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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMN-BPW-1990-07-25BOARD OF PUBLIC WORKS COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE July 25, 1990 NOTES Present: Commissioners Berg, Cannon, Connor, Cox, Reeves, Mayor Nichols; Council Liaison Blanchard, Supt. Thadani, Acting Asst. Supt. Carpenter, City Engr. Gray, Asst. City Atty. Kennedy, Alderperson Peterson. Mayor Nichols noted the resignation of Michael Sprague, effective Monday, July 23, 1990, and further noted that it could be as late as September before this seat is filled. Commissioner Reeves chaired the meeting. The following were additions to the Agenda: Sanitation violations at 408 Stewart Avenue - letter from Richard Gilbert. Conversion of Zikakis auto plaza to mini -mall; request for sidewalk replacement; letter from Kathy Wolf of Trowbridge. Letter from Lucy Bergstrom regarding idling vehicles on State and Aurora Streets. Sales tax on parking ramp fees. 1. Ithaca Farmers Market request to use Steamboat Landing for fund raiser. Deb Bliss, representing the Ithaca Farmers Market, was present to discuss their request to use the Steamboat Landing site for a fund raising event. She noted this would be held on Sunday, August 19, from 1 to 9 or 10 pm. She further noted that this would be a donation only event, with no selling of goods. Ms. Bliss noted that the group is applying for the necessary permits - amplified sound and food permits. Discussion followed as to the current contract between the City and the Ithaca Farmers Market, and if the Market needed permission to use this site for times other than their regular Market times. The BPW agreed to BOARD OF PUBLIC WORKS Committee of the Whole July 25, 1990 (W approve this request, subject Attorney. to lease review by the City 2. Stop signs issue: Request for four -way stops at: Dey Street Alderperson Peterson and residents of the Dey Street area were present for discussion. Commissioner Reeves noted the many requests the BPW has received for stop signs to be installed over various sections of the City, and the background and petition regarding this request. City Engr. Gray explained the volume counts that staff recently compiled on Dey Street. He noted that from June to July there has been a noticeable decrease in vehicle volume on Dey Street. City Engr. Gray showed the BPW a map outlining the current traffic control devices used in the City. City Engr. Gray further discussed the history of Dey Street, when stop signs were installed, noting that this is one of the wider streets in the City. Commissioner Cannon noted that he felt the problems the residents' are experiencing on Dey Street are enforcement issues, noting he experiences the same types of problems where he lives on Buffalo Street. Alderperson Peterson noted she felt many of the speeding problems are a result of vehicles coming off of Route 13 at 55 mph. She asked the BPW to petition the State DOT requesting them to reduce the speed limit on Route 13 south of the City line. She further suggested that the BPW consider rerouting downtown traffic onto Cayuga Street via the placement of signage. Discussion followed. Commissioner Berg did not feel that this was an enforcement issue, but felt that solving this problem could create a problem elsewhere. Commissioner Cox did not see a need to install further stop signs on Dey Street, but did think slowing down traffic on Route 13 was a good idea. City Engr. Gray discussed an article entitled, "Stop Signs for Speed Control ", from Public Works magazine, noting that stop signs are not effective in controlling speed. City Engr. Gray also noted other similar requests where stop signs were installed and also removed. Council Liaison Blanchard suggested that the residents meet with the Police Chief to discuss their problems. Commissioner Cannon noted that there is a request in the 1991 Capital Projects for a Speed Enforcement Officer. The BPW decided to direct staff to contact the State to request the reduction of speed from 55 to 40 mph on Route 13 south from the City line to Dey Street. Tioga Street (especially Farm Street) Commissioner Berg noted that he would like to see the accident data on this street as he felt there is a real problem here, with many accidents. City Engr. Gray noted that there have been some improvements made at this intersection. Alderperson Peterson noted that the Police Chief will be doing some spot checking on Page - 2 BOARD OF PUBLIC WORKS Committee of the Whole July 25, 1990 Tioga Street. The BPW directed staff to report back with accident history and other options to consider on Tioga Street. Jay and Utica Streets The BPW noted that the residents in this area wanted a four -way stop at this intersection, and the BPW decided to table this to another meeting. Discussion followed about a stop sign recently installed on Marshall Street. It was noted that this has been down for years, and the Traffic Engr. discovered it just recently. The BPW directed staff to remove this sign. 3. Engineering Technician position - Committee has '$Power to Act". Commissioner Reeves noted that this item was tabled from the last BPW meeting, and that the Budget and Administration Committee has already approved this. The BPW noted the correspondence between the CSEA Union and the Supt. Resolution by Commissioner Cannon; seconded by Commissioner Connor. One of the Engineering Technician positions in the City Engineering Office has been vacant for over a year. This position has been advertised several times over the past year, and many applicants have been interviewed. However, due to the current starting salary for this position, favorable candidates would not accept this position at the minimum step. The vacancy of this position has caused a great hardship to other staff members in the Engineering Office. Therefore, the appointment of an individual to the vacant position of Engineering Technician is of extreme importance. WHEREAS, an extensive competitive search has been completed and the Superintendent of Public Works and Civil Engineer have together thoroughly interviewed several well qualified candidates and have selected an individual they feel would best serve the Engineering Office based upon this individual's education and work experience, now, therefore, be it RESOLVED, That the Board of Public Works approves the appointment of Raymond Benjamin to the position of Engineering Technician in the City Engineering Office, at an annual salary of $22,077, that being Step 5 of the 1990 CSEA Administrative 'Unit Plan, and be it further Page - 3 BOARD OF PUBLIC WORKS Committee of the Whole July 25, 1990 RESOLVED, That the Board of Public Works passes this recommendation onto the Budget and Administration Committee and to Common Council for their consideration. Discussion followed. Mayor Nichols offered a friendly amendment to be inserted after the first WHEREAS. Friendly Amendment WHEREAS, pursuant to the 1990 CSEA Administrative Contract, the Union has been given advance notice of this action to hire above Step 1. A vote on the Main Motion with the Friendly Amendment resulted as follows: Carried Unanimously 4. Budget meetings. Acting Asst. Supt. Carpenter noted that the first draft of the DPW 1991 budget should be ready Friday afternoon. Commissioner (W Reeves noted how the past budget reviews were handled - the BPW would meet every Wednesday after the COW or regular meeting down at Streets and Facilities to review the budget. Commissioner Cannon expressed his frustration with the budget review as the BPW spends alot of time carefully reviewing it and the Mayor and Council usually cut it down greatly. Acting Asst. Supt. Carpenter noted that this year's budget is only a modest increase. Mayor Nichols suggested that the BPW look for priorities when reviewing the budget. The BPW decided to schedule the following dates for budget review: Thursday, August 9th - 7:00 pm Wednesday, August 15th - immediately following BPW meeting. Wednesday, August 22nd - immediately following COW meeting. Wednesday, August 29th - immediately following BPW meeting. These will be held in the Streets and Facilities Conference Room. The BPW also changed the BPW meetings for the month of August due to a lack of quorum on August 8th. They are as follows: August 1st - Committee of the Whole August 8th - Cancelled August 15th - Board of Public Works regular meeting August 22nd - Committee of the Whole August 29th - Board of Public Works Page - 4 BOARD OF PUBLIC WORKS Committee of the Whole July 25, 1990 5. Request from Day Care Council to use Dewitt and Washington Parks. The BPW reviewed a request from the Tompkins County Day Care Council for use of Dewitt Park on August 9th and Washington Park pm August 23rd, from 10 am to 12 pm, for an activities workshop. The BPW agreed to approve this request. 6. DPW Consolidation Study. The BPW discussed the next step for this study. It was noted that the results of the Trowbridge study indicated that the Joint Transit Facility and the DPW consolidation would not fit on the one site. Commissioner Reeves noted that Alderperson Booth would like a second opinion, and that former Asst. Supt. Fabbroni noted that Trowbridge didn't include two -story buildings into this study. Acting Asst. Supt. Carpenter noted that former Supt. Dougherty and former Asst. Supt. Fabbroni both agreed that the consolidation and Transit Facility could be done on this site. Mayor Nichols and Commissioner Reeves both noted they were not happy with the Trowbridge study. Discussion followed. Commissioner Cox noted that there were alot of flaws in this report, i.e. (bay sizes, unusually large conference room) and that he was not ready to accept this report. Supt. Thadani discussed how Trowbridge cam up with their figures for this study. Discussion followed about other City departments' storage needs, and it was noted that now many of the departments' don't want their items stored in this building. Discussion followed about hiring a professional to do a space analysis report and perhaps a second study of option. The BPW directed staff to thoroughly go over the Trowbridge study and address all fault. Commissioner Reeves reminded the BPW and staff to consider the following points; 1) do we want to stay at the present site or look to another, 2) and if so, negotiations with Mr. Seacord should be considered soon. Asst. City Atty. Kennedy also pointed out that a contract between the City and Cornell University regarding the Transit Facility is to be signed on Sept. 29. 7. Parking on the east side of Floral Avenue - across from INNS /Polygon Housing Project. Kathe Evans from the Planning Dept. was present for this discussion. She gave the BPW background information on this project and noted that the zoning allows only 24 parking spaces, while they would like 36. She further noted that 8 to 12 parking spaces is requested on the east side of Floral Ave. Discussion followed about the lack of parking on Floral Avenue in this area - 358 Floral Avenue. Discussion followed about the installation of sidewalks and meeting handicapped accessibility. Kathe noted Page - 5 BOARD OF PUBLIC WORKS Committee of the Whole July 25, 1990 that the project would not meet handicapped accessibility. Commissioner Cannon asked about the lawsuits underway regarding this project. Asst. City Atty. Kennedy noted there is two lawsuits in regards to this project - one is against the Board of Zoning Appeals, and the other is a neighbor suing. Discussion followed about landscaping what costs are going to be borne by the developers. The BPW asked Kathe to come back at a future meeting to give an update on this project and the revisions to be made. Meeting adjourned at 6:25 pm. Notes by Lisa Cornell Administrative Secretary Page - 6