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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMN-BPW-1995-08-30BOARD OF PUBLIC WORKS PROCEEDINGS CITY OF ITHACA, NEW YORK Regular Meeting 4:00 p.m. August 30, 1995 PRESENT: Mayor Nichols Commissioners (4) - Seligmann, Ehrhardt, Reeves, Rusoff OTHERS PRESENT: Deputy City Controller - Thayer Senior Stenographer - Holcomb Superintendent of Public Works - Gray Assistant Superintendent of Water and Sewer - Fabbroni Common Council Liaison - Johnson EXCUSED: Commissioners Tripp, Smith, Assistant Superintendent of Streets and Facilities - Ferrel 1. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE: Mayor Nichols led all present in the Pledge of Allegiance to the American flag. 2. MINUTES: 3. ADDITIONS TO OR DELETIONS FROM THE AGENDA: Commissioner Smith requested that Item 13D 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: 10. REPORT OF SUPERINTENDENT AND STAFF: Assistant Superintendent Fabbroni reported to the Board on the following matters: Rt 96 coordination effort; dam repair - sheet pilings; roof work on rear garages & DPW; dam road construction; arch project north of Water Treatment Plant; dechlorination project - may be moved; work at Meadow St plaza completed; consolidation plan near draft stage; GIS report from student intern; lagoon dredging; sludge bids from Tompkins County; Ald. Johnson asked about the dam road Superintendent Gray reported to the Board on the following matters: Mitchell St road work; recycling of mixed paper exceeding predictions; school crossings set up for new school year; Empire State Games - transit costs, electric hybrid bus; sidewalk program work; budgets; DOT projects; Comm. Reeves and Seligmann asked about street painting details (extensive discussion followed) 11. REPORT OF OTHER DEPARTMENT HEADS: 12. BUILDINGS, PROPERTIES AND TRANSIT ITEMS: 12A. Request for Encroachment at 310 Hector Street By Commissioner Rusoff: Seconded by Commissioner Ehrhardt WHEREAS, the Board of Public Works has received and reviewed a request for an encroachment at 310 Hector Street, and WHEREAS, existing structures on the property, including a property area and a concrete walk with stairs, encroach onto city property by as much as 12 feet; now, therefore, be it RESOLVED, that the Board reserves the right to direct that the encroachment be removed or modified by the owner of the encroachment if the department requires use of the property and be it further RESOLVED, that the Board otherwise grants the requested encroachment for 310 Hector Street and, contingent on approval of the City Attorney, authorizes the Mayor to enter into an agreement. A vote on the resolution resulted as follows: Carried Unanimously 12B. Award of Bids for Ithaca Youth Bureau Alterations August 30, 1995 2 By Commissioner Rusoff: Seconded by Commissioner Ehrhardt WHEREAS, the City of Ithaca has requested and received bids for construction of alterations to the Ithaca Youth Bureau building, and WHEREAS, the Common Council is considering increasing the budget authorization for this project, and, WHEREAS, time is of the essence in completing this work as expediently as possible, now, therefore, be it RESOLVED, that the Board of Public Works authorizes the Superintendent of Public Works to award the following contracts for alterations to the Ithaca Youth Bureau contingent upon Common Council’s approval of an appropriate budget: for mechanical construction work, Louis Picciano & Sons, Inc., of Vestal, New York for their low bid of $388,000.00; for general construction work, Peter Salato, Inc., of Auburn, New York for their low bid of $200,250.00 for the base bid and bid alternates G1, G2, G3; for electrical work, Blanding Electric, Inc., of Vestal, New York for their low bid of $29,838.00, and be it further RESOLVED, that the funds for this work be derived from Capital Project #244, Youth Bureau Acoustics & HVAC, as amended by Common Council. Discussion followed on the floor. A vote on the resolution resulted as follows: Carried Unanimously 12C. Police Elevator Modernization - Award of Bids By Commissioner Rusoff: Seconded by Commissioner Ehrhardt The City of Ithaca has received one bid for modernizing the existing elevator in the Ithaca Police Headquarters. This work is being done as part of the larger City Court Facility project and had a budget line of $62,000. The bid was revived from the firm which built and currently maintainss the equipment. Post Bid Budget: Modernization Report and Improvements $54,411 Construction Contingency @ 7%± 3,795 Administration Allowance @ 7%± 3,794 $62,000 WHEREAS, the City of Ithaca has received bids for modernization of the Ithaca Police Headquarters, as outlined in Contract Documents dated August 1, 1995; now, therefore, be it RESOLVED, that the Board of Public Works awards the contract for elevator modernization to Otis Elevator for their low bid of $54,411, with funds to be derived from Capital Project CP 242, and, be it further RESOLVED, that the Police Chief is authorized to sign the contract, contingent on the approval of the City Attorney and the Superintendent of Public Works. A vote on the resolution resulted as follows: Carried Unanimously 13. HIGHWAYS, STREETS AND SIDEWALK ITEMS: 13A. Sidewalk Request for the 600 Block of Dryden Road By Commissioner Rusoff: Seconded by Commissioner Reeves WHEREAS, the Board of Public Works has received a request to review pedestrian safety and the need for a sidewalk on the east side of Dryden Road between Hoy Road and Maple Avenue from the Third Ward Alderpersons, and WHEREAS, both of the impacted property owners, Bill’s Sunoco and Cornell’s Facilities Division have raised questions, concerns and alternate suggestions, and WHEREAS, John Ullberg of Cornell Facilities & Campus Planning has volunteered to review the August 30, 1995 3 question and make recommendations to the Board, and WHEREAS, the Board is not convinced that the current proposal for a part block sidewalk and retaining wall, at a cost of approximately $18,000, represents a good and cost effective response, now, therefore, be it RESOLVED, that the Board enlist Cornell’s assistance in reviewing the Alderpersons’ concerns and directs the Traffic Engineer to work with John Ullberg of Cornell Facilities & Campus Planning to review the questions and forward any recommendations to the board. Discussion followed on the floor. A vote on the resolution resulted as follows: Carried Unanimously 13B. Award of Bid for Sidewalk Program (Phase II) By Commissioner Rusoff: Seconded by Commissioner Reeves WHEREAS, bids for Phase II of the 1995 Sidewalk Contract were received and reviewed by staff, and WHEREAS, Bergman & Sons, Inc, of Waverly, NY submitted the low bid of $64,950.00 and WHEREAS, the current scope of Phase II calls for the installation of sidewalk on the east side of Dryden Road in the 600 block between Maple Avenue and the driveway for Cornell’s Humphries Service Center, and WHEREAS, the Board has not made a final determination and has not held the required public hearing prior to directing the installation of this work at the property owner’s expense; now, therefore, be it RESOLVED, that the Board of Public Works awards the 1995 Sidewalk Contract to Bergman & Sons, Inc. of Waverly, NY for their low bid of $64,950.00, provided that the contractor agrees that deletion of the Dryden Road work or substitution of comparable work does not constitute a substantial change in the contract, and be it further RESOLVED, that the Board authorizes the Superintendent to enter into an agreement for the project. Discussion followed on the floor. A vote on the resolution resulted as follows: Carried Unanimously 13C. Cornell Lake Source Cooling By Commissioner Rusoff: Seconded by Commissioner Reeves WHEREAS, the Board of Public Works has been approached by the Utilities Department of Cornell University for a permit to route utility piping under Ithaca city streets for use as chilled water transmission mains in connection with their proposed Lake Source Cooling Project, and WHEREAS, the proposed project is in the study phase and Cornell has requested a preliminary indication of the City’s willingness to permit these utility improvements by the University, and WHEREAS, the current of level of study has allowed Cornell to outline potential environmental impacts and benefits, assess engineering and economic viability, and produce a list of cooperative opportunities for the City and others as outlined in the Cornell letter (Lanny Joyce to Bill Gray) dated March 28, 1995 as well as other publicly circulated Lake Source Cooling documents, now, therefore, be it RESOLVED, that the board states its intent to work with Cornell to try to develop a mutually beneficial proposal for the installation of and occupation by the utility in the street right-of-way and will forward its recommendation for final approval to Common Council when appropriate. Discussion followed on the floor (Commissioner Reeves read a letter form the Energy Commission recommending approval of the project concept). A vote on the resolution resulted as follows: August 30, 1995 4 Carried Unanimously 13D. Request for Removal of Sidewalk at 106 Cascadilla Park Road (Motion to Lift from Table) By Commissioner Rusoff: Seconded by Commissioner Reeves A motion was made to lift the resolution from the table. No Board member objected. Request for Removal of Sidewalk at 106 Cascadilla Park Road (Original Resolution) John Steffens and Rosa Spivey, owners of 106 Cascadilla Park Road, have requested that the sidewalk in front of their house be removed, contending that the existing sidewalk serves no apparent purpose. The height of the sidewalk is an obstacle for the owners; as its 14 inches height does not allow convenient curb side parking. The owners would like to remove the sidewalk to create off street parking. WHEREAS, the owners of 106 Cascadilla Park Road have requested the removal of sidewalk in front of their house to allow parking, and WHEREAS, 106 Cascadilla Park Road is less than 50 feet wide and is zoned R-1a, and the requested parking is not allowed under section 325-20(5) of the City Code; now, therefore, be it RESOLVED, that the Board of Public Works denies the request of John Steffens and Rosa Spivey, and directs staff to further review the evolution of current curb and sidewalk at this address, and be it further RESOLVED, that staff advise the Board and the affected property owners what steps could be taken to improve the situation. Extensive discussion followed on the floor. Amending Resolution RESOLVED, that the RESOLVED clauses be amended to read as follows: RESOLVED, that the Board of Public Works denies the request of John Steffens and Rosa Spivey, and, be it further RESOLVED, that the Board accepts the recommendations of the Department of Public Works to lower the sidewalk and to install granite curbing all at the homeowners’ expense. A vote on the amending resolution resulted as follows: Carried Unanimously A vote on the amended resolution resulted as follows: Carried Unanimously 14. TRAFFIC ITEMS: 14A. Challenge Industries Traffic Light By Commissioner Ehrhardt: Seconded by Commissioner Reeves WHEREAS, the Board of Public Works has reviewed several requests from Challenge Industries for traffic control devices at the intersection of East State Street with Seneca Way, and WHEREAS, the Board has reviewed a preliminary summary by the Traffic Engineer, and WHEREAS, the area of concern is part of the State Arterial Highway System within the City of Ithaca, now, therefore, be it RESOLVED, that the Board reaffirms its concern for pedestrian safety and directs the Traffic Engineer to forward the Challenge Industries request to the Department of Transportation in Syracuse for their action. Extensive discussion followed on the floor. Motion to Table August 30, 1995 5 By Commissioner Ehrhardt: Seconded by Commissioner Reeves RESOLVED, that the resolution be tabled and that staff be instructed to investigate other alternatives for pedestrian safety and the Chief of Police be asked for his recommendation. A vote on the resolution resulted as follows: Carried Unanimously 15. CREEKS, BRIDGES AND PARKS: 16. ADMINISTRATION AND COMMUNICATIONS ITEMS: 17. WATER, SEWER AND SOLID WASTE ITEMS: 18. REPORT OF SPECIAL COMMITTEES: Commissioner Reeves reported that she had contacted Diann Sams, the Youth Bureau and Pat Kennedy regarding a request for a place for skateboarding. Pat Kennedy will appear before the Board to explian the legal issues at a future meeting. 19. REPORT OF BOARD LIAISONS: Commissioner Rusoff reported that the Planning Board was nearing completion of the Wal-Mart final impact statement and provided details from the draft FEIS. Discussion followed. 20. UNFINISHED BUSINESS: Mayor Nichols reported on the current and future use of hybrid electric buses. 21. NEW BUSINESS: 22. ADJOURNMENT: On a motion the meeting adjourned at 5:30p.m. William Kaupe Benjamin Nichols Deputy City Clerk Mayor