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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 Page - 2 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 Page - 3 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 Page - 4 A BOARD OF PUBLIC WORKS COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE 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 Page - 5