HomeMy WebLinkAboutMN-BPW-1995-05-24
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BOARD OF PUBLIC WORKS PROCEEDINGS
CITY OF ITHACA, NEW YORK
Regular Meeting 4:00 p.m. May 24, 1995
PRESENT:
Mayor Nichols
Commissioners (5) - Seligmann, Smith,, 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
Common Council Liaison - Johnson
EXCUSED:
Commissioner Tripp
Assistant Superintendent of Water and Sewer - Fabbroni
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE:
Mayor Nichols led all present in the Pledge of Allegiance to the
American flag.
MINUTES:
Approval of the Minutes of the April 26th Board of Public Works
Meeting
By Commissioner Rusoff: Seconded by Commissioner Ehrhardt
RESOLVED, That the Minutes of the April 26th, 1995 Board of Public
Works meeting be approved as published.
Carried Unanimously
Approval of the Minutes of the May 10th Board of Public Works
Meeting
By Commissioner Rusoff: Seconded by Commissioner Ehrhardt
RESOLVED, That the Minutes of the April 26th, 1995 Board of Public
Works meeting be approved as published.
Carried Unanimously
ADDITIONS TO OR DELETIONS FROM THE AGENDA:
Commissioner Reeves requested that Item 12C, Request for
Encroachment at 302-304 East State Street be added to the agenda.
No Board member objected.
Commissioner Reeves requested that Item 12D, Approval of
Installation of Safety Lighting and Signage at Cascadilla Boat
House be added to the agenda. No Board member objected.
COMMUNICATIONS FROM THE MAYOR:
Mayor Nichols requested volunteers for the Capital Projects Review
Committee. Commissioners Reeves and Ehrhardt will serve.
COMMUNICATIONS AND HEARINGS OF PERSONS BEFORE THE BOARD:
Alderperson Schroeder requested that the Attorney's Office expedite
work necessary to decommission Lake Ave.
Peter Sayet of Oasis Natural Grocery requested clarification of the
application procedure, policies and fees for outdoor dining. Mayor
Nichols and Superintendent Gray responded. Extensive discussion
followed.
BUILDINGS, PROPERTIES AND TRANSIT ITEMS:
A. Request for Encroachment at 402 North Geneva Street
By Commissioner Rusoff: Seconded by Commissioner Ehrhardt
WHEREAS, the Board of Public Works has reviewed and received a
request for an encroachment agreement for 402 North Geneva Street,
and
WHEREAS, the existing structure contains a porch and stairs which
encroach onto city property by 1.4 feet, and
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WHEREAS, the City Attorney has reviewed the request and does not
foresee any legal problems with the request; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That the Board of Public Works hereby grants the
requested encroachment for the property at 402 North Geneva Street,
and, be it further
RESOLVED, That the board authorizes the Mayor to enter into an
agreement.
Discussion followed on the floor.
A vote on the resolution resulted as follows:
Carried Unanimously
B. Request for Encroachment at 116 Farm Street
By Commissioner Rusoff: Seconded by Commissioner
WHEREAS, the Board of Public Works has reviewed and received a
request for an encroachment agreement for 116 Farm Street, and
WHEREAS, the existing structure located at the premises encroaches
into Utica Street a distance of .7 feet, and
WHEREAS, the City Attorney has reviewed the request and does not
foresee any legal problems with the request; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That the Board of Public Works hereby grants the
requested encroachment for the property at 116 Farm Street, and, be
it further
RESOLVED, That the board authorizes the Mayor to enter into an
agreement.
A vote on the resolution resulted as follows:
Carried Unanimously
C. Request for Encroachment at 302-304 East State Street
By Commissioner Rusoff: Seconded by Commissioner Ehrhardt
WHEREAS, the Board of Public Works has reviewed and received a
request for an encroachment agreement for 302-304 East State
Street, and
WHEREAS, the existing structure contains a set of stairs, an
underground vault and two bay windows which encroach onto city
property by 3.3 feet; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That the Board of Public Works hereby grants the
requested encroachment for the property at 302-304 East State
Street contingent upon approval of the City Attorney, and, be it
further
RESOLVED, That the board authorizes the Mayor to enter into an
agreement.
Extensive discussion followed on the floor.
Motion to table
By Commissioner Rusoff: Seconded by Commissioner Smith
A vote on a motion to table the resolution resulted as follows:
Carried Unanimously
D. Approval of Installation of Safety Lighting and Signage at
Cascadilla Boat House
By Commissioner Rusoff: Seconded by Commissioner Reeves
WHEREAS, the members of the Cascadilla Boat Club are concerned
with recent signs of vandalism, and
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WHEREAS, the members have proposed that security lighting be
installed at their expense and maintained and operated by the city,
and
WHEREAS, the Cascadilla Boat Club members wish to install a sign
identifying the club; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That the Board of Public Works grants the installation
of signage and security lighting at the Cascadilla Boat House.
Discussion followed on the floor.
A vote on the resolution resulted as follows:
Carried Unanimously
TRAFFIC ITEMS:
A. Request for a Change in Parking Regulations on West State
Street
By Commissioner Ehrhardt: Seconded by Commissioner Rusoff
WHEREAS, the Charter of the City of Ithaca grants the Board of
Public Works the authority to regulate the streets of the city (C-
71), and
WHEREAS, Chapter 346, Vehicles and Traffic, Part III, Board of
Public Works Legislation is under preparation and is substituted
for by Chapter 60, Traffic and Vehicles of the old code, and
WHEREAS, staff of both the Department of Public Works and the
Ithaca Police Department have recommended that regulations for
metered parking within the 600-700 block on the south side of W.
State Street between Meadow and Fulton Streets be changed so that
parking is prohibited between the hours of 6:00-9:00 am and 3:00-
6:00 pm; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That Section 60.43-60.60 be modified to, Parking
prohibited from 6:00-9:00 am and 3:00-6:00 pm on the south side of
W. State Street within the 600-700 block between Meadow Street and
Fulton Street.
RESOLVED, That the Department of Public Works is authorized to
install "No Parking from 6:00-9:00 am and 3:00-6:00 pm" (R7-2) on
the south side of West State Street between Meadow Street and
Fulton Street.
Discussion followed on the floor.
A vote on the resolution resulted as follows:
Carried Unanimously
B. Request for a Change in Parking Regulations on Dryden Road
By Commissioner Ehrhardt: Seconded by Commissioner
WHEREAS, the Charter of the City of Ithaca grants the Board of
Public Works the authority to regulate the streets of the city (C-
71), and
WHEREAS, Chapter 346, Vehicles and Traffic, Part III, Board of
Public Works Legislation is under preparation and is substituted
for by Chapter 60, Traffic and Vehicles of the old code, and
WHEREAS, staff of the Department of Public Works has recommended
that parking on the north side of Dryden Road between its
intersections with Oneida Place and Fairmont Avenue be changed so
that parking is prohibited; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That the Board of Public Works modifies Section 60.43-
60.60 to prohibit parking on the north side of Dryden Road between
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Oneida Place and Fairmont Avenue, and, be it further
RESOLVED, That the board directs staff to install "No Parking
Anytime" signs (R7-1) on the north side of Dryden Road between
Oneida Place and Fairmont Avenue.
Discussion followed on the floor.
A vote on the resolution resulted as follows:
Carried Unanimously
C. "No Right on Red" Signs at Dryden Road and College Avenue
By Commissioner Ehrhardt: Seconded by Commissioner Rusoff
WHEREAS, the Board of Public Works has received a request to
prohibit right turns on red at the intersection of Dryden Road and
College Avenue, and
WHEREAS, the board has reviewed the request and recognizes this
intersection as a potential hazard due to the high pedestrian
volume at all hours of the day; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That the Board of Public Works approves of the request
to prohibit right turns on red at each approach of the intersection
of Dryden Road and College Avenue, effective 24 hours a day, and,
be it further
RESOLVED, That the board requests staff to install a total of 4
"No Right on Red" signs at the intersection.
Discussion followed on the floor.
A vote on the resolution resulted as follows:
Carried Unanimously
CREEKS, BRIDGES AND PARKS:
A. Request to Decommission Lake Avenue
By Commissioner Reeves: Seconded by Commissioner Rusoff
WHEREAS, the Board of Public Works has received a request to
decommission a portion of Lake Avenue in preparation for the
creation of a neighborhood park which will incorporate that land,
and
WHEREAS, the board wishes to initiate the appropriate steps in
order to decommission Lake Avenue from Adams Street, north to Route
13, and, be it further; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That the Board of Public Works requests that the City
Attorney's Office advise the board on the necessary steps to
decommission Lake Avenue.
Discussion followed on the floor.
Amending Resolution
By Commissioner Reeves: Seconded by Commissioner Rusoff
RESOLVED, that the RESOLVED clause be amended to read
"...decommission Lake Avenue from Adams Street, north to Route 13."
A vote on the amending resolution resulted as follows:
Carried Unanimously
Extensive discussion followed on the floor. Commissioner Ehrhardt
stated for the record that the Lake Avenue parcel should be used
for housing.
A vote on the amended resolution resulted as follows:
Carried Unanimously
B. Transfer of Circle Greenway to the Parks Commission
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By Commissioner Reeves: Seconded by Commissioner Rusoff
WHEREAS, Circle Greenway, has acted as an independent committee
for the past twenty years, and
WHEREAS, Elizabeth Mulholland, is retiring from her duties as
Chair of the Circle Greenway, and
WHEREAS, the Circle Greenway committee has recommended that the
responsibility for the Circle Greenway linear park be transferred
directly to the Parks Commission; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That the Board of Public Works hereby transfers the
charge of Circle Greenway to the Parks Commission, and, be it
further
RESOLVED, That the board directs the Parks and Forestry crews to
continue the light maintenance work within the Six Mile Creek
Wildflower Preserve which has been overseen by Ms. Mulholland, and,
be it further
RESOLVED, That the Board of Public Works wishes to thank Elizabeth
Mulholland for her years of hard work in maintaining the Six Mile
Creek Wildflower Preserve as well as her endless hours and hard
work in support of Circle Greenway, the City green spaces at large,
and the public education needed to insure continued support in the
future.
Discussion followed on the floor.
A vote on the resolution resulted as follows:
Carried Unanimously
C. Cass Park Committee on Union Field Lighting
By Commissioner Reeves: Seconded by Commissioner Ehrhardt
WHEREAS, a group of residents of West Hill expressed concerns
regarding field lighting and noise at Cass Park, and
WHEREAS, a request was made to the Board of Public Works by Pam
Mackesey, First Ward Alderperson that a committee be formed to
study the issue, and
WHEREAS, JoAnn Cornish, Chairperson of the Parks Commission and
Carol Reeves, Vice Chairperson of the BPW submitted a proposal to
the board dated January 9, 1995 outlining membership and duties of
the committee, and
WHEREAS, the BPW discussed the proposal at its Committee of the
Whole meeting on January 18, 1995 at which time approval was given
for the formation of a long range planning committee to study Cass
Park and Union Fields usage and lighting, members of the committee
would include residents of West Hill as well as City Staff and
representatives of Parks Commission, BPW and IASA, and
WHEREAS, Alderperson Mackesey submitted a letter dated April 26,
1995 seeking clarification on the role of the committee. Through
discussion of various city departments, boards and commissions,
including Youth Bureau, Recreation Partnership, Parks Commission
and BPW, whether or not the committee should continue its work in
light of the work being done by the Recreation Partnership,
determination was made that the committee, which was established to
work on long range plans for Cass Park continue its work; now,
therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That the Board of Public Works confirms its commitment
to the continuation of the Cass Park Committee and its work for
long range plans for park usage.
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Amending Resolution
By Commissioner Rusoff: Seconded by Commissioner Ehrhardt
RESOLVED, that the second WHEREAS clause be amended to read, "...
study the issue and bring proposals for discussion and possible
approval back the Board of Public Works," and, be it further
RESOLVED, that the RESOLVED clause be amended to read, "... for
park usage, and report back to the Board by August 5th."
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 SUPERINTENDENT:
Superintendent Gray reported to the Board on the following matters:
Rt. 96 groundbreaking. Recycling mixed paper and other items.
Traffic studies. Wal-Mart. Stewart Ave parking meters. Elm St
Sewer. Maple Ave. Wood St Park. Haley Pool. Mitchell St curve.
Youth Bureau contract. Banner project. Cascadilla/Court sewer.
Coordination between IFD valve turning program and DPW hydrant
flushing. East Seneca sewer. 120 W Clinton St house moving. Sludge
pelletizing. Commissioner Reeves requested information on upcoming
capital projects and West State St lighting improvements.
REPORT OF ASSISTANT SUPERINTENDENT OF STREETS AND FACILITIES:
Assistant Superintendent Ferrel reported to the Board on the
following matters:
West State St/NYSEG lighting improvements. Southside Center
lighting. Octopus/Rt 96 project. Maple Ave realignment/RR tracks.
Fire Training Site fence and maintenance. Hector St guard rail.
Hector/Elm holding dam. Asphalt patch and paving. Parks and
Forestry work plan. Pool openings and inspections. Cass Park
circulation pump. Cemetery vault repair. Tree wind damage. New
Commons sweeper and mowing tractor in use. New trucks. Early
retirement letter for two employees (discussion followed).
Commissioner Reeves requested information on Stewart Park tennis
courts and Softball Association Contract. Assistant Superintendent
Ferrel responded.
NEW BUSINESS:
Commissioner Reeves brought forth a request from Tracy White of the
Covenant Love School to sell Empire State Games tickets at Stewart
Park over Memorial Day weekend. Extensive discussion
followed.Assistant Superintendent Ferrel pointed out that the
Municipal Code does not allow sales in Stewart Park. The Board
suggested that the Commons would be a better location. The Board
did not approve the request.
ADJOURNMENT:
On a motion the meeting adjourned at 5:20 p.m.
William Kaupe Benjamin Nichols
Deputy City Clerk Mayor