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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. Page - 2 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 Page - 3 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 Page - 4