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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMN-BPW-1992-03-18BOARD OF PUBLIC WORKS COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE March 18, 1992 NOTES Present: Commissioners Brandford, Cox, Gerard, Reeves, Rusoff, Tripp; Mayor Nichols, Supt. Gray, Asst. Supt. Shimer, Asst. Supt. Ferrel, Asst. City Attorney Kennedy, Alderman Berg. Commissioner Reeves chaired the meeting. The following was postponed to a later agenda: Use of Steamboat Landing The following were additions to the agenda: *Report of the Asst. City Atty. - Ithaca Festival; Hillview sewer line *Request to use Stewart Park - Women's Motorcyclist Foundation *Mayor's remarks - DPW activities along Six Mile Creek *Supt.'s report - GIAC Renovations project 1. Asst. City Attorney's report - Hillview sewer line. Asst. City Atty. Kennedy reported she had met with Supt. Gray and Asst. Supt. Shimer; the City is clear on what it can offer Mr. Vanderburgh. It is not clear whether Mr. Vanderburgh can provide proof of ownership of the land which he proposes to give the City for an easement. She will write outlining the City's position. She said Mr. Vanderburgh now appears to want the City to assume ownership of the sewer line which they may repair - this is not possible, since the scope of the repairs will not produce a service which the City can accept. Comm. Tripp said her recollection of the earlier discussion involved the City repairing the line, which would remain a private line. Ithaca Festival. Asst. City Attorney Kennedy said the City has not had a contract with the Ithaca Festival for years. She has found a copy of a contract from 1984, which she has sent to Ted Crane, Festival Director, as an example to be tailored to this year's requirements. She reported that the Festival has exchanged, but not yet signed, a contract with the Police Department. Comm. Reeves said she had met with Mr. Crane; she thinks there is confusion over the financial agreement between the City and the Festival. Mayor Nichols said Common Council had set aside $5000 for the Festival to match; the Festival found it more advantageous to deal directly with the IPD, and the money is still reserved. Supt. Gray said Asst. Supt. Ferrel has given the Festival information on the charges for various kinds of BOARD OF PUBLIC WORKS COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE March 18, 1992 Department work. The Festival is now whittling away at their budget and requests, trying to get the charges inside the $5000 figure; they want to use the contracted amount they are to pay the IPD as the matching funds for Council's money. 2. Request to use Stewart Park - Women's Motorcyclist Foundation. Carol Mallison present. Carol Mallison said the Foundation plans, as part of a gathering at Wells College, to have a number of scenic tours on Monday, August 17, 1992. They would like to meet in Stewart Park between 2:00 p.m. and 4:30 p.m. in preparation for a parade run from Stewart Park to Wells College. They are requesting that the parking loop near the lagoon be blocked off for their use, so 80 - 150 motorcycles can all be parked together while the riders enjoy the Park. They would also like to arrange some system by which the Foundation could pay for refreshments and carousel rides for its members. The Foundation will carry an insurance policy for this event, naming the City as co- insured. The Board agreed to grant the request; a resolution will be voted on at the next regular meeting. A couple of points came out in discussion: the Foundation should deal directly with the IPD to arrange police presence in the Park and while exiting the Park; the question of how to handle the concessions could not be solved at the meeting, since John Doyle had previously told the Supt.'s secretary that he could not deal with the recordkeeping involved; some agreement will be reached. 3. Request for trashtag expungement - 610 North Cayuga Street. Michelle Ferlo was present. Ms. Ferlo explained the conditions under which she had committed a trashtag violation in January: she was unaware of the change in trashtags; the violation notice was folded tightly and illegibly around the handle of the garbage can and she did not read it. She said she believes the fine to be too great for the violation. She stated in addition, that the fine would inflict an undue hardship upon her. Comm. Tripp said she was sympathetic, but believed the rules were fair and should be equally applied; she offered to pay the fine herself if the Board voted against Ms. Ferlo. Further discussion included information on the original news releases and the point that the $20 charge was applied for the service of removing illegally placed garbage, rather than as a fine Per se. The Commissioners will vote at the next regular meeting on the request for expungement. 4. Request to use DeWitt Park - Tompkins /Cortland Labor Coalition. Carl Feuer present. Mr. Feuer presented the Labor Coalition's request to use DeWitt Park on Saturday, April 25, 1992 from 1:00 -2:30 p.m. for a memorial service as part of a celebration of Workers' Memorial Day. He said he expected 100 to 125 people to attend. The activities would include speeches and musical entertainment. The Commissioners reminded him that if Page - 2 BOARD OF PUBLIC WORKS COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE March 18, 1992 amplified sound was planned, the Labor get a noise permit. Comm. Gerard poin- already given permission to the Cayuga Park that day. The Board was prepared Labor Coalition to use the Park if the share the space; Mr. Feuer will get in Coalition would have to ted out that the Board had Nature Center to use the to vote to permit the Nature Center agreed to touch with them. 5. Quit Claim easement - Johnson Boatyard. Supt. Gray reported that Asst. Supt. Shimer and Tom Cleveland had met and looked over the property lines. Asst. Supt. Shimer has asked staff to survey the pump and the turnaround which appear to be partly on the Johnson property. Supt. Gray said it had not been possible to turn up records which show how much the City paid for the easement in question. He thinks the City and Johnson will be able to reach an agreement to trade the easement for a right of way to the turnaround and pump. 6. DPW activities along Six Mile Creek. The Board discussed a recent exchange of memos originating with the CAC concerning DPW plans to repair its facilities on Six Mile Creek. Comm. Gerard called for greater cooperation between the CAC and the Department, pointing out that protecting the water supply and environmental concerns were linked goals. He said he believed he should have brought the CAC concerns to the Board's attention, since he is the Liaison. Mayor Nichols called for the Board to set a policy stating specifically their interest in environmental concerns and their intention to review the Department activities with due regard to the environment. He said he did not believe the CAC memo should have been sent to its large variety of addressees. Comm. Tripp said she thinks the CAC concern may have arisen from the offhanded way in which some Department workers refer to the work on the facilities as if it was already settled and would begin any day. Supt. Gray explained that when the project was first discussed two years ago, it was planned tentatively for this year. In fact, the Department is not able to undertake the work now, as it is waiting for information, and is also short - staffed. He pointed out that the protection of the watershed is an overriding concern for the water supply. The Board discussed the role of the CAC in planning the activities of the Department. Comm. Reeves said that, although she has frequently invited Betsy Darlington to come to the Board with her concerns, she has never done so. 7. GIAC renovations project. Supt. Gray reported to the Board that GIAC renovations, which were approved three years ago, are starting now. They will include work on the roof, HVAC, elevator shaft, and sprinklers. The Board will begin seeing charges appear in the audit for this work. Staff hours are being rearranged to accommodate the necessity of dealing with this project as well as the others scheduled for this summer. Page - 3 BOARD OF PUBLIC WORKS COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE March 18, 1992 8. Traffic and parking requests - report by Commissioners Tripp, Brandford, and Rusoff. Comm. Brandford showed a map that he and Comm. Tripp and Rusoff had worked up to guide Board decisions on individual traffic requests. They suggested the Board could use this plan to work towards channelling traffic along major and collector roads, and out of residential neighborhoods. Comm. Brandford pointed out that this plan dealt with the City as a whole, although it provided guidance to make decisions on individual issues. Comm. Cox said he still wanted to hear the traffic engineer's recommendations on any request. Comm. Gerard said he wanted the flexibility to decide without being constrained by this plan. Comm. Tripp said it was meant as a decision - making tool, not as a strict rule. The Board will use this plan to discuss several requests at the next Committee of the Whole meeting. * Asst. Supt. Ferrel said he has spoken to Mr. Bassler of the NYSDOT, who tells him that the DOT has reviewed the status of Seneca and Green Streets - their repair is a high priority for 1993. Meeting adjourned at 6:13 p.m. Notes by Marianne Hansen, Administrative Secretary. Page - 4