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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMN-BPW-1994-10-12189 BOARD OF PUBLIC WORKS PROCEEDINGS CITY OF ITHACA, NEW YORK Regular Meeting 4:00 P.M. October 12, 1994 PRESENT: Vice -Chair - Reeves Commissioners (5) - Ruso£f, Tripp, Smith, Seligmann, Gerard (arrived at 5:05 p.m.) ABSENT: Mayor Nichols (excused) OTHERS PRESENT: Superintendent of Public Works - Gray Assistant Superintendent of Streets and Facilities - Ferrel Assistant Superintendent of Water and Sewer- Fabbroni Common Council Liaison - Johnson Deputy City Controller - Thayer T Senior Stenographer - Holcomb In r PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE: p m Vice -Chair Reeves led all present in the Pledge of Allegiance to z the American flag. MINUTES: By Commissioner Tripp: Seconded by Commissioner Seligmann RESOLVED, That the Minutes of the September 28, 1994 Board of Public Works meeting be approved as published. Carried Unanimously ADDITIONS TO AND DELETIONS FROM THE AGENDA: Water, Sewer and Solid Waste Items• Commissioner Tripp requested an alternate resolution to item 17.A - Request for Trash Cans in the West End be added to the agenda. No Board member objected. John Schroeder spoke to the Board regarding the resolution on today's agenda, signage for DeWitt Place at Cemetery Drive. He requested that Cascadilla Park Road be added to the resolution. Don Fredericksen, 205 DeWitt Place and Jeff Brown, 206 DeWitt Place, both spoke to the Board in favor of the resolution for signage for DeWitt Place. REPORT OF COUNCIL LIAISON: Alderperson Johnson reported to the Board on the following items: Council passed the request to provide Capital Reserve Funds for the Watershed expenditures; The request to transfer funds for various equipment repairs for vehicles, backhoes, etc. was approved by Council; Council passed a resolution to provide contingency funds for the transit budget; Council is working with the Planning Committee to have a presentation of the Canal Recreationway program; Council passed an agreement by the City to maintain sidewalks that are planned to go along Elmira Road. 1 190 October 12, 1994 REPORT OF SUPERINTENDENT: Superintendent Gray reported to the Board on the follbwing items: Review of department budgets ongoing; Sidewalk contract work being done at Wood Street Park at this time; Fiber Optic work is proceeding; Thurston Avenue parking meter contracts being pulled together; Stewart Park entrance work; Schematic work is being done for the upcoming work on the 2 blocks of Mitchell Street. REPORT OF ASSISTANT SUPERINTENDENT OF STREETS AND FACILITIES: Assistant Superintendent Ferrel reported to the Board on the following items: The department is gearing up for the winter season; Cass Park (in front of Hangar Theatre) ditch cleaning is in progress; Bridge deck work is ongoing. The South Cayuga Street bridge deck has been re- opened; Turner /Hillview storm drain has been repaired; South Aurora Street near Grandview will be worked on next week for improved storm drainage; The contractor has the basketball court in and is grading off around the area and the sidewalk contractor has a great percentage of the sidewalk installed at the Wood Street Park; Cass Park Ice Rink will be open on October 18th; A Vacancy Review Committee meeting is scheduled next week regarding the City Forester position; Building crews have been working on boilers and all heating systems are now operational. The GIAC boiler was replaced and is up and .running at this point; The City Electrician has been working on the Hillview traffic signals. REPORT OF ASSISTANT SUPERINTENDENT OF WATER AND SEWER: Assistant Superintendent Fabbroni reported to the Board on the following items: Utility bridge project; Cornell system connection is complete for an exchange of water; Silt Dam work is one -third completed; Easement arrangements are being finalized for water lines to some lands north of Cascadilla Street and south of Commercial Avenue; The issue of water and sewer lines west of Meadow Street and east of the Octopus is one major project for the city to look at in regard to the D.o.T project; Meetings with DEC are continuing regarding the chlorine spill at the Water Treatment Plant. BUILDINGS. PROPERTIES AND TRANSIT ITEMS• A. Reauest for HOlidav Lighting in the West End By Commissioner Rusof f: Seconded by Commissioner Tripp WHEREAS, Joe Lee of the Next Step hair salon has requested that the City allow the merchants on West State Street, from the Commons to Meadow Street, to put holiday lighting in the trees as is done on the Commons., and WHEREAS, staff has expressed their concerns to the Board of Public Works that funding and manpower is not available to install -and maintain the lighting; now, therefore, be it RESOLVED, That the Board of Public Works approves of the concept for the holiday lights, and be it further RESOLVED, That the Board requests that Mr. Lee work with city staff to prepare a request for proposals from contractors to install and maintain the lighting. 191 October 12, 1994 Commons Coordinator Deming and Mr. Lee appeared before the Board with an update on the status of the request. Extensive discussion followed on the floor. Amending Resolution &1 By Commissioner Tripp: Seconded by Commissioner Rusoff RESOLVED, That the second Resolved clause be changed to read as follows: ? "RESOLVED, That the Board request that the City Electrician be directed to install temporary outlets to provide electricity for the 100 block of West State Street for the 1994 season." Commissioner Rusoff stated that she would really like to see the City do four trees this year ap a gesture of the City's willingness to extend a hand to West End merchants at this point. T LO Asst. Superintendent Ferrel explained that it would be very nice if r the city could do this but he is having a problem3 with the m scheduling of the City Electrician at this time. He stated that the flashing lights for the Beverly Martin School are due to come in z soon and he is afraid that it is going to conflict with Christmas tree lighting that has been traditionally done without taking on more work. Amending Resolution S2 By Commissioner Rusoff: Seconded by Commissioner Tripp RESOLVED, That the second Resolved clause be changed to read as follows: "RESOLVED, That the Board request the City Electrician provides power to the 400 block of West State Street in order that four (4) trees can be lit with Christmas lights provided by Mr. Lee and we would not add more trees to the City Electrician's job but that City Electrician would figure out which four trees which he currently lights directly on the Commons that he thinks wouldn't make a big dent in the lighting there and do that work between Corn and Plain." Superintendent Gray stated that the trees themselves take time to do but one of the more difficult items is going to be just getting access to power. Commissioner Reeves suggested that we proceed with the resolution the way it has been proposed for amendment but it only takes care of the 1994 season, then at a future date we can begin to discuss the five year plan and get that nailed down. Commissioner Reeves stated that the second Resolved clause would read as follows: "RESOLVED, That the Board request the City Electrician to be directed to install temporary outlets to provide electricity for four (4) trees for the 400 block of West State Street for the 1994 season." Amending Resolution M3 By Commissioner Rusoff: Seconded by Commissioner Tripp RESOLVED, That there be a Third Resolved added to the resolution to read as follows: "RESOLVED, That the City Electrician would put up and take down holiday lights on four (4) trees on West State Street between Corn and Plain in exchange for not doing that work on four (4) trees located at the periphery of the Commons. 192 October 12, 1994 A vote on Amending Resolution #1 resulted as follows: Carried Unanimously • vote on Amending Resolution #2 resulted as follows: No Vote Taken • vote on Amending Resolution #3 resulted as follows. Carried Unanimously Main Motion as Amended Commissioner Smith stated that he is inclined to support the resolution, mainly as a gesture to West State Street which is part of the City of Ithaca. He said that he thinks it is fantastic that Mr. Lee and other merchants have come forward with this plan. Commissioner Smith also stated that he does have some concern with tree lighting in general when he hears how many hours we tie up to put decorations up and take them down. He suggested that the Board review costs of the holiday lighting procedures. A vote on the Main Motion as Amended resulted as follows: Ayes - (5) Smith, Rusoff, Tripp, Seligmann, Reeves Commissioner Gerard was absent from room when vote was taken. Carried (5 -0) The resolution in final form shall read as follows: WHEREAS, Joe Lee of the Next Step hair salon has requested that the City allow the merchants on West State Street, from the Commons to Meadow Street, to put holiday lighting in the trees as is done on the Commons, and WHEREAS, staff has expressed their concerns to the Board of Public Works that funding and manpower is not available to install and maintain the lighting; now, therefore, be it RESOLVED, That the Board of Public Works approves of the concept for the holiday lights, and be it further RESOLVED, That the Board request that the City Electrician be directed to install temporary outlets to provide electricity for the 100 block of West State Street for the 1994 season, and be it further RESOLVED, That the City Electrician would put up and take down holiday lights on four (4) trees on West State Street between Corn and Plain in exchange for not doing that work on four (4) trees located at the periphdry of the Commons. B. Abandonment of Brindlev Street By Commissioner Rusoff: Seconded by Commissioner Tripp WHEREAS, the Board of Public Works has received a request from Attorney Dan Hoffman br. behalf of his client for the city to abandon Brindley Street between Seneca and Buffalo Streets; now, therefore, be it RESOLVED, That the Board of Public ';Works approves of the abandonment of the street R.O.W. between`State Street and Buffalo Street and recommends the sale of the eastern half of the property, and be it further RESOLVED, That the western half of the property remain city land in order to maintain plantings and to provide for future city purposes such as a pedestrian walk way as proposed in the Inlet Island Master Plan, and be it further 4 T LO m z October 12, 1994 RESOLVED, That the recommendation for sale of the land be forwarded to Common Council for their consideration and action. Attorney Daniel Hoffman and his client, Mark Zaharis, appeared before the Board. Vice -Chair Reeves explained that in the process of the discussion that-took place last week, the Board had not at that time established how much of tpe right -of -way the city was willing to sell or how much of the right -of -way Mr. Zaharis wanted to purchase. She stated that in order to allow City staff to work on this, she would recommend some changes to the resolution. Vice -Chair Reeves' recommendations are as follows: In the first Resolved clause, last line, after the words "sale of" the words "a portion of the right -of -way on the east" be added. The second Resolved clause should read "That a portion on the west remain city land in order to maintain plantings and /or other utilities and to provide for future city purposes -such as a pedestrian walkway as proposed in the Inlet Island Master Plan, and be it further." The third Resolved clause should read "That the amount of land required by the city and the purchaser be negotiated by the Superintendent of Public Works and Dan Hoffman as Attorney for the purchaser, and be it further" The fourth Resolved clause should read "That the final recommendation be passed onto Common Council for final approval." Vice -Chair Reeves explained that what this board, in essence, is doing is approving the abandonment of Brindley Street and that the negotiation process continue between the Superintendent and Attorney Hoffman to establish how much of the Right -of -Way Mr. Zaharis wishes to purchase and how much of the Right -of -Way the Department of Public Works feels it needs in order to maintain city services. Attorney Hoffman stated that Mr. Zaharis has some new ideas as a result of getting a site plan from his architect which would address some of the concerns as written in the original resolution. Mr. Zaharis presented the site plan map and explained the parking, landscaping, etc. to the Board. Commissioner Tripp stated that she believes that all this Board needs to do is approve the abandonment. She thinks the Board can get rid of the rest of the resolution. It was the consensus of the Board that the words, "and recommends the sale of the eastern half of the property" be deleted from the first Resolved clause and that the second Resolved clause be deleted from the resolution. Further discussion followed on the floor. Main Motion as Amended A vote on the Main Motion as Amended resulted as follows: Carried Unanimously 11 193 194 October 12, 1994 The Resolution in final form shall read as follows: Abandonment of Brindlev Street By Commissioner Rusoff: Seconded by Commissioner Tripp WHEREAS, the Board of Public Works has received a request from Attorney Dan Hoffman on behalf of his client for the city to abandon Brindley Street between State [Seneca] and Buffalo Streets; now, therefore, be it RESOLVED, That the Board of Public Works approves of the abandonment of the street R.O.W. between State and Buffalo Street, and be it further RESOLVED, That the recommendation for sale of the land be forwarded to Common Council for their consideration and action. Carried Unanimously By Commissioner Smith: Seconded by Commissioner Rusoff WHEREAS, residents from DeWitt Place and Cascadilla Park Road requested signage be placed at the City Cemetery to make motorists more aware of the intersection, and WHEREAS, the Board of Public Works requested and received input from the Police Chief and Fire Chief concerning the intersection; now, therefore, be it RESOLVED, That the Board of Public Works accepts the Police Chief's recommendation (a copy of said recommendation is attached to official minute book) to install stop signs at the intersection of DeWitt Place and the driveway for the cemetery, and be it further RESOLVED, That additional signs recommended by the Police Chief, stating "NO Thru Traffic City Cemetery Driveway Not a Public Street ", be installed, and be it further RESOLVED, That the board recognizes the fact that during the winter months, some residents df DeWitt Place may use the driveway due to poor road conditions on DeWitt Place and does not consider this as "thru traffic ". Discussion followed on the floor. Amending Resolution By Commissioner Tripp: Seconded by Commissioner Rusoff RESOLVED, That the last Resolved clause be deleted from the resolution. Carried Unanimously Main Motion As Amended A vote on the Main Motion as Amended resulted as follows: Carried Unanimously PARKING AND TRAFFIC ITEMS: A. Metered Parkina or$ Thurston Avenue By Commissioner Tripp: Seconded by Commissioner Rusoff WHEREAS, the Board of Public works has ;determined that parking along Thurston Avenue shall be metered; now, therefore be it RESOLVED, That the enforcement times for metered parking shall be 9:00 a.m. till 6:00 p.m. daily, Fniday, 9:00 a.m. till 9:00 p.m. except Sunday, New Year's Day, Memorial Day, Fourth of July, Labor Day, Thanksgiving Day and Christmas Day, and be it further RESOLVED, That the parking tariff shall be $.50 per hour with no time limit. G 195 October 12, 1994 Discussion followed on the floor. Amending Resolution Commissioner Tripp suggested that the first Resolved clause read as follows: "That the enforcement times for metered parking shall be 9:00 a.m. till 6:00 p.m. weekdays, except New Year's Day, Memorial Day, Fourth of July, Labor Day,i Thanksgiving Day and Christmas Day, and be it further" Tabling Motion By Commissioner Tripp: Seconded by Commissioner Ruso£f RESOLVED, That the matter of metered parking on Thurston Avenue be tabled for the period of two weeks for further discussion with and a recommendation from the parking sub- committee. Carried Unanimously �— WATER, SEWER AND SOLID WASTE ITEMS• LO A. Request for Trash Cans in the West End T By Commissioner Seligmann: Seconded by Commissioner Rdsoff m WHEREAS, the Board of Public Works has been asked by the West End Z merchants to place trash cans along West State Street between the Commons and Meadow Street, and WHEREAS, staff has made the board aware that people are putting household trash in public cans, which is an increasing problem in all areas and most difficult in areas which are remote from the C.B.D., and WHEREAS, the Board realizes that litter on city streets needs to be addressed; now, therefore, be it RESOLVED, That the Board of Public Works approves the relocation of two cans from the Commons or Collegetown area be placed in the west end on a trial basis, and be it further RESOLVED, That the Board requests that the Budget and Administration Committee consider a stiffer fine for violators who deposit household or commercial garbage in city trash cans, and be it further RESOLVED, That once the fines are adopted they will be posted on all city trash cans. By Commissioner Tripp: Seconded by Commissioner Smith WHEREAS, the Board of Public Works has been asked by West End merchants to place trash cans along West State Street between the Commons and Meadow Street, and WHEREAS, the Board is concerned about litter in our fair city, and WHEREAS, the Board has reviewed current practice on the placement of city trash cans, and WHEREAS, the Board wishes the responsibility for litter and other refuse to be borne by those who generate it, and WHEREAS, the Board has reviewed favorable results from the Stewart Park trash "Carry in /Carry out" policy; now, therefore, be it RESOLVED, That the Board of Public Works denies the request for additional publicly maintained trash cans, thereby affirming past Practice at the provision of city trash cans only in the two central business areas (i.e. the Commons and Collegetown), and be it further - 7 196 October 12, 1994 RESOLVED, That the Board directs staff to institute the aforementioned "Carry in /Carry out" policy in all city parks (with the exception of city municipal concession areas in Stewart Park, Cass Park and Newman Golf Course). Discussion followed on the floor on the substitute resolution. Amending Resolution to Oricinal Resolution By Commissioner Rusoff: Seconded by Commissioner Gerard RESOLVED, That in the first Resolved clause the word "relocation" be deleted.and the word "addition" be inserted in its place, and that the words "from the Commons or Collegetown area" be deleted. Discussion followed on the amending resolution. A vote on the resolution resulted as follows: Carried Unanimously Main Motion As Amended (Resolution 17.A) A vote on the Main Motion as Amended (Resolution 17.A) resulted as follows: Ayes (3) Nays (3) Motion Fails for Lack of 4 Affirmative Votes Substitute Resolution 17.B A vote on Substitute Resolution 17.B resulted as follows: Ayes (2) - Smith, Tripp Nays (4) - Reeves, Seligmann, Rusoff, Gerard Motion Fails for Lack of 4 Affirmative Votes ADJOURNMENT: On a motion the meeting adjourned at 5:55 p.m. 6� Connie J. Holcomb Carol Reeves Senior Stenographer Vice -Chair 0