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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMN-BPW-1990-06-20BOARD OF PUBLIC WORKS COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE June 20, 1990 NOTES PRESENT: Commissioners Berg, Cannon, Connor, Cox, Reeves, Sprague, Mayor Nichols; Council Liaison Blanchard, City Engr. Gray, Acting Asst. Supt. Carpenter, Asst. City Atty. Kennedy. Commissioner Reeves chaired the meeting. The following were additions to the Agenda: Monroe Street Bridge removal, repair or rehabilitation. Request to recycle State Street bricks. Executive session to discuss personnel matters. The following were deletions to the Agenda: Deposit fee for Ithaca Festival vendors - Mike Cannon. Regulations governing off - street parking for rental residential dwelling units - Barbara Blanchard. Cornell Transit Study - Bernie Carpenter. a) Cornell Park and Ride Lot at East Hill Plaza. Elmira Road Sidewalks. Update from Asst. City Attorney on Harold Hodes' request for fence construction at 102 Treva Ave. Central School Parking. 1. Parking Garage signage. Kathe Evans from the Planning Department, was present to discuss the City's parking garage signage procedure and passed around the specifications for these. She noted that when the current signage was installed, it had passed through the BPW for their review. She further noted that she has submitted the signage program to the Capital Projects Review for the coming year. Commissioner Cannon noted the concerns the Commons Advisory Board had about the existing signage and people new to town not being able to find the parking garages. Commissioner Connor asked if the signage proposed will streamline the existing signage. Kathe noted that the signage will streamline the existing signage and will also get rid of unnecessary messages. The BPW felt it was premature to formally act on this as the signage is being proposed in the Capital Projects Review for 1991. BOARD OF PUBLIC WORKS Committee of the Whole June 20, 1990 2. Trash violations at 220 S. Geneva Street. Tim Terpening, owner of the above property, was present for discussion. Untagged trash was picked up in front of this property and Mr. Terpening was cited. Mr. Terpening felt that this trash did not belong to his tenants. Discussion followed about the current procedure for trash - a warning sticker is left on the untagged trash, and then the trash is picked up the next day. It was noted that when untagged trash is picked up, the Refuse and Recycling Supervisor tries to find some identification in the trash to identify the culprit. However, in many cases nothing is found. Council Liaison Blanchard suggested to Mr. Terpening that he call Tompkins County Solid Waste to see if they could offer any assistance. Commissioner Connor suggested the Mr. Terpening notify his tenants about this violation, and that each tenant could have a separate identification sticker on it. Commissioner Cannon suggested a resolution expunging this violation for the next BPW meeting, and also asked that Refuse and Recycling Supervisor Kelly be present to discuss enforcing measures, and the BPW agreed to this. 3. Ithaca New Market contract. (W Asst. City Atty. Kennedy noted the name change from "Green" to "New" Market as another market already has use of the Green Market name. She discussed the proposed agreement which she modeled after the Farmers Market agreement. Discussion followed about the clean -up clause and the liability amount. Asst. City Atty. Kennedy will contact the insurance agency to find out how much the Farmers Market is and then request the New Market acquire the same amount. Discussion followed about the termination date. The BPW decided to approve the proposed contract with a few minor modifications at their next regular meeting. 4. Parking regulations on upper East Hill - summary of public meeting held on May 24, 1990. Commissioner Berg noted that this committee is waiting for more information from Albany in regards to State legislation to allow residential parking permits. He will report back when this information is received. S. Staff Updates: a. Dey Street traffic counts - City Engr. Gray noted that the counters are out on Dey Street but to bear in mind that they will not be accurate since traffic is being rerouted due to the reconstruction of Route 13. Page - 2 BOARD OF PUBLIC WORKS Committee of the Whole June 20, 1990 b. Recycling Center Negotiations with Tompkins County - Acting Asst. Supt. Carpenter noted that this committee has been established, no meeting has been set yet, and that effective June 21st the Recycling Drop -off Center will only be open on Saturdays from 8 am to 4 pm. C. Capital Projects - City Engr. Gray noted that a list is being formed and projects are being collected to be submitted. d. Alderperson Romanowski letter re: Hugh Hall- NYSEG work - City Engr. Gray noted the background on this letter, NYSEG did some work at this address and damaged the water service, which the City crews repaired and billed Mr. Hall for. City Engr. Gray felt that the bill was warranted as the City has provided them with all new water service which eventually would have been necessary. City Engr. Gray will write Mr. Hall and Alderperson Romanowski explaining this. e. Compressor bid - City Engr. Gray noted that the DPW is looking to award the contract to the lower bid. f. Water tank color - City Engr. Gray noted the different colors available for water tanks. 6. Water meter installed at 208 Dey Street. The BPW received a letter from Mr. and Mrs. James Spero, owners of the property at 208 Dey Street. It seems they were billed for installation of a new water meter due to the fact that some paint had gotten on the old one, defacing it. City Engr. Gray showed the BPW the meter that was defaced. It was noted that although these meter are mounted on private property, they are still City property. Discussion followed. The BPW decided not to expunge this bill for the new meter. 7. Commons Granite Block Sculpture. The BPW received a copy of a letter to Mayor Nichols from Michelle Berry Schwartz, in regards to the block sculpture on the Commons. Acting Asst. Supt. Carpenter noted that this is part of the fountain that is being worked on. Staff will look into this further and write to Ms. Berry Schwartz. 8. Hudson St. Relandscaping. City Engr. Gray gave the BPW the background on this item regarding the substantial additional landscaping. Discussion followed about the budget involved. The BPW directed City Engr. Gray to bring this issue to Common Council, as they passed the other resolutions regarding landscaping on Hudson Street. Page - 3 BOARD OF PUBLIC WORKS Committee of the Whole June 20, 1990 9. Doc droppings in City parks. Council Liaison Blanchard noted that these issue was to be brought to Charter and Ordinance and asked if in the meantime, a sign could be erected in Washington Park asking dog owners to curb their dogs, which staff will work on. 10. Towing hearing process - Asst. City Attorney. Asst. City Attorney Kennedy explained the current procedure for towing hearings and noted that the Charter allows the City Attorney to designate an impartial person to hear these cases. She asked the BPW if they would be interested in holding these hearings, which they were not, and will look elsewhere in the City. The BPW went into executive session at 5:50 pm to discuss personnel matters. Notes by Lisa Cornell Administrative Secretary Page - 4