The URL can be used to link to this page

Home My WebLink AboutMN-BPW-1995-08-16BOARD OF PUBLIC WORKS PROCEEDINGS CITY OF ITHACA, NEW YORK Regular Meeting 4:00 p.m. August 16, 1995 PRESENT: Mayor Nichols Commissioners (4) - Seligmann, Tripp, Ehrhardt, Reeves OTHERS PRESENT: Deputy City Controller - Thayer Deputy City Clerk - Kaupe Assistant Superintendent of Streets and Facilities - Ferrel Assistant Superintendent of Water and Sewer - Fabbroni Common Council Liaison - Johnson EXCUSED: Commissioners Rusoff and Smith, Superintendent of Public Works - Gray 1. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE: Mayor Nichols led all present in the Pledge of Allegiance to the American flag. 2. MINUTES: Approval of the Minutes of the July 26, 1995 Board of Public Works Meeting By Commissioner Reeves : Seconded by Commissioner Ehrhardt RESOLVED, That the Minutes of the July 26, 1995 Board of Public Works meeting be approved as published. Carried Unanimously 3. ADDITIONS TO OR DELETIONS FROM THE AGENDA: Commissioner Seligmann requested that Item 17A be added to the agenda. No Board member objected. Commissioner Seligmann requested that Item 17B be added to the agenda. No Board member objected. Commissioner Reeves requested that Item 12A be added to the agenda. No Board member objected. 4. COMMUNICATIONS FROM THE MAYOR: 5. COMMUNICATIONS AND HEARINGS OF PERSONS BEFORE THE BOARD: 6. REPORT OF CITY CLERK: 7. REPORT OF CITY ATTORNEY: 8. REPORT OF CITY CONTROLLER: 9. REPORT OF COUNCIL LIAISON: Alderperson Johnson reported on the following: Council’s vote approving the purchase of two uninterruptible power supplies (UPS) for City computer network servers. 10. REPORT OF SUPERINTENDENT AND STAFF: Assistant Superintendent Ferrel reported to the Board on the following matters: S&F consolidation plan - architect’s proposal (discussion); S&F cold storage building proposal; cold storage needs; triangle lot bldgs vacated; State & Mitchell sewer construction (discussion of utility coordination issues); south hill water tank road resurfacing; Stewart Park tennis courts (fencing, surfacing); Stewart Ave retaining wall; pool closings; softball leagues nearly over; (YES and Federal) summer youth workers experiences and supervisory problems; vacating BT Glass bldg and Stewart Park boathouse; budget proposal almost complete; recycling mixed paper; Ald. Johnson asked about: Giles St guardrails, shopping cart program, EOC parking meter stub, fountain program; Mayor Nichols asked about: W State St garbage cans Assistant Superintendent Fabbroni reported to the Board on the following matters: consolidation plan - architect’s proposal (discussion); dam road construction; Seneca St bridge moved near fish ladder; GIS; roof work on back garages; Thurston Ave service work; silt dam - ready to drive piles; dechlorination bldg installed - operational problems; lagoon dredging; sludge proposals from Tompkins Co, Auburn, Rochester - analysis to follow; youth workers; valve turning; Day Care Center fence installed; Rt 96 construction - infrastructure issues; Ald. Johnson asked about: 6-Mile August 16, 1995 2 Creek service road. 11. REPORT OF OTHER DEPARTMENT HEADS: 12. BUILDINGS, PROPERTIES AND TRANSIT ITEMS: A. Recommendation for No Dogs on Commons. By Commissioner Rusoff: Seconded by Commissioner Tripp WHEREAS, the Commons Coordinator has requested input from the Board of Public Works regarding a possible dog permit system, and WHEREAS, the Commons is a pedestrian mall and therefore not an appropriate environment for dogs; now, therefore be it RESOLVED, That the Board of Public Works recommends that the Commons Advisory Board not institute a permit program to allow dogs on the Commons, and be it further RESOLVED, That the Board recognizes the potential hazards of dogs on the Commons as well as the added maintenance for city staff, and be it further RESOLVED, That the Board recommends that the Municipal Code, Section 157-13, which allows the Superintendent of Public Works to issue permits allowing dogs on the Commons be modified to read: “No animals are allowed on the Primary Commons; this provision does not apply to seeing-eye dogs, police working dogs and other dogs providing, or being trained for, assistance to the disabled.” Discussion followed on the floor. A vote on the resolution resulted as follows: Carried 4-1 Ayes (4): Tripp, Ehrhardt, Reeves, Nichols Nays (1): Seligmann 13. HIGHWAYS, STREETS AND SIDEWALK ITEMS: 14. TRAFFIC ITEMS: 15. CREEKS, BRIDGES AND PARKS: A. Parking Regulations for City Parks. By Commissioner Reeves: Seconded by Commissioner Tripp WHEREAS, city parks close at 10:00 pm, and WHEREAS, there is no current regulation concerning overnight parking within city parks; now, therefore, be it RESOLVED, That the Board of Public Works hereby adopts parking regulations within all city parks to prohibit parking from 2:00 am until 6:00 am, and, be it further RESOLVED, That the board directs staff to install correct signage in city parks which provides parking regulation information. Discussion followed on the floor. A vote on the resolution resulted as follows: Carried Unanimously B. Request for Overnight Parking at Cass Park. By Commissioner Reeves: Seconded by Commissioner Tripp WHEREAS, Dominic Quercia has obtained a floating object permit from the New York State Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation Department to moor his boat in the Cayuga Inlet, and, WHEREAS, Mr. Quercia has requested that the Board of Public Works allow him overnight parking in Cass Park; now, therefore, be it RESOLVED, That the Board of Public Works denies Mr. Quercia's request for overnight parking due to regulations which close the parks at 10:00 pm and prohibit parking from 2:00 am until 6:00 August 16, 1995 3 am in City Parks, and, be it further RESOLVED, That the board recommends that Mr. Quercia contact the NYS Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation Department for overnight parking within Treman Marina Park connected with the mooring permit. Discussion followed on the floor. A vote on the resolution resulted as follows: Carried Unanimously C. Request for Handball Court in Wood Street Park. By Commissioner Reeves: Seconded by Commissioner Tripp WHEREAS, The Board of Public Works has been presented with a petition containing approximately 200 signatures requesting a handball court in Wood Street Park, and WHEREAS, The board has been made aware that there are remaining funds within the CDBG grant issued for improvements to Wood Street Park; now, therefore, be it RESOLVED, That the Board of Public Works hereby approves of the concept of building a handball court within Wood Street Park, and, be it further RESOLVED, That the board requests that updates be given on the planning stages of the project, including review by the client committee and any contracts with the immediate park neighbors, before final approval is given. Discussion followed on the floor. A vote on the resolution resulted as follows: Carried Unanimously 16. ADMINISTRATION AND COMMUNICATIONS ITEMS: 17. WATER, SEWER AND SOLID WASTE ITEMS: A. Recommendation to Increase Funding for Increased Capacity at IAWWTP (Sub) By Commissioner Seligmann: Seconded by Commissioner WHEREAS, the Special Joint Sewer Committee of the Ithaca Area Wastewater Treatment Facility, at its March 9, 1995 meeting, authorized a contract in an amount not to exceed $48,800 with the engineering firm of Stearns and Wheeler to proceed with design work to increase the capacity at the IAWWTP, and WHEREAS, the Board of Public Works passed its recommendation on to the Budget and Administration Committee of Common Council by resolution dated February 22, 1995, and WHEREAS, by vote of Common Council on April 5, 1995, the city's share of funding for said project was approved, and WHEREAS, the Special Joint Sewer Committee at its regular meeting on August 1, 1995 authorized an increase in the project from $48,800 to $54,200 for additional services of the Engineer to provide a programmable logic controller (PLC) based control system capable of controlling the operation of the new raw wastewater pumps, as well as the two existing raw wasetwater pumps which are equipped with variable frequency drives. The PLC-based control system will be designed to permit future programming (at a later date) for the control of the two existing raw wasetwater pumps which operate off the FloMatcher pump control system; now, therefore, be it RESOLVED, That the Board of Public Works approves the increase in the project in an additional amount not to exceed $6,000 for design phase services, and be it further RESOLVED, That the Board of Public Works passes its recommendation that the city fund its share of the increased project on to the Budget and Administration Committee for their consideration. A vote on the resolution resulted as follows: Carried Unanimously August 16, 1995 4 17B. Designation of Lead Agency for Environmental Review of Treatment Plant Capacity Expansion By Commissioner Seligmann: Seconded by Commissioner Tripp WHEREAS, the State law and Section 176.6 of the City Code require that a lead agent, which has the primary responsibility for approving, funding or carrying out an action, be established in order to conduct an environmental review of proposed projects, and WHEREAS, the joint owners of the Ithaca Area Wastewater Treatment Plant are contemplating improvements to the plant that they believe will allow the plant's treatment capacity to be increased as well as improving the plant's operational performance, and WHEREAS, the City of Ithaca operates the plant for the joint owners, the plant's operating and capital budgets are part of the city's budget, and the plant's operating permit is currently issued in the City's name; now, therefore, be it RESOLVED, That the City of Ithaca, in the person of the Board of Public Works, does hereby declare itself lead agent for the environmental review of the proposed plant improvements and expansion of treatment capacity. A vote on the resolution resulted as follows: Carried Unanimously 18. REPORT OF SPECIAL COMMITTEES: 19. REPORT OF BOARD LIAISONS: Alderperson Johnson reported on 6-Mile Creek Committee discussions on land acquisition; meeting with Mayor and Police Chief about camping and partying near the 30-foot dam, possible installation of anti-littering signage, assistance from Sheriff’s Dept. Commissioner Reeves reported on the Parks Commission’s recent visit to Conway Park. Alderperson Johnson asked about the park area at the foot of Ithaca Falls near the Lake St bridge. 20. UNFINISHED BUSINESS: Commissioner Reeves requested that the April 12, 1995 minutes be checked regarding the rules about dogs in Stewart Park. 21. NEW BUSINESS: 22. ADJOURNMENT: On a motion the meeting adjourned at 5:30p.m. William Kaupe Benjamin Nichols Deputy City Clerk Mayor