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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMN-BPW-1992-02-05BOARD OF PUBLIC WORKS COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE February 5, 1992 NOTES Present: Commissioners Brandford, Cox, Gerard, Reeves, Rusoff, Tripp, Mayor Nichols, Supt. Gray, Asst. Supt. Dennis Shimer, Asst. Supt. Ferrel, Asst. City Attorney Kennedy. Commissioner Reeves chaired the meeting. The following were additions to the agenda: *Review of snow removal ordinance *Detour - Cayuga St. bridge 1. Request to use large pavilion at Stewart Park - Courtside Racquet and Fitness Club. Carolyn Peterson was present for the discussion. Courtside Racquet and Fitness Club is asking for permission to use the large pavilion at Stewart Park and the surrounding area on May 31, 1992, starting at 10:00 a.m., for a corporate volleyball tournament, and associated fitness and blood pressure testing and consultation. This is a fundraising event, benefitting the Special Olympics. Comm. Reeves noted that the Board had approved a similar request from Courtside last year. Carolyn Peterson described the plans for the event. She presented a copy of the form showing the liability insurance provided through the Ithaca Police Benevolent Association. Courtside has applied to John Doyle for the use of the pavilion, and paid the fee. Comm. Reeves said the Board would give preliminary approval today, and a resolution would be presented at the next regular meeting. 2. Request to expunge late charge, water and sewer bill - Gun Hill Residences. John Murray, Property Manager, was present for the discussion. Mr. Murray explained that Sibley Real Estate Services, the managers of Gun Hill Residences, never received the October 1, 1991 water and sewer bill for that property. They paid the bill on December 9, the business day after it came to their attention that it was overdue. They hoped the Board would grant them an expungement, since they have previously paid all of their water and sewer bills on time. Supt. Gray said the Charter provision which rejects failure to receive a bill as a reason for extension of the payment period covers this sort of situation where it is impossible to know where the error arose. He said the Board has usually denied such requests, but noted those were, as a rule, la BOARD OF PUBLIC WORKS COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE February 5, 1992 small penalties. Comm. Gerard said he thought an established business ought to be aware of their obligation to pay on time. Comm. Tripp said she was sympathetic, but would move to deny the request. Comm. Cox agreed. Supt. Gray pointed out that the Board had previously made various provisions - a longer payment period for bills over $10,000, a minimum payment on late fees, etc. He suggested the Board might want to have an upper limit on late fees, set up in a way that paid for the administrative costs of handling late payments and rebilling and for the loss of the use of the money. Comm. Cox said such cases were infrequent enough that they might be handled individually. He suggested in this case the late fee be reduced to $100, which is, by his calculation, the approximate loss to the City occasioned by this late payment. Comm. Reeves said a resolution would be presented at the next regular meeting; it was not possible to tell what the Board would decide, but either Sibley's request would be denied or the fee would be reduced. 3. West Inlet affordable housing. Jerry Weisburd made a presentation. Mr. Weisburd is planning a group of single family, detached houses to be built near the West Inlet. They will be "affordable" according to the HUD definition. They are arranged in three "clusters" surrounded by steep, partially wooded land which he plans to be permanent open space. He has been meeting with several City staff, including representatives of the DPW, Planning, Fire Dept., etc. to keep them up to date on his plans and to get their input. He answered questions from the Board. Mayor Nichols asked about the width and paving of the road; it will be paved, and 20 feet wide, with 2 foot shoulders. Comm. Tripp asked about the price of the houses; the least expensive will be in the $65,000- $85,000 range. Comm. Cox asked whether the road was supposed to continue; it might connect to Chestnut St. in the future. Supt. Gray asked about the ownership of the open space; the issue is unresolved - possibilities include having the City own the land, extending some of the lots with the extra land as a conservation easement, forming a homeowners' association. Supt. Gray asked about discussions with Water and Sewer; the plans are being reworked; there is still difficulty with putting the right of way in the street in one of the clusters. Supt. Gray said the City is reluctant to accept sewer rights of way which are not in the road, as others are difficult to service. Mayor Nichols said he is setting up a committee to coordinate this project. Supt. Gray identified some of the difficulties with this plan which he is familiar with: the water and sewer right of way, surface drainage, width and paving of road, the cul -de -sacs and how fire and maintenance equipment might turn in them. All of these are under discussion. Comm. Cox said for the Board that there are still some problems, but they see they're being worked on. Discussion will continue. Page - 2 BOARD OF PUBLIC WORKS COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE February 5, 1992 4. Review of snow removal ordinance. Comm. Reeves said City Attorney Guttman has drafted a new snow removal ordinance. It would replace the current regulation. It will be discussed next week by the Charter and Ordinance Committee, who have asked for the Board's recommendations. Comm. Tripp asked whether this ordinance required that a complaint be made before the City could clear a sidewalk. Asst. City Atty. Kennedy said the intention of the drafters of this ordinance was that the City could take action either twenty -four hours after the receipt of a complaint or twenty -four hours after an obstruction occurred, even if no complaint had been made. Comm. Reeves said the Charter and Ordinance Committee is having difficulty deciding when an obstruction may be thought to have occurred. Comm. Tripp asked whether the City had to provide notice of an obstruction to the owner of a property according to this ordinance; they do not. Supt. Gray said there would always be some ambiguity in the application of such an ordinance. Comm. Gerard said he thought the City ought to have an ordinance enforcement department or crew. Comm. Reeves said she would report on the Board's comments to the Charter and Ordinance Committee. 5. Detour - Cayuga Street bridge. Comm. Cox asked why the Board was involving itself in planning a detour. Supt. Gray said several members of the Board had expressed concern about the traffic on Farm and Tioga, so staff had set up a second plan for a detour. Comm. Cox said he thought this was a good example of the Board concerning itself unnecessarily in staff business. Supt. Gray showed the two detour plans. Comm. Reeves said she and Lisa Cornell had previously made a list of people to contact about the detour, and she will find the list. 6. Work items for Board - prioritize list. Comm. Cox emceed a discussion to agree on a priority listing of the items Supt. Gray had presented to the Board two weeks ago. There was some discussion as to what the Board should do with the list: Comm. Cox said it should influence the agenda and give some guidance to staff. Comm. Rusoff suggested it might also be used to set up committees on important issues. Supt. Gray said he would distribute the table again with the results of the prioritization, and Board members could consider what items to add. Meeting adjourned at 6:00 pm. Notes by Marianne Hansen Administrative Secretary Page - 3