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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMN-BPW-1993-12-15i BOARD OF PUBLIC WORKS COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE December 15, 1993 NOTES PRESENT: Commissioners Gerard, Reeves, Rusoff, Smith, Tripp, Mayor Nichols, Alderperson Berg, Superintendent Gray, and Assistant Superintendents Ferrel and Fabbroni. Commissioner Reeves chaired the meeting. There were no additions to the agenda. Deletions: Review 1994 DPW Work Program Parking Issues - Request for 4 - 2 Hour Parking Spaces on S.W. corner of Farm St. at N. Aurora I. Parking Issues - Tompkins Co EOC Request for Bagging Four Meters Joyce Walker from the Tompkins County Economic Opportunity Corporation was present to request the use of four meter bags. She explained that their organization has recently moved to 324 West State Street and have had problems with delivery of food. Their organization receives truck loads of food which is distributed to the needy within the county. She said that there is a parking lot adjacent to the building but a tractor trailer will not fit in the lot. The trucks need the use of four spaces, otherwise they double park on the street. She asked the Board if the EOC could obtain bags for their delivery day and keep the meters bagged for families to pick up their goods. She stated that the EOC serves approximately 120 families each month throughout the county. Alderperson Daley stated that he believes the EOC is a worthy cause, but if the Board approves this request, they will receive many more like this. Commissioner Rusoff stated that this is a judgement case and that she felt the request should be approved. The Board was in agreement that a resolution should be voted on to approve the meter bags. 2. Trash Violations /Fines Discussion Joe Daley was present as a landlord, not as alderperson. He told the Board that he views the trash violation procedures as an educational tool for tenants. Up to this point, when he received a violation, a name of the violator was included. He recently received a violation for an overweight bag with no name included. He asked that the Board, or department, implement a policy which would require the crews to take steps to determine the violator. Asst. Supt. Ferrel stated that the crews do go through the trash to identify the violators, it seems in this case they overlooked this step. He said that he would be sure to notify the trash crews to take the steps to identify the violators. Alderperson Berg stated that due to the pressures to recycle, it is possible that there is no trash to identify the violators. This problem was acknowledged and will be considered while sending the citations. BOARD OF PUBLIC WORKS COMMTTEE OF THE WHOLE MEETING December 15, 1993 3. Request from ILPC to Resume Stewart Avenue Brick Maintenance Leslie Chatterton, ILPC member, was present to report on a recent resolution passed by the ILPC. The resolution urged the Board to continue its previous practice of properly repairing new street openings on brick streets. In addition, the ILPC is requesting that attention be paid to the general condition of the brick streets. She reported that there are currently many spots on Stewart Avenue which need immediate repair. Commissioner Rusoff explained to Ms. Chatterton that Alderperson John Schroeder recently appeared before the Board requesting the same thing. That item was left for staff to obtain estimates on repairs to the street. Asst. Supt. Ferrel told the Board that the crew which used to maintain the brick streets is no longer together. There are only two members of that crew still with the city. Supt. Gray said that repairs to the brick may be done for aesthetic reasons, but there are several places where the bricks sag. These areas need repair to the concrete base which is costly. Mary Tomlan of the ILPC stated that she is concerned with water entering into the patched areas. She would like to see the asphalt patches replaced properly to avoid this. Commissioner Tripp suggested that the Board give staff time to receive outside estimates as well as in house estimates to complete the repairs. The Board concurred that staff should return to the February 16, 1994 meeting to give the figures for the repairs. 4. New Water and Sewer Rates Effecting 1993 Consumption Alderperson Efroymson was present to question the fairness of the water and sewer billing rates. He explained that one -third of the city will receive a water bill in January at a higher rate when they were not given ample notice of the increase. For example, a Laundromat billed in January receives the bill for use of three months (in 1993) of water at the 1994 rate. The notices are not issued at the beginning of the three months for the business to consider the rate increase in their budget. A business billed in February would have two months of water consumed in 1993 while having adequate time to prepare for the increase due to the notification date. Supt. Gray noted that the rates were changed late since Controller Cafferillo did not have the figures available. Normally, the rate change takes place early enough for water users to consider the increase into their budgets. Alderperson Efroymson asked that in the future, the Board try to approve increases to allow businesses time to prepare for the increase. 5. Parking Issues - Set Hours for Strand Parking Lot Mayor Nichols told the Board that Alderperson Booth feels that making the Strand property into parking is a poor decision. He feels that there will be a lot of hard feelings since there were so many people against the removal of the building. Commissioner Rusoff stated that she understands Alderperson Booth's concerns but the building is gone and that out of the best interest of the community, a parking lot is the best decision; parking is needed in the downtown area and the land should be taken advantage of. She proposed that the Board pass a resolution approving of the temporary parking lot. It was explained that RHP Properties Page - 2 AM BOARD OF PUBLIC WORKS COMMTTEE OF THE WHOLE MEETING December 15, 1993 will not be developing on the site for a couple of years and is willing to sign an agreement with the city which will allow them to install parking meters. The revenue from the meters will be retained by the city until the meters are paid for, at which time revenue will be split between RHP Properties and the city. Commissioner Smith suggested that the parking be limited to two hour parking and prohibited from 2:00 am until 6:00 am. Commissioner Rusoff stated that she assumed staff would implement a parking system as soon as possible. Alderperson Berg suggested that the Board be ready to respond to public criticism for installing a parking lot on the Strand site. A resolution approving of the decision to make a parking lot on the Strand site will be presented at the next regular meeting. 6. Parking Issues - Staff Update on 24 Hour Parking Posting on Fulton Street Asst. Supt. Ferrel told the Board that signs will be installed late in the week or possibly early next week. 7. Miscellaneous Items Mayor Nichols mentioned a letter he received from NYSDOT requesting the city's assistance in modifying Stewart Park's entrance. The state is prepared to install cross bars for the railroad crossing. They are requesting that the city extend the existing traffic island to improve safety. Supt. Gray stated that the state will be funding the installation of the bars whether the city assists or not. 8. Review 1993 DPW Work Pro ram Supt. Gray reviewed a draft list of projects which was issued December 16, 1992. Many of the items which were proposed to be done in 1993 are underway or near completion. The list consisted of projects such as City Hall HVAC, Municipal Pool, Water Shed Access Road and completion of the WTP Interim project to name a few. This item will be continued at the next regular meeting. The meeting adjourned at 6:05 p.m. Notes taken by: Donna L. Payne Administrative Secretary Page - 3