HomeMy WebLinkAboutMN-BPW-1990-10-17R
A
BOARD OF PUBLIC WORKS
COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE
October 17, 1990
NOTES
Present: Commissioners Berg, Brandford, Cannon, Connor, Cox,
Reeves, Mayor Nichols; Council Liaison Blanchard, Acting Supt.
Carpenter, Asst. City Atty. Kennedy. City Engr. Gray arrived at
5:45 pm.
The following were additions to the Agenda:
Expungement of sewer portion
Meadow Street.
Budget Update.
Capital Projects discussion.
Courtesy Parking Tickets.
Trash Tags discussion.
of water and sewer bill for 307 S.
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.
County Recycling Drop -off Center preliminary discussion for 1991
operation - Supt. Thadani - back -up information handed out
at 10/3/90 meeting.
Elmira Road Sidewalks - Thys Van Cort present - back -up
information handed out at 10/3/90 meeting.
Asst. City Atty. reports:
a) Parking ramps: reserved spaces ruling.
b) Abandonment of South Tioga Street for County Mental
Health Bldg. - back -up information handed out at
10/3/90 meeting.
c) Transit Facility Update.
d) Cornell University request regarding University Avenue.
1. Children's Playground on the Commons.
Jean Deming, Commons Coordinator, and Chris Griffen, Director of
Center Ithaca were present to discuss the need for a new
playground on the Commons, as this playground is highly utilized.
Chris passed around pictures of the playground, noting how unsafe
it is. She was also concerned about the City liability should
BOARD OF PUBLIC WORKS
Committee of the Whole
October 17, 1990
someone get hurt. It was noted that this is part of a Capital
Project request for improvements and repair of the Commons.
Discussion followed about the installation of a new playground,
and Commissioner Cannon suggested that Bob Leathers may be
interested in constructing one. Jean noted that the B &A
Committee will be discussing capital projects this evening.
Discussion followed about shutting the playground down. The BPW
directed staff to remove the existing playground, and supported
the construction of a new one, and also asked staff to put up
signs indicating to the public that a new playground will be
built, as well as publishing this in the media. Commissioner
Reeves noted the concerns with the Cass Park playground, and the
BPW directed staff to look into this.
2. upcoming Schedule for Board of Public Works meetings.
The BPW reviewed and endorsed the following schedule for the BPW
meetings due to the upcoming holidays:
October
24
- Regular Meeting
October
31
- Committee of the
Whole
(W November
November
7
14
_ Regular Meeting
Committee of the
Whole
November
21
- Cancelled
November
28
- Regular Meeting
December
5
- Committee of the
Whole
December
12
- Regular Meeting
December
19
- Committee of the
Whole
December
26
- Cancelled
January
2
- Cancelled
January
9
- Regular Meeting
January
16
- Committee of the
Whole
January
23
- Regular Meeting
January
30
- Committee of the
Whole
The BPW also requested that the Mayor give them "Power to Act" at
the Dec. 19th meeting for the approval of that month's audit, and
asked that staff notify all departments and news media of this
schedule change.
Acting Asst. Supt. Carpenter reported that he will be out of town
for the meetings of October 31st and November 7th, but that Rick
Ferrel will be filling in for him during that time.
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BOARD OF PUBLIC WORKS
Committee of the Whole
October 17, 1990
3. Expungement of sewer portion of water and sewer bill at 307
S. Meadow Street.
A request was received from Mario Guidi, executor of the estate
of Margaret Geary at 307 S. Meadow Street, for expungement of the
sewer portion of the water and sewer bill for that address. Mr.
Guidi noted that a water leak occurred and that the water did not
enter the City sewer system. The BPW noted that Water and Sewer
Staff did look into this problem and agreed with the City
Chamberlain's recommendation to expunge $369.90 from the sewer
portion of the bill along with the 10% penalty charge.
4. Budget Update.
Acting Asst. Supt. Carpenter noted that he and City Engr. Gray
reviewed the recommendations from the Mayor and City Controller
to cut down on the budget. Bernie noted that staff is prepared
to delete some of the new equipment requests. Mayor Nichols
asked about the operating budget for sidewalk repairs. Bernie
noted how the DPW is sometimes never reimbursed for projects,
such as boarding up the Strand Theater that has no account to
charge. Discussion followed about tagging such projects for
billing purposes at a later date, or a kind of revolving fund.
The BPW decided to approve the recommendations regarding the 1991
budget that staff has proposed.
S. Trash Tags.
Commissioner Reeves noted the analysis of tipping fee and trash
tag costs for the City for a two week period that Asst. Supt.
Carpenter prepared. A letter to Supt. Thadani from Barbara
Eckstrom was also noted, as Ms. Eckstrom was asking what the City
would like to do for 1991 curbside collection. Mayor Nichols
noted that mandatory recycling starts in 1991 and that the County
is putting out Request for Proposals. Bids will include private
operation to include the City and the County, including Cayuga
Heights, and another excluding City and Cayuga Heights and
another excluding the City and Cayuga Heights. Commissioner
Reeves noted that Barbara Eckstrom asked for an answer by
November 1. Acting Asst. Supt. Carpenter noted that private
operation may be cheaper and should be looked into. Discussion
followed about the trash tags, and increasing the price of them
by 30 %, that is, $7.00 a sheet for half tags at 20 pounds, and
$13.00 a sheet for tags for 35 pounds. Council Liaison
Blanchard noted how more and more difficult it is trying to
explain tax rates to constituents. Discussion followed about
when to stop selling 1990 tags and what to do with leftover 1990
tags. Bernie suggested putting the new tags on sale Dec. 1st,
and then after Dec. 15th only selling 1991 tags, and leftover
tags could be traded in, like the Transit Division does with the
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BOARD OF PUBLIC WORKS
Committee of the Whole
October 17, 1990
tokens. The BPW will think about increasing trash tags rates and
the current trash tag system and will discuss this in two weeks.
The BPW then discussed the letter from the County and requested
that staff contact them and ask that someone attend the next COW
meeting in two weeks to further discuss this.
6. Capital Projects.
Commissioner Reeves noted that a study for the DPW consolidation
was proposed in the Capital Projects and that the BPW never
approved any of these projects. She further noted that
consolidation of DPW functions is very high on the Capital
Projects list as many people want to purchase property that the
DPW occupies. Commissioner Cox questioned the study - is it a
reorganization of the entire Department or consolidation of the
facilities? It was noted that B &A will start discussing this
tonight. Discussion followed about the Trowbridge report, City
Engr. Gray noted the many time constraints the DPW has and how a
study would not be able to even be reviewed by staff at this
time. The BPW decided that they will endorse the Capital Project
for the study of the consolidation of the Department of Public
Works, encumber the funds and direct the study be done when the
senior staff of the DPW is working at full staff level.
Meeting adjourned at 6:00 pm.
ER
Notes by
Lisa Cornell
Administrative Secretary
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