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