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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMN-BPW-1992-01-29L0 co M D a BOARD OF PUBLIC WORKS PROCEEDINGS CITY OF ITHACA, NEW YORK Regular: Meeting 4:00 PM January 29, 1992 PRESENT: Mayor Nichols Commissioners (6) Rusoff, Tripp, Reeves, Gerard, Cox, Brandford OTHERS PRESENT: Superintendent of Public Works - Gray Asst. Supt. of Streets & Facilities - Ferrel Asst. Supt. of Water & Sewer - Shimer Common Council Liaison - Berg Deputy City Controller - Thayer Deputy City Clerk - Boyle PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE: - Mayor Nichols led all present in the Pledge of Allegiance to the American Flag. APPROVAL OF MINUTES: Approval of Minutes of the January 15, 1992 Board of Public Works Meeting Resolution By Commissioner Reeves: Seconded by Commissioner Rusoff RESOLVED, That the Minutes of the January 15, 1992 Board of Public Works Meeting be approved as published. Carried Unanimously ADDITIONS TO OR DELETIONS FROM THE AGENDA: New Business Commissioner Reeves requested the addition of Item A - February Meeting Schedule - discussion. No Board member objected. Jean Deming, Commons Coordinator brieted the Board on the canopy issue at 101 -107 East State Street that will be presented to the Common Council Committee of the Whole. Angel Heart will be occupying the corner store on East State Street /South Cayuga Street and would like to install a stationary canopy that is consistent with canopies along South Cayuga Street however this canopy does not fit the height requirements of a canopy as stated in the Municipal Code. The Building Department cannot waive the regulations, but the owners of Angel Heart may appeal to Common Council. Due to the location of the building and utility poles, the canopy does not pose a threat to the Fire Department or the Department of Public Works. John Efroymson, 2nd Ward Alderperson was not able to be present at the meeting, but distributed the following memo to the Board members: "Two weeks ago I came too speak with you about a stop sign at the corner of Giles and Columbia Streets. I spoke about the large number of calls I received from Giles Street residents about what they consider to be a hazard for both pedestrians and vehicles. I was disappointed that the majority of the BPW choose to deny the request for help. I am pleased, however, that you are currently looking at the overall philosophy and guidelines for the Board regarding residential traffic management. I would like to offer you a few of my thoughts. 1.45 AG BPW Minutes January 29, 1992 1. Ithaca is a very small City. Although some of us talk about "congestion ", let's get real. There are very few roads in the City which regularly cause any major type of delays for traffic. Everything may be relative, but it's important to keep a perspective. 2. Since there are few real problems with congestion, on those roads which are not major arteries, the major concern for traffic management should be safety. 3. Who experiences safety issues the most in any given neighborhood? The residents do. They are the ones who walk across its intersections, who ride bikes on its streets, who attempt to back out of driveways, watch their children at play in their yards and ride down its streets several times each day of the year. They are the experts on their neighborhood's traffic concerns. Taking the above factors into consideration, I feel very strongly that a neighborhood's traffic management ideas be given extraordinary weight when you consider their requests for traffic control mechanisms. The burden of proof should not rest heavily on the residents of a neighborhood asking for such mechanisms, especially if the affected street(s) is not a major thoroughfare. In fact, the case should probably have to be made that the neighborhood's solution is a poor one. Yes, many neighborhoods may get together to ask for stop signs, or other devices. I see nothing wrong with this. We should be making the City streets safer. I hope that you will come to some consensus on this issue before a needless tragedy occurs. Thank you for your consideration." REPORT OF COUNCIL LIAISON: Common Council Liaison Berg reported on the following: Joint Transit Facility The Joint Transit Facility project is proceeding on schedule and is at or below budget. 1992 Planning Department Work Plan The Planning Department work plan is on the Common Council Committee of the Whole Agenda tonight. High priority items include master plan /alienation plan for Southwest Park and Inlet Island Land Use plat. These plans will be submitted to the Board for comments shortly. Mayor Nichols gave a brief summary of the Department of Transportation public hearing held 'last night regarding the substitution of park land in conjunction with the Route 96 project. The substitute land is on the east side of the flood control channel near the bicycle path. The Route 96 project is on schedule, work will begin in 1994 and finish in 1995. REPORT OF SUPERINTENDENT: Superintendent of Public Works Gray reported on the following projects: North Cayuga Street Bridge - draw�i Ags are complete, will be out to bid in early February with bids due back March 3, 1992. The project is scheduled to start May 1, 1992. Commons Rehabilitation work - will go to bid in late February 'With bids due in March 147 BPW Minutes January 29, 1992 Municipal Pool - drawings almost complete, will go to bid in March or April Dam Safety project - the Architect for the project will be selected by the end of the week Court Facility - drawings will be ,completed in February and will go to bid at the end of February Geographic Information System (computerized mapping) - Request for Proposals are out Green Street Garage project - is out to bid Hector Street storm sewer work - will begin in late winter REPORT OF ASST. SUPT. FOR STREETS & FACILITIES CO LO Asst. Supt. for Streets & Facilities Ferrel reported on the QO following projects: J 7 Storm sewer replacement - 700 block of South Plain St. M Manhole cover raising .Q Southwest Park - new gates have been installed Gravel hauling from Burns Rd Cass Park - leak in chiller tank Cass Park - restroom tiling Hall of Justice - new office constructed Equipment - the crane needs approx. $12,000. worth of repairs Seneca Street Parking Garage - approx. $2,000. worth of brass valves from the water stand pipe have been stolen Stewart Park - Nuisance wildlife people are live- trapping raccoons in the park and having them tested for rabies due to the caretaker and his family living in the park REPORT OF ASST. SUPERINTENDENT FOR WATER & SEWER. Asst. Superintendent for Water & Sewer Shimer reported on the following projects: Lead & Copper survey is complete and will be mailed shortly Watershed has been inspected Gordis Morgan has retired after 32 years Dam proposal review Prepared specifications for dump truck Rubin Weiner has requested removal of the license fee for 334 Elmira Road (lamp posts) and a reduction in the license fee for 322 Elmira Road (mini -golf and parking) because of changes he has made to the properties. Creig Hebdon has investigated the sites and made the recommendations to Mr. Weiner which are contained in the following Resolution. Resolution By Commissioner Rusoff: Seconded by Commissioner Gerard WHEREAS, the lamp posts previously placed on City property at 334 Elmira Road have been removed, and 7 14-S BPW Minutes January 29, 1992 WHEREAS, the portion of the mini -golf course which was previously situated on City property at 322 Elmira Road has been removed,.and WHEREAS, a 12' by 15' building still remains on City property at that address, and . WHEREAS, staff has reviewed the request and investigated the current state of the sites, and made certain recommendations; now, therefore, be it RESOLVED, That the license fee for 334 Elmira Road be dropped, and, be it further RESOLVED, That the license fee for 322 Elmira Road be reduced to the area of the building, with a 20% allowance for access, which is currently on City property, and, be it further RESOLVED, That the driveways and parking at 322 Elmira Road be controlled (suggested: with a fence, stones, or other delineator) to prevent parking on City property. Extensive discussion followed on the floor regarding the possibility of selling properties like these instead of licensing them, or of leasing whole properties and not just pieces. Motion to Table By Commissioner Cox: Seconded by Commissioner Rusoff RESOLVED, That this Resolution be tabled until the Board has a chance to discuss this matter thoroughly. Carried Unanimously REPORT OF SPECIAL COMMITTEES: Audit Report Resolution By Commissioner Reeves: Seconded by Commissioner Tripp RESOLVED, That bills listed on the following abstract be approved for payment: Abstract 12 General Fund .......... ..............................$ 15,224.61 Water & Sewer Fund ... ............................... 18,808.12 Joint Activity Fund .. ............................... 23,630.04 Capital Projects ..... ............................... 1,250.00 Solid Waste Fund ...... ............................... 22,376.36 r and, be it further RESOLVED, That bills receivable be approved and rendered. Carried Unanimously NEW BUSINESS• February Meeting Schedule Due to the holiday on Wednesday, February 12, 1992 (Lincoln's Birthday) the Board of Public Works schedule for the month of February was amended to read as follows: February 5, 1992 - Committee of the Whole February 12, 1992 - Off February 19, 1992 - Committee of -tiie Whole February 26, 1992 - Regular Meeting 4 Lin (0 M 7 M Q BPW Minutes January 29, 1992 Resolution By Commissioner Reeves; Seconded by Commissioner Runoff RESOLVED, That the Board of Public Works has Power to Act at the February 19, 1992 meeting for Audit purposes. carried Unanimously UNFINISHED BUSINESS: The Board reconvened discussion on the 1992 Board of Public Works Work Program and prioritigs. Commissioner Reeves submitted, for the record, the procedure for members of the public to bring concerns to the Board of Public Works: I. Members of the public may come to a Regular (Voting) Board meeting and speak under'Agenda Item No. 5, "Communications and Hearings of Persons before the Board ". A. Items on the Agenda: Anyone can comment on any Agenda item. B. Items not on the Agenda: Anyone can bring any item to the attention of the Board. These items are referred to the next BPW Committee of the Whole (working) meeting for discussion. NOTE: I tend to discourage this. It means a person has to attend the Committee of the Whole meeting and possibly come back to a Regular meeting for the results of the vote. OR II. Make an appointment with the Secretary in the Superintendent's office to appear at the next scheduled Committee of the Whole (working) meeting. A. Present request /proposal in writing by Thursday prior to scheduled Committee of the Whole meeting. NOTE: Subject is placed on the Committee of the Whole agenda and the written request is sent to the BPW members together with the agenda for review. This also gives staff time for some research. Board of Public Works Meeting Schedule: 4:00 P.M. Council Chambers Committee of the Whole (Working) meetings: First, Third, and Fifth Wednesdays of each month Regular (Voting) meetings: Second, and Fourth Wednesdays of each month" Further discussion followed on the Committee of the Whole's unfinished business. The Board of Public Works will continue discussion on these subjects at the next Committee of the Whole meeting. ADJOURNMENT: On a motion the meeting adjourned at 6:05 P.M. n Julie Conley Bo le Benjamin Nichols Deputy City Clerk Mayor 5 149