The URL can be used to link to this page

Home My WebLink AboutMN-BPW-1996-06-12BOARD OF PUBLIC WORKS PROCEEDINGS CITY OF ITHACA, NEW YORK Regular Meeting 4:00 p.m. June 12, 1996 PRESENT: Commissioners (5) - Davidoff, Ehrhardt, Reeves (Vice-Chair, presiding), Seligmann, Vargas 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 Common Council Liaison - Mackesey Alderpersons Blumenthal and Johnson EXCUSED: Mayor Cohen, Commissioner Smith 1. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE: Commissioner Reeves led all present in the Pledge of Allegiance to the American flag. 2. MINUTES: Approval of the Minutes of the May 8, 1996 Board of Public Works Meeting By Commissioner Seligmann: Seconded by Commissioner Ehrhardt RESOLVED, That the Minutes of the May 8 Board of Public Works meeting be approved as published. Carried Unanimously Approval of the Minutes of the May 22, 1996 Board of Public Works Meeting By Commissioner Seligmann: Seconded by Commissioner Davidoff RESOLVED, That the Minutes of the May 22 Board of Public Works meeting be approved as published. Carried Unanimously 3. ADDITIONS TO OR DELETIONS FROM THE AGENDA: Commissioner Ehrhardt requested that a discussion of possible changes to the Ithaca Rd/Mitchell St intersection be added under Item 22A. No board member objected. Commissioner Reeves requested that Item 14B be added to the agenda. No board member objected. 4. COMMUNICATIONS FROM THE MAYOR: 5. COMMUNICATIONS AND HEARINGS OF PERSONS BEFORE THE BOARD: The following people addressed the board on Esty St sidewalks: Monty May, Regina Lennox The following people addressed the board on Mitchell St reconstruction: Sandy Wold, David Elliott, Andy Ruina, David Nutter, Michael Rooks, Cynthia Schnedeker, Paul Bonaparte-Krogh, Bob Guyer (?), James (?), Andre Sozolins (?), Caleb Kleppner, David Delchamps, Susan Blumenthal, John Johnson. Several letters were presented. 6. RESPONSE TO PUBLIC: The board responded to the public on the Mitchell St project with the unanimous opinion that the process was followed properly and that proposals presented to the board after July 1995 would follow the newly-established procedure. 7. REPORT OF CITY CLERK: The board took up consideration of Item 14A at this time. 8. REPORT OF CITY ATTORNEY: 9. REPORT OF CITY CONTROLLER: Deputy City Controller Thayer reported on the following matters: Golf Course concession contract in final draft form, owner wanted considerations for the delay June 12, 1996 - Page 2 10. REPORT OF COUNCIL LIAISON: Alderperson Mackesey reported on the following Common Council actions: Cliff St parking, monitoring stations, sidewalks capital project 11. REPORT OF SUPERINTENDENT AND STAFF: Superintendent Gray reported to the Board on the following matters: sidewalk contract, Mitchell St traffic calming, parking equipment, Cass Park pool, storm sewer data collection, Southside work, Esty St work, Dan Cole/Traffic Cmte, Wood St park, Cliff St parking, pre-award meeting for TC Human Services Bldg - demo in 2 weeks Assistant Superintendent Ferrel reported to the board on the following matters: Highways: Brindley/Taber paving, IFD parking lot paving, Esty St curbing, Cliff St sidewalks, NYS Labor Dept inspection w/Ray Benjamin Parks & Forestry: local government award for Treeworks, Flood Control Channel inspection with Andy Hillman, DEC and Army Corps of Engrs, mowing on FC Channel, ACE flood control project, seasonal employees doing tree inventory, mowing in City, Ithaca Festival cleanup Building Systems: flushing hydrants, cold storage bldg engineer to be selected soon Electrician: signal repair at State/Cayuga, power for GIAC basketball court, City Hall wiring Flag Day parade Friday Commissioner Davidoff asked about repair crew's work practices on Saturday at Stewart Park. Discussion of Stewart park playground equipment. Assistant Superintendent Fabbroni reported to the board on the following matters: water study - 4 consultants under review, Rt 96 - Buffalo St closure, Chilled Water Plant/Lake Source Cooling Project at CU, Buffalo St pump station 12. REPORT OF OTHER DEPARTMENT HEADS: 13. BUILDINGS, PROPERTIES AND TRANSIT ITEMS: A. Request for Waiver of Stewart Park Pavilion Fee. By Commissioner Smith: Seconded by Commissioner Ehrhardt WHEREAS, the Board of Public Works has received a request from City Clerk, Julie Conley- Holcomb to waive the pavilion fee at Stewart park for the City of Ithaca Employee Recognition Picnic on Friday, September 20, 1996; now therefore, be it RESOLVED, That the Board of Public Works approves of waiving the fee for the use of the large pavilion at Stewart Park for the City of Ithaca Employee Recognition Picnic on September 20, 1996. Discussion followed on the floor. A vote on the resolution resulted as follows: Carried Unanimously 14. HIGHWAYS, STREETS AND SIDEWALK ITEMS: A. Sidewalk Installation on Esty Street. By Commissioner Davidoff: Seconded by Commissioner Vargas WHEREAS, the Department of Public Works is currently undertaking the rebuilding of Esty Street, and WHEREAS, staff has recommended that installation of new sidewalks be coordinated with the work, and WHEREAS, a public hearing was held as required by the City Charter and comments have been reviewed by the board, and WHEREAS, the board feels that sidewalk installation is necessary, however, the board would like to consider the implications of a policy change (and charter change) under which the expense would not be placed on the property owner; now, therefore, be it RESOLVED, That the Board of Public Works approves of the installation of sidewalks on the north and south of the 600 block of Esty Street, and, be it further RESOLVED, That the board requests that this work be delayed for one year and that during that June 12, 1996 - Page 3 time, Common Council review the code requirements for installation of new sidewalk. RESOLVED, that funding for construction of new sidewalks be at City expense, but that maintenance remain the responsibility of the property owner. Discussion followed on the floor. A vote on the resolution resulted as follows: Carried 4-0-1 Ayes (4): Ehrhardt, Reeves, Davidoff, Vargas Abstentions (1): Seligmann B. Award of 1996 Sidewalk Bid. By Commissioner Davidoff: Seconded by Commissioner Vargas WHEREAS, bids for the 1996 sidewalk contract were received on June 10, 1996, and, WHEREAS, staff has reviewed and recommends that the low bidder be awarded the contract, now, therefore, be it RESOLVED, that the Board of Public Works hereby awards the 1996 sidewalk contract to JRT Concrete, Inc., 546 Bloecher Road, Strykersville, NY for their low total bid price of $81,515.00, 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 15. TRAFFIC ITEMS: A. Request for Upgraded Signal at Route 13 and Commercial Avenue. By Commissioner Ehrhardt: Seconded by Commissioner Vargas WHEREAS, the Board of Public Works has received requests from the Fingerlakes Gymnastics Center for modifications to the traffic signal at the intersection of Route 13 and Commercial Avenue to improve safety, and WHEREAS, the Traffic Systems Engineer has reviewed the request and recommends that a new traffic signal and pole be installed at this intersection; now, therefore, be it RESOLVED, That the Board of Public Works hereby approves of the installation of two new poles and traffic signal heads at the intersection of Route 13 and Commercial Avenue, and, be it further RESOLVED, That the board requests that the Budget and Administration Committee release $20,000 from unrestricted contingency and, be it further RESOLVED, That the board request that Common Council the county to fund half of the project due to the increased amount of traffic since the construction of the solid waste building. Discussion followed on the floor. Motion to Table By Commissioner Ehrhardt: Seconded by Commissioner Seligmann A vote on the resolution resulted as follows: Carried Unanimously Motion for Power to Act on this Item at the June 19, 1996 BPW-COW Meeting By Commissioner Ehrhardt: Seconded by Commissioner Davidoff A vote on the resolution resulted as follows: Carried Unanimously 16. CREEKS, BRIDGES AND PARKS: 17. ADMINISTRATION AND COMMUNICATIONS ITEMS: June 12, 1996 - Page 4 A. July Meeting Schedule. By Commissioner Reeves: Seconded by Commissioner Davidoff WHEREAS, Wednesday, July 3, 1996 is the eve of the Independence Day Holiday, and WHEREAS, the five Wednesdays in July gives the Board of Public Works the opportunity to take the holiday while maintaining the four week cycle of two committee of the whole meetings and two regular meetings; now, therefore, be it RESOLVED, That the Board of Public Works sets it July Meeting schedule as follows: July 3 No Meeting July 10 COW Meeting July 17 Regular Meeting July 24 COW Meeting July 31 Regular Meeting A vote on the resolution resulted as follows: Carried Unanimously 18. WATER, SEWER AND SOLID WASTE ITEMS: 19. REPORT OF SPECIAL COMMITTEES: Commissioner Ehrhardt (Traffic Committee) reported on the following matters: 150 traffic requests (mostly parking issues) - Dan Cole will handle all but 30 which require board action. 20. REPORT OF BOARD LIAISONS: Commissioner Reeves (Parks Commission) reported on the following matters: Wood St basketball lights and handball court, volleyball court request, skateboard facility, play structure in a City park, Conway Park play structure bids, Cliff St parking, tree survey, capital project for Stewart Park play structures 21. UNFINISHED BUSINESS: 22. NEW BUSINESS: 23. ADJOURNMENT: On a motion the meeting adjourned at 6:10 p.m. William Kaupe Carol Reeves Deputy City Clerk Vice-Chair