HomeMy WebLinkAboutMN-BPW-1996-11-13BOARD OF PUBLIC WORKS PROCEEDINGS
CITY OF ITHACA, NEW YORK
Regular Meeting 4:00 p.m. November 13, 1996
PRESENT:
Mayor Cohen
Commissioners (5) - Davidoff, Ehrhardt, Reeves, Seligmann, Smith
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
Deputy Planning Director - Sieverding
EXCUSED:
Commissioner Vargas
1. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE:
Commissioner Reeves led all present in the Pledge of Allegiance to the American flag.
2. MINUTES:
3. ADDITIONS TO OR DELETIONS FROM THE AGENDA:
Commissioner Reeves requested that Item 13B be added to the agenda. No board member objected.
4. MAYOR'S COMMUNICATIONS:
5. COMMUNICATIONS AND HEARINGS OF PERSONS BEFORE THE BOARD:
Regi Deschere (for), Ken Bangerter (against), Aga Transvescu (for) and Richard Ladd (for) spoke on Item 15A the
proposed change to South Hill Terrace. Peggy Haine spoke against the new Mitchell St/Ithaca Rd intersection and
presented the board with a damaged tire.
Commissioner Ehrhardt responded that the board did not review the Mitchell St design.
Public Hearing
A Public Hearing was held to discuss Item 13A from 4:18 to 4:19pm. No one appeared at the hearing.
The board took up Item 15A at this time.
7. REPORT OF CITY CLERK:
8. REPORT OF CITY ATTORNEY:
9. REPORT OF CITY CONTROLLER:
10. REPORT OF COUNCIL LIAISON:
11. REPORTS OF SUPERINTENDENT AND STAFF:
Superintendent Gray reported to the board on the following matters.
Assistant Superintendent Ferrel reported to the board on Streets and Facilities operations.
Assistant Superintendent Fabbroni reported to the board on Water and Sewer operations.
12. REPORT OF OTHER DEPARTMENT HEADS:
13. BUILDINGS, PROPERTIES AND TRANSIT ITEMS:
A. Collegetown Special Benefit Assessment District
By Commissioner Smith: Seconded by Commissioner Ehrhardt
RESOLVED, That the Board of Public Work adopts the Collegetown Special Benefit Assessment District charges for
1997 as prepared by the City Controller’s Office, and, be it further
RESOLVED, That the City Chamberlain be requested to make the billing at the appropriate time.
A vote on the resolution resulted as follows: Carried Unanimously
B. Abandon Portion of Taughannock Boulevard
By Commissioner Smith: Seconded by Commissioner Reeves
WHEREAS, the Inlet Island Land Use Plan, which was adopted by the Planning and Development Board in July,
1992 and accepted by the Common Council in September, 1992, calls for mixed use private development that is
“water-enhanced or water dependent, and that takes fullest advantage of Inlet Island’s special waterfront location”,
and
WHEREAS, Marina Realty of Ithaca, L.L.C. has proposed such development for the point of Inlet Island,
encompassing all of the property currently occupied by the Ithaca Boating Center, including that portion of
Taughannock Boulevard licensed to the Boating Center by the City, and
WHEREAS, the new development requires that section of Taughannock Boulevard currently licensed to the Boating
Center plus an additional, small portion of Taughannock Boulevard adjacent to the licensed area (see site plan
attached) in order to satisfy the on site zoning requirements for the proposed new development, and
November 13, 1996 - Page 2
WHEREAS, sale of this portion of land is consistent with the recommendations of the Inlet Island Land Use Plan
provided either a twelve foot corridor is reserved along the Taughannock Boulevard Right of Way for the Inlet
Island Greenway or the NYS DEC agrees to allow construction of that greenway within its maintenance easement
along the Flood Control Channel, and
WHEREAS, this portion of Taughannock Boulevard no longer exists as a defined street and has been under license
to the Boating Center and its predecessor for a number of years and otherwise used as parking and circulation areas
for the Boating Center and Coast Guard Auxiliary, now therefore be it
RESOLVED, that the Board of Public Works declares those areas of the Taughannock Boulevard Right of Way
depicted on the attached site plan no longer needed for public purpose and abandons its use as a public street, be it
further
RESOLVED, that the Board recommends that the Common Council sell this portion of Taughannock Boulevard.
Amending Resolution
By Commissioner Ehrhardt: Seconded by Commissioner Reeves
RESOLVED, that the last RESOLVED clause be amended to read:
RESOLVED, that the Board recommends that the Common Council sell this portion of
Taughannock Boulevard with easements for public utilities.
A vote on the amending resolution resulted as follows: Carried Unanimously
Resolution As Amended
A vote on the amended resolution resulted as follows: Carried Unanimously
14. HIGHWAYS, STREETS AND SIDEWALK ITEMS:
A. Request for Expungement of Sidewalk Assessment - 212 W. Spencer Street
By Commissioner Davidoff: Seconded by Commissioner Ehrhardt
WHEREAS, Michael Carver, owner of 212 West Spencer Street, received a sidewalk assessment for
repairs to the sidewalk, and
WHEREAS, Mr. Carver has requested that the board expunge the assessment based on the condition of
the neighboring properties, and
WHEREAS, staff has indicated that Mr. Carver’s walk was in need of repair and that neighboring
sidewalks will now be investigated based on Mr. Carver’s complaint; now, therefore be it
RESOLVED, That the Board of Public Works hereby denies Mr. Carver’s request for expungement of the
sidewalk assessment, and be it further
RESOLVED, That staff be directed to insert the neighboring sidewalks in the Spencer Street area listed by
Mr. Carver in the current sidewalk inspection program.
Discussion followed on the floor.
A vote on the resolution resulted as follows: Carried Unanimously
B. Request for Expungement of Sidewalk Assessment - 425 East State Street
By Commissioner Davidoff: Seconded by Commissioner Ehrhardt
WHEREAS, Wilcox Press, owners of 425 East State Street received a sidewalk assessment for repairs
done to the sidewalk, and
WHEREAS, Wilcox Press, through their attorney Jim Miller, Esq., has stated that they have never
maintained this property, which has been generally confirmed by staff, and
WHEREAS, Wilcox Press feels that due to the topography of the land, the property at 425 East State
Street does not abut the sidewalk and is requesting an expungement of the assessment, and
WHEREAS, the Board of Public Works has received input from the City Attorney’s Office concerning this
matter and recommends that the assessment remain; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That the Board of Public Works hereby denies the request for expungement of the
assessment.
Discussion followed on the floor.
A vote on the resolution resulted as follows: Carried Unanimously
C. Request for Expungement of Sidewalk Assessment - 405 S. Albany Street
By Commissioner Davidoff: Seconded by Commissioner Ehrhardt
WHEREAS, Ernest Hauser, owner of 405 South Albany Street, received a sidewalk assessment for
replacement of the sidewalk and driveway apron, and
WHEREAS, Mr. Hauser feels that based on the fact that the previous owners were notified of the work to
be done and that he was not informed, he should not be responsible for the work; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That the Board of Public Works has reviewed the request along with recommendation from
staff, and be it further
November 13, 1996 - Page 3
RESOLVED, That the board accepts staff’s recommendation to expunge the driveway apron portion of
the walk since the original notice did not indicate that it needed replacement, and be it further
RESOLVED, That the City Chamberlain issue Mr. Hauser a new bill which reflects the change.
Discussion followed on the floor.
A vote on the resolution resulted as follows: Carried Unanimously
15. TRAFFIC ITEMS:
A. Request for One-Way Traffic on South Hill Terrace
By Commissioner Ehrhardt: Seconded by Commissioner Davidoff
WHEREAS, the Board of Public Works received a request to make the 100 block of South Hill Terrace
between Hillview and South Cayuga Street one-way south-west, and
WHEREAS, the request was reviewed by the Traffic Sub-committee following the policy for traffic
procedures, and
WHEREAS, input has been requested from residents (generally positive), IPD (negative) and IFD
(negative); now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That the Board of Public Work hereby grants the request for a 90 day trial period to convert
the 100 block of South Hill Terrace between Hillview and South Cayuga Street to one-way south-west, and
be it further
RESOLVED, That staff be directed to alert the public and affected city departments of the change.
Amending Resolution
By Commissioner Ehrhardt: Seconded by Commissioner Smith
RESOLVED, that the words “for a 90 day trial period” be removed from the first RESOLVED clause.
Discussion followed on the floor.
A vote on the amending resolution resulted as follows: Failed (2-4)
Ayes (2): Seligmann, Ehrhardt
Nays (4): Smith, Reeves, Davidoff, Cohen
Main Motion
Discussion followed on the floor.
A vote on the resolution resulted as follows: Carried Unanimously
The board returned to the regular order of business at this time.
B. Approval of Installation of “Roundabout” at University/Lake/Willard
By Commissioner Ehrhardt: Seconded by Commissioner Reeves
WHEREAS, the Traffic Systems Engineer has designed a “roundabout” for the intersection of
University/Lake/Willard in preparation for reconstruction of the intersection during Cornell’s Lake Source
Cooling Project, and
WHEREAS, the new design is expected to increase safety for vehicles as well as pedestrians and act as a
traffic calming device, and
WHEREAS, the Traffic Systems Engineer temporarily installed pylons for a test run and found that traffic
flows smoothly through the area, and
WHEREAS, the Traffic Sub-committee has reviewed the design as well as input from Fire (negative) and
Police Departments (wait and see) and Bicycle Advisory Commission (not response to date), and
WHEREAS, the board would like to review the operation of the proposed design in light of concerns raised
by IFD and others; now, therefore be it
RESOLVED, That the Board of Public Works has reviewed the design along with input and approves of
the installation for a 90-day trial period of the “roundabout” at the intersection of University/Lake/Willard.
Extensive discussion followed on the floor. The board agreed to try the “roundabout” concept at another
location.
A vote on the resolution resulted as follows: Failed (0-6)
Nays (6): Seligmann, Smith, Ehrhardt, Reeves, Davidoff, Cohen
16. CREEKS, BRIDGES AND PARKS:
17. ADMINISTRATION AND COMMUNICATIONS ITEMS:
A. Holiday Meeting Schedule
By Commissioner Reeves: Seconded by Commissioner Davidoff
RESOLVED, That the Board of Public Works hereby adopts the following for the holidays during
November, December and January:
November 6 COW
13 Regular
November 13, 1996 - Page 4
20 COW
27 No Meeting
December 4 COW
11 Regular
18 COW
January 8 COW
A vote on the resolution resulted as follows: Carried Unanimously
18. WATER, SEWER AND SOLID WASTE ITEMS:
A. Request for Expungement of Water and Sewer Bill - Nates Floral Estates
By Commissioner Seligmann: Seconded by Commissioner Davidoff
WHEREAS, the Board of Public Works has received a request for expungement of an upcoming water
and sewer bill for Nates Floral Estates, and
WHEREAS, on October 18, 1996, Nates’ experienced a water break and lost several thousand of gallons
of water, and
WHEREAS, staff presented the board with a resolution from 1984 passed by the BPW stating that all
future water and sewer bills would be the responsibility of Nates Floral Estates; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That the Board of Public Works denies the request based on the review of the history and
the current situation concerning the water and sewer bill at Nates Floral Estates, and be it further
RESOLVED, That the City Chamberlain issue the fourth quarter bill based on the reading to be taken in
December.
Discussion followed on the floor.
A vote on the resolution resulted as follows: Failed (0-5-1)
Ayes (0):
Nays (5): Seligmann, Smith, Ehrhardt, Reeves, Davidoff
Abstentions (1): Cohen
19. REPORT OF SPECIAL COMMITTEES:
Commissioner Ehrhardt reported on the following matters:
• Planning Board approval of EIS for Wegman’s
20. REPORT OF BOARD LIAISONS:
21. UNFINISHED BUSINESS:
22. NEW BUSINESS:
A. Power to Act
On a motion by Commissioner Seligmann, seconded by Commissioner Smith, the board unanimously
gave itself Power to Act on the Fall Creek Interceptor at its meeting of November 20, 1996.
23. ADJOURNMENT:
On a motion by Commissioner Ehrhardt , seconded by Commissioner Smith , the meeting adjourned at
6:00p.m.
William Kaupe Alan J. Cohen
Deputy City Clerk Mayor