HomeMy WebLinkAboutMN-BPW-1990-09-05BOARD OF PUBLIC WORKS
COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE
September 5, 1990
NOTES
Present: Commissioners Cannon, Connor, Cox (Berg, Reeves
excused), Mayor Nichols; Council Liaison Blanchard, Supt.
Thadani, Acting Asst. Supt. Carpenter, City Engr. Gray, Asst.
City Atty. Kennedy.
Mayor Nichols chaired the meeting.
The following was an addition to the Agenda:
Night -time residential parking permits in Downtown garages.
The following were deletions to the Agenda:
Cliff Street Sidewalk Parking.
Elmira Road Sidewalks.
Central School Parking - report from Mayor Nichols.
Review of criteria for sidewalk inspections.
Request for four -way stop at Jay and Utica Streets - discussion
tabled from July 25, 1990 meeting.
Time schedule and review of job description for hiring of Transit
System Manager.
Alcohol consumption in City parks - possible discussion of rules
and regulations.
Parking ramps: reserved spaces - ruling from Asst. City Atty.
Request for two hour parking limit on Aurora Street.
COMMUNICATIONS FROM THE MAYOR:
Mayor Nichols noted that his proposed candidate for the vacant
position on the BPW, Diann Sams, will not be able to serve on the
BPW as she has moved out of the City. He read the following
message from Diann to the BPW: "To all Board and Staff - I want
to thank everyone for accepting me on the Board. But due to the
need to find a new home which we did, it has taken us just
outside the City limits. I am sorry because I know I would have
liked working with all of you. Good luck to you in your work
ahead. 11
BOARD OF PUBLIC WORKS
Committee of the Whole
September 5, 1990
1. Rectuest to waive fee for use of Pavilion at Stewart Park
Val Saul, Personnel Administrator, and Eric Datz, Building
Commissioner were present to request the BPW to waive the $75.00
fee for the use of the large pavilion at Stewart Park for the
Employee Recognition Day, scheduled for September 28th from 1:00
to 5:00 pm. Val noted that the Recreation Supervisor in charge
of reserving the pavilions at Cass Park told her that he could
not waive the fee without approval from the BPW. Discussion
followed about the picnic. The BPW agreed to waive the fee for
the large pavilion at Stewart Park.
2. Staff Reports:
a) Golf Course Shelter - Bill Gray noted that the group has
received all the permission it needs to proceed with this
project. Discussion followed about the shelter to be constructed
- which will be a simple pole barn, 6 column in- ground. It was
noted that a simple site plan review has also been done for this.
b) Bus shelters - possible restoration of heaters - Bernie
Carpenter noted the request from Planning and Development
Director Thys Van Cort asking for the DPW to reinstall the
heaters. Bernie further noted that this practice was
discontinued pursuant to a direction from the Energy Commission
years ago. However, Bernie looked into the costs of reactivating
this service and found it would be minimal costs to the City to
do this. Discussion followed about the heaters which are on a
timer for 5 minute durations on demand. Guy Gerard suggested
enclosing these timers for security purposes, which Bernie noted
they are already enclosed.
c) Cornell Transit Study - Park and Ride lot at East Hill Plaza
- Bernie noted that a transit study was done recently which
suggested placing "park & ride" lots on East Hill, West Hill and
in the Northeast area. Bernie further noted that a "Park and
Ride" Committee was established to study how and where to
establish such lots. Bernie noted that these lots would have to
be desirable to the public to be successful, i.e. good lighting,
easy accessibility. Discussion followed about parking problems
and traffic congestion and Bernie further noted that he liked the
idea of having "park and ride" lots on West Hill and East Hill to
relieve these concerns.
d) Third Street sidewalk procedures review - Asst. City Atty.
(W Kennedy noted that she met with Bill Gray and Tom West to discuss
this matter, and gave the BPW a brief background on this project.
It was noted that the public was given ample notice to voice
their concerns regarding this project and according to the
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BOARD OF PUBLIC WORKS
Committee of the Whole
September 5, 1990
Charter, individual mailings are not required. Discussion
followed about the Bowl -o -drome property and Pat noted again that
they were given legal and ample notice of the improvements. The
BPW decided to contact the property owner of the Bowl -o -drome and
suggest he look into paying for these improvements over a 5 year
time frame. Commissioner Connor suggested that in the future,
small groups be notified individually, and Council Liaison
Blanchard suggested that public hearings be held once the plans
are done, not when construction is ready to begin. The BPW
agreed that the property owners in this area were properly
notified and directed staff to proceed with this project and the
assessments.
3. Monroe /Marshall St. Bridge - Petition from residents.
Supt. Thadani gave the BPW an update on this topic. He noted
that he would like to remove the existing bridge due to safety
concerns, and that the residents would like another one in its
place. He further noted that there is a request in the Capital
Projects review for $50,000 for the purpose of replacing this
bridge. The residents would like a pedestrian bridge similar to
the one recently built on Willow Avenue by the American Society
of Civil Engineers at Cornell. He also noted that the residents
are interested in maintaining the original appearance of the
bridge and the ornamental lighting. Commissioner Cannon was
concerned about the cost of $50,000 to do this, and suggested
that the Civil Engineers may be interested in constructing this
bridge. Discussion followed about the necessity of a bridge in
this area and it was noted that there is alot of pedestrian
traffic. Council Liaison Blanchard noted other areas in the City
that could use a bridge like this. It was further noted that
this bridge is currently closed off to pedestrian traffic.
4. Center Ithaca Parking lot - complaints regarding entrance.
Asst. City Atty. Kennedy noted the concerns she has with this
entrance, and it was suggested that the Traffic Engineer ri--:view
this entrance and exit and make a recommendation. City Engr.
Gray noted the current situation is logical to move traffic in
and out quickly, but that he has seen problems here too.
Discussion followed about the contract with Center Ithaca
regarding this lot and Pat noted that there is a 6 year breach of
contract law which she will look into in regards to the Center
Ithaca contract.
5. Trash tags /increase in tipping fee rates review.
(w Mayor Nichols noted that the County will soon be raising tipping
fees which Supt. Thadani felt that City fees will need to
increase 50% to compensate for this. Discussion followed about
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BOARD OF PUBLIC WORKS
Committee of the Whole
September 5, 1990
the current trash tags and how much the tipping fees is actually
costing the City. Commissioner Cannon suggested not making the
1990 tags obsolete and that perhaps a "booster" tag could be
created to make the existing tags useful. The BPW were not
agreeable to raising the tag prices a considerable amount and
asked for more accurate figures from the County.
6. Deposit fee for Ithaca Festival vendors - Mike Cannon.
Commissioner Cannon noted that vendors at the Ithaca Festival are
made to pay a deposit fee which is based on input from the BPW.
He would like to see the deposit raised as the City has to clean
up quite a bit afterward. Discussion followed about the deposit
fees and questions were raised as to how much vendors are paying.
Commissioner Cannon will go back to the Commons Advisory Board
and gather more information.
7. Idling vehicles on State and Aurora Streets.
The BPW reviewed a letter from Lucy Bergstrom regarding idling
traffic on State and Aurora Streets, and her suggestion that a
law be made and enforced to stop idling traffic for a specific
amount of time. Commissioner Cannon felt this is not very
practical, since the City does not have the amount of personnel
to enforce this. Council Liaison Blanchard noted that the
Conservation Advisory Council has discussed this issue and noted
that New York City has this law and receives funding for having
it. The BPW directed the Supt. to write to Ms. Bergstrom and
explain their position regarding this.
8. CNG Transmissions - further discussion.
Asst. City Atty. Kennedy noted that she has filed a suit against
this firm for $40,000 for additional costs regarding trees and
will keep the BPW updated.
9. Contaminated Tanks on Linden Ave.
City Engr. Gray noted that tanks were located in Linden Ave. and
were tested and found to contain large amounts of gasoline. He
further noted he is in the process of getting estimates for
removal of these tanks. Asst. City Atty. Kennedy noted that she
is in the process of finding out who is responsible for paying to
have these tanks removed. However, these tanks need to be
removed as soon as possible and staff asked the BPW to request
that B &A allocate appropriate funds for this removal, which the
BPW will do.
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BOARD OF PUBLIC WORKS
Committee of the Whole
September 5, 1990
(W
10. Decommissioning of Lake Avenue.
Council Liaison Blanchard noted that this project goes to Common
Council tonight for their approve to file the necessary
application for this project. She further noted that the
problems with the utilities in the road are being looked at.
City Engr. Gray noted that the DPW still needs access to the
Creek site and that the City sewage flows through this area.
Council Liaison Blanchard noted that the application will be
filed and that the details will be worked out with the City Engr.
and the BPW.
Meeting adjourned at 5:30 pm.
Notes by
Lisa Cornell
Administrative Secretary
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