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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMN-BPW-1990-12-19BOARD OF PUBLIC WORKS COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE December 19, 1990 NOTES Present: Commissioners Berg, Brandford, Cox, Reeves (Cannon, Connor, Mayor Nichols excused), Council Liaison Blanchard, Acting Supt. Gray, Acting Asst. Supt. Carpenter. Commissioner Reeves chaired the meeting: The following was a deletion to the Agenda: Special Joint Sewer Subcommittee (SJS) request for BPW approval of Village of Lansing, Town of Lansing and Town of Dryden connection to Ithaca Area Wastewater Treatment Facility. 1. Interim Parks Commission - discussion of vroDosed Parks and Recreation Ordinance. Vicky Romanoff and Diane Sherman from the Interim Parks Commission were present for discussion. Diane noted the most recent draft of the ordinance, assuring the BPW that the Commission is only an advisory commission to the BPW. She noted some of the changes, such as the Issues committee has been dropped and the definition of street right - of -ways has been changed to not include the road itself. Commissioner Berg noted that he felt the concept of a permanent parks commission is a good idea and would be a great benefit to the City. Commissioner Cox agreed, but was concerned about a Parks Department and how that might cause the consolidation of the Department of Public Works to suffer as the Department would lose a large amount of employees. Diane noted that the Parks Commission is not proposing a Parks department but are asking the City to review the need for such a department. Commissioner Cox was also concerned about adding commissions to the Board of Public Works as the BPW members are already expected to be liaisons to many other boards and commissions. Vicky noted that the proposal of a permanent Parks Commission is supposed to streamline the process of going through many boards and commissions to get a project authorized. Acting Supt. Gray agreed with Commissioner Cox about the many liaison commitments and how staff gets burned out too as it is difficult for staff to implement decisions from 6 or so different committees! Commissioner Reeves reminded everyone about the budget constraints and the possible decrease in staff. Diane noted that the Parks Commission is proposing to hold fund raisers for this purpose. Commissioner Brandford suggested that the Parks Commission use the same definitions as is stated in the Code and Charter and noted other minor changes that BOARD OF PUBLIC WORKS Committee of the Whole (W December 19, 1990 should be incorporated. Commissioner Reeves noted she thought that the reimbursement section would not be applicable to the Parks Commission as no other commission or board in the City receives this. She further noted that reimbursements would have to be included in the budget process. It was noted that the Parks Commission is now resolved and Diane noted that Alderperson Daley is working with them on the proposed ordinance. The BPW asked Vicky and Diane to come back to them with other revisions and asked that these revisions be dated. 2. Downtown Ithaca Inc.parkinq ramp /garage concerns - Committee has "Power to Act ". Mike Pickering, representing DII, was present for discussion. He noted that DII is concerned about the proposed increase in parking rates and the perception from the public regarding this. DII is requesting that the BPW look into: a. providing customer service training for parking lot attendants. b. instituting a dress code for attendants and cleaning policy for booths. C. instituting a 10 minute grace period for parking lot users. Commissioner Cox did not think that any of these requests were unusual. Acting Asst. Supt. Carpenter noted that he talked to the Personnel Administrator regarding customer service training and that this could be done as the funds are available. The dress code is also possible but could lead to union problems as the union might consider this a change in work environment. Mr. Pickering noted that DII was concerned more with the type of clothing that the attendants are wearing such as t- shirts and hats with slogans. Commissioner Reeves noted that alot of the work that the attendants do is dirty work and is hesitant to implement a dress code. Acting Asst. Supt. Carpenter hopes that the customer service training will prompt the attendants into accepting a dress code. He also noted the many compliments he gets from out -of- towners regarding his Transit staff and how well dressed they are. Discussion followed about the cost of uniforms which would be between $2,000 and $4,000 a year for 10 people. Acting Supt. Gray noted that in regards to item C, the attendants do give parkers a few extra minutes if there is a long line, which Acting Asst. Supt. Carpenter concurred with. Mr. Pickering noted that DII would like to see this grace period of 10 minutes established as a policy during rush hour. Commissioner Brandford noted that the City loses revenue when this is done. Discussion followed about this grace period and the future purchases of automatic machines, which Acting Supt. Gray noted will not be able to distinguish how long a car has been in line waiting to exit. Commissioner Berg noted that these machines could be sophisticated enough to do so but Acting Asst. Supt. Carpenter noted that these machines would also be very expensive. The BPW decided not to enact a formal policy regarding the grace period as Page - 2 BOARD OF PUBLIC WORKS Committee of the Whole December 19, 1990 the attendants already allow for this during long lines and the following resolution was acted on: Resolution by Commissioner Cox; seconded by Commissioner Berg. RESOLVED, That the Department of Public Works provides customer service training for the parking lot attendants; said training to address issues such as appearance, dress and the use of discretion in charging people who have obviously been waiting in a long queue. Carried unanimously 3. Approval of Audit - Committee has "Power to Act'$. A. Audit Report. Resolution by Commissioner Berg; seconded by Commissioner Cox. RESOLVED, That bills listed on the following Abstract be approved for payment: Abstract #23 (toe General Fund ..........• •...••.•.•.•......••,.,,.,.,,,$ 33,316.26 Water and Sewer Fund.. ..........$ 42,039.20 Joint Activity Fund ......................... .$ 20,265.82 Capital Projects ....... ..............................$ 103,727.05 and be it further RESOLVED, That bills receivable be approved and rendered. Carried unanimously 4. Route 13 State widening project. Commissioner Reeves noted the meeting on December 12th with the State regarding this project. Acting Supt. Gray noted that the initial concerns with this project were that there was no alternative two lane versions of the project. Discussion followed about the BPW's opinion of this project. Council Liaison Blanchard noted that the Planning and Development Committee is writing a letter to Mr. Simberg at the State stating that the Committee does not object to a left turn option (both ways) or to removing and modifying the railroad abutments, as long as a demarcation of the City line is provided. Commissioner Berg felt that the BPW should not make a statement on this project as Mr. Simberg told him that the State would go ahead with their own recommendations. Commissioner Cox agreed, noting that the project right now is a Town of Ithaca issue, and that once the State comes to do work in the City right -of -way, then the BPW could issue an (W appropriate decision. The BPW decided not to state an opinion on the Route 13 widening project until the City right -of -way is involved. Page - 3 BOARD OF PUBLIC WORKS Committee of the Whole December 19, 1990 (W 5. Dey Street - discussion regarding letter from State DOT. Commissioner Reeves noted the letter from the State denying the reduced speed request on Route 13 south to Dey Street and that the BPW wanted to send more factual data to the State. It was noted that this data would consist of accident history, traffic counts and the petition from the residents in this area. Commissioner Reeves noted that the residents' original request was for an all -way stop but that the BPW felt the stop would not be effective in controlling speeding and recommended reduced speed signs instead. Commissioner Cox asked if this was a priority and if it would require a great deal of Acting Supt. Gray's time to research. Acting Supt. Gray noted that the State probably has all this information but will call them to find out what information this declination was based on. Discussion followed about the speeding problems on Dey Street and it was noted that the Police Dept. is aware of this. Council Liaison Blanchard noted how well the enforcement program on Spencer Road is going. Acting Supt. Gray will report back to the BPW after he talks with the State regarding this declination. 6. Water and Sewer bill_expunaements. Commissioner Reeves noted that this item was on the Agenda to discuss delegating water and sewer bill expungements to the Acting Superintendent of Public Works. Commissioner Cox felt this was a good idea since most of the requests for expungement of this type are due to water leaks and the user requests expunge of the sewer portion of the bill since the water doesn't enter the sewer system. He felt this could be delegated to the Supt. Discussion followed about other water and sewer bill expungement requests, noting wrong address complaints and meterheads. The Acting Supt. will work on a resolution regarding this. 7. Superintendent of Public Works position - continuing discussion. Commissioner Reeves noted the report regarding recommendations for the consolidation of the DPW prepared by Commissioner Cox and Larry Fabbroni. Discussion followed about the position of Superintendent of Public Works and the funding available for this position. Acting Supt. Gray noted that this position is needed. Discussion followed about the new committee formed by Common Council to determine if vacant positions are worth filling. Commissioner Cox noted that his report was intended to be a first step approach and that the BPW and staff should take the next step. He also noted that he felt it was totally wrong for an outside expert to come in and do the consolidation study. It was noted that Mayor Nichols has said that one of his first priorities for the DPW was the reorganization. The BPW directed staff to review this report and report back to them with recommendations and input. Guy Gerard asked why the Asst. Supt. position could not be consolidated with the Supt. position. Acting Page - 4 BOARD OF PUBLIC WORKS Committee of the Whole December 19, 1990 Supt. Gray explained that the Asst. Supt. was needed for the Streets and Facilities division and could not possibly handle both jobs. Meeting adjourned at 5:45 pm. Notes by Lisa Cornell Administrative Secretary Page - 5