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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMN-BPW-1992-11-181111 BOARD OF PUBLIC WORKS PROCEEDINGS CITY OF ITHACA, NEW YORK Regular Meeting 4:00 p.m. November 18, 1992 PRESENT: Mayor Nichols Commissioners (6) – Rusoff, Tripp, Reeves, Gerard, Cox, Brandford OTHERS PRESENT: Superintendent of Public Works - Gray Assistant Superintendent of Public Works (Streets & Facilities) – Ferrel Assistant Superintendent of Public Works (Water & Sewer) – Shimer Deputy City Controller - Thayer Senior stenographer – Holcomb ABSENT: Common Council Liaison – Berg (excused) 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 October 28, 1992 Board of Public Works Meeting By Commissioner Reeves: Seconded by Commissioner Tripp RESOLVED, That the minutes of the October 28, 1992 Board of Public Works meeting be approved as published. Carried Unanimously ADDITIONS TO OR DELETIONS FROM THE AGENDA: Water, Sewer and Solid Waste Items Superintendent Cox requested the addition of the following items: 17B – Kline Road Sewer Project 17C – Policy for Recycling Collection for Large Commercial Generators 17D – Request to fill Vacant Operator Position at the Wastewater Plant No Board member objected. New Business Commissioner Reeves requested a short discussion on alternate side parking. No Board member objected. Creeks, Bridges and Parks Items Commissioner Gerard requested that Item 15A – Beavers in Six-Mile Creek be deferred as the Board has not yet heard from DEC. No Board member objected. COMMUNICATIONS AND HEARING OF PERSONS BEFORE BOARD: Recycle Ithaca Bicycles Mr. Andy Ruina, who runs the Recycle Ithaca Bicycles program, spoke to Council regarding the lease for the building (sludge dryer building) that they have been using for their program. He reported that since they have had the building, the program has given away over 300 bicycles that have been fixed up. Mr. Ruina stated that when they were given their lease they were given no assurance that the lease could be renewed and it was totally provisional and they do not have 2222 expectations that the Board will renew the lease. He stated that when they got the building, they expected to use it one day a week, it is being used six days a week. It used to be a program that had about 15 volunteer hours a week, now it has more than 100 person hours a week of volunteer time. Mr. Ruina requested that if the Board is going to have to ask the RIB Program to vacate the building in 1993 for the Senior Citizens Center, they would like to have at least a thirty day notice. Resolution By Commissioner Reeves: Seconded by Commissioner Gerard RESOLVED, That the Board of Public Works extends the lease for Recycle Ithaca Bicycles for 1993 with the same 30-day notice of termination as they have now. Carried Unanimously REPORT OF SUPERINTENDENT OF PUBLIC WORKS: Superintendent Gray reported to the Board on the following capital projects: North Cayuga Street Bridge – The repairs are complete except for 50 feet of handrail and some signage work. Commons Project – The latest deadline given to the contractor is for November 16. Any brick work that has not been completed at that time will be black topped so that there is a hard surface in before Thanksgiving and the contractor will then have to come back next year. The Board will be kept advised of what is happening with the project. Court Facility – The steel erection for the skeleton of the building will be up shortly. Fire Station Contracts – The General Contractor for the building of the fire stations has finally come back is ready to close out the projects. GIAC Renovations – The GIAC renovations will not be finished until late in December. Municipal Pool – The municipal pool bath house is completed. The stainless steel walls and bracing is up in the pool, but the pool construction is behind schedule. Dam Work – Two years ago we started work on the dams as we were being pressed by the DEC. The work is about half done at this time. Commercial Avenue – Work is progressing on Commercial Avenue relating to the County’s Solid Waste Facility. The County is in the process of constructing an office building and a building for the weights. REPORT OF ASSISTANT SUPERINTENDENT OF STREETS & FACILITIES: Assistant Superintendent Ferrel reported to the Board on the following items: Night Snow Crew – The night snow crew has started. Lower Hector Street Storm Drainage – A crew is working on lower Hector Street installing some storm drainage. Transit Facility – The Transit move occurred this week. The buses and the Transit Supervisor were relocated to the joint facility. Change in Garage Operation – With the Transit move, the garage operation has changed from a three shift-24-hour a day shift to two shifts. This is being done on a test basis at this time to see how it works out. 3333 City Recycling Center – Effective Monday the City Recycle Center was taken over by the County. The hours have changed to 11:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. and in the summer it will be 12 noon through 6 p.m. Tree Plantings – The Fall tree planting project is completed except for Elmira Road. REPORT OF ASSISTANT SUPERINTENDENT OF WATER AND SEWER: Assistant Superintendent Shimer reported to the Board on the following items: Water Plant – Work has begun on the interim project. Ground has been broken and the foundation is ready to be poured. Lead and Copper Samples – Results of the last group of samples of lead and copper have been completed and we passed the requirements of the law. Water Discharge Violations – The City received two violations on the water plant on the water that was discharged after backwashing. This month we cleaned the lagoons and the sedimentation basins and we exceeded the discharge limits for the amount of chlorine in the water. Wastewater Treatment Plant – We have received a written review of the DEC inspection and the treatment plant and staff were given straight A’s. HIGHWAYS, STREETS AND SIDEWALK ITEMS: * 13A. Request for Adjustment in Sidewalk Assessment The Board of Public Works has approved the assessments for sidewalk repairs on Hudson Street, which are to be collected by the City Chamberlain. Notices were sent and a public hearing was held. John Alling, property owner of 623 Hudson Street, received a notice and contested the amount. Staff adjusted the initial assessment, a bill for $472.50 was then sent to the property owner. Upon receipt of the bill Mr. Alling contested the amount. Staff met with him on December 31, 1991 and agreed that an adjustment should be made to $375.30. This adjusted was not passed on to the Chamberlain’s Office, therefore, an adjusted bill was not sent. Resolution By Commissioner Brandford: Seconded by Commissioner Tripp WHEREAS, Assessments have been approved by the Board of Public Works for sidewalk repairs on Hudson Street, and WHEREAS, the property at 623 Hudson Street has been billed for $472.50, which the owner contested, and WHEREAS, staff has adjusted the assessment of this property to an amount of $375.30; now, therefore, be it RESOLVED, That the Board of Public Works approves of staff’s adjustment to $375.30, and be it further RESOLVED, That the Board requests the necessary steps be taken to adjust and collect the bill for 623 Hudson Street. Carried Unanimously PARKING AND TRAFFIC ITEMS: * 14A. Permanent Extension of Parking Lot Hours By Commissioner Tripp: Seconded by Commissioner Rusoff 4444 WHEREAS, in August, 1992 the Department of Public Works extended the hours of collection in the downtown parking lots from 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m., covering revenue hours from 2:00 a.m. until 6:30 p.m., and WHEREAS, the Department has presented the Board of Public Works with figures comparing revenues of 1991 and 1992; now, therefore, be it RESOLVED, That the Board of Public Works authorizes the permanent extension of the hours for collection in the downtown parking lots, and be it further RESOLVED, That the Board authorizes the Department to take the appropriate steps to hire permanent staff for the extension. Carried Unanimously *14B. Adjustment of Hours for Collection in Downtown Parking Lots The Board of Public Works, at its June 17, 1992 meeting, passed a resolution which extended the hours of collection in the downtown parking lots from 8:00 a.m. until 8:00 p.m. In mid August of 1992, the Department implemented this extension ending the collection at 8:15 p.m. The figures collected are based on these time periods. The Department is requesting that a resolution be passed adjusting the time of collection from 8:00 a.m. until 8:15 p.m. Resolution By Commissioner Tripp: Seconded by Commissioner Gerard RESOLVED, That the Board of Public Works adjusts the extension time of collection in the downtown parking lots to 8:00 a.m. until 8:15 p.m. which has been the hours since the extension was implemented. Carried Unanimously WATER, SEWER AND SOLID WASTE ITEMS: *17A. Policy for Illegal Dumping It has been brought to the Board of Public Works’ attention that the Department is spending a great deal of time and money removing trash which is illegally dumped on private property. The City removes the illegal deposits at the expense of the tax payers (trash tag purchasers). Tompkins County does not give this service to residents outside of the City and therefore can not assist the City in removal of such items. Resolution By Commissioner Cox: Seconded by Commissioner Gerard WHEREAS, the Board of Public Works has been made aware that there are numerous illegal deposits of trash made throughout the City on a weekly basis, and WHEREAS, the Department spends a considerable amount of money and time collecting the illegal deposits and disposing of them, and WHEREAS, the City Police Department has expended a lot of effort to coordinate enforcement issues with the County; now, therefore, be it RESOLVED, That the Board of Public Works directs staff to work with the police department to implement the policy of picking up only properly tagged trash while cooperating with police and county enforcement functions. Discussion followed on the floor. A vote on the resolution resulted as follows: Carried Unanimously 5555 *17B. Kline Road Sewer Project The SJS instructed staff to evaluate and propose designs to divert flow from the existing portion of the Kline Road Sewer that is currently at capacity. The Engineering staff of the Owners has developed a design and an estimated construction cost. Staff has also recommended a percentage of cost to each owner based on current usage (45% City of Ithaca, 45% Town of Ithaca, and 10% Town of Dryden). This project will be funded by the Capital Reserve Fund of the SJS or as a Capital Project of the SJS. Exact financing will be recommended by the City Controller. Resolution By Commissioner Cox: Seconded by Commissioner Reeves WHEREAS, the SJS has reviewed the conceptual design of a relief sewer for the lower Kline Road sewer and the estimated construction cost being $200,000, and WHEREAS, the SJS has adopted a percentage of cost to each owner at 45% City of Ithaca, 45% Town of Ithaca, and 10% Town of Dryden, and WHEREAS, the SJS would like to see this project move expeditiously; now, therefore, be it RESOLVED, That the Board of Public Works approves the Kline Road Sewer Relief Project as recommended by the SJS, and request that the B&A Committee and Common Council approve the necessary funds pending approval of the project and funding by the other owners in the form needed for the financing to be used. Carried Unanimously *17C. Policy of Recycling Collection for Large Commercial Generators The Department of Public Works is entering into a contract with Tompkins County to collect recyclable materials within the City of Ithaca. The contract covers residential collection immediately and small commercial collection in 1993. The City will not be paid to collect any large commercial generators of recyclables. Resolution By Commissioner Cox: Seconded by Commissioner Rusoff WHEREAS, the Board of Public Works is aware that the recycling program budget is totally supported by the County contract, and WHEREAS, the County Recycling contract does not include funds for collection of large commercial generators; now, therefore, be it RESOLVED, That the Department of Public Works, effective December 7, 1992, will collect recyclables only for large commercial generators who use City trash collection and which produces no more than one County recycling bin of recyclables per week and not more than one half a cubic yard of corrugated cardboard per week. Discussion followed on the floor. Mayor Nichols referred to a memo from the County Solid Waste Division. A vote on the resolution resulted as follows: Carried Unanimously * 17D. Request to Fill Vacant Operator Position at the Wastewater Plant By Commissioner Cox: Seconded by Commissioner Gerard RESOLVED, That the Board of Public Works approves of the resolution passed by the SJS to fill the vacant position of Operator at the Wastewater Treatment Plant, and be it further 6666 RESOLVED, That the Board directs staff to proceed to the Vacancy Review Committee. Carried Unanimously REPORT OF SPECIAL COMMITTEES: Audit Report By Commissioner Cox: Seconded by Commissioner Brandford RESOLVED, That bills listed on the following Abstract be approved for payment: Abstract #21 General Fund …………………………………………………. $ 46,179.85 Water and Sewer Fund ……………………………………….. $ 8,499.48 Joint Activity Fund ………………………………………….... $ 16,672.81 Capital Projects ………………………………………………. $ 321,217.92 Solid Waste …………………………………………………... $ 24,512.45 and be it further RESOLVED, That bills receivable be approved and rendered. Carried Unanimously REPORT OF BOARD LIAISONS: Energy Commission Commissioner Reeves reported that the Energy Commission discussed their projects for 1993 which includes the revision of the weatherization law. They will also be discussing and looking into alternative fuels for vehicles at the Transportation Facility. They want to do a study of Cass Park Rink and stated that she brought the Commission up to date on the plans for a grant to fix the problems there. She said they hope to be assisting the Chamber of Commerce with information on energy conservation and also will be looking into a plan for re-lamping and re-ballasting of City owned buildings. Ms. Reeves reported that the energy accounting computer program is here. Parks Commission Commissioner Gerard reported that he attended a Park Commission meeting. There was a question on the Festival Land which was deferred and will be coming back to the Commission for further discussion. Conservation Advisory Council Commissioner Gerard reported that the deer problem was discussed and removal of lead paint from the outside of houses came up again. Bicycle Advisory Commission Commissioner Tripp reported that the Bicycle Advisory Commission has been spending the bulk of its meetings lately talking about its proposed capital project and are hopeful that it will pass. Change in Commissioner’s Assignments Commissioner Tripp reported that she and Commissioner Rusoff are switching assignments with the Mayor’s consent. Commissioner Rusoff will be the new BPW Liaison to the Planning Board and Commissioner Tripp will be the new Liaison to the Youth Bureau Board. UNFINISHED BUSINESS: Mayor’s Budget Mayor Nichols reported on his proposed budget in regard to the Department of Public Works which will be before the Budget and Administration Committee on Thursday, November 19th. 7777 Extensive discussion followed on the floor. NEW BUSINESS: Alternate Side Parking Commissioner Reeves stated that the Planning and Development Committee needs an opinion from the Board regarding the matter of alternate side parking. It was the consensus of the Board that they would discuss this matter at the next Committee of the Whole meeting. ADJOURNMENT: On a motion the meeting adjourned at 6:15 p.m. Connie J. Holcomb Benjamin Nichols Senior Stenographer Mayor