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Home My WebLink AboutMN-BPW-1995-09-20BOARD OF PUBLIC WORKS PROCEEDINGS CITY OF ITHACA, NEW YORK Regular Meeting 4:00 p.m. September 20, 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 Assistant Superintendent of Water and Sewer - Fabbroni EXCUSED: Commissioner Tripp, Common Council Liaison - Johnson 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 Ehrhardt requested that Item 14A be added to the agenda. No Board member objected. 4. COMMUNICATIONS FROM THE MAYOR: Mayor Nichols reported from the Downtown Leadership Revitalization Committee meeting: endorsed Traffic Task Force recommendation on making Aurora and Cayuga Streets two-way again and urged quick action; recommendaed planning for Cornell/Downtown shuttle buses. Extensive discussion followed of Aurora/Cayuga and other traffic issues extensively, including Traffic Engineer Dan Cole’s work plan and report. 5. COMMUNICATIONS AND HEARINGS OF PERSONS BEFORE THE BOARD: 6. REPORT OF CITY CLERK: 7. REPORT OF CITY ATTORNEY: 8. REPORT OF CITY CONTROLLER: Deputy Controller Thayer reported that he and Assistant City Attorney Kennedy were working on the Golf Course concession bid specifications and that Golf Course revenues were above expectations. 9. REPORT OF COUNCIL LIAISON: 10. REPORT OF SUPERINTENDENT AND STAFF: Assistant Superintendent Ferrel reported to the Board on the following matters: Highway - paving N Albany, S Aurora, Dewitt Pl, 3rd St, grading Conway Park, BT Glass concrete placement, Cass Park ADA improvements, Stewart Ave brickwork, Highway Supervisor exam results; Garage - mechanics shortage, machinery sent to County municipal auction, solid waste vehicle contracts, salt spreader conversions; Parks & Forestry - tree order for November planting, Elmira Rd SBA grant planter locations, granite curbing delivery, Tree Gators, 6-Mile Creek Gorge Ranger problems with bikers, Wildflower Preserve bulletin board, possible watershed access permit system, City Forester Andy Hillman’s attendance at the National Urban Forestry Conference in NYC, vault repairs in the Cemetery; Building Systems - preparing heating systems, Golf Course clubhouse painting, street striping, traffic controller installations, seasonal storage building approved by Council and preliminary sitework; General Fund budget presented; drug & alcohol testing policy; Stewart Park tennis courts; Golf Course concessions; Commissioner Ehrhardt asked about street striping (extensive discussion of street work); the status of a City-wide scavenger day (extensive discussion);simpler process for sale of State St bricks (discussion); Commissioner Smith asked about the W State St garbage can program (discussion); Commissioner Rusoff asked about the state of plantings in various areas of the City; Commissioner Reeves asked about the status of the Cascadilla Park Rd sidewalk (extensive discussion) Assistant Superintendent Fabbroni reported to the Board on the following matters: silt dam - DEC permit received, work has begun; Route 96 issues; Water & Sewer budget; dechlorination facility move required; sludge disposal contract bids; successful glycol experiment at WWTP; roof work at S&F buildings; Giles St pump station problems; 30-foot Dam road progress; drought conditions - reservoir down 38", use of Bolton Point water; talks with CU regarding the chilled water project, including improvements to City streets; Superintendent Gray reported to the Board on the following matters: Youth Bureau contract September 20, 1995 Page 2 2 approval by Council; Conway Park work; DEC tests at Linden Ave tank removal site; Southwest Park wetlands mapping; water supply issues; gas main easement in watershed - review; budget review procedures (discussion); 11. REPORT OF OTHER DEPARTMENT HEADS: 12. BUILDINGS, PROPERTIES AND TRANSIT ITEMS: A. Encroachment Agreement for 201-205 Tompkins Street By Commissioner Rusoff: Seconded by Commissioner Reeves WHEREAS, the Board of Public Works received a request for an encroachment agreement for 201- 205 Tompkins Street, formerly known as the BT Glass Building, and WHEREAS, the existing structure encroaches onto the city right of way for Tompkins Street by .4 feet; now, therefore, be it RESOLVED, That the Board of Public Works hereby grants the requested encroachment for the property of 201-205 Tompkins Street contingent upon approval of the City Attorney, and, be it further RESOLVED, That the board authorizes the Mayor to enter into an agreement with the usual terms and conditions. Discussion followed on the floor. A vote on the resolution resulted as follows: Carried Unanimously B. Recommendation for Transit Consolidation Capital Project By Commissioner Rusoff: Seconded by Commissioner Ehrhardt WHEREAS, the Ithaca Transit is a partner with Cornell University and Tompkins County in the Ithaca Tompkins Transit Center and is a recipient of capital funds through the Federal and State Governments, WHEREAS, the Operations Committee of the Joint Transit Facility is recommending the attached list of transit capital projects (except Item #20, which has been previously approved), to be completed during 1995 and 1996, totaling $2,678,327, of which the City of Ithaca's share is shown as $167,638, and WHEREAS, the funding allocation for the recommended list of transit capital projects shown on Table A. Consolidated Transit Capital Program is as follows: Federal funds (U.S. Dept. of Trans.) $2,006,869 New York State Aid (Dept. of Trans.) 212,188 Cornell University (C.U. Transit) 162,202 City of Ithaca (Ithaca Transit) 167,638 Tompkins County (Tomtran) 129,430 $2,678,327 now, therefore, be it RESOLVED, That the Board of Public Works recommends that the Budget and Administration Committee take the necessary steps to establish Capital Project #314 Transit Capital Program in an amount not to exceed $167,638 for said transit projects (list attached) with the source of funds as follows: Capital Reserve #22 Bus Acquisition/Replacement $20,733 Issuance of Serial Bonds $146,905 Extensive discussion followed on the floor. A vote on the resolution resulted as follows: Carried Unanimously September 20, 1995 Page 3 13. HIGHWAYS, STREETS AND SIDEWALK ITEMS: A. Request to Close Allen Street for Library Book Sale By Commissioner Smith: Seconded by Commissioner Reeves WHEREAS, the Friends of the Tompkins County Public Library, Inc., will be holding their annual book sale at their property on Esty Street between Allen Street and Meadow Street from October 7, 1995 through October 23, 1995 and they expect a large amount of traffic on Esty Street; and WHEREAS, the Chief of Police supports their request that Allen Street be temporarily reopened to traffic on a one-way basis during the term of this event so as to minimize traffic congestion in the area; and WHEREAS, the City of Ithaca considers Allen Street to be private property and has recorded it as a private street or alley, and WHEREAS, the Friends of the Library have removed the existing obstructions in Allen Street in past years and will do so this year as well as indemnify and hold the city harmless from any claim or liability that may arise as the result of their work in removing such obstructions; now, therefore, be it RESOLVED, That contingent upon the Friends of the Tompkins County Public Library Inc, agreeing to indemnify and hold the city harmless from any claim or liability that may arise as a result of their action in removing the existing obstructions in order to temporarily restore traffic to Allen Street and that the indemnification be supplied in a form satisfactory to the City Attorney, that the Friends of the Tompkins County Library Inc, actually remove such obstruction, that Allen Street be reopened to traffic on a one-way basis running southerly from Esty Street to Court Street from Saturday, October 7, 1995 through Monday, October 23, 1995, after which time it will be again closed to traffic; and the Department of Public Works and the Chief of Police are hereby requested to take all appropriate steps to assist the Friends of the Library in the temporary opening of the street to traffic as it connects to the city street grid and in the closing of Allen Street to traffic after October 23, 1995. Discussion followed on the floor. A vote on the resolution resulted as follows: Carried Unanimously 14. TRAFFIC ITEMS: A. Authorization to remove On-Street Handicap Parking Sign By Commissioner Ehrhardt: Seconded by Commissioner Seligmann WHEREAS, the Board of Public Works passed a resolution on July 27, 1994 authorizing the installation of an on-street handicap parking sign at 132 East Spencer Street, and WHEREAS, the Board has received a request from the family to remove the handicap parking sign because it is no longer needed; now, therefore, be it RESOLVED, that the Board of Public Works directs staff to remove the handicap parking sign at 132 East Spencer Street. Discussion followed on the floor. 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: 19. REPORT OF BOARD LIAISONS: Commissioner Seligmann reported on the Recreation Partnership (extensive discussion of relations with outlying districts); Commissioner Reeves reported on SJS issues: capacity upgrades, CU sewage usage accounting; DEC permit changes 20. UNFINISHED BUSINESS: 21. NEW BUSINESS: 22. ADJOURNMENT: On a motion the meeting adjourned at 5:40p.m. William Kaupe, Deputy City Clerk Benjamin Nichols, Mayor