HomeMy WebLinkAboutMN-BPW-1995-03-08
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BOARD OF PUBLIC WORKS PROCEEDINGS
CITY OF ITHACA, NEW YORK
Regular Meeting 4:00 p.m. March 8, 1995
PRESENT:
Mayor Nichols
Commissioners (5) - Seligmann, Tripp, Ehrhardt, Reeves,
Rusoff
ABSENT:
Commissioner Smith
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 February 8, 1995 Board of Public
Works Meeting
By Commissioner Tripp: Seconded by Commissioner Reeves
RESOLVED, That the Minutes of the February 8, 1995 Board of Public
Works meeting be approved as published.
Carried Unanimously
Approval of the Minutes of the February 22, 1995 Board of Public
Works Meeting
By Commissioner Rusoff: Seconded by Commissioner Tripp
RESOLVED, That the Minutes of the February 22, 1995 Board of
Public Works meeting be approved as published.
Carried Unanimously
ADDITIONS TO OR DELETIONS FROM THE AGENDA:
Administration and Communications Items
Commissioner Reeves requested the addition of Item 16.A - Contract
with Golf Course Manager.
No Board member objected.
Unfinished Business
Superintendent Gray requested the addition of an item on Stewart
Park - Tennis Court Reconstruction.
No Board member objected.
REPORT OF CITY CONTROLLER
Surplus Land Report
Deputy City Controller Thayer noted to the Board that he is
working on the Surplus Land Report and he should have a report
ready by April.
REPORT OF COUNCIL LIAISON:
Alderperson Johnson reported on the following:
The HVAC project for GIAC was approved at the March 1, 1995 Common
Council meeting;
The Common Council approved the City Forester position at their
March 1, 1995 meeting;
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The sale of the Brindley Street right-of-way was approved at the
March 1, 1995 Common Council meeting.
REPORT OF SUPERINTENDENT:
Superintendent Gray reported to the Board on the following
matters:
Golf Course Manager Contract;
Proposed Stewart Park Tennis Courts;
Traffic Engineer has been working on draft review of Wal-Mart;
Data for Route 96 impact study;
Work Study program for summer;
The GIAC HVAC project.
REPORT OF ASSISTANT SUPERINTENDENT OF STREETS AND FACILITIES:
Assistant Superintendent Ferrel reported to the Board on the
following matters:
Asst. Superintendent Ferrel introduced Andrew Hillman, the new
City Forester to the Board;
The crews have been cleaning the grounds at Streets and
Facilities;
The crews have been getting the Cold Storage Building at the
triangle site ready so Water and Sewer can get in there;
Construction project to install a storm drainage system which will
relieve current flooding problems on South Cayuga Street;
The Central Processing Facility opened on Monday, the 6th;
Farm and Tioga Street intersection is being studied;
REPORT OF ASSISTANT SUPERINTENDENT OF WATER AND SEWER:
Assistant Superintendent Fabbroni reported to the Board on the
following matters:
Route 96 project;
USGS gauging station needs to be on COW agenda next week and the
Board needs to approve the contract with USGS;
The City will be doing a water line on the Elmira Road for the
County as a pay back for use of County equipment last year.
TRAFFIC ITEMS:
A. Removal of Parking from the North Side of Maple Avenue.
By Commissioner Ehrhardt: Seconded by Commissioner Tripp
WHEREAS, the city's Bicycle Advisory Council has requested the
removal of parking from the north side of Maple Avenue from NYS
Route 366 to the city line to facilitate bicycle movement, and
WHEREAS, this stretch of street is an important connector for
bicycle travel connecting Collegetown to the East Hill
Recreationway, East Hill Plaza, and several apartment complexes,
and
WHEREAS, this section of Maple Avenue is populated largely by
Fairview Apartments and Cornell University offices, both of which
maintain adequate off-street parking in this area; now, therefore,
be it
RESOLVED, That the Board of Public Works directs staff to install
signage indicating "No Parking" on the north side of Maple Avenue,
from NYS Route 366 to the city line, at the completion of the
Cornell Parking lot reconstruction project.
Carried Unanimously
CREEKS, BRIDGES AND PARKS:
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A. Approval of IASA Proposed 1995 Schedule
By Commissioner Reeves: Seconded by Commissioner Tripp
WHEREAS, the residents of West Hill have conveyed their concerns
to the Board of Public Works regarding the usage of lighting late
at night at Union Fields, and
WHEREAS, a committee of residents and users of the lighted fields
has investigated the possibilities of reducing the usage of the
lights in order to accommodate the residents on West Hill, and
WHEREAS, the Ithaca Amateur Softball Associations (IASA) has
proposed a revised schedule for 1995 reducing the late games, but
adding seven days onto their usual schedule, and
WHEREAS, the IASA proposal only addresses the summer months of
1995, and meetings are still taking place to review the Youth
Bureau's fall schedule for soccer and football; now, therefore, be
it
RESOLVED, That the Board of Public Works recommends adoption of
the IASA revised 1995 schedule which would consist of one late
night game each week and would extend the season by seven days,
and, be it further
RESOLVED, That the city will not bill the added expense of field
maintenance for the seven additional days and will negotiate the
expense of lighting for the adjusted use pattern, and, be it
further
RESOLVED, That this schedule will only apply to the 1995 season
and that the 1996 season schedule will be negotiated based on the
findings of the 1995 season, and, be it further
RESOLVED, That the board wishes to continue to work with all
parties to resolve this matter.
Carried Unanimously
ADMINISTRATION AND COMMUNICATIONS ITEMS:
Contract With Golf Course Manager
By Commissioner Reeves: Seconded by Commissioner Tripp
WHEREAS, the Board of Public Works intends to forward a contract
to the Budget and Administration Committee for their consideration
during their meeting of March 15, 1995 in order to have it
approved at the Common Council meeting of April 5, 1995; now,
therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That the Board of Public Works reserves for itself power
to act on a resolution and contract for the golf course manager
during its committee meeting of March 15, 1995.
Carried Unanimously
WATER, SEWER AND SOLID WASTE ITEMS:
A. Water Shed Land Considerations
By Commissioner Seligmann: Seconded by Commissioner Tripp
WHEREAS, the city has developed a coordinated program for
acquisition and protection of land in the city's watershed which
is currently being managed by the Planning and Development
Committee of Council, and
WHEREAS, there is a multitude of land use goals and objectives
supported by this program and the Board of Public Works has been
asked to provide it guidelines and priorities for use of funds
generated by water system operations, and
WHEREAS, the board wishes to protect water quality, maintain
operational access and assure system reliability, and
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WHEREAS, there are a number of means available to implement those
goals and objectives, such as direct ownership, conservation
easement, right-of-way or maintenance easements, and ownership by
others (Fingerlakes Land Trust, Towns of Ithaca or Dryden) which
can be used to supplement the much broader protection afforded the
entire watershed by state law through the Health Department and
the State Department; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That the Board of Public Works sets the following
guidelines:
1. Land for consideration should generally be north of the
Town of Ithaca's south hill trail (the former DH & W
R.R. R.O.W.) and south of a line roughly 250' south of
state Route 79.
2. Land should generally be contiguous to existing city
owned land.
3. Land which is contiguous to Six Mile Creek should be
considered for direct ownership.
4.Land which is more than 500 feet from Six Mile Creek should
be considered for conservation easements.
5. It is understood that because of site topography, soil
quality, access questions, utility availability, zoning
or subdivision requirements and property owner
considerations that each case must be treated
individually.
6. Specific comments made on maps used by the Planning
Committee without any detailed knowledge follow:
a. Land for acquisition - SM (Six Mile Parcel) 14,
SM19, northern third of SM 8, SM7, northern
half of SM5, northern quarter of SM6.
b. Land acquisition or control - SM9, SM10.
Discussion followed on the floor.
Motion to Table
By Commissioner Rusoff: Seconded by Commissioner Tripp
RESOLVED, That the Water Shed Land Considerations resolution be
tabled.
Carried Unanimously
REPORT OF BOARD LIAISONS:
Bicycle Advisory Council
Commissioner Tripp reported that the BAC has passed resolutions
which will be discussed at the March 15 Committee of the Whole
meeting.
UNFINISHED BUSINESS:
Stewart Park Tennis Courts
Superintendent Gray referred to a memo from Civil Engineer Tom
West which included a project budget for the reconstruction of the
tennis courts at Stewart Park.
Extensive discussion followed on the floor regarding the proposed
estimated cost of the reconstruction of the tennis courts and
whether the City should look at replacing the courts with some
other kind of activity.
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ADJOURNMENT:
On a motion the meeting adjourned at 5:40 p.m.
Connie J. Holcomb Benjamin Nichols
Senior Stenographer Mayor