HomeMy WebLinkAboutMN-BPW-1993-03-24Ln
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BOARD OF PUBLIC WORKS PROCEEDINGS
CITY OF ITHACA, NEW YORK
Regular Meeting 4:00
p.m.
PRESENT: March 24, 1993
Mayor Nichols
Commissioners (5) - Rusoff, Tripp, Reeves, Gerard, Smith
ABSENT:
Com'6issioner Brandford
OTHERS
Superintendent of Public Works - Gray
Assistant Superintendent of Streets and Facilities - Ferrel
Senior Stenographer - Holcomb
Assistant Superintendent of Water and Sewer - Shimer
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE:
Mayor Nichols led all present in the Pledge of Allegiance to the
American flag.
J
Mayor Nichols requested that the approval of the Minutes of the
March 10, 1993 Board of Public Works meeting be postponed
Board meeting of April 14. until the
ADDITIONS OR DELETIONS TO AGENDA:
Parkins end Traffic -tems-
p
Commissioner Tripp requested a substitute resolution be
for Item B - Request for Sale of Permits in Green StreetpGarage.
No Board member objected.
Waterssion, Sew end nd Solid Waste Items
Commier Reeves requested the addition of Item B - Purchase of
Photocopier at Ithaca Area Wastewater Treatment Plant and Item c -
Variable Speed Drive Installation at Wastewater Treatment Plant.
Asst. Supt. Shimer requested the addition of Item D - Request for
the Committee of the Whole to have Power to Act at their next
meeting regarding the purchase of a dump truck.
No Board member objected.
COMMUNICATIONS FROM MAYOR:
Letter from
Re ional Flood Control E inear
Mayor Nichols read a letter, dated March 22, 1993, from Henry C.
Carroll, Regional Flood Control Engineer, regarding flooding
Potential this Spring due to the thaw of anow and rains. He urged
the City to be vigilant about any preparation and precautionary
actions that our municipality should or may be able to take.
Mayor Nichols reported there was a Washington Park Neighborhood
Association meeting on March 17. Most of the discussion had to do
with the plans for the Route 96 project and how that would affect
their neighborhood. Mayor Nichols stated that one of their main
concerns is what is going to happen to the streets east of Meadow
Street.
Mayor Nichols stated that we need to do traffic counts in the area
of concern this Spring or Fall so as to provide the baseline data
for comparison with the traffic after the project is completed.
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March 24, 1993
He also noted the request by residents for shades on the traffic
lights. The particular problem cited was the blinding -bythe sun
when walking to the west in the afternoon.
COMMUNICATIONS AND HEARINGS FROM PERSONS BEFORE BOARD:
Sianage for Collegetown
Common Council member Schroeder spoke to the Board regarding
signage for the Collegetown area. He reminded the Board that the
issue was discussed and an agreement made over a year ago and he
wanted to make sure that it has not been forgotten.
Discussion followed on the floor and Common Council member
Schroeder was assured that the matter has not been forgotten and
the project will be worked on at the same time as the signage for
the downtown business district is done.
REPORT OF SUPERINTENDENT:
Superintendent Gray reported to the Board on the following items:
Youth Bureau Acoustics Program - is in the middle of its consultant
selection.
Strand Asbestos Survey - hopefully this project will begin within
a week if the snow gets off the roof.
City Court - is on line and the facility should be finished by the
deadline in June.
Kline Road Sewer - the project is out to bid and will be back in
the middle of April.
South Plain Street Reconstruction - the work for this project is in
the drawing stage.
Bare Root Planting Program - this program is scheduled to take
place in April. The Bare Root program is a method of getting a lot
more trees in the ground for the same dollar but the trees will
require a lot more maintenance and care during their first year.
Supt. Gray stated that he has asked City Forester, John Freideborn,
about the public announcements, public meetings, and an adopt -a-
tree program and how it was going to work. Mr. Friideborn will be
working that out with the Shade Tree Committee.
to the Board on the
following
Snow Removal /Sidewalk Complaints - snow removal and sidewalk
cleaning has been going on since the blizzard of 193. The overall
snow removal operation went fairly smoothly.
There have been several complaints about the condition of private
sidewalks and crews will now be removing the snow and ice from them
beginning today and the residents will be charged for the removal.
Cass Park Rink - The rink has been closed for the season. The
grant application for repairs to the rink has been delayed for six
months.
Tree City USA - The City has received a letter from the State that
it has been designated a Tree City-USA for 1992.
REPORT OF ASSISTANT SUPERINTENDENT OF WATER AND SEWER:
Assistant Superintendent Shimer reported to the Board on the
following items: -
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March 24, 1993
Interim Proie�t - the project is moving along. There are some
delays on some of the chemical feed equipment but it a
they will still hit the anticipated substantial completr
iondate.
Flow Meters - the flow meters have been calibrated. In the Summer
the storage tanks will be calibrated. By getting the meters
calibrated we now seem to have a significant flow going out of
there constantly and a program 's
survey. being developed to do a leak
University Avenue Sewer r- Three designs have been done for the
University Avenue Sewer 'end the will be
University. y reviewed with Cornell
Main Breaks - There were three main breaks during the snow storm
last week.
PARKING AND TRAFFIC ITEMS:
A. Extension of South Tit
he Barricades
The Board of Public Works received a request from Frank and
Lo Filomena Hall of 417 South Titus Avenue for changes to the area of
CD the South Titus Avenue, Fair Street intersection. The Board of
ubliC
toorblocks off resolution
Titus September
b tween 1992 which
and iiected
7 Streets parallel to Six Mile Creek with barricades. The barricades
were to be in place for 120 days after installation. This time
Q period will end at the end of March.
Resolution
By Commissioner Tripp: Seconded by Commissioner Rusoff
WHEREAS, the Board of Public Works has received requests to remove
the barricades from several neighboring residents, and
WHEREAS, the Board of Public Works wishes to review the matter
closer before making a final decision, and
WHEREAS, the Board intends to obtain feedback from the neighborhood
by enlisting aide from the Common Council representatives of
First Ward; now, therefore, be it the
RESOLVED, That the Board of Public Works authorizes the barricades
to remain in place for an additional sixty
1993. (60) days until June 1,
Mayor Nichols stated for the record that Police Chief McEwen has
raised some questions about who has the authority to close off a
street. Asst. Attorney Kennedy is reviewing that question but has
given an opinion that in the meantime the Board should just go
ahead on this action as she sees no liability involved.
Discussion followed on the floor.
A vote on the resolution resulted as follows:
Ayes (4) - Rusoff, Tripp, Gerard, Smith
Nay (1) - Reeves
Carried
Associates, represented b peen approached by COMEX Plaza
second floor of the "McCurdy building withlOffice pace' They the
have a prospective tenant who is concerned with parking for their
employees. The Board of Public Works considered Mr. Walker's
request for his client to provide up to 90 parking permits, which
will increase to 125 during the ten year guarantee period.
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March 24, 1993
Resolution
By Commissioner Tripp: Seconded by Commissioner Rusoff
WHEREAS, The Board of Public works has reviewed Mr. Walker's
request to guarantee up to 125 parking permits, for ten (10) years
at current prices to the professional services organization which
is the subject of the current COMEX negotiations, and
WHEREAS, The Board has been advised by the Assistant City Attorney
that such an arrangement is legal; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That the Board approves of the initial 90 permits to be
available for the Green Street Parking Garage, 15 for the lower
level and 75 for the upper level, the additional 35 permits
requested in the future will be valid for the Seneca Street Parking
Garage, and be it further
RESOLVED, That the Board will allow this organization to obtain
these permits on a six (6) month renewable basis, at then current
rates, and be it further
RESOLVED, That the Board reserves the right to redistribute up to
45 of the initial 90 permits between any downtown garage in order
to improve use patterns during the ten year period which starts
with the signing of the lease or June 1, 1993 whichever comes
first.
Discussion followed on the floor with Mr. Ken Walker answering
questions from Board members.
Amending Resolution
By Commissioner Smith: Seconded by Commissioner Rusoff
RESOLVED, That the final Resolved clause be changed to read as
follows:
"RESOLVED, That the Mayor be authorized to negotiate a 10 year
agreement with the professional services organization consistent
with the stipulations above and to bring this agreement back to the
Board for final approval."
A vote on the amending resolution resulted as follows:
Carried Unanimously
Main Motion as Amended
A vote on the Main Motion as Amended resulted as follows:
Carried Unanimously
By Commissioner Reeves: Seconaea Dy L;0MI806 01'ei 4Li PF
WHEREAS, the current Water /Wastewater Plant Mechanic will qualify
for retirement late this year, and
WHEREAS, there currently is no person trained to perform these
duties which are highly technical, requiring an extensive
electrical and mechanical background, and
WHEREAS, staff believes that the creation of an additional position
will provide greater productivity, a smoother transition and lower
long range costs to the Water and Sewer Division by allowing.an
employee to grow into the position; now, therefore, be it
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March 24, 1993
RESOLVED, That the Board of Public Works recommends increasing the
roster of the Water and Sewer Division by the creation
Assistant Water /Wastewater Plant Mechanic position, of an
requests
that the Budget and Administration Committee and Common Council
approve this action, with the stipulation that upon retirement of
the Water /Wastewater Plant Mechanic, one of the two positions will
be deleted from the roster.
Carried Unanimously
By Commissioner Reeves: Seconded by Commissioner Tripp
WHEREAS, the S.J.S. has reviewed the request and endorsed the
request of the Chief Wastewater Plant Operator, and
WHEREAS, the Controller's Office has researched New York State bids
to prepare equipment recommendations and bide, and
WHEREAS, the copier was not included in the 1993 budget request and
approved equipment list, now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That the Board of Public Works approves the purchase of
a new photocopier for the Wastewater Treatment Plant, and be it
further
RESOLVED, That $5,000.00 be transferred from the Joint Activity
Fund Contingent Account (J1990) to the J8150 -210 Office Equipment
Account, and be it further
RESOLVED, That the Board of Public Works recommends that the Budget
and Administration Committee and Common Council approve this
request to amend the budget and the approved equipment list.
Carried Unanimously
C. Variable Speed Drive Installation at wWTp
By Commissioner Reeves: Seconded by Commissioner Tripp
WHEREAS, staff has researched the benefit of installing variable
speed drives on the influent pumps at the I.A.W.W,T.P. and has
found this to be a project with both short term and long term
benefit, and
WHEREAS, this project has been endorsed by the S.J.S., and
WHEREAS, payback from this purchase is expected to occur from a
reduction in electric bills, a transfer of funds from account
J8150 -410 UTILITIES to J8150 -225 OTHER EQUIPMENT will facilitate
this; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That the Board of Public Works approves the transfer of
$7,000 from J8150 -410 to J8150 -225 for the purchase of two variable
speed drives for the influent pumps at the I.A.W.W.T.P., and be it
further
RESOLVED, That the Board of Public Works request the Budget anc
Administration Committee and Common Council to approve this
amendment to the budget and the approved equipment list.
Carried Unanimously
ex Dum T uc By Commissione ri Ba i Y nRESOLVED, That the Board of Public Works gives
Power to Act
at its next meeting of the Committee of the Whole for the purchase
of a new dump truck.
Carried Unanimously
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REPORT OF SPECIAL COMMITTEES:
A Audit Report.
By Commissioner Gerard: Seconded
RESOLVED, That bills listed on the
for payment:
Abstract 16
March 24, 1993
by Commissioner Tripp
following Abstract be approved
General Fund ... .................. .....................$71,968.05
Water and Sewer Fund ..... ..............................$ 6,131.98
Joint Activity Fund ............... .....................$34,423.77
Capital Projects .................. .....................$50,064.88
Solid Waste ....................... .....................$15,763.46
and be it further
RESOLVED, That bills receivable be approved and rrendered.
Unanimously
REPORT OF BOARD LIAISONS:
Energy Commission
Commissioner Reeves reported that on February 11 the Energy
commission did a tour of the Case Park Rink for possible energy
conservation measures and a report will be forthcoming from Mr.
Durland on how we might be able to improve the rink.
On March 25 at 3:00 at the Transit Facility, a person from NYSE &G
will be there to go over the possible use of alternate fuels for
the buses.
There will be a.special meeting of the Energy Commission on April
6 po work on the data base for City Hall which has to do with
energy consumption.
Planning Board
Commissioner Tripp reported that at the meeting last night the
Board gave its approval in concept for going ahead with trying to
establish a two - tiered system for site plan review in which the
staff would be given the authority to deal with certain site plan
reviews and the Planning Board would not deal with them. The
Board would only deal with review plans that are above a certain
threshold.
Commissioner Tripp stated that Alderperson Schroeder reported at
the PlanningfBOard meeting that a major step forward has been taken
on Inlet Island because there were federal officials who at least
gave a tentative nod to the substitute park land ideas that the
City has laid out in the plan.
ADJOURNMENT:
On a motion the meeting adjourned at 5:45 p.m.
Connie J. Holcomb
Senior Stenographer
A_
anj in Nichols
Mayor