HomeMy WebLinkAboutMN-BPW-1991-12-18BOARD OF PUBLIC WORKS
COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE
December 18, 1991
NOTES
Present: Commissioners Berg, Cox, Reeves, Rusoff, Tripp, Mayor
Nichols; Acting Supt. Gray, Asst. City Atty. Kennedy, Asst. Supt.
Dennis Shimer, Asst. Supt. Ferrel.
Absent: Commissioner Brandford
Commissioner Reeves chaired the meeting.
The following was an addition to the Agenda:
1. County Recycling Contract
The following were deferred to a future Agenda:
1. Department of Public Works Vacancies Discussion
2. Street Closings for Festival /City Park Usage /Procedures:
Review and finalize proposed procedures for adoption
3. Neighborhood Traffic and Parking Concerns
4. Increased Penalties for Public Works Regulations Violations
5. Elmira Road sidewalks
6. Review Engineering staff hours for 1992
7. DeWitt Park - discussion of possible policy on usage
8. 1992 revenues - B & A charge to BPW
9. Marshall Street - staff report
10. Postering program
The Board decided to take up the backlog of neighborhood traffic
and parking concerns chronologically. Acting Supt. Gray will
have information from the engineering staff on Giles and Columbia
St., Center and North Plain St., and North Tioga and Farm St. for
the next meeting.
1. County Recycling Contract
Acting Supt. Gray explained that the City is currently in
negotiation with Tompkins County over a contract for the City to
collect recyclable materials within the City. The cost to the
City is the County's avoided cost for the City collection, based
on the accepted low bid for the entire County excluding Ithaca.
Items that have been difficult to resolve include disagreement
about the number of households served, and differences in the
City's and the County's rules about mandatory recycling, the
separation of various types of recyclables, and service to
BOARD OF PUBLIC WORKS
COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE
December 18, 1991
multiple unit housing and commercial establishments. The City
and County are currently close to agreeing on a contract.
Mayor Nichols reported that those Common Council members
with whom he had discussed the issue felt that it would be
possible to drop the parts of the City's ordinance which are at
variance with the County's regulations.
Asst. City Atty. Kennedy said that the problem of commercial
recycling is not a minor concern; the County is vacillating on
its plans for studying the issue.
Acting Supt. Gray said that he wanted the Board members to
know that negotiations were underway, that a contract would, of
necessity, be signed, and that the contract would require the
City to back up some in its recycling program, so that the County
can move forward as a whole.
2. Traffic concerns Central School, GIAC, and Immaculate
Conception School
A number of people connected with Central School or GIAC were
present for the discussion, as was Police Chief Harlin McEwen.
The people connected with the school or GIAC repeated their
complaint that traffic conditions in the streets around their
block are unsafe, due to speeding and the failure of motorists to
permit pedestrians to cross with the light if the motorists want
to turn right on red. They repeated the suggestions they had
made at the regular meeting of the Board the previous week,
calling for increased signage and signals, changes in the signing
and synchronization of the present traffic signals, increased
enforcement, and several changes to parking rules. Acting Supt.
Gray presented the results of a short study by the engineering
department on traffic volume and speed.
Chief McEwen offered opinions on some of the suggestions,
based on Police Department perceptions of the problems. He was
in favor of caution lights correctly installed and maintained, of
forbidding right turns on red at the traffic lights, and of
repainting the crosswalks, although he pointed out that the
expense of some of the solutions might be prohibitive. He said
that the Police Department would try to increase enforcement in
that area, but noted that the hours of greatest traffic there
correspond to those at the Octopus, where three officers are
regularly stationed during rush hours. He said that he did not
yet have enough information to make any recommendations on the
parking questions, but promised to return to the Board when he
could.
There was a discussion of parking problems around the
school. It is not clear who exactly is parking there. Some cars
are those of employees, some are those of parents dropping off or
picking up their children.
The Board discussed several of the suggestions, and is in
favor of erecting "no right on red" signs at the traffic lights.
Other than that, the Board feels that they would like to get more
information from the police and the traffic engineer, so they can
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BOARD OF PUBLIC WORKS
COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE
December 18, 1991
do the most good within their limited budget. They directed the
DPW to replace signs which have previously been installed, but
which are now missing. Acting Supt. Gray suggests that the
School District should be involved in the discussion, since it
involves employee parking, student drop -off, and other items they
are partly responsible for.
3. Water service replacement grievance
Helma Van Etten was present for the discussion. Mrs. Van Etten
described work that had been done replacing a water service to
her property, information she had been given about the work, and
her understanding of what had gone on. She felt that work which
was not done on her property should not be her responsibility.
Asst. Supt. Shimer said that a lead service had been replaced
with a copper one. Acting Supt. Gray explained to Mrs. Van Etten
that the City had made a policy that upgrading lead services
would be done by the City and paid for by the property owner, and
that the new copper line would then become the City's
responsibility. The Board agreed that Mrs. Van Etten would be
responsible for the work done on her property, and that the City
Clerk would be asked to let her spread out her payments.
4. Audit Report. RESOLUTION
RESOLVED, That the bills listed on the following Abstract be
approved for payment:
Abstract #24
General Fund .............. .....................$71,612.00
Water and Sewer Fund ...........................$ 7,105.52
Joint Activity Fund ....... .....................$10,623.83
Capital Projects . ..............................$ 6,608.60
and be it further
RESOLVED, that bills receivable be approved and rendered.
Carried Unanimously
5. Additional staff for parking ramps December 23 and 24, late
afternoon
Comm. Berg suggested that additional staff be added to the
parking ramp December 23 and 24 in the afternoon to speed up the
exiting procedure and avoid long lines which have occurred in the
past. The major problem which arose with this solution is the
City's current rule against paying overtime. It was argued that
extra revenues generated would cover the overtime. Asst. Supt.
Ferrel pointed out that collections would end early on Tuesday to
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BOARD OF PUBLIC WORKS
COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE
December 18, 1991
correspond with City Hall closing early, so Monday is the only
day affected.
The Board decided it was worth paying overtime to avoid the
delays. They also agreed to ask the police for help in directing
traffic exiting the lots, so as to avoid unneccessary delays at
those points.
Meeting adjourned at 5:50 pm.
Notes by
Marianne Hansen
Administrative Secretary
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