NYSEG should be aware that the residents in this area are not happy with the lighting and they could possibly offer suggestions. Rev. Reeves suggested that a committee go down to this area at 10 or 11 p.m. to see for themselves. Discussion followed about the boundaries for the lighting improvements. The BPW directed staff to meet with the neighborhood representatives to resolve this lighting problem as quickly as possible. 2. CNG TRANSMISSIONS CORP PIPELINE PROPOSAL This will be discussed at next COW meeting. 3. SPEED BUMPS Commissioner Daley noted that at the last Planning and Development Board meeting, various traffic mechanisms were discussed. The P &D Board suggested installing speed bumps on two streets - Crescent Place and Spencer Street - on an experimental one year basis. Discussion followed about the liability factors. City Engr. Gray noted that he had talked to the Regional Director of the Department of Transportation about speed bumps, and that this is something that should not be done in the Northeast. Discussion followed about emergency response groups and speed bumps. Acting Supt. Fabbroni felt that speed bumps were a hazard and not very practical for traffic control. Discussion followed about speed bumps and speed humps. Discussion followed concerning lowering speed limits within certain parts of the City. Commissioner Cox felt that DOT and APWA should be contacted for background on this subject. Staff will research the topic of speed bumps and report back in one month. 4. COLLEGETOWN MAINTENANCE INCREASE Commissioner Daley noted that the BPW passed a resolution in May, 1989 to increase maintenance funds for Collegetown for the 1990 budget and the budget has already been prepared for 1990 without this increase. Discussion followed about what this increase would cover - more men, more equipment, etc. Discussion followed about amending the budget requests, or setting aside funds in restricted contingency for use at the appropriate time in Collegetown. The BPW directed staff to work out a proposal for maintenance increase in Collegetown and come back to discuss this with the BPW. 5. SLUDGE AT ITHACA AREA WASTEWATER TREATMENT FACILITY City Engr. Gray discussed this request to authorize funds for a sludge program to be included in the 1990 budget process. He noted that he may need to make a decision authorizing work on short notice. Discussion followed about the newly enacted County landfill tipping fee of $40 /ton. Acting Supt. Fabbroni noted that 6,000 tons are shipped from the IAWWTP a year, and with (r garbage it could be $80 /ton, and to ship elsewhere $105- 110 /ton. Discussion followed about cost sharing with the County, and it was noted that the County would do this only if request for proposals were sent out. The BPW directed staff to come back with firm figures for this sludge program, research the requirements necessary to operate a sludge disposal plant, and noted that DEC will be changing their requirements on January 1st. 6. AMENDMENT TO SIGN ORDINANCE Commissioner Daley asked the BPW if they would like to be involved in the sign ordinance amendment discussions. It was noted that this amendment was concerning painted signs not extruding the building, but part of the frontage. It was further noted that the Building Dept. enforces the sign ordinances, and the BPW did not want to be involved in the amendment process. Meeting adjourned at 5:50 p.m. Notes by Lisa Cornell Administrative Secretary