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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMN-BPW-1993-03-24Ln co M 7 m .Q 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. 1 354 360 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: - 2 361 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. 369 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 Ln 7 m Q 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 363 364 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