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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMN-BPW-1996-05-29BOARD OF PUBLIC WORKS COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE May 29, 1996 NOTES PRESENT: Commissioners Davidoff, Ehrhardt, Reeves, Smith, Vargas, Alderperson Mackesey, Mayor Cohen, Superintendent Gray, Assistant Superintendents Fabbroni and Ferrel. Commissioner Reeves chaired the meeting. Additions: Mitchell Street Discussion Cliff Street Parking Lot There were no deletions from the agenda. i. Kequesi Tor waiver of Pavilion Fee City Clerk Julie Conley - Holcomb was present to request that the board waive the Stewart Park pavilion fee for the annual employee picnic. Comm. Reeves explained that the board has traditionally waived the pavilion fee for the employee picnic. The board agreed to waive the fee for the use of the pavilion. A resolution will be presented at the next regular meeting. 2. Request for Car Wash - State Street Side of Central Fire Station Comm. Reeves explained that the board received a request from the Alternative Federal Credit Union for a car wash at the Central Fire Station. Asst. Supt. Ferrel questioned if the board wanted to allow public property to be used for a private event. The board discussed what the distinction is between closing a street for an event versus use of a parking lot. The board will discuss this issue at a future meeting once the Fire Chief has submitted his recommendation on the matter. 3. Staff Reports. Assistant Superintendent Ferrel reported on the following items: Ithaca Festival - Staff is preparing for the event. Students Leaving Town - Garbage pick up increased in collegetown and clean up crews were in collegetown following the parties held in the past week. Construction Projects - Cascadilla Street Storm Sewer work is complete. Continuation of Esty Street work. Taber and Brindly Street scheduled for binder course. Highland Place work on bank erosion including tree removal. Grass cutting on city property continues. Golf Course preparation continues, hopes of opening soon. Plantings on the Commons have begun, more plantings will be done after the Festival. 200 drums of sandblast material with lead and transite pipe was removed from the Streets and Facilities site. Discussion followed concerning the plantings on the Commons and clean up of Collegetown. Alderperson Mackesey questioned what the cost to the city is for the clean up of the parties. Discussion included future tolerance of these activities. It was BOARD OF PUBLIC WORKS Committee of the Whole Meeting May 29, 1996 noted that permission for closing of the street was not granted. The board concurred that enforcement is needed when permission is not given. Also discussed was the electrical problem at Cass Park which is being corrected, installation of fence at Conway Park and the lack of volunteers for the clean up in Stewart Park. Assistant Superintendent Fabbroni reported on the following items: Proposals for the Water Treatment Plant Study have been received. Interviews will be held next week. Route 96 project continues. Seneca Street bridge is scheduled to open on June 3, but Buffalo Street will be closed by June 18. Railroad crossing at State Street will be ripped up on June 13. Sewer line work from the south side of Green Street to Meadow Street to the WWTP will begin soon. Buffalo Street Pump Station failed. Crews were able to use a temporary pump until repairs could be completed. The crews worked a great deal of overtime and did a great job. Emergency contractors were hired for electrical work as well as an engineering consultant for redesign. WWTP experienced a fire in the garage. One of the operators put the fire out. Removal of silt from the dam is being scheduled. Personnel Plan to be presented to the board at a future date to make up for the loss of staff and a number of seasonal positions that won't be filled. Superintendent Gray reported on the following items: 1996 Sidewalk program is being prepared. The funds were overlooked in the budget and are being requested from B &A. Esty Street Design continues. New Parking Lot Equipment is being worked on. Youth Bureau project is being closed out. IPD elevator experienced an electrical problem and failed. Computer Networking at Water and Sewer is complete and now awaiting to be linked to City Hall. 4. Mitchell Street. Supt. Gray told the board that the comments from Mr. Solomon at the last regular meeting were out of line and that he felt the board should have stated so. He noted a handout from David Nutter and stated that he feels the board should respond. He explained that the handout requests that the city not go with a 24 foot wide pavement. Supt. Gray said that there is no reason not to go with a 24 foot wide pavement. The decision was a compromise and that the street width fits into all guidelines. Comm. Smith stated he felt that a response was not necessary from the board since it was not specifically addressed to the board. Mayor Cohen agreed as did the rest of the board. Page - 2 BOARD OF PUBLIC WORKS Committee of the Whole Meeting May 29, 1996 5. Cliff Street Parking Lot. Supt. Gray explained that an engineer has been hired to complete the documents and to bid out the project. In addition a negative environmental impact must be completed. The paper work has been done, the board must now adopt it. This item will be presented to the board as a resolution at their next meeting. 6. DPW Capital Proiects. The board discussed the list of projects distributed by Supt. Gray. He noted that these projects need to be dealt with and that they are real problems. He noted that work on the garages needs to be re- installed into the schedule. Comm. Reeves suggested that the board come up with a plan to review all the projects and figure out how to handle the projects that have not been done. Discussion followed concerning the addition of projects, including installation of a new traffic light pole at Route 13 and Commercial Avenue. The board's consensus was that this project should move forward immediately and that B &A should allow money to be used for such a project. Asst. Supt. Fabbroni noted that sewer work is badly needed on the northside. Discussion turned to reconstruction of Stewart Avenue. Supt. Gray noted that the street is in need of repair, but there are other pressing issues such as deteriorated sewer lines. He added that along with brick work, the infrastructure of the street needs replacement. Comm. Ehrhardt suggested that all projects be compared equally. He noted that it is difficult to compare prices of a project to be done in house compared to prices of a project to be bid out. It was noted that this point was made at a recent meeting with council members and staff. Discussion continued concerning the cost benefit of hiring seasonal workers. The board decided to move forward with the list of suggestions for capital projects. The meeting adjourned at 6:00 p.m. Notes taken by: Donna L. Payne Administrative Secretary Page - 3