HomeMy WebLinkAboutMN-BPW-1997-03-26BOARD OF PUBLIC WORKS PROCEEDINGS
CITY OF ITHACA, NEW YORK
Regular Meeting 7:30 p.m. March 26, 1997
PRESENT:
Mayor Cohen
Commissioners (6) - Ehrhardt, Seligmann, Smith, Vargas, Gutenberger, Jenkins
OTHERS PRESENT:
Deputy City Clerk - Kaupe
Assistant Superintendent of Streets and Facilities - Ferrel
Assistant Superintendent of Water and Sewer - Fabbroni
Deputy City Controller - Thayer
Common Council Liaison - Mackesey
EXCUSED:
Superintendent of Public Works - Gray
1. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE:
Mayor Cohen led all present in the Pledge of Allegiance to the American flag.
2. MINUTES:
Approval of the Minutes of the February 26, 1997 Board of Public Works Meeting
By Commissioner Seligmann: Seconded by Commissioner Ehrhardt
RESOLVED, That the Minutes of the February 26, 1997 Board of Public Works meeting be approved as published.
3. ADDITIONS TO OR DELETIONS FROM THE AGENDA: Carried Unanimously
Mayor Cohen requested that Item 15A be deleted from the agenda. No board member objected.
4. MAYOR'S COMMUNICATIONS:
5. COMMUNICATIONS AND HEARINGS OF PERSONS BEFORE THE BOARD:
7. REPORT OF CITY CLERK:
8. REPORT OF CITY ATTORNEY:
9. REPORT OF CITY CONTROLLER:
10. REPORT OF COUNCIL LIAISON:
Alderperson Gray called the board's attention to its liaison assignment list and said that the various boards and
commisions encouraged BPW members to attend their liaison meetings. Gray also encouraged the use of e-mail.
11. REPORTS OF SUPERINTENDENT AND STAFF:
Assistant Superintendent Ferrel reported to the board on the following matters:
Highways: drainage projects, MHA road construction; 611 W Buffalo; street cleaning; snow removal budget (60%
used),
Parks & Forestry: large tree removals; Golf Course open 4/1; $20K NYS grant for structural soil demo;
Building Systems: Golf Course Clubhouse; G1AC painting; Southside roof; boathouse; equipment deliveries;
Sign Shop:
Electrician:
Solid Waste: enforcement of recycling code; garbage tonnage under budget estimate
Transit: new Route 10 (downtown/CU shuttle) starts 4/10 at a reduced rate;
Other items: DEC dredging in Flood Ctrl Chan; employee hearing assessment prog
Questions/Discussion: golf course concession opening; shuttle bus rate; tree removal; street cleaning; Superior's
recycling debris; legal issues regarding tree removal; snow contingency budget; Flood Control Channel project
Assistant Superintendent Fabbroni summarized the current Water and Sewer projects for the new board members
12. REPORT OF OTHER DEPARTMENT HEADS:
13. BUILDINGS, PROPERTIES AND TRANSIT ITEMS:
By Commissioner Ehrhardt: Seconded by Commissioner Smith
A. Reduction in Outdoor Dining Fee.
WHEREAS, the Superintendent of Public Works and the Board of Public Works have received several requests for lower
outdoor dining fees in order to reflect the differential value between the areas available along the streets and those on the
Commons, and
WHEREAS, the board has reviewed the outdoor dining process and has agreed that outdoor dining adds to the attraction
of downtown; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That the Board of Pub] is Works hereby reduces the current fee of $7 per square foot for outdoor dining to
a fee of $3.50 per square foot for those areas outside of the Commons primary pedestrian area.
Discussion followed on the floor.
A vote on the resolution resulted as follows: Carried (5 -1 -1)
Ayes (5): Ehrhardt, Smith,Vargas, Jenkins, Gutenberger
Nays (1): Seligmann
Abstentions (1): Cohen
B. Request for Outdoor Dining at Rullofrs.
By Commissioner Ehrhardt: Seconded by Commissioner Gutenberger
WHEREAS, the Board of Public Works has received a request for outdoor dining from Rulloffs in Collegetown
(411 College Avenue) and has reviewed previous requests which were not granted in 1991 and 1994, and
WHEREAS, the request is for 144 square feet in the brick area between the sidewalk and the street; now, therefore,
be it
RESOLVED, That the Board of Public Works grants Rullofrs permission for use of 144 square feet at a price to
be determined from April 15, 1997 until October 15, 1997, and be it further
RESOLVED, That the existing bench in the brick area be removed by staff, and be it further
RESOLVED, That the owners of Rullofrs be obliged to keep the area adjacent to their property clean and free from
litter, food and grease stains, or other problems associated with their use, and be it further
RESOLVED, That the Superintendent of Public Works be authorized to sign a 30 day revocable license agreement,
based on the usual terms and conditions.
Discussion followed on the floor.
A vote on the resolution resulted as follows: Carried (6-0-1)
Ayes (6): Ehrhardt, Smith, Seligman, Jenkins, Gutenberger, Cohen
Abstentions (1): Vargas
C. Request for Outdoor Dining at Simeon's.
By Commissioner Ehrhardt: Seconded by Commissioner Smith
WHEREAS, Simeon's on the Commons has previously obtained permission for use of the adjacent sidewalk on
Aurora Street for outdoor dining, and
WHEREAS, Simeon's is requesting an additional 40 square feet of sidewalk on North Aurora Street for outdoor
dining; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That the Board of Public Works has reviewed and approves the request for an addition 40 square feet
of sidewalk for outdoor dining immediately adjacent to their building, and be it further
RESOLVED, That the owners of Simeon's be obliged to keep the area adjacent to their property clean and free from
litter, food and grease stains, or other problems associated with their use, and be it further
RESOLVED, That the Superintendent of Public Works be authorized to sign a 30 day revocable license agreement,
based on the usual terms and conditions.
Discussion followed on the floor.
A vote on the resolution resulted as follows: Carried (6 -0-1)
Ayes (6): Ehrhardt, Smith, Seligmann, Vargas, Jenkins, Gutenberger
Abstentions (1): Cohen
14. HIGHWAYS. STREETS AND SIDEWALK ITEMS:
A. Street Name for Mutual Housing Project.
By Commissioner Ehrhardt: Seconded by Commissioner Vargas
WHEREAS, the Mutual Housing Authority Tenants Cooperative (MHA -TC) and the Science Center met in
February to discuss the naming of the new street between Adams Street and Franklin Street, east of the MHA
houses, and
WHEREAS, all the MHA -TC members and the Science Center were in agreement that the street be named after
Alice Miller, a member of the Ithaca community who believed in, and lived her life creating, social justice, including
the concept of equality and diversity for all, reflecting the core principle of the MHA which provides equal housing
to all and diversity in its community; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That the new street between Adams Street and Franklin Street, east of the MHA houses, be named
Alice Miller Way.
Discussion followed on the floor.
A vote on the resolution resulted as follows: Carried Fnanimously
B. Cleveland Avenue Street Improvements
By Commissioner Ehrhardt: Seconded by Commissioner Vargas
WHEREAS, the 1995 Community Development Block Grant includes funding in multiple years for construction of
traffic calming devices, increased lighting, and other improvements in the Cleveland Avenue neighborhood; and
WHEREAS, there has been discussion during community meetings and with the City's traffic engineer, the Bicycle
Advisory Committee, the Board of Public Works, the Fire Department, and the Police Department of what devices to
use, and agreement evolving therefrom to provide a mini traffic circle at the intersection of Cleveland and Corn, a
chicane in the 200 block of Cleveland Avenue, and a speed hump in the 100 block of Cleveland Avenue to reduce
traffic speeds in those areas; and
WHEREAS, the installation of a traffic calming device at the intersection of Plain and Cleveland, which can be
funded by the third year of this grant, will be considered by the Board of Public Works subsequent to a City-wide
traffic analysis and planning effort; and
March 26, 1997 - Page 3
WHEREAS, there has been discussion during community meetings and with the Assistant Superintendent of Public
Works, and with the Board of Public Works, and agreement evolving therefrom to provide historic style sidewalk
lighting to supplement the street lighting rather than increasing the number and brightness of the street, while
acknowledging that this type of light will require about $700 more per year in electric costs and $2,000 more per
year in maintenance costs than increasing the number and brightness of the streetlights because it is considered a
more effective and aesthetic way to light the sidewalks; and
WHEREAS, there has been discussion during community meetings and with the Board of Public Works, and
agreement evolving therefrom that there shall be an increase in the number and brightness of street lights at the
intersection of Clinton and Com and inclusion of a permanent reflector tape cross -walk during the State's paving
project in that block, and
WHEREAS, the final design details ofthese traffic calming devices will be reviewed for vehicle compatibility, and
maintenance concerns by the Traffic Engineer, Bicycle Advisory Committee, Fire Department, Police Department,
and the Traffic Committee of the BPW, and will be reviewed for compatibility with the neighborhood at a
community meeting: and
WHEREAS, the CDBG funds will be used to construct these improvements, now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That the IURA with the cooperation of the Department of Public Works may proceed with the design
and implementation of the above street improvements pending approvals during final reviews described above.
Amending Resolution
By Mayor Cohen : Seconded by Commissioner Ehrhardt
RESOLVED, That a second RESOLVED clause be added as follows:
"...,and , be it further
RESOLVED, That the Traffic Engineer is directed to collect trafffic and speed
counts before and after installation of the traffic calming devices in order to gauge
the impact and effectiveness of said devices"
A vote on the amending resolution resulted as follows: Carried Unanimously
Amending Resolution
By Commissioner Ehrhardt: Seconded by Commissioner Jenkins
RESOLVED, That a third RESOLVED clause be added as follows:
"....and , be it further
RESOLVED, That the Board of Public Works requests that Common Council
include funding in future Department of Public Works budgets to account for the
long -term maintenance expenses created by this project"
Discussion followed on the floor.
A vote on the amending resolution resulted as follows: Carried Unanimously
Resolution As Amended
Discussion followed on the floor.
A vote on the amended resolution resulted as follows: Carried Unanimously
15. TRAFFIC ITEMS:
16. CREEKS, BRIDGES AND PARKS:
17. ADMINISTRATION AND COMMUNICATIONS ITEMS:
By Commissioner Smith: Seconded by Commissioner Vargas
A. Re- Authorization of Equipment Purchase.
WHEREAS, the Assistant Superintendent has reviewed the 1997 Capitalized equipment list approved with
1997 Final Budget. and
WHEREAS, an error in the equipment request was uncovered in which a tractor with a replacement cost
of $14.000 was scheduled for replacement because it appeared on the equipment list as a 1987 model
rather than its actual date of 1992, and
WHEREAS, the department would like to substitute another piece of equipment that was dropped from the
1997 equipment requests during the budget review process; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That the Board of Public Works requests that the approved 1997 equipment list be modified
as follows:
Delete A 5411 -225 John Deere Tractor $14,000
Add A 3311 -225 Sign Lettering Machine $14,000
and that the appropriate adjustments be made to the 1997 Capital Projects breakdown and the operating
accounts to reflect these changes.
18. WATER. SEWER AND SOLID WASTE ITEMS:
19. REPORT OF SPECIAL COMMITTEES:
20. REPORT OF BOARD LIAISONS:
Commissioner Ehrhardt reported on the following matters:
• Planning Board report from BAC client committee about an $80K Federal grant for bike route
infrastructure (discussion on the floor of plan approval sequence and presentation of the plan
March 26, 1997 - Page 4
before the BPW for approval before Planning Board approval)
Commissioner Smith reported on the following matters:
• Commons Advisory Board discussion of BID proposal for outdoor dining space
21. UNFINISHED BUSINESS:
22. NEW BUSINESS:
Commissioner Smith discussed the possible sale of parking stickers by the BID, similar to the sale by DII
and sal a of stickers for shuttle bus.
23. ADJOURNMENT:
On a motion by Commissioner, seconded by Commissioner, the meeting adjourned at 9:10 p.m.
William Kaupe
Deputy City Clerk
Alan J. Cohen
Mayor