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