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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 Page - 2 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 Page - 3 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 Page - 4