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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMN-BPW-1995-01-11 1 BOARD OF PUBLIC WORKS PROCEEDINGS CITY OF ITHACA, NEW YORK Regular Meeting 4:00 p.m. January 11, 1995 PRESENT: Mayor Nichols Commissioners (5) Rusoff, Tripp, Reeves, Ehrhardt, Smith OTHERS PRESENT: Superintendent of Public Works - Gray Asst. Superintendent of Streets & Facilities - Ferrel Asst. Superintendent of Water & Sewer - Fabbroni Common Council Liaison - Johnson Deputy City Controller - Thayer Deputy City Clerk - Conley Holcomb Fire Chief - Wilbur EXCUSED: Commissioner Seligmann PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE: Mayor Nichols led all present in the Pledge of Allegiance to the American Flag. APPROVAL OF MINUTES: Approval of Minutes of the December 14, 1994 and December 28, 1995 Board of Public Works Meeting By Commissioner Tripp: Seconded by Commissioner Reeves RESOLVED, That the Minutes of the December 14, 1994 Board of Public Works meeting be approved as published. Carried Unanimously By Commissioner Tripp: Seconded by Commissioner Reeves RESOLVED, That the Minutes of the December 28, 1994 Board of Public Works meeting be approved as published. Carried Unanimously ADDITIONS TO OR DELETIONS FROM THE AGENDA: Parking and Traffic Items Commissioner Tripp requested the addition of Item D - Request for Change in Parking Regulation on Edgemoor Lane - Resolution. No Board member objected. Budget, Administration & Communications Items Commissioner Reeves requested the addition of Item A - Thanks to Retiring City Clerk, Cookie Paolangeli - Resolution, and Item B - Thanks to Outgoing Commissioner Guy Gerard - Resolution. No Board member objected. Water, Sewer and Solid Waste Items Commissioner Reeves requested the addition of Item A - Resolution Authorizing Agreement Between the City of Ithaca and the New York State Department of Transportation Relative to Utility Improvements Concerning Rehabilitation and Relocation of New York State Routes 89 and 96 Including Two New Bridges Over the Cayuga Inlet Flood Channel (Capital Project Identification Nos. 506 and 606 City of Ithaca) - Resolution. No Board member objected. ELECTION OF VICE CHAIR: Mayor Nichols requested nominations for the position of Vice Chair of the Board of Public Works. BPW Minutes January 11, 1995 2 Resolution By Commissioner Tripp: Seconded by Commissioner Rusoff RESOLVED, That Carol Reeves be elected Vice Chair of the Board of Public Works. Carried Unanimously Mayor Nichols reported that he is still working on the Committee and Liaison appointments and will announce them at a later date. REPORT OF COUNCIL LIAISON: Alderperson Johnson reported that Common Council approved the following items at the January 1995 Council meeting: Bond Resolution which included funding for parking meters, recycling vehicles and other DPW items. SBA Grant for tree planting on the Old Elmira Road. 1995 Sidewalk Program REPORT OF SUPERINTENDENT: Superintendent of Public Works Gray reported on the following: Thurston Avenue Parking Meters - experiencing software glitches Water & Sewer Bonding Increases Traffic Engineer - Council approved salary, Mr. Cole will begin work on February 6, 1995 City Court HVAC Project Close-Out Mitchell Street Curve - property surveys being completed Fiber Optic Cable Installation in Progress Maple Avenue - Cornell Parking Lot Work Dryden Road - Cornell is installing a steam line under road CDBG - will include Northside Park improvements, Southside Community Center and Cleveland Avenue improvements Transit Fare Changes - raised questions from Council, further discussions may be forthcoming REPORT OF ASST. SUPERINTENDENT OF WATER & SEWER: Asst. Superintendent of Water & Sewer Fabbroni reported on the following: Hazard Communications Training Culvert Widening by Silt Dam Dam Service Road Work Draft Report on Modeling System is Complete Access Road Work for Archer Bridge Project Route 96 Discussions - Fulton Street sewer design Wastewater Treatment Plant Transformer Cover Work Daycare Center Site Clean-Up Wood Street Pump Station Leakage REPORT OF ASST. SUPERINTENDENT OF STREETS & FACILITIES: Asst. Superintendent of Streets & Facilities Ferrel reported on the following: City Forester - 20 approved applications are being reviewed Seacord Property Clean-Up Christmas Tree Pick-Up Through January 20, 1995 Golf Course Building Repairs Off-Season Maintenance Work Storm Sewer Maintenance City Buildings Maintenance Annual Work Schedule Preparation Highway Supervisor Henry Blake will retire in February BPW Minutes January 11, 1995 3 Bridge Light Replacements Staff Relocation Possibilities BUILDINGS, PROPERTIES AND TRANSIT ITEMS: Request to Declare 530 West Buffalo Street as Surplus Property Michael Greschler, Real Estate Agent for R. Greschler & Associates, is requesting that the City declare 530 West Buffalo Street as surplus property. Mr. Greschler has spoken to Ken Harding, of the Water and Sewer Division, because this property contains a building which houses a control panel and tunnel to the pump station under the nearby intersection. Mr. Harding explained that the building is not necessary, although accommodations must be made for access to the panel and tunnel. Resolution By Commissioner Rusoff: Seconded by Commissioner Tripp WHEREAS, the Board of Public Works has received a request from R. Greschler & Associates to declare 530 West Buffalo Street as surplus property, and WHEREAS, staff has indicated that the building on the site is not crucial to departmental operations, except for access to the control panel and a tunnel to the pump station under the Meadow/Buffalo Street intersection; now, therefore, be it RESOLVED, That the Board of Public Works recommends that the Planning and Development Committee and Common Council review the property at 530 West Buffalo Street and declare the property as surplus provided certain provisions are made for Water and Sewer functions, and, be it further RESOLVED, That DPW staff work with the Attorney's Office and the Planning Office to develop provisions which meet the requirements of the Water and Sewer Division and allows redevelopment of the site. Carried Unanimously HIGHWAYS, STREETS, AND SIDEWALK ITEMS: Interim Program for Pedestrian Routes During Snow Emergencies By Commissioner Smith: Seconded by Commissioner Tripp WHEREAS, pedestrians found it very difficult to travel around the City due to the unusual amount of snow fall during the winter of 1993-94, and WHEREAS, the Board of Public Works received a request to implement an emergency pedestrian snow route, similar to the emergency program for street clearing; now, therefore, be it RESOLVED, That the Board of Public Works directs staff to implement an interim emergency pedestrian route when an emergency is declared by the Mayor based on the following: That the primary pedestrian snow route is: east-west route - Buffalo Street from Meadow to Eddy Street north-south route - Cayuga Street from the High School to Clinton Street That the secondary pedestrian snow route is: east-west route - Clinton Street from Meadow Street to Cayuga Street north-south route - Albany Street from Cascadilla Street to Spencer Road BPW Minutes January 11, 1995 4 and, be it further RESOLVED, That staff monitor the staff and equipment requirements as well as any comments from police, fire, transit, and citizens, and report to the Board once adequate experience has been collected to judge the benefits and cost of this program. Commissioner Tripp and former Commissioner Guy Gerard relayed the history of the Resolution. They explained that this proposal would allow one side of the sidewalk on these designated routes to be plowed by DPW staff, once, during the snow emergency at no charge to the homeowner. Commissioner Rusoff spoke in opposition of the Resolution stating that she didn't think that the City should incur the costs involved with this program. Extensive discussion followed on the floor regarding property owners responsibilities. A vote on the Resolution resulted as follows: Ayes (4) Tripp, Reeves, Smith, Ehrhardt Nays (1) Rusoff Carried PARKING AND TRAFFIC ITEMS: Request for Changes in West State Street Parking Lot By Commissioner Tripp: Seconded by Commissioner Reeves WHEREAS, Chief Brian Wilbur, Ithaca Fire Department, has requested that the Board of Public Works modify the West State Street parking lot behind the Fire Station, and WHEREAS, Chief Wilbur has explained that there is a need for additional space by his department as well as a one-way configuration which will allow emergency apparatus to exit the lot in a safer manner, and WHEREAS, Superintendent Gray has suggested that all meters be removed from the lot; now, therefore, be it RESOLVED, That the Board of Public Works hereby directs staff to remove the meters from the West State Street lot and to install signage which would require permit parking on the east side of the lot as well as signage to establish a one-way traffic pattern, and, be it further RESOLVED, That the Board requests Chief Wilbur to monitor the use of the lot by the department and report back to the Board by January, 1996. Discussion followed on the floor regarding the removal of parking meters and the establishment of a permit system. A vote on the Resolution resulted as follows: Ayes (4) Tripp, Reeves, Rusoff, Ehrhardt Nays (0) Abstentions (1) Smith Carried Permanent Change in Farm and North Tioga Streets Curb Alignment By Commissioner Tripp: Seconded by Commissioner Rusoff BPW Minutes January 11, 1995 5 WHEREAS, in the fall of 1993 temporary bump outs were installed on Farm Street at the North Tioga Street intersection, and WHEREAS, accident data has been collected and reviewed by the Board of Public Works; now, therefore, be it RESOLVED, That the Board of Public Works hereby directs staff to implement permanent bump outs on Farm Street at North Tioga Street. Carried Unanimously Request for Temporary Change in Curb Alignment at North Tioga And Tompkins Streets By Commissioner Tripp: Seconded by Commissioner Rusoff WHEREAS, the Department of Public Works placed temporary bump outs at the intersection of Farm and North Tioga Streets, and WHEREAS, data shows that the number of accidents at Farm and Tioga have decreased; now, therefore, be it RESOLVED, That the Board of Public Works directs staff to move the temporary bump outs from Farm Street to Tompkins Street on a trial basis for a one year period. Carried Unanimously Request for Change in Parking Regulation on Edgemoor Lane By Commissioner Tripp: Seconded by Commissioner Rusoff WHEREAS, the Charter of the City of Ithaca charges the Board of Public Works with the power to regulate the streets of the City (C-71), and WHEREAS, Chapter 346, Vehicles and Traffic Legislation is under preparation and Chapter 60, Traffic and Vehicles of the old Code is still in effect, and WHEREAS, staff of both the Department of Public Works and the Ithaca Police Department has recommended that 24 hour parking on Edgemoor Lane be moved from the north side to the south side; now, therefore, be it RESOLVED, That Section 60.43,"Parking Prohibited in Designated Locations", be modified to read "Edgemoor Lane, north side, from Stewart Avenue to West Avenue". Carried Unanimously BUDGET, ADMINISTRATION, AND COMMUNICATION ITEMS: Thanks to Retiring City Clerk, Cookie Paolangeli By Commissioner Reeves: Seconded by Commissioner Tripp WHEREAS, the Clerk of the City of Ithaca, Callista F. Paolangeli, better known to all of us as "Cookie", joined the City Hall forces as Deputy City Clerk in 1977, and WHEREAS, Cookie was appointed to the City Clerk's position on March 31, 1986, and WHEREAS, part of the City Clerk's many duties is to take official minutes of the Regular meetings of the Board of Public Works, and to provide any other historical and/or factual information needed by the Board, and WHEREAS, Cookie is retiring after 17 years of dedicated service to the City of Ithaca; now, therefore, be it RESOLVED, That the Board of Public Works extends heartfelt thanks to Cookie for her years of service to the City and to the Board of BPW Minutes January 11, 1995 6 Public Works, and acknowledges with appreciation her wonderful organizational abilities and way with people that help make communications with the Clerk's Office a real pleasure, and, be it further, RESOLVED, That the Board of Public Works wishes Cookie a very happy and healthy retirement. Carried Unanimously Thanks to Outgoing Commissioner Guy Gerard By Commissioner Reeves: Seconded by Commissioner Tripp WHEREAS, Guy Gerard was appointed to the Board of Public Works by Mayor Benjamin Nichols for a three year term beginning in 1992, and WHEREAS, Guy's duties included the Creeks, Bridges and Parks Committee of the Board of Public Works, as well as liaison assignments to the Conservation Advisory Council (CAC) and Parks Commission in 1992; CAC, Parks Commission and Six Mile Creek Committee in 1993; Youth Bureau, Disability Advisory Council, and Art & Design in Public Spaces Committee in 1994, and WHEREAS, Guy will be remembered for his avid interest in environmental issues including City street trees and the budget to replace the trees, beaver in Six Mile Creek, and most important, the safety and well being of pedestrians and bicyclists; now, therefore, be it RESOLVED, That the Board of Public Works extends thanks to Guy for his service to the City of Ithaca, and to the Board of Public Works, and, be it further RESOLVED, That the Board of Public Works wishes Guy success in all his future endeavors. Carried Unanimously WATER, SEWER, AND SOLID WASTE ITEMS: Resolution Authorizing Agreement Between the City of Ithaca and the New York State Department of Transportation Relative to Utility Improvements Concerning Rehabilitation and Relocation of New York State Routes 89 and 96 Including Two New Bridges Over the Cayuga Inlet Flood Channel (Capital Project Identification Nos. 506 and 606 City of Ithaca.) By Commissioner Reeves: Seconded by Commissioner Tripp WHEREAS, the State of New York proposed rehabilitation and relocation of Routes 89 and 96 generally from Meadow Street to west of the Flood Channel in the City of Ithaca necessitates the adjustment of utility facilities; and WHEREAS, the State will relocate and replace in-kind utilities necessary to the project at project expense, and WHEREAS, the State will upgrade utilities within the project limits at City expense; now, therefore, be it RESOLVED, That the Mayor be and he hereby is authorized to enter into agreements for utility adjustments with the New York State Department of Transportation wherein the City agrees to accept full title and responsibility for utility adjustments resulting from the rehabilitation and relocation of New York State Routes 89 and 96 including but not limited to BETTERMENT upgrades: 1) 18" sewer across new Buffalo Street - Cliff Street bridge ($20,245.) 2) 12" water main of Fulton Street from Sta. 2+20 to 24+30 BPW Minutes January 11, 1995 7 ($79,775.) 3) 8" water main on Buffalo Street from Sta. 94 to Sta. 100 ($3,520.) Carried Unanimously REPORT OF BOARD LIAISONS: Six Mile Creek Committee Commissioner Tripp thanked Assistant Superintendents Ferrel and Fabbroni for meeting with the Committee regarding upcoming projects in the Six Mile Creek area. Parks Commission Commissioner Reeves reported that the Parks Commission met with area residents to discuss future improvements to the Northside park area. City Hall Parking Lot/Dumpster Sub-Committee Commissioner Reeves reported that the sub-committee would like to see discussions initiated with store owners to find solutions to the garbage/dumpster problems behind City Hall. The property is legally considered public space, and as such, parking cannot be restricted. This matter will be discussed further at the next Committee of the Whole meeting. EXECUTIVE SESSION: By Commissioner Rusoff: Seconded by Commissioner Tripp RESOLVED, That the Board of Public Works adjourned into Executive Session at 5:40 p.m. to discuss a personnel item. Carried Unanimously ADJOURNMENT: On a motion the meeting adjourned at 6:10 p.m. Julie Conley Holcomb Benjamin Nichols Deputy City Clerk Mayor