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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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