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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMN-BPW-1994-07-06BOARD OF PUBLIC WORKS COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE July 6, 1994 NOTES PRESENT: Commissioners Reeves, Rusoff, Seligmann, Tripp, Mayor Nichols (arrived at 5:00) Superintendent Gray, and Assistant Superintendents Ferrel and Fabbroni. Commissioner Reeves chaired the meeting. Additions: Request for "Children at Play" sign There were no deletions from the agenda. 1. eauest for "Children at ay sign Eric and Catherine Haines, 110 Linden Avenue, were present to address the board. The Haines' have two small children and are concerned with the amount and speed of ILV traffic on Linden Avenue. They feel that because the majority of the residents are students, motorists do not expect children to be in the area. Mr. and Mrs. Haines are requesting that the department install "Children at Play" signs. They have had correspondence with Supt. Gray who has told them that since it is a residential area, the signs are not warranted. Mr. and Mrs. Haines presented that board with a map indicating current postings of "Children at Play." The board agreed that they would vote on the issue at the next regular meeting. 2. Report on Conway Park Trish Norton of the Planning Department was present to update the board on the grant application for Conway Park. Ms. Norton explained that she would need $5,900 toward maintenance of the park from the DPW budget. The board agreed that the funds could be used and will pass a resolution at the next regular meeting. The Board adjourned into executive session at 4:18 p.m. for the following: 3. Proposed Inlet Island Land Use 4. Proposed Watershed Land Purchase The Board reconvened at 5:00 p.m. 5. Traffic Task Force. It Commissioner Reeves told the board that they needed to discuss what BPW procedures should be established and enforcement of task force recommendations. Supt. Gray noted that many cities are confronted with the same problems Ithaca faces. BOARD OF PUBLIC WORKS COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE MEETING July 6, 1994 The Task Force issue was interrupted to discuss the Trash Tag Fees. Mayor Nichols told the board that he felt that since the county reduced their tipping fee, the trash tags should reflect the reduction. He noted that the 35 lb tags would be reduced from $3.25 to $2.50 and the 20 lb tags would be reduced from $2.00 to $1.20. He expected the reduction to take place August First. The tags will increase by twenty -five cents in January, 1995. Chamberlain Parsons was also present and questioned if the remaining 1993 trash tags could be used. There was no objections from the board. A resolution will be voted on at the next regular meeting to reduce the trash tag fee. 5. Traffic Task Force. David Boyd, Director of the MPO, was present. He noted that the board should discontinue its use of stop signs for speed control and that when used, they should be utilized according to the state manual. Mr. Boyd suggested that an application process be established for residents with traffic problems. He added that there are traffic calming techniques which can be used in low impact periods of time that can prove to be effective. Steve Ehrhardt, member of the task force, stated that all issues should be treated the same and that not just the immediate area be considered for the impacts. Joe Daley suggested that the alderpeople be involved in notifying residents of potential changes. Comm. Reeves recapped the suggestions for procedure, the first step being submittal of applications; second, traffic count practices; then, professional review with available data; neighborhood meetings; and last, notification to residents of any changes. Mr. Boyd commented on speed and that there is a system (Optical Character Recognition) which will issue tickets to speeders without using extra staff. The board agreed that the sorted list from the previous meetings should be dealt with accordingly and that a master list be developed. The board agreed that the next step is to discuss the four priority projects with the Traffic Engineer. The priorities are: synchronization of traffic lights, gateway streets, southwest traffic plan and restoration of two way streets on Aurora and Cayuga. The board will discuss these issues in depth in late September with the presence of a traffic engineer. The meeting adjourned at 6:10 p.m. Notes taken by: Donna L. Payne Administrative Secretary Page - 2