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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.
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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