HomeMy WebLinkAboutMN-BPW-1991-05-15BOARD OF PUBLIC WORKS
COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE
May 15, 1991
NOTES
Present: Commissioners Berg, Brandford, Cox, Reeves, Rusoff,
Reeves, Tripp, Mayor Nichols; Council Liaison Blanchard, Acting
Supt. Gray, Acting Asst. Supt. Ferrel.
The following were additions to the Agenda:
Free Saturday meter parking - Mayor Nichols, Bettsie Park present
(about 5:15 pm).
Results of ticket collecting in downtown ramps - see backup
information.
The following were deletions to the Agenda:
Review of City Hall HVAC report; Energy Engineering Technician
summer position - Lew Durland from the Energy Commission present,
back -up information included.
Discussion of automated ticket dispensers in downtown ramps.
Northside land use as it effects consolidation of the Department
of Public Works - see back -up up letter from Bill Gray to Chuck
Guttman.
Dryden Road Parking Garage further discussion.
Request from Ithaca Festival committee to hang flag in Stewart
Park during festival days - back -up information to be supplied.
1. Cascadilla Creek plantings.
Residents of the Cascadilla Creek area were present for
discussion, as was City Forester Dan Schmohe. Acting Asst. Supt.
Ferrel noted that he talked with former Asst. Supt. Fabbroni and
the City Forester regarding these plantings and noted that there
was a map done outlining this. Discussion followed.
BOARD OF PUBLIC WORKS
COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE
May 15, 1991
Commissioner Cox asked about the money to implement this plan
which Acting Supt. Gray noted that no money was available for
this. Discussion followed about the lack of money available for
this. Acting Supt. Gray noted a letter that the City Forester
did to a member of the Northside Cascadilla Creek Association
which he did not allow to be sent as it made commitments that the
DPW could not keep due to lack of money and staff, and further
noting that he did not think that this wall differs from others
in the City. Commissioner Tripp asked the BPW how they felt
about these plantings. Commissioner Rusoff felt that the
plantings should be done and asked if there was any money in a
contingency fund to do this, which there is not. Discussion
followed about stabilization of the bank. Commissioner Tripp
noted that she will come back to the BPW with a plan for staff to
work with and Commissioner Brandford asked that procedures be
included with this plan for future situations. Commissioner
Rusoff asked what this is saying to the residents - if this meant
the BPW was resurrecting the plan which the BPW concurred, noting
the lack of funds to do so now.
2. Aldernerson Blanchard concerns:
a. Cliff Street sidewalk parking.
Commissioner Reeves noted that she has talked to Frank Gombas,
Traffic Engineer, regarding this item and referred the BPW to
Section 60.48 of the City Code which allows parking on sidewalks
on Cliff Street. She further noted that this is a unique
situation as residents have no other place to park and that
Frank's recommendation is to widen the sidewalks in some areas of
Cliff Street to further accommodate pedestrians.
b. Recycling plastics.
Commissioner Reeves noted her handout regarding acceptable
plastics for recycling and that the County will be changing these
soon. Discussion followed about what the public should be told
regarding recycling plastics. Commissioner Reeves noted that
recycling plastics is not mandatory yet and Council Liaison
Blanchard felt the public needed detailed information regarding
what plastics could be recycled. The BPW decided to formally
request that the Tompkins County Solid Waste Division conduct a
public information meeting regarding recycling of plastics.
c. Parking on W. State St.
Council Liaison Blanchard noted the complaints that she has
received regarding cars parking at the meters in the 600 block of
West State Street and asked that these meters be changed to
prohibit parking from 7 - 9 am. Commissioner Reeves noted that
she talked to the Traffic Engineer regarding this also and he
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BOARD OF PUBLIC WORKS
COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE
May 15, 1991
recommends leaving this as it is. Improvements to Meadow Street
caused the light at State Street to be a little longer which
causes traffic to back up. Discussion followed about the right
hand turn only lane and center /left turn only lanes and
Commissioner Reeves will talk to Frank about signage to point
this out.
3. Free Saturday meter parking.
Bettsie Park, president of Downtown Ithaca Inc., was present for
discussion. She gave the BPW DII's proposal for eliminating
Saturday meter charges. She noted that DII will undertake an
aggressive public relations campaign to discourage their members
and downtown employees from parking at the meters. Discussion
followed about chalking tires to try to distinguish which cars
are parked at the meters all day. Ms. Park noted that DII will
circulate a pamphlet to their members regarding this free meter
parking. Mayor Nichols noted that he would like to see this
policy start on July 1st. Ms. Park also noted that DII will
undertake a comprehensive promotional campaign to ensure that the
public is made aware of the free weekend parking. Discussion
followed about the area of the City involved which Mayor Nichols
will define in a resolution for the BPW's approval. The BPW
endorsed the Mayor's proposal for free weekend parking at the
downtown meters.
4. Ithaca Journal truck parking on West Green Street.
Commissioner Berg noted that the result of these meetings with
the Ithaca Journal and Ithaca Photo was the talk of removing a
metered parking spot and felt that the BPW should be aware of
this as it may have a negative financial impact. He was
concerned about removing on- street parking to accommodate private
use. Acting Supt. Gray noted that this type of request is common
as the City currently has many loading zones in alot of places.
Discussion followed. Commissioner Cox felt that it may be a good
idea to try to accommodate businesses in the City, which
Commissioner Rusoff agreed. Commissioner Tripp asked if the
Journal should be given a time limit to do the construction work.
Acting Supt. Gray was not sure how long it would take for this
work to be done but suggested that the City do the curb work and
then bill them, which the BPW felt was a good idea. The BPW
directed staff to write a letter to Peter Zanmiller at the Ithaca
Journal regarding this construction work.
5. July BPW meetings-- Proposed Schedule:
Commissioner Reeves noted that the reason for this proposed
(W meeting change was that a Committee of the Whole meeting was
scheduled for July 3, the day before Independence Day, and asked
the BPW if they would consider approving the above schedule as
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BOARD OF PUBLIC WORKS
COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE
May 15, 1991
there are 5 Wednesdays in July anyway. The BPW approved the
following schedule for their BPW meetings.
July
3,
1991 -
Cancelled
July
10,
1991
- Committee of the Whole
July
17,
1991
- Regular Board meeting
July
24,
1991
- Committee of the Whole
July
31,
1991
- Regular Board meeting
6. Recruest for outdoor dining Permit from Rulloffs in
Collegetown.
The BPW received a request from Ned Macksoud of Rulloff's,
located at 411 College Avenue, for an outdoor dining permit at
that location. Acting Supt. Gray recommended that the BPW deny
this request as the location requested is very busy with
pedestrian traffic and too close to vehicular traffic. He
further noted that there was not room in this area to place
tables and chairs and felt there was a big safety concern here.
Discussion followed. Commissioner Cox agreed as he felt this
location was inappropriate for outdoor dining as did Commissioner
Brandford, noting that this location is a very busy place and
that public sitting space is already missing in this area. The
BPW decided to deny the request from Rulloffs for an outdoor
dining permit at 411 College Avenue.
7. Stewart Park - discussion of eliminating one side parkin
Commissioner Reeves noted the information from the Police Dept.
regarding their patrols of Stewart Park and their recommendation
that parking be eliminated on one side of the Park - from the
caretaker's house to the lagoon. Acting Supt. Gray suggested
that the BPW consider having nose -in parking instead of one -sided
parallel parking. Discussion followed. Mayor Nichols suggested
that the Parks Commission review this before the BPW makes any
decisions. Commissioner Brandford felt that the amount of
parking and traffic flow should be considered and suggested that
the nose -in parking should be toward the open green area.
Commissioner Tripp noted that the police officer should be
thanked for his efforts in recommending this parking change. She
will pass this onto the Parks Commission for their input.
8. Results of ticket collectinc after hours in downtown ramps.
Commissioner Reeves noted the results of the ticket collecting
after hours in the downtown ramps which Jim Miller prepared. She
noted that she spent a few hours the last day of this with the
parking lot attendants. She further noted the comments that the
attendants received from customers, i.e. they did not want to
pay for evening parking, etc. Discussion followed about the
results of this, noting that many people leave the garages
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May 15, 1991
shortly after the attendants would normally leave for the day,
especially between 6:30 pm and 7:15 pm. Discussion followed
about hiring part -time employees for these hours which Acting
Supt. Gray noted is difficult and expensive to do. Commissioner
Berg felt that revenue should be collected for an extended period
of time. Commissioner Brandford was concerned that the City may
be sending the public mixed signals as the City is allowing free
weekend meter parking but wanting to collect revenue in the
garages in the evenings. Discussion followed about the overtime
money currently involved for the attendants and Commissioner Cox
suggested that the Finance Dept. review these results as well.
Commissioner Reeves noted that another early morning survey is
being discussed to be held in the fall when the students are back
to find out how much revenue is lost by parkers leaving the
garage before the attendants come on duty. This item will be
further reviewed at a later date.
9. Budget Items.
Acting Supt. Gray noted the handout that he and Acting Asst.
Supt. Ferrel prepared for review of possible budget adjustments
in case the DPW was asked to cut the budget further due to the
State budget cuts. This may be reviewed at a later meeting.
10. Parking Garage Client Committee.
Mayor Nichols asked for a representative from the BPW for this
committee. Commissioner Brandford agreed to serve on this
committee.
Meeting adjourned at 6:10 pm.
Notes by
Lisa Cornell
Administrative Secretary
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