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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMN-BPW-1990-10-03BOARD OF PUBLIC WORKS COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE October 3, 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. Commissioner Reeves chaired the meeting. The following were additions to the Agenda: Request for signage on Grandview Court. Report on Joint Transit Facility. Executive Session. The following were deletions to the Agenda: Tioga Street - review of options - back -up information handed out for at August 1, 1990 meeting. Request for four -way stop at Jay and Utica Streets - discussion tabled from July 25, 1990 meeting. Parking ramps: reserved spaces - ruling from Asst. City Atty. County Recycling Drop -off Center preliminary discussion for 1991 operation - Supt. Thadani. 1. Central School Parking. Mayor Nichols gave the BPW the background for this request. The school superintendent asked for special parking privileges for the teachers, then requested a loading zone. The school superintendent was supposed to get back in touch with the Mayor, but did not. Thus, this item should be deleted until further notice. 2. Recruest for signage on Grandview Court. Alderpersons Cummings and Daley were present to request, on behalf of their constituents on Grandview Court, a "Slow, Children at Play" sign in the vicinity of Grandview Court. Alderperson Cummings presented the BPW with a petition from 14 residents on Grandview Court requesting the installation of this signage, noting the increase in child population in this area. It was also noted that this was a sign like this on Grandview Place, but it was taken down due to construction. The BPW agreed to install a "Slow, Children at Play" sign in or near the entrance to Grandview Court. BOARD OF PUBLIC WORKS Committee of the Whole October 3, 1990 Alderperson Cummings also noted a letter to the BPW from Mr. and Mrs. Millican of 211 Hudson Street regarding the replacement of the water service at the address and seeking some answers from the City. City Engr. Gray noted that he has already written to the Millicans, 4nd that 37 other households in this area were also notified that their water service did not meet City specifications and would have to be replaced. 3. Protest of water and sewer bill at 109 S. Quarry St. Mr. Macenas was present to request the expungement of the water and sewer bill at 109 S. Quarry Street. City Engr. Gray gave the BPW the background of the water and sewer service to extend the existing 3/4" water service to high pressure main service at this location and explained the charges for this bill, noting the high labor charges due to the fact that most of the work had to be done by hand labor and back hoe. It was noted that Mr. Macenas did request that this work be done. Discussion followed about the former property owners and the current water pressure. The BPW decided not to expunge this bill as Mr. Macenas did request the DPW to do the work and that the charges for this work are correct. 4. Cliff Street Sidewalk Parkin Asst. City Atty. Kennedy noted that this item was on the Agenda because the Mayors Office had received complaints about sidewalk parking on Cliff Street. City Engr. Gray and the BPW assured Pat that the City Charter allows for parking on Cliff Street as the curbs are mountable. Discussion followed about how the City and the residents came to this decision as the road is not wide enough to allow parking and with the reconstruction project, took much of the residents' parking away. It was also noted that the mountable curbs allow easier access for emergency vehicles to get to the hospital. 5. Criteria for sidewalk inspections. Asst. Civil Engr. Tom West was present to answer questions from the BPW regarding the criteria used for sidewalk inspections. City Engr. Gray noted that the criteria has been modified due to the large amount of lawsuits against the City from sidewalk defects. Tom noted that most of these lawsuits are settled out of court, as a jury trial would be very costly. Commissioner Reeves asked about the areas that the Engineering Staff condemns. Tom noted that the staff looks at one neighborhood a year and then it takes several years to completely cover the City. Council Liaison Blanchard noted the many complaints she has heard from residents in the West End regarding their sidewalk condemnation notices and suggested that Staff use a more friendly Page - 2 BOARD OF PUBLIC WORKS Committee of the Whole October 3, 1990 (W letter to notify property owners of their sidewalk defects. Tom noted that at one time, Staff did use a friendlier letter but people did not comply with repairing their sidewalks. Commissioner Connor suggested a press release letter be sent to the papers. Discussion followed about the legal ramifications with condemned sidewalks, noting that the City is also held liable. Council Liaison Blanchard noted that she would like to review the current condemned sidewalk forms. 6. Revised water and sewer rates for 1991 City Engr. Gray noted that he and City Controller Cafferillo reviewed the City's current water and sewer rates and noted that to continue with the existing programs and budget requests, water and sewer rates will have to be adjusted. He further noted the increase in sludge handling costs at the Wastewater Treatment Plant and the decrease in State aid. Commissioner Reeves noted that the last time water sewer rates were changed was in 1988. The current rates are 90 cents per cubic feet for water and 90 cents per cubic feet for sewer. The proposed rate increases are $1.15 per cubic feet for water and $1.30 per cubic feet for sewer. Discussion followed about consumption levels. Asst. City Atty. Kennedy asked if the Town of Ithaca has voiced their opposition to this increase, which City Engr. Gray noted they have no choice in this matter. Discussion followed about when this new increase would show up on water and sewer bills. The BPW agreed to approve this increase in water and sewer rates, effective January 1, 1990. 7. Joint Transit Facility report. Asst. City Atty. Kennedy gave the BPW an update on this project. She noted that discussions are being bogged down and that there is a problem with a joint facility comprised of a municipality and a private entity, in this case, Cornell University. It appears that the City and County cannot enter into an agreement with Cornell for a joint transit facility. Pat noted that Cornell's suggestion is to purchase the proposed City land and then lease it to the City and the County, thus, Cornell would be the operators of this facility. Discussion followed about other options and the BPW decided they would like to discuss this further. Executive Session - the Board of Public Works went into Executive Session at 5:30 and came out at 5:50. 8. Abandonment of South Tioga Street for County Mental Health Bldg. Asst. City Atty. Kennedy gave the BPW an update on this item, noting that the County is now asking for 16' instead of the Page - 3 BOARD OF PUBLIC WORKS Committee of the Whole October 3, 1990 original agreement of 2', noting a 1989 BPW resolution. She suggested that the BPW not give the County the land until a parking agreement has been reached. Discussion followed about the current parking problems and how the County employees parking will increase current parking problems. Pat suggested that all information regarding this street and County building be gathered and that a good deal be negotiated now. The BPW will discuss this item further in two weeks. Meeting adjourned at 5:55 pm. Notes by Lisa Cornell Administrative Secretary Page - 4