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