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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 Page - 2 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 Page - 3 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. Page - 4 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 Page - 5