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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMN-BPW-1995-05-24 1 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 MAY 24, 1995 2 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 MAY 24, 1995 3 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 MAY 24, 1995 4 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 MAY 24, 1995 5 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. MAY 24, 1995 6 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