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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMN-BPW-1995-02-22 1 BOARD OF PUBLIC WORKS PROCEEDINGS CITY OF ITHACA, NEW YORK Regular Meeting 4:00 p.m. February 22, 1995 PRESENT: Mayor Nichols Commissioners (6) - Seligmann, Smith, Tripp, Ehrhardt, Reeves, Rusoff OTHERS PRESENT: Deputy City Controller - Thayer Senior Stenographer - Holcomb Superintendent of Public Works - Gray Assistant Superintendent of Streets and Facilities - Ferrel Assistant Superintendent of Water and Sewer - Fabbroni Common Council Liaison - Johnson PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE: Mayor Nichols led all present in the Pledge of Allegiance to the American flag. MINUTES: Approval of the Minutes of the January 11, 1995 Board of Public Works Meeting By Commissioner Reeves: Seconded by Commissioner Rusoff RESOLVED, That the Minutes of the January 11, 1995 Board of Public Works meeting be approved as published. Carried Unanimously Approval of the Minutes of the February 8, 1995 Board of Public Works Meeting The approval of the Minutes of the February 8, 1995 Board of Public Works meeting was postponed until the meeting of March 8, 1995. ADDITIONS TO OR DELETIONS FROM THE AGENDA: Water, Sewer and Solid Waste Items Commissioner Seligmann requested the following additions to the agenda: 17A - SJS Recommendations for Increasing WWTP Capacity; 17B - Resolution Authorizing Agreement Between the City of Ithaca and the New York State Department of Transportation for Certain Utility Improvements as Part of the Reconstruction of Route 13 (Contract D256423, F.A. Project 315-0080-302); and 17C - Award of Bid for Materials for Upcoming 1995 DPW, Water and Sewer Division projects. No Board member objected. COMMUNICATIONS AND HEARINGS OF PERSONS BEFORE THE BOARD: Traffic Task Force Report Mr. John Beach, 614 S. Albany Street, urged the Board to accept and act upon the Task force on Traffic Issues Report as requested in the resolution that is before the Board today. Suicide Barriers on Bridges Ms. Myra Kovary, 109 Eastern Heights Road, spoke to the Board regarding the progress on the suicide barriers for the Stewart Avenue bridges and the Thurston Avenue bridge. Superintendent Gray responded that he has a file devoted to it and he has collected information on it but it is not one the current projects on his desk. He stated that the matter is on the Board's agenda to be reviewed and it will be considered. February 8, 1995 2 Dredging of Canal Mr. Tom Cleveland, Johnson Boat Yards, spoke to the Board regarding the State's plan to dredge the Inlet possibly this summer or next. He suggested that perhaps at the time of that dredging, the City could request that Cascadilla Creek be done at the same time. Mr. Cleveland stated that he is before the Board to offer any assistance that they can give, be that to access to their property to get to the creek or a staging area to pile the dirt up, a boat to go out to do sounding or any expertise that they be able to give. Mr. Cleveland stated that Johnson Boat Yards has always been interested in having more docks and perhaps there is a possibility of that across Cascadilla Creek from the boat yards, which is basically where the sewer plant is. He stated they would be interested in leasing that land from the city. REPORT OF SUPERINTENDENT: Superintendent Gray reported to the Board on the following matters: --DPW consolidation and the Transit System consolidations; --DoT related to Route 96, DoT related to Route 13 South; --County is bidding some services and we are meeting with them on cooperative efforts and equipment swaps; --The Traffic Engineer's work program and orientation; --Reviewing proposed changes to the Wastewater Treatment Plant agreement; --Working with Day Care Center people and providing comments on their site plan; --Working on the Internet for City Hall; REPORT OF ASSISTANT SUPERINTENDENT OF STREETS AND FACILITIES: Assistant Superintendent Ferrel reported to the Board on the following matters: --Seasonal maintenance ongoing; --Waiting for easements to do drainage work on South Cayuga Street, Ithaca Fire Department parking lot and on Highland Place; --Highland Place project is an erosion problem which is being scheduled for as soon as the students leave; --Guide rail repair ongoing; --Work is going on on a collapsed storm drain which crosses the golf course; --Solid waste operations changing. The County has notified the City that effective March 6 they will accepting both recycling and garbage at the Central Processing Facility on Commercial Avenue; --The department intends to fully clean Cascadilla Creek from the Route 13 bridge down close to Johnson Boat Yards; --Work is ongoing regarding the consolidation project; --Work is proceeding on consolidation of Cass Park with the Youth Bureau. REPORT OF ASSISTANT SUPERINTENDENT OF WATER AND SEWER: Assistant Superintendent Fabbroni reported to the Board on the following matters: --Route 96 bid openings upcoming; --Betterment projects with DoT; --County sludge request for qualifications is nearly final in draft form; February 22, 1995 3 --The City of Ithaca/Cornell University/Bolton Point water trades. TRAFFIC ITEMS: A. Approval of Final Report from the Task Force on Traffic Issues By Commissioner Ehrhardt: Seconded by Commissioner Tripp WHEREAS, the Mayor appointed a Task Force on Traffic Issues to report on the City's traffic problems and propose solutions, and WHEREAS, the Task Force on Traffic Issues submitted a report to the Board of Public Works and the Planning Board in June of 1994 which identified problems throughout the city and suggested numerous possible remedies, and WHEREAS, the Board of Public Works reviewed in detail recommendations of the Task Force on Traffic Issues in detail with members of the Task Force at a series of meetings beginning in June of 1994, and WHEREAS, the board needs to adopt a consistent policy and procedure for handling traffic issues which continue to come before the board, including but not limited to, requests from city residents for traffic calming measures to be instituted in the city's residential neighborhoods; now, therefore, be it RESOLVED, That the Board of Public Works of the City of Ithaca thanks the Task Force on Traffic Issues for its careful and detailed work, and accepts for consideration and action the Final Report of the Task Force on Traffic Issues dated April 8, 1994. The board agrees with the Task Force that traffic management on Ithaca's residential streets is a problem and that virtually all streets in Ithaca are residential streets and that changes to traffic patterns on one street may affect residents of nearby streets. The board also agrees with the Task Force that residential neighborhoods along the city's more heavily travelled streets are especially threatened by the negative impacts associated with a high volume of traffic and that it is in the city's interest to preserve the residential character of these streets as well as that of less travelled streets. Therefore, the board joins the Task Force in recommending that the following general principles be used to guide the city's policy on traffic management in residential neighborhoods: First; that the board will, where possible, take action to mitigate the negative impacts of existing levels of traffic on the city's residents, focusing on those streets where the quality of residential life is most threatened by traffic, particularly, but not limited to, streets experiencing a heavy volume of traffic: Second; before granting approval to traffic calming measures designed to benefit a target area, the board will make an assessment of the potential negative impacts on residents of nearby streets that may result from the effects of any such measures, singly or cumulatively, and will take steps to mitigate these negative impacts. When feasible, proposed changes to traffic patterns will be undertaken on a short term trial basis in order to gather data on the impacts of the proposed changes and the cost of mitigating such impacts prior to final approval; and, be it further RESOLVED, That the Board of Public Works directs the Department of Public Works and the Traffic Systems Engineer, working with the Commissioner for traffic issues, to present to the Board of Public February 22, 1995 4 Works, August 2, 1995 plans for considering the possible implementation of the four capital projects listed below, but not limited to those recommended on page 59 of the Final Report of the Task Force on Traffic Issues: 1. a modern, synchronized traffic-signal system to permit a smooth flow of traffic and safe pedestrian travel; 2.a plan to manage traffic flow between the area of the Commons and the commercial district of Elmira Road by means of the bridge crossing Six Mile Creek on South Cayuga Street and a two-way traffic pattern in the 200 block of Spencer Street including redesign of the inter- sections at Spencer and Prospect Street, Clinton and Cayuga Street, Elmira Road and Albany Street, and Elmira Road and Meadow Street; 3.a plan to manage traffic flow between areas north and south of the Commons by restoring two-way traffic flow along the full length of Aurora and Cayuga Streets; 4.a plan to incorporate into the existing schedule of rebuilding projects for "gateway streets" (so designated in the first paragraph) of section 4 on page 46 of the Final Report of the Task Force on Traffic Issues) physical improvements which demarcate the transition to a residential area and emphasize the residential character of the these streets; and, be it further RESOLVED, That the board requests that the Mayor appoint a committee consisting of two members of the board including the Commissioner for Traffic Issues, the Chairperson of the Task Force on Traffic Issues, Common Council's Liaison to the Board of Public Works, and the Traffic Systems Engineer to present to the board, by April 5, 1995, a draft procedure for the board to follow when processing requests for changes in traffic patterns in the city's neighborhoods. The board directs that the procedure provide a means for obtaining a technical analysis of the impact of proposed changes on traffic patterns along nearby streets, a means for notifying and obtaining comment from residents who would be impacted by proposed changes, and a means for obtaining feedback from the City's Police and Fire Departments about the effect, if any, of the proposed change on their operations. Commissioner Rusoff listed concerns she has with the resolution. Joe Daley, Chair of the Task Force on Traffic Issues, responded to Commissioner Rusoff's concerns. Extensive discussion followed on the floor. Amending Resolution By Commissioner Rusoff: Seconded by Commissioner Tripp RESOLVED, That under the first Resolved clause, the second paragraph shall read as follows: "Second; (before) in the process of granting approval to traffic calming measures .......... Discussion followed on the floor on the amending resolution. A vote on the amending resolution resulted as follows: Ayes (5) - Rusoff, Tripp, Seligmann, Smith, Reeves Nay (1) - Ehrhardt February 22, 1995 5 Carried (5-1) Note: Word in parenthesis deleted, words underlined added. Main Motion as Amended A vote on the Main Motion as Amended resulted as follows: Ayes (5) - Ehrhardt, Seligmann, Tripp, Reeves, Smith Nay (1) - Rusoff Carried (5-1) Commissioner Rusoff left the meeting at 5:20 p.m. ADMINISTRATION AND COMMUNICATIONS ITEMS: A. 1995 Golf Course Rates. By Commissioner Reeves: Seconded by Commissioner Tripp RESOLVED, That the Board of Public Works has reviewed the 1994 golf course rates and hereby directs staff to maintain the 1994 rates for the 1995 season which are as follows: Memberships Daily Individual $230. Weekday $10. Senior Individual 190. Weekend 12. Junior Individual 120. Weekday Domestic Couple 390. Senior 7. Senior Domestic Couple 310. Junior 7. Family 450. League or 9 holes 7. Senior Citizen Special 5. Carried (5-0-0) B. Authorization to Participate in Cooperative Purchasing of Highway Services with Tompkins County. By Commissioner Reeves: Seconded by Commissioner Tripp WHEREAS, the Office of the State Comptroller has ruled that counties may no longer extend their bids for public work (services) to political subdivisions, and WHEREAS, General Municipal Law Section 119-0 states that "any agreement entered into hereunder shall be approved by each participating municipal corporation or district by a majority vote of its governing body," and WHEREAS, the Charter of the City of Ithaca, Article V, Section C- 61, places responsibility for streets, drains, and property with the Board of Public Works, including operations, maintenance, construction and related appropriations; now, therefore, be it RESOLVED, That the City of Ithaca be hereby authorized to participate with Tompkins County in the cooperative purchasing of the following highway services: · Recycling of Bituminous Materials · Installation of Perforated Tubing for Subsurface Drainage · Steel Sheet Piling · Steel Sheet Piling · Calcium Chloride Solution · Traffic Line Painting · Bridge Repair · Liquid Bituminous Materials Carried (5-0-0) C. Golf Course Reorganization February 22, 1995 6 By Commissioner Reeves: Seconded by Commissioner Ehrhardt WHEREAS, the Board of Public Works has reviewed Superintendent Gray's correspondence with golf course manager Steve Torrant dated January 19, 1995 outlining an initial proposed contract for golf course operations as well as Mr. Torrant's response dated February 1, 1995, and WHEREAS, the board would like to provide guidance and limits to both parties currently negotiating the contract for golf course operations; now, therefore, be it RESOLVED, That the Board of Public Works' choice not to adopt any of the proposals for reorganization considered by it during the fall of 1994 as well as the board's charge to the city's negotiating party (Attorney's Office, Finance Office and DPW staff) should be construed as having acted on those proposals, and, be it further RESOLVED, That both parties are requesting to expedite the negotiations and to forward a contract for the board's consideration and, once approved, recommendation to Common Council for adoption, and, be it further RESOLVED, That, while the salary paid to Mr. Torrant during 1995 represents the good faith of both parties to continue in the relationship as generally outlined in exchange in letters listed above, no paychecks dated after February 28, 1995 may be distributed to Mr. Torrant until there is at least a Memorandum of Understanding binding both parties and providing the basis for the payments and their associated benefits. Extensive discussion followed on the floor. Commissioner Reeves stated that Assistant City Attorney Kennedy would like to meet with the Board before this resolution is voted on to express some concerns she has. Superintendent Gray asked the Board to consider deleting the last Resolved clause. He explained there is a question concerning the date of February 28, 1995. Commissioner Smith stated that he will not support the resolution and explained his reasons. Amending Resolution By Commissioner Tripp: Seconded by Commissioner Ehrhardt RESOLVED, That the date in the final Resolved clause be changed to March 15, 1995. Discussion followed on the floor on the amending resolution. It was the consensus of the Board to take the matter up in Executive Session at the end of the meeting. WATER, SEWER AND SOLID WASTE ITEMS: A. SJS Recommendations for Increasing WWTP Capacity. By Commissioner Seligmann: Seconded by Commissioner Tripp WHEREAS, the SJS has recommended that a project be undertaken to upgrade the IAWWTP capacity from 10 MGD to 13 MGD in accordance with a program developed by Stearns and Wheler Engineers and reviewed by DEC, and WHEREAS, the initial project has been estimated at $450,000 ($400,000 in construction, $50,000 in engineering) and represents February 22, 1995 7 several million dollars in capital construction if the 3 MGD had to be built new; now, therefore be it RESOLVED, That the Board of Public Works recommends to the Budget & Administration Committee that a capital project be set up for increasing treatment capacity at the IAWWTP in an initial amount of $50,000, and be it further RESOLVED, That the Superintendent of Public Works is authorized to enter into an agreement for engineering services in an amount not to exceed $48,800 once the capital project exists and has been approved by the town boards of Ithaca and Dryden in a form that is acceptable to the City Controller. Carried (5-0-0) B. Resolution authorizing agreement between the City of Ithaca and the New York State Department of Transportation for certain utility improvements as part of the Reconstruction of Route 13 (Contract D256423, F.A. Project 315-0080-302). By Commissioner Seligmann: Seconded by Commissioner Tripp WHEREAS, the State of New York is undertaking improvements to NYS Route 13 between the city's southwest boundary and the intersection with NYS Route 13A, and WHEREAS, the state has proposed improvements including several to city owned utilities within the project boundaries; now, therefore, be it RESOLVED, That Superintendent of Public Works is authorized to sign the necessary agreements required by NYSDOT for this work to proceed. Carried (5-0-0) Bid Award By Commissioner Seligmann: Seconded by Commissioner Tripp WHEREAS, materials have been bid and opened for upcoming 1995 DPW, Water and Sewer Division projects including a twelve-inch water main from Carpenter Circle to Court Street, a thirty-inch sewer main from Cascadilla Street to Court Street, a twenty-four inch sewer main from Old Taughannock Boulevard to the Flood Channel; now, therefore, be it RESOLVED, That the Board of Public Works, on the basis of the bids, awards the low base bid to Martisco Corporation, 107 Terminal Road East, Liverpool, New York, 13088 in the amount of $83,644.90. Carried (5-0-0) REPORT OF BOARD LIAISONS: Bicycle Advisory Council Commissioner Tripp reported that the Maple Avenue situation was discussed at their last meeting and a report will be coming to the Board. Energy Commission Commissioner Seligmann reported that at their last meeting they requested to get some staff help on entering energy data into database. Recreation Partnership Commissioner Seligmann reported that he met with the Recreation Partnership in an organizational meeting. Parks Commission Commissioner Reeves reported that the Parks Commission met on the February 22, 1995 8 14th and the main focus was on the Northside Park. EXECUTIVE SESSION: By Commissioner Reeves: Seconded by Commissioner Tripp RESOLVED, That the Board of Public Works adjourn into executive session to discuss a personnel matter. Carried (5-0-0) REGULAR SESSION: The Board of Public Works reconvened in regular session and presented the following resolution: Golf Course Reorganization By Commissioner Tripp: Seconded by Commissioner Reeves WHEREAS, the Board of Public Works has reviewed Superintendent Gray's correspondence with golf course manager Steve Torrant dated January 19, 1995 outlining an initial proposed contract for golf course operations as well as Mr. Torrant's response dated February 1, 1995, and WHEREAS, the board would like to provide guidance and limits to both parties currently negotiating the contract for golf course operations; now, therefore, be it RESOLVED, That the Board of Public Works' choice not to adopt any of the proposals for reorganization considered by it during the fall of 1994 as well as the board's charge to the city's negotiating party (Attorney's Office, Finance Office and DPW staff) should be construed as having acted on those proposals, and, be it further RESOLVED, That both parties are requesting to expedite the negotiations and to forward a contract for the board's consideration and, once approved, recommendation to Common Council for adoption, and, be it further RESOLVED, That, while the salary paid to Mr. Torrant during 1995 represents the good faith of both parties to continue in the relationship as generally outlined in exchange in letters listed above, no paychecks dated after February 28, 1995 may be distributed to Mr. Torrant until there is at least a Memorandum of Understanding binding both parties and providing the basis for the payments and their associated benefits. Amending Resolution By Commissioner Tripp: Seconded by Commissioner Reeves RESOLVED, That the date in the final Resolved clause be changed to March 15. Ayes (4) - Tripp, Reeves, Seligmann, Ehrhardt Nay (1) - Smith Carried (4-1-0) Main Motion as Amended A vote on the Main Motion as Amended resulted as follows: Ayes (4) - Tripp, Reeves, Seligmann, Ehrhardt Nay (1) - Smith Carried (4-1-0) ADJOURNMENT: On a motion the meeting adjourned at 6:10 p.m. February 22, 1995 9 Connie J. Holcomb Benjamin Nichols Senior Stenographer Mayor