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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMN-BPW-1995-05-10BOARD OF PUBLIC WORKS PROCEEDINGS CITY OF ITHACA, NEW YORK Regular Meeting 4:00 p.m. May 10, 1995 PRESENT: Mayor Nichols Commissioners (6) - Seligmann, Smith, Tripp, Ehrhardt, Reeves, Rusoff OTHERS PRESENT: Deputy City Controller - Thayer Deputy City Clerk - Kaupe Superintendent of Public Works - Gray Assistant Superintendent of Streets and Facilities - Ferrel Assistant Superintendent of Water and Sewer - Fabbroni Common Council Liaison - Johnson BAC Chair - Nutter Commons Coordinator - Deming Alderperson Mackesey PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE: Mayor Nichols led all present in the Pledge of Allegiance to the American flag. ADDITIONS TO OR DELETIONS FROM THE AGENDA: Commissioner Tripp requested that Item 12C, Request to Install Bike Racks on Ithaca Commons - Substitute Resolution be added to the Agenda. No Board member objected. Commissioner Rusoff requested that Item 12E, Request for Youth Bureau Employee Parking be added to the agenda. No Board member objected. Commissioner Seligmann requested that Item 17B, Declaration of Safety and Property Emergency at Silt Dam be added to the agenda. No Board member objected. COMMUNICATIONS FROM THE MAYOR: Mayor Nichols reported on letters from Donna West and the Disabilities Advisory Board regarding traffic problems at the corner of College Avenue and Dryden Road. Possible suspension of the right-on-red rule was discussed. COMMUNICATIONS AND HEARINGS OF PERSONS BEFORE THE BOARD: Alderperson Mackesey asked about the status of the program to place banners on the Commons. Assistant Superintendent Ferrel provided an estimate of labor and materials costs. Discussion followed on the status of the project. Dan Miller, Jim Atsedes and Chuck Johns raised objections to current Golf Course management policies and suggested several changes specifically concerning alcohol consumption, air conditioning, cart rental discounts and the composition of the golf subcommittee. Extensive discussion followed on these issues. Chuck Johns also raised the issue of a parking meter removed from the front of 114 West Seneca St. and a meter removed in front of the Journal Building on West Green St. Assistant Superintendent Ferrel will respond to the Seneca St. meter. Camilla Lappin of IPAC rose to speak in support of Item 17C. David Nutter expressed concern that Item 12C (Substitute Resolution) did not meet the recommendation of the BAC for racks on the interior of the Commons. REPORT OF COUNCIL LIAISON: Alderperson Johnson reported on the following matters: Capital Project for the tennis courts Municipal Code change to meet current practices in Stewart Park Establishment of a $2500 fund to encourage neighborhood activities and provide trash tags for neighborhood cleanup Hiring of two Gorge Rangers Environmental Audit coordination between the Traffic Task Force and Planning Committee May 10, 1995 2 WATER, SEWER AND SOLID WASTE ITEMS: A. Offer from State Theater Concerning Neighborhood Trash Pick Up By Commissioner Seligmann: Seconded by Commissioner Tripp WHEREAS, the Ithaca Performing Arts Center's board has proposed to initiate a local clean up program, in which as a token of appreciation, the State Theater is giving a free movie ticket to each participant with at least 2 hours of individual effort, and WHEREAS, the IPAC is asking that their program work in cooperation with the city's Neighborhood Clean Up Program; now, therefore, be it RESOLVED, The Board of Public Works wishes to thank IPAC for its gesture to allow participants to receive free movie tickets upon two hours of service and requests staff to provide IPAC with information on "Neighborhood Improvement Incentive Fund" recently adopted by Common Council as an expanded version of the previous neighborhood clean up program for their review and consideration. Discussion followed on the floor with Camilla Lappin of IPAC and Alderperson Mackesey. A vote on the resolution resulted as follows: Carried Unanimously BUILDINGS, PROPERTIES AND TRANSIT ITEMS C. Request to Install Bike Racks on Ithaca Commons - Tabled from 4/26/95 By Commissioner Rusoff: Seconded by Commissioner Tripp WHEREAS, the Bicycle Advisory Council has received numerous requests for additional bicycle parking and wishes to promote responsible bicycle parking, it requests that the Board of Public Works approve the installation of additional bicycle racks on the Ithaca Commons, and WHEREAS, the Board has received and reviewed input from the Common Coordinator and the Commons Advisory Board; now, therefore, be it RESOLVED, That the Board of Public Works hereby approves of the installation of bike racks at the following locations (see attached map): 1) At the west end of the Commons (108 East State Street), there is a notch in the planter behind the pavilion. The bench should be removed and replaced with bike racks (4). 2) At the proposed new location on Cayuga Street (near the Angelheart Store near the northwest planter)(2). 3) At the proposed new locations at either the site near the old T.J. Tuesday Restaurant, 210 East State Street (4) or on the west side of Bank Alley at a site proposed by Jon Meigs, 102 North Tioga Street (4). 4) At the existing site at M&T Bank in Bank Alley, replace two racks that were removed during an earlier rack replacement (2). C. Request to Install Bike Racks on Ithaca Commons - Substitute Resolution By Commissioner Tripp: Seconded by Commissioner Ehrhardt WHEREAS, the Bicycle Advisory Council has received numerous requests for additional bicycle parking and wishes to promote responsible bicycle parking, it requests that the Board of Public Works approve the installation of additional bicycle racks on the Ithaca Commons, and WHEREAS, the Board has received and reviewed input from the Common Coordinator and the Commons Advisory Board; now, therefore, be it RESOLVED, That the Board of Public Works hereby approves of the installation of bike racks at the following locations (see attached map): May 10, 1995 3 1) At the west end of the Commons (108 East State Street), there is a notch in the planter behind the pavilion. The necessary portion of the bench should be removed and replaced with bike racks (4). 2) At the proposed new location on Cayuga Street (near the Angelheart Store near the northwest planter) (2). 3) At the existing site at M&T Bank in Bank Alley, replace two racks that were removed during an earlier rack replacement (2). and, be it further RESOLVED, That the board work in cooperation with the Outdoor Store to install a bicycle rack near the back entrance of the store in the access/delivery area off of Seneca Street, and be it further RESOLVED, That the board will work with the BAC to locate bicycle lockers in the Seneca Street Garage. Extensive discussion with BAC Chair Nutter, Commons Coordinator Deming and Superintendent Gray followed on the floor. On a motion, a vote to replace the tabled resolution with Request to Install Bike Racks on Ithaca Commons - Substitute Resolution resulted as follows: Carried Unanimously A vote on the resolution resulted as follows: Carried Unanimously REPORT OF SUPERINTENDENT: Superintendent Gray reported to the Board on the following matters: Neighborhood cleanup program. Ten-year bridge inspection. Engineering Office reorganization. Youth Bureau relocation. Police-Court Facility. Collegetown parking meters. Route 96 project (dependent on State Budget). Wood St Park. Municipal Pool lawsuit. East State Street wall. DPW Gas tank removal site - possible student research project for disposal with ScienCenter. Mitchell St curb. Elm St drainage. Tioga Street curb. Traffic count program. FOIL requests relating to lawsuits. Transit system changing to summer schedule. New buses to be placed in service. Cass Park light study REPORT OF ASSISTANT SUPERINTENDENT OF WATER AND SEWER: Assistant Superintendent Fabbroni reported to the Board on the following matters: Silt Dam repair project. Sewer work on Inlet Island. Sewer connection on Meadow St. Cascadilla/Court sewer. Effect of State Budget delays. Pier repair at DPW. ScienCenter project relating to the DEC water quality consent order. Construction of dechlorination facility. Possible sale of 50,000CY Silt Dam excess topsoil. West end sewer line survey. REPORT OF ASSISTANT SUPERINTENDENT OF STREETS AND FACILITIES: Assistant Superintendent Ferrel reported to the Board on the following matters: Storage of Agway site cobblestones pending use at Ferris Pl. Spring street cleaning completed. Farm/Tioga St curb work. Tompkins St curb - use of permanent curbing. Commons water turned May 10, 1995 4 on. Annex cleanup. Seneca St garage patching. City Hall sewage pumps. Street centerline striping program. Fan installed at Golf clubhouse. 25 light fixtures vandalized at Green St ramp. Stewart park 200A service installed. Bridge flushing. Giles St bridge repainting. Titus Flats/Wood St Park plantings, courts and fields. City planting program. Haley Pool preparation. Stewart Park entrance planting. Cascadilla Boathouse storage. Golf Course plantings (J Dougherty memorial) and new entrance signage. Golf cart "boycott". John Pirko’s proposal to create and purchase the trophy for "Jack Dougherty Memorial Golf Tournament" for City employees. Katrina Steele's offer to coordinate plantings Collegetown (discussion). Discussion of light repair at Green St ramp. Discussion of Golf Course management. Discussion of Commons fountain. BUILDINGS, PROPERTIES AND TRANSIT ITEMS: A. Approval of the Tuesday Market Contract By Commissioner Rusoff: Seconded by Commissioner Tripp WHEREAS, the Ithaca Farmer's Market wishes to renew their contract for the Tuesday Market adjacent to DeWitt Park, and WHEREAS, the conditions of the contract remain the same as those in previous contracts; now, therefore, be it RESOLVED, That the Board of Public Works authorizes the Superintendent of Public Works to enter into agreement with the Ithaca Farmer's Market to conduct business adjacent to DeWitt Park on Tuesdays. A vote on the resolution resulted as follows: Carried Unanimously B. Policy on Outdoor Dining - Partitioning off of Areas By Commissioner Rusoff: Seconded by Commissioner Tripp The current policy for Commons outdoor dining is to establish physical boundaries for businesses serving alcoholic beverages. The Board of Public Works' intends to create a policy which would be consistent with that of the Commons Advisory Board. WHEREAS, That the Board of Public Works wishes to establish a policy for partitioning outdoor dining areas within the City of Ithaca for those areas under its control; now, therefore be it RESOLVED, That the board requires all establishments serving alcoholic beverages out of doors, to establish physical boundaries for the area being leased, and, be it further RESOLVED, That establishments not serving alcoholic beverage are exempt from this requirement, provided they maintain their outdoor dining area according to the terms and conditions of their contract. Discussion followed on the floor. A vote on the resolution resulted as follows: Carried Unanimously D. Request to Approve Design Contract for Youth Bureau Acoustics and HVAC Improvements By Commissioner Rusoff: Seconded by Commissioner Seligmann WHEREAS, Common Council has approved a Capital Project of $620,000 for improvements to the Ithaca Youth Bureau acoustic and HVAC system, and WHEREAS, the city has previously entered into a contract with Demjanec Associates for a study phase of this project; now, therefore, be it RESOLVED, That the Mayor is authorized to enter into a contract for design and construction phases services with Demjanec and May 10, 1995 5 Associates and that fee and other related expenses for these phases of contract not to exceed $65,000. Discussion followed on the floor. A vote on the resolution resulted as follows: Carried Unanimously E. Request for Youth Bureau Employee Parking By Commissioner Rusoff: Seconded by Commissioner Tripp WHEREAS, the Ithaca Youth Bureau will temporarily locate 30-40 employees in the City Hall Annex during renovations to the Youth Bureau building, now, therefore, be it RESOLVED, That the Board of Public Works grants employees of the Ithaca Youth Bureau the right to park in the Green Street Parking Garage beginning June 1, 1995 until November 1, 1995 under the same conditions which apply to other City employees, and, be it further RESOLVED, That the Ithaca Youth Bureau shall be allowed to park departmental vehicles in the Green Street Garage, Lot D, and the City Hall parking lot as permitted by the Superintendent of Public Works. Discussion followed on the floor. A vote on the resolution resulted as follows: Carried Unanimously CREEKS, BRIDGES AND PARKS: By Commissioner Reeves: Seconded by Commissioner Tripp A. Approval of Agreement for Bridge Inspection. WHEREAS, the City of Ithaca's external bridge inspection program (based on a ten year cycle) is used to develop the Department of Public Works annual bridge maintenance and Capital Projects program in order to preserve the city's investment and to insure public safety, and WHEREAS, the department has completed the program of bridge maintenance developed from the 1984 bridge inspections by Modjeski and Masters; now, therefore, be it RESOLVED, That the Board of Public Works accepts the proposal for Engineering Services from Modjeski and Master, P.C., and, be it further RESOLVED, That the board authorizes the Superintendent to enter into an agreement for services for an amount not to exceed $53,000, to be derived from CP 280. Discussion followed on the floor. A vote on the resolution resulted as follows: Carried Unanimously WATER, SEWER AND SOLID WASTE ITEMS: B. Declaration of Safety and Property Emergency at Silt Dam By Commissioner Seligmann: Seconded by Commissioner Tripp WHEREAS, the silt dam was discovered in April being undermined by water scouring under the dam and sheet piling underpinning the dam, and WHEREAS, the strength and stability of the dam is in question and would be further compromised by an unexpected increase in Six Mile Creek runoff typically associated with June, July and August thunderstorms, and WHEREAS, staff has determined that immediate action to seal off May 10, 1995 6 water passage and stop scouring beneath the dam by driving a line of sheet piles in front of the dam would also be necessary first step to isolating the void area beneath the dam for further concrete and pressure grout remediation work by Water and Sewer during the upcoming construction season, and WHEREAS, immediate purchase, construction and installation of sheet piling is necessary and locally available; now, therefore, be it RESOLVED, By the Board of Public Works that a safety and property emergency be declared to authorize the Superintendent and Assistant Superintendent of Public works to negotiate the immediate purchase and installation of sheet piling in the most immediate cost effective way realizing that time is of the essence and normal competitive bidding processes may have to be suspended for a project phase currently projected to be in the $55,000 to $75,000 range to be paid out of Capital Funds for Water Supply Improvements CP 506. Amending resolution By Commissioner Seligmann: Seconded by Commissioner Tripp RESOLVED, that the resolution be amended to read: [...]"competitive bidding processes be suspended for a project phase currently projected to be in the $55,000 to $75,000 range to be paid out of Capital Funds for Water Supply Improvements CP 506, and, be it further RESOLVED, that the total cost for stabilization and repairs for the silt dam is not to exceed $125,000 from CP506 without a project update to the Board and as approved project budget for the new amount." Discussion followed on the floor. A vote on the amending resolution resulted as follows: Carried Unanimously Discussion followed on the floor. A vote on the amended resolution resulted as follows: Carried Unanimously REPORT OF SPECIAL COMMITTEES: Commissioner Ehrhardt reported on traffic impact studies and the coordination between the BPW and Planning Committee. Extensive discussion followed. Commissioner Reeves reported on the agenda and proposed that the Engineering Office reorganization plan and the traffic plan discussion be suspended until the meeting of the 31st. Commissioner Seligmann reported that the Energy Commission will invite Cornell representatives to discuss the cooling water plan ADJOURNMENT: On a motion the meeting adjourned at 6:15p.m. William Kaupe Benjamin Nichols Deputy City Clerk Mayor