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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMN-BPW-1990-09-26399 BOARD OF PUBLIC WORKS PROCEEDINGS CITY OF ITHACA, NEW YORK Regular Meeting 4:00 pm September 26, 1990 PRESENT: • Mayor Nichols Commissioners (5) Connor, Cannon, Reeves, Berg, Cox OTHERS PRESENT: Superintendent of Public Works - Thadani Acting Asst. Superintendent - Carpenter City Engineer - Gray Asst. City Attorney - Kennedy Council Liaison - Blanchard Deputy City Controller - Thayer Deputy City Clerk - Boyle ' (0 APPROVAL OF MINUTES:_ 0 Approval of Minutes of the August 29 1990 Board of Public Works Meeting Resolution By Commissioner Cannon: Seconded by Commissioner Connor m RESOLVED, That the Minutes of the August 29, 1990 Board of Public < Works Meeting be approved as published. Carried Unanimously Approval of Minutes of the September 12, 1990 Board of Public Works Meetinq Resolution By Commissioner Berg: Seconded by Commissioner Cox RESOLVED, That the Minutes of the September 12, 1990 Board of Public Works Meeting be approved as published. Carried Unanimously ADDITIONS TO OR DELETIONS FROM THE AGENDA: Buildings, Properties and Transit Items Commissioner Cannon requested the addition of Item A - Award of Contract for Asbestos Abatement - Resolution. No Board member objected. Solid Waste Items Council Liaison Blanchard requested an opportunity to report on the County's plans for sludge composting and the Central Processing Facility. No Board member objected. Water and Sewer Items City Engineer Gray requested an opportunity to report on the new water and sewer rates. No Board member objected. COMMUNICATIONS AND HEARINGS OF PERSONS BEFORE BOARD: Mark Macenas of 204 Cornell Street requested that the Board expunge a water service bill he received for his South Quarry Street property. Mr. Macenas stated that his water service was hooked up to a 30 pound water main instead of the 100 pound water main which runs 3 1/2 feet away from it. Mr. Macenas believes that this error was made by the City and is requesting the Board to expunge the bill for reconnection of his service as well as reimburse him for a private plumber he hired to research this problem. 400 2 BPW Minutes September 26, 1990 On a motion by Commissioner Reeves and Seconded by Commissioner Connor this matter was referred to the Committee of the Whole for further discussion. Guy Gerard suggested that the City install bus schedule signs, on the standard bus stop sign posts, to assist commuters. Acting Asst. Superintendent Carpenter commented that this is being discussed as part Of a marketing process that Ithaca Transit is conducting now. Mr. Gerard also asked if the Ithaca Transit buses could turn off their engines instead of idling them between runs. Acting Asst. Superintendent Carpenter stated that the Ithaca Transit buses adhere to the New York State regulations which allow a 5 minute idling limit (except under extreme situations). Mr. Gerard further commented on the Elmira Road sidewalk issue. He feels the Board should not label Elmira Road as "unsafe for pedestrians" as he thinks it would have a negative impact on pedestrians and the business' in that area. REPORT OF COUNCIL LIAISON• Council Liaison Blanchard reported that she and Alderperson Romanowski along with Chief McEwen will be holding a public meeting on Sunday afternoon from 1:00 to 2:30 at the Journey's End motel regarding Spencer Road traffic problems. REPORT OF SUPERINTENDENT: Superintendent Thadani reported that he has made the following appointment: James Crandall III, to the position of City Electrician, at an annual salary of $21,228., effective September 24, 1990. Superintendent Thadani also reported on the following: Annual Report The 1988 -1989 annual report should be complete by the first week of November. Wage Negotiations Wage negotiations with the DPW unit are underway. Assistant Superintendent Recruitment The Assistant Superintendent position has been readvertised in various newspapers and will appear in numerous trade publications as they are due for publication. The application cut off date is towards the end of November. Recycling Drop -off Center The County will possibly take recycling drop -off center after County would also like to know if use of the Willow Avenue recycling Further discussion on this matter of the Whole. over the supervision of the the first of the year. The the City wishes to discontinue site completely next year. was referred to the Committee Employee Recognition Picnic The DPW offices as well as all other City offices will be closed at 1:00 pm on Friday, September 28, 1990 for the employee recognition picnic. Emergency. services will be provided and a notice with the emergency phone numbers has been published in the newspaper. Commissioner Reeves requested that the advertisement also be given to radio stations. Capital Projects Review Committee The Capital Projects Review Committee has requested more information and cost estimates on the City Hall HVAC system and the regionalization of the Water Filtration Plant. 401 3 BPW Minutes September 26, 1990 DPW Consolidation The DPW consolidation study has been given top priority by the Capital Projects Review Committee and the Mayor. A scope of work is currently being prepared. 1991 Trash Tans Surveys will be completed to determine the average weight of trash bags, so that the price of trash tags can be adjusted to coincide with the 1991 tipping fees. REPORT OF ACTING ASST. SUPERINTENDENT: Acting Asst. Superintendent Carpenter reported that the following projects are progressing: Brick repair - Primary and Secondary Commons Tree grate enlargements - Primary and Secondary Commons (Y) GIAC Heating system - completed 0 Southside Community Center exterior painting Sign replacement - all City entrance signs have been replaced Information stickers placed on parking meters Plain Street gravel basing CO Stone and oil street repairs - 16 streets completed Q Permanent patching on utility cuts Cross training of DPW employees Ithaca Transit The Contract Auditing Bureau has been using Ithaca Transit as a model for a procedural manual they will be producing. Acting Asst. Superintendent Carpenter will be composing a policy and procedure manual for Ithaca Transit to be available for future staff. The Ithaca Transit surveys are printed. The mailing cost for the surveys is prohibitive, so the Transit System will be calling on volunteers, such as Alderpeople to help distribute them randomly, throughout the City. REPORT OF CITY ENGINEER: City Engineer Gray reported that the following projects are ongoing: Cayuga Street bridge - design and survey work Reservoir siltation survey Industrial Park Road - adoption preparation Haller Boulevard Tank - should be complete by Hudson Street Thurston Avenue Bridge Fire Stations Sidewalk Contract Stewart Avenue Bridge Industrial Park Linden Avenue Tanks Budget Preparation Commercial Avenue drainage work the end of the week Route 13 Widening The State is considering widening Route 13 to four lanes from Buttermilk Falls State Park to approximately Route 13A. They will be coordinating this project with the City. 402 4 BPW Minutes September 26, 1990 BUILDINGS. PROPERTIES AND TRANSIT ITEMS: Award of Contract for Asbestos Abatement Resolution By Commissioner Cannon: Seconded by Commissioner Connor WHEREAS, a review of bids and contract award was requested by the Board of Public Works following its resolution dated September 12, 1990, to award one contract to Abscope Environmental, and WHEREAS, subsequent review revealed potential savings of approximately $14,000 by award of multiple contracts as allowed in the contract documents; now, therefore, be it RESOLVED, That the award of passed September 12, 1990 is asbestos abatement are awarded City Hall - Buffalo GIAC - Flower Hall of Justice - Abscope contract to Abscope Environmental rescinded, and that contracts for as follows: Asbestos City Environmental based on bids submitted September 5, 1990. Discussion followed on the floor. A vote on the Resolution resulted as follows: $19,200 19,272 18,410 Carried Unanimously HIGHWAY ITEMS• Street Name at Meadow Street Industrial Park Resolution By Commissioner Cannon: Seconded by Commissioner Reeves WHEREAS, the Meadow Street Industrial Park is scheduled to be officially opened on September 27, 1990, and WHEREAS, in conjunction with this project, a new road has been built, and the Board is considering adopting this road as a City street; now, therefore, be it RESOLVED, That the Board of Public Works asks the Ithaca Urban Renewal Agency to submit all documentation necessary to the Board for the purpose of adopting this road as a City street. Discussion followed on the floor. A vote on the Resolution resulted as follows: Carried Unanimously Expungement of License Fee Bill for 401 -411 Elmira Road A bill was issued to Mr. William Zikakis for occupying City property at 401 -411 Elmira Road. Mr. Zikakis is asking to be relieved of this licensing fee bill as he is in the process of redeveloping this property and intends to remove all of his property from the City right -of -way. Resolution By Commissioner Cannon: Seconded by Commissioner Connor RESOLVED, That the Board of Public Works agrees to expunge the City of Ithaca license fee bill #2617, issued to Bill Zikakis Chevrolet, Inc., in the amount of $213.85, upon verification -from the City Engineer's Office that Mr. Zikakis has removed all his property from the City right- of- ,way at 401 -411 Elmira Road. Commissioner Berg stated for the record that he will abstain from this vote due to a conflict of interest. 403 5 BPW Minutes September 26, 1990 A vote on the Resolution resulted as follows: Ayes (4) Connor, Cannon, Reeves, Cox Nays ( 0 ) Abstentions (1) Berg Carried PARKING AND TRAFFIC ITEMS• Two Hour Parkinq Limitation on North Aurora Street The following Resolution was previously tabled by the Board of Public Works. Dr. Richard A. Gardner has once again repeated his request that the City establish a two -hour parking zone in the area of his office at 450 North Aurora Street. Resolution By Commissioner Berg: Seconded by Commissioner Cox M WHEREAS, the initial denial of this request was because it was (� not practical to enforce such a parking regulation at that time; now, therefore, be it RESOLVED, That the request of Richard Gardner be approved, and, m be it further Q RESOLVED, That the Traffic Engineer be directed to establish two - hour parking zones in the vicinity of 450 North Aurora Street as appended to the minutes of this meeting. Carried Unanimously Various Siqnaqe Requests Alderperson Daley requested that the Board of Public Works consider installing signs on the following streets: a "No Through Truck Traffic" sign on North and South Titus Avenue; a "Not a Through Street" sign on the 500 block of South Cayuga Street; a "Dead End" street sign on the 600 block of South Cayuga Street; and a "Children at Play's sign on Grandview Place. Resolution By Commissioner Berg: Seconded by Commissioner Cox WHEREAS, the Board has thoroughly reviewed this request, with the input of the City Engineer; now, therefore, be it RESOLVED, That the Board of Public Works denies the request for a No Through Truck Traffic" sign on North and South Titus Avenue as there is already an enforceable truck route system in the City, making this signage unnecessary, and, be it further RESOLVED, That the Board of Public Works denies the request for a "Children at Play" sign on Grandview Place, and, be it further RESOLVED, That the Board of Public Works approves the request for a "Not Through Street" sign on the 500 block of South Cayuga Street to replace the existing graphic picture sign depicting "No Trucks ", and a "Dead End" street sign on the 600 block of South Cayuga Street to replace the missing "Dead End" sign, and directs the Traffic Engineer to arrange for these installations. Discussion followed on the floor. A vote on the Resolution resulted as follows: Ayes (4) Connor, Reeves, Berg, Cox Nays (0) Commissioner Cannon was absent from the room when vote was taken. Carried 404 6 BPW Minutes September 26, 1990 SOLID WASTE ITEMS: Council Liaison Blanchard reported on the following topics discussed at the Tompkins County Board of Public Works and Construction Management meeting held earlier today: Sludge Composting The County has indicated that they will be responsible for sludge composting throughout the County in the future. They plan to expand their current sludge composting operation at Landstrom landfill until the new landfill is built. The County is expecting to have an expanded sludge composting operation at the new landfill by August of 1992. The costs for disposing of sludge is expected to be less than $62.00 a ton. Central Processing Facility Resource Associates has made a presentation to the County showing different perspectives of what the new facility will look like. The current plans show a dense row of Evergreens between Commercial Avenue and the motel. It has also been suggested that a 6 to 8 foot tall fence be installed between Commercial Avenue and the Evergreens to further protect the motel from noise. The daily traffic in that area will include approx. 40 garbage trucks, dump trucks, people delivering recyclable and household hazardous waste products, etc. Council Liaison Blanchard reported that the next meeting will be held on October 10, 1990. A recycling consultant will be presenting the pros and cons of private operation of the facility versus public operation. WATER AND SEWER ITEMS: City Engineer Gray reported that the water rates may be changing from $.90 per 100 cubic feet to $1.15 in 1991 and the sewer rates may be changing from $.90 per 100 cubic feet to $1.40 in 1991. Water and sewer rates have not been adjusted for 3 years. Further research will be conducted on these rates. The Board is scheduled to adopt the new rates on October 11, 1990. REPORT OF SPECIAL COMMITTEES: Audit Report Resolution By Commissioner Cannon: Seconded RESOLVED, That bills listed on the for payment: Abstract #18 by Commissioner Berg following Abstract be approved General Fund ....... ...................•..........$ 129,449.51 Water and Sewer Fund ............................ 37,705.41 Joint Activity Fund ............................. 6,544.01 Capital Projects . ............................... 138,920.12 and, be it further RESOLVED, That bills receivable be approved and rendered. Carried unanimously City of Ithaca Energy Commission as a Subcommittee of the Board of Public Works The City of Ithaca Energy Commission was formed several years ago, organized to be under the direction of the Planning and Development Committee. During that time, the Energy Commission has found many of its projects and issues deal more directly with those under the Board of Public Works' jurisdiction. The Board has reviewed and endorsed the concept of placing the Energy Commission under its direction. 0 7 m Q I 7 BPW Minutes September 26, 1990 Resolution By Commissioner Reeves: Seconded by Commissioner Connor WHEREAS, placing the Energy Commission under the jurisdiction of the Board of Public Works will be advantageous to both groups, as energy- related projects are of concern to both groups; now therefore, be it RESOLVED, That the Board of Public Works approves the proposal of the Energy Commission to reorganize under their direction, and be it further , RESOLVED, That the Board of Public Works requests the Energy Commission to appoint a liaison that would periodically report to the Board. Carried Unanimously ADJOURNMENT• . On a motion the meeting adjourned at 5:50 pm. Julie Conley Boy e Deputy City Clerk Benjamin Nichols Mayor 405