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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMN-BPW-1992-06-17BOARD OF PUBLIC WORK COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE June 17, 1992 NOTES PRESENT: Commissioners Brandford, COX, Gerard, Reeves, Rusoff, Tripp; Mayor Nichols, Alderman Berg, Superintendent Gray, Assistant Superintendents Ferrel and Shimer and Assistant Attorney Kennedy. Commissioner Reeves chaired the meeting. The following were additions to the agenda: - Report on Spencer Road Resident meeting (6/15/92) - Planning and Development Report - John Schroeder present - Juneteenth - Historical Marker - Executive Session - Personnel matter 1. Extending hours for City parking lots The Board had the Power to Act. RESOLUTION WHEREAS, a study done last year under the direction of the Board of Public Works showed that extensive use was made of the City's parking lots by daytime packers who left the lots after the attendants went off duty or by drivers who parked in the lots overnight and left before the attendants came on duty, and WHEREAS, the Board would like to ensure that all persons who use the City's lots for parking are charged equally for the service they have received; now, therefore, be it RESOLVED, that the Board of Public Works extends the hours for which parking is charged to 2:00 a.m. through 6:30 p.m., Monday through Friday, and be it further RESOLVED, that the Board extends the hours of collection in the City lots to 8:00 a.m. through 8:00 p.m., and be it further RESOLVED, that the Board requests the Budget and Administration Committee to authorize the hiring of three part -time employees to cover the additional four hours per day which this change requires, the cost of such additional hiring to be offset by the increased revenues from the lots, and be it further RESOLVED, that pending such approval and the hiring of the additional personnel, the Board directs the changed hours to take effect July 1, 1992 or as soon as can be implemented. carried Unanimously BOARD OF PUBLIC WORKS Committee of the Whole June 17, 1992 2. Request for narking chances - Bryant Park area. The Board had the Power to Act. RESOLUTION WHEREAS, a request was made for parking to be prohibited from 9:00 a.m. to noon on the 200 block of Bryant Avenue Monday through Friday, and no parking on 200 and 300 blocks of Fairmont Avenue from noon until 3:00 p.m. Monday through Friday, and alternate parking be suspended on Bryant Avenue, in order to improve the availability of parking within the neighborhood, and to improve public safety; now, therefore be it RESOLVED, that the Board of Public Works grants this requests and directs staff to implement a 90 day trial period through erection of appropriate signage by the middle of August, and be it further RESOLVED, that the Board directs staff to notify residents, who live on the 200 block of Bryant Avenue and the 200 and 300 blocks of Fairmont Avenue, of the new regulations approximately one week before the change goes into effect. Carried unanimously l3=- ;J 4l15siFlor-:E John Schroeder was present to discuss this report. It was decided that Alderperson Schroeder would make his presentation at the July 1, Committee of the whole meeting. He distributed copies, to be returned, of the report for the Board's review. 4. Neighborhood Traffic and Parking Concerns - G.I.A.C. & Beverly Martin School. Commissioner Reeves reported on a- conversation with Ed Wright, Principal of Beverly Martin School. He and Chief McEwen have gotten together and have recommendations for the parking situation. First is to allow parking on the north side of Court Street across from G.I.A.C. Secondly, the area on the north side of W. Buffalo Street could be changed from a bus zone to a loading zone. The bus zone will be moved to the west side of Albany Street at the Albany Street door of the school. Advantages to this would be dismissal of: children distributed to different doors and the parking of buses on Albany Street wild force traffic to slow down. Discussion followed regarding existing parking in the area. Mr. Wright had requested that the flashing yellow lights be combiaed with or near the current signalization to allow warning before the school. Supt. Gray felt that the installation cost would not change and that it should be put where it is wanted. He also feels that the closer together signage and signals are, the less likely it will be seen. Discussion of placement for the yellow flashing light followed. Commissioner Reeves requested that staff recommend placement of the flashing yellow beacon. Alderperson Berg Page - 2 BOARD OF PUBLIC WORKS Committee of the Whole June 17, 1992 questioned how bus drivers were to act on traffic violators. Asst. Attorney has been looking into this issue. It was noted that repainting of crosswalks and replacement of missing signs are in the works. Discussion turned back to parking on W. Buffalo Street and N. Albany Street. Commissioner Reeves requested information on parking of the east side of N. Albany Street. Discussion followed regarding parking problems within the school district. This item will appear again on the next Committee of the Whole agenda. 5. Request to use DeWitt Park - First Presbyterian Church. The event is sponsored by several churches as a learning event not for profit. A resolution will be presented at the next regular meeting. 6. Request for expungement• trashtag - 612 E Buffalo Street. Mrs. John Rudan has previously appeared before the Board on this topic. The Board discussed use of trashtags and prices. Alderperson Berg pointed out that.every year the price changes, situations such as Mrs. Rudan's will occur. A resolution will be presented at the next regular meeting. 7. Proposed fill ordinance Commissioner Reeves report from C &O 6/11/92. Commissioner Reeves explained that this ordinance was on the Common Council Agenda, she asked Council to table the item until the Board of Public Works could review it. Supt: Gray explained the ordinance includes fill, excavation and stockpiling. It should handle long term problems in locations where modifications to properties have occurred. Without any oversight, problems can happen with drainage and appearance of the site. The ordinance will cover removal or addition of fill, exceeding 50 cubic yards, on each site. Supt. Gray gave the Board an idea of how much this quantity is by giving figures of fill removed from various City sites. Supt. Gray questioned if this ordinance applies to the City's work in street rights of way. Mayor Nichols pointed out that the City is not required to comply with this but asked to follow the same procedures. Commissioner Cox believes that the Clean Air Act or other Federal laws adequately regulates the proposed ordinance. He also mentioned that the Town of Ithaca has a similar ordinance with a limit of approximately 1500 cubic yards. This item will appear at the next regular meeting as unfinished business. Page - 3 BOARD OF PUBLIC WORKS Committee of the Whole June 17. 1992 Report on Traffic Counts. Traffic Engineer Gombas suggested that the Board wait for students to return until traffic counts are considered. Commissioner Gerard was asked to invite Professor George List of RPI to explain the new traffic signalization at the August 5, Committee of the Whole meeting. Mr. Gombas pointed out that the changes occurring on Spencer Road were not considered in the new system. Commissioner Reeves reported that the residents of Spencer Road are concerned with the speed of vehicles and enforcement of it. The residents would like to see a speed limit of 20 mph. This would have to be state approved. .A basic concern of the residents is the continuation of the one -way configuration. Residents that attended this meeting hadn't realized that elimination of their problem created problems elsewhere. Commissioner Rusoff suggested that signalization at Old Elmira Road and Meadow Street be improved to move traffic along. This item will be continued at a future meeting. 10. Report of Street Hierarchy - 6/15/92. This meeting was attended by Commissioners Tripp and Brandford. Concerns included traffic reduction and increased enforcement. It was noted that City vehicles are highly visible and perceived as major traffic offenders. Commissioner Tripp suggested that maybe a letter to all City Employees should be distributed with this concern. Discussion followed concerning large truck traffic and general traffic patterns. Meeting adjourned at 6:15. Notes by: Donna L. Payne Administrative Secretary Page - 4