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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMN-BPW-1991-05-29A BOARD OF PUBLIC WORKS COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE May 29, 1991 NOTES Present: Commissioners Berg, Brandford, Cox, Reeves, Rusoff, Tripp, Mayor Nichols; Acting Supt. Gray, Acting Asst. Supt. Ferrel, Asst. City Atty. Kennedy. Commissioner Reeves chaired the meeting. The following were additions to the Agenda: Request from Gregory Rolle to block off Cleveland Avenue for community festival. Request from Jim Houghton of Downtown Ithaca, Inc. to allow free meter parking on Friday evenings. The following were deletions to the Agenda: Ar 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. 1. Request from Jim Houghton of Downtown Ithaca, Inc. to allow free meter parking on Friday evenings. Jim Houghton, 111 Hudson Street, representing Downtown Ithaca Inc. (DII) was present for discussion. He noted that DII felt it was a very good idea to promote free weekend parking at the meters and asked about extending this to include Friday evenings. He noted that the meters list the hours of operation on Friday evenings till 9 pm. Mayor Nichols noted that he talked to Pete Malison and he didn't see a problem with this and that Pete could buy stickers to put on the meters promoting this. The BPW agreed to extend the promotion of free weekend meter parking to included Friday evenings. 2. Transit Facility update. Herman Sieverding, Deputy Director for Planning and Development, was (W present to give the BPW an update on the Joint Transit Facility. He noted that the total project cost is $6.5 million but is short $1.3 million due to the lack of UMTA funding. He noted that the Committee has come up with $825,000 worth of cost savings in the facility to help this shortfall. He further noted that he has met with the architects to firm up the cuts and to continue with the design of the BOARD OF PUBLIC WORKS COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE (W May 29, 1991 project. Herman noted that UMTA should give their funding commitment in July, submit 75% of the job package to them, hear from them in August and submit the package to the Department of Transportation. Discussion followed about the project cuts. Commissioner Reeves asked about the other entities involved - Tompkins County and Cornell University and how they felt about the project now that the UMTA funding has been reduced. Herman noted that Tompkins County is still wanting to go ahead with the project and Cornell is tentatively saying the same thing but is not in a position to positively agree with the project without more definite figures. Discussion followed about the firm hired for construction management. Discussion also followed about specific cuts in the project such as reducing lifts, cheaper roofing material and the possible elimination of the second floor. Herman will keep the BPW updated on this project. 3. Southwest Park discussion. Betsy Darlington on the Conservation Advisory Council was present for discussion. Acting Supt. Gray noted that he and Acting Asst. Supt. Ferrel walked through Southwest Park after Mayor Nichols had expressed concerns about dumping at Southwest Park. He noted that the DPW is following two simple rules - respect of the current edges of the At working surfaces and materials delivered are being segregated. He further noted that there was some material dumped there that looked like it did not belong there, i.e. household appliances, etc., that was 3 to 5 years old. Discussion followed. Commissioner Brandford asked what the DPW uses this area for which Acting Supt. Gray noted that it is used for storage and disposal. Discussion followed about alternate sites the DPW could use which Acting Supt. Gray noted there are none and that the DPW would have serious problems if they lost this site. Discussion followed about the fill stored at this site. Betsy asked if the State knows what the City is doing with this site and suggested that the Parks Commission look into this. Commissioner Reeves felt it was a good idea for the Parks Commission to review staff's policy for Southwest Park. Commissioner Rusoff asked what the Parks Commission's charge would be in reviewing this. Commissioner Cox suggested that the Parks Commission be charged with recommendations for long -term use of this site, which the BPW agreed to. Commissioner Reeves noted that the Planning Dept. has alot of information regarding Southwest Park which the Parks Commission may be interested in. The BPW will discuss this after the Parks Commission gives them their recommendations. 4. Request from Gregory Rolle to block off Cleveland Avenue for community festival. The BPW received a request from Gregory Rolle to block off Cleveland (W Avenue on June 15 from noon to 8:30 for the annual Wheat Street Festival. The BPW tentatively approved this request with the same stipulations as last year, canvassing the neighborhood for their approval, acquiring an assembly permit and any health permits necessary and possible noise permit. Page - 2 BOARD OF PUBLIC WORKS COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE (W May 29, 1991 S. Ithaca Festival regpest to hang flag in Stewart Park. A request was received from Sherry Hoard - Ashton, the Ithaca Festival Coordinator, to hang an Ithaca Festival flag in Stewart Park on Sunday, June 2nd while the Festival is taking place there. Commissioner Reeves felt that the Festival flag should not replace the American flag but should fly under it. Discussion followed. The BPW approved the request from the Ithaca Festival Coordinator to hang the Festival flag underneath the American flag on Sunday, June 2nd. 6. School District requests. Thys Van Cort, Director of Planning and Development, was present to discuss this item. He noted that he met with School District officials regarding the property the Board of Education owns near the. proposed site of the GIAC pool. Thys noted that the Board has not active plans to expand the buildings, however they did have a few requests for the City. They would like to keep their construction vehicles parked there, they requested a place to store their bulk storage piles and asked if the City could take over maintenance of the green area. Discussion followed. Thys suggested that the bulk storage piles be stored in Southwest Park. Discussion followed about this and the BPW agreed that it was not a good idea to store these piles. Discussion followed about the lease for this property which the Asst. City Atty. will review. Discussion followed about the parking of the construction vehicles which Thys and Acting Supt. Gray will work out. Discussion followed about the City maintaining the green area which the BPW did not want to do. Acting Supt. Gray, Thys and the Asst. City Atty. will discuss these items further. 7. ProRosed GIAC pool discussion. Thys Van Cort was also present to discuss this item. He noted that Common Council allocated $450,000 last year for this project which is in high gear now. The pool is to be an in- ground pool with a 40' x 75' kiddie pool. He noted that a client committee was formed to oversee this project. He noted that the pool will not be used in the winter. Commissioner Rusoff suggested still maintaining this in the winter and the installation of night lighting. Discussion followed about installing bicycle racks which Thys will look into and the possible dog problems that may occur. Thys noted that if everything goes as scheduled the pool will be opened for swimming in 1992. S. Authorization to enter into contract with Malcolm Pirnie for improvements to Water Filter Plant. The Committee has "power to act" on this resolution. 17. WATER, SEWER AND SOLID WASTE ITEMS - Commissioner Cox. A. Authorization to enter into a contract with Malcolm Pirnie for improvements to Water Filtration Plant. Page - 3 BOARD OF PUBLIC WORKS COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE May 29, 1991 Resolution by Commissioner Cox; seconded by Commissioner Berg. WHEREAS, for the past three years, money has been set aside in the City's Capital Project budget for improvements to the Water Filtration Plant, and WHEREAS, if these improvements are not done in a timely manner, it could adversely affect the City's water supply, now, therefore, be it RESOLVED, That the Board of Public Works authorizes the Acting Superintendent of Public Works to enter into a contract with Malcolm Pirnie for an amount not -to- exceed $59,520 for the design of interim improvements to the Water Filtration Plant. Discussion followed. Commissioner Cox suggested that the resolved paragraph be amended to "an amount not to exceed $66,00011, as suggested by Acting Supt. Gray. No Board member objected to this amendment. A vote on the resolution resulted as follows: It Carried unanimously 9. Authorization to enter into contract for Green Street Garage improvements. The Committee has "power to act" on this resolution. 12. BUILDINGS PROPERTIES AND TRANSIT ITEMS - Commissioner Rusoff. A. Authorization to enter into a contract for repairs to the Green Street Parking Garage. Resolution by Commissioner Rusoff; seconded by Commissioner Cox. WHEREAS, the City authorized a capital project for renovations in the Green Street Garage in 1989, and WHEREAS, the Engineering Department has received a proposal to finish the partially completed contract documents in order to put them out to bid, and WHEREAS, the proposal from Novelli $16,960 and a range of $12,000 to the work, now, therefore, be it Engineers has an estimated fee of $22,000 for this initial phase of RESOLVED, That the Board of Public Works recommends to Common Council a contract with Novelli and Co. Consulting Engineers for an amount not -to- exceed $20,000.00 and be it further RESOLVED, That the City Engineer is directed to return to the Board with a recommendation for services during construction and a review of Page - 4 BOARD OF PUBLIC WORKS COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE May 29, 1991 project schedule and project budget at the time the project is put out to bid. Discussion followed. Acting Supt. Gray noted the original resolution authorized the Acting Superintendent of Public Works to enter into the contract without going through B &A and Common Council. Commissioner Cox suggested that the first resolved be amended as follows: Friendly amendment RESOLVED, That the Board of Public Works authorizes the Acting Superintendent of Public Works to enter into a contract with Novelli and Co. Consulting Engineers for an amount not -to- exceed $20,000 for engineering services related to the restoration of the Green Street Garage. No Board member objected to this amendment. A vote on the resolution as amended resulted as follows: Carried unanimously 8. Town of Ithaca South Hill recreation way. Commissioner Reeves noted that the BPW needed to review this item as the Town is preparing a memorandum of understanding for this project. Acting Supt. Gray showed the BPW a map and suggested that the BPW consider giving the Town a right -of -way that already exists. Discussion followed about this trail. The BPW agreed to Acting Supt. Gray's recommendation and will let the Town know. 9. Request from Flag Day Parade Committee to hang banner on W. State St. and cost yellow ribbons on trees and parking meters. The BPW received a request from the Welcome Home Committee of the Flag Day Parade Committee to hang a street length banner on the 100 block of West State Street and to post yellow ribbons on trees and the parking meters. Commissioner Reeves noted the City tree ordinance does not allow any posting on trees. Discussion followed. Commissioner Rusoff was concerned about the length of time the banner is requested to be up which is two weeks. Asst. City Atty. Kennedy cautioned the BPW about letting the yellow ribbons be put up as they would have to allow other organizations to put up their requests. Discussion followed. The BPW agreed to the banner and yellow ribbons on the meters for a one week limit but will probably discuss this item at the next COW meeting as many members did not feel comfortable with this. 4W Meeting adjourned at 6:20 pm. Notes by Lisa Cornell Administrative Secretary Page - 5