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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMN-BPW-1997-10-22BOARD OF PUBLIC WORKS PROCEEDINGS CITY OF ITHACA, NEW YORK Regular Meeting 7:30 p.m. October 22, 1997 PRESENT: Mayor Cohen Commissioners (6) - Ehrhardt, Seligmann, Smith, Vargas, Gutenberger, Jenkins OTHERS PRESENT: Deputy City Clerk - Kaupe Deputy City Controller - Thayer Superintendent of Public Works - Gray Assistant Superintendent of Streets and Facilities - Ferrel Assistant Superintendent of Water and Sewer - Fabbroni Common Council Liaison - Gray EXCUSED: 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 September 24, 1997 Board of Public Works Meeting By Commissioner Vargas : Seconded by Commissioner Ehrhardt RESOLVED, That the Minutes of the September 24, 1997 Board of Public Works meeting be approved as published. Carried Unanimously 3. ADDITIONS TO OR DELETIONS FROM THE AGENDA: 4. MAYOR'S COMMUNICATIONS: 5. COMMUNICATIONS AND HEARINGS OF PERSONS BEFORE THE BOARD: Doug Pessefall, BID Director, spoke on the following items: against the removal of the Commons Fountain without concern for the development of an overall Commons plan – this is the official position of the BID Board of Directors; holiday parking arrangements Richard Holgate discussed the 608 E Seneca St driveway issue with the board. The board’s request for City Attorney’s opinion had not been answered. Resolution concerning 608 E Seneca Street By Commissioner Ehrhardt : Seconded by Commissioner Smith WHEREAS, the Board of Public Works has reviewed the matter of the sidewalk at 608 E Seneca St, now, therefore, be it RESOLVED, That the board accepts the current profile of the sidewalk contingent upon the approval of the City Attorney. Discussion followed on the floor. A vote on the resolution resulted as follows: Carried Unanimously John Schroeder spoke on the following matters: against the removal of the Commons Fountain; development of an overall Commons plan Rick Rogers spoke on traffic calming issues on Wood, South and S Plain Streets and asked that S Plain St be added – asking specifically for speed humps 6. RESPONSE TO THE PUBLIC Supt Gray responded to Rogers that there are 4 steps to traffic calming and measures would be taken in order until the desired result was achieved. He said that the Traffic Engineer took a conservative position because of fear of lawsuits. Commissioner Ehrhardt responded to Rogers that the Traffic Engineer had a legitimate concern. Wood and South Sts are the primary concern at this time. He stated that he agreed with Schroeder about planning. 7. REPORT OF CITY CLERK: 8. REPORT OF CITY ATTORNEY: 9. REPORT OF CITY CONTROLLER: 10. REPORT OF COUNCIL LIAISON: Alderperson Gray reported on the following: multimodal grant received for traffic calming; residential parking committee to meet 11/3; Discussion followed with Supt Gray and Mayor Cohen on the distribution of grant moneys 11. REPORT OF OTHER DEPARTMENT HEADS: 12. BUILDINGS, PROPERTIES, TRANSIT, PARKS, WATER, SEWER AND SOLID WASTE ITEMS: A. Removal of Present Ithaca Commons Fountain. By Commissioner Smith: Seconded by Commissioner Seligmann WHEREAS, the Ithaca Commons Fountain Sculpture does not presently function as a fountain, and WHEREAS, the Board of Public Works has previously expressed its approval by using the site of the Ithaca Fountain Sculpture for other purposes on a temporary basis, and WHEREAS, there has been a request to remove the present configuration of the Ithaca Commons Fountain Sculpture, and Board of Public Works – October 22, 1997 - Page 2 WHEREAS, the Board of Public Works believes that a decorative fountain of some kind should be retained on the Ithaca Commons, and WHEREAS, the removal of the present fountain sculpture has been approved by the Commons Advisory Board and the Public Art and Design Review Committee; now, therefore be it RESOLVED, That the Board of Public Works agrees to the removal of the present configuration of the Ithaca Commons Fountain Sculpture, excepting any underlying infrastructure which may be required by a future fountain on the site, and be it further Discussion followed on the floor. A vote on the resolution resulted as follows: Ayes (4): Cohen, Gutenberger, Seligmann, Smith Carried (4-1) Nays (1): Ehrhardt 13. TRAFFIC, HIGHWAYS, STREETS, SIDEWALKS, CREEKS AND BRIDGES ITEMS: A. Traffic Planning and Traffic Calming By Commissioner Ehrhardt : Seconded by Commissioner Smith WHEREAS, many residents of the City of Ithaca have requested that the Board of Public Works address problems related to the volume of traffic and behavior of drivers in their neighborhood, and WHEREAS, mitigation of the negative impacts of traffic on neighborhood life requires action on the part of the Department of Public Works as well as enforcement by the Police Department, and WHEREAS, a fair and practical solution for traffic problems requires a city wide perspective, and WHEREAS, the city of Ithaca has little experience with traffic calming devices and techniques and such experience would be useful in solving traffic problems; now, therefore, be it RESOLVED, That the Board of Public Works directs its Traffic Committee, with whatever appropriate assistance it can obtain from other city departments, to draft a proposal for a city wide traffic circulation plan and present such proposal to the Board of Public Works by July 1, 1998, and be it further RESOLVED, That the board requests that Common Council provide sufficient funds to the Department of Public Works for the design and implementation of temporary, experimental, uses of traffic calming measures in neighborhoods where residents have requested such measures, and be it further RESOLVED, That the board directs the Traffic Systems Engineer to direct the design of such traffic calming measures and to gather comparative “before and after” data on the impact of such devices on traffic circulation patterns and driver behavior, and be it further RESOLVED, That the board requests assistance of the Planning Department in drawing up a plan for public participation in the process of writing a city wide traffic circulation plan. Discussion followed on the floor. A vote on the resolution resulted as follows: Carried Unanimously B. Traffic Mitigation on Wood and South Streets. By Commissioner Ehrhardt: Seconded by Commissioner Smith WHEREAS, the residents of the Wood and South Street neighborhoods have requested relief from the danger of speeding traffic, and WHEREAS, the Traffic Systems Engineer has confirmed that vehicles are speeding along Wood and South Streets, and WHEREAS, approximately two-thirds of the traffic along Wood and South Streets is through traffic traveling through this neighborhood on the way to Meadow Streets stores, as opposed to being traffic traveling to and from destinations on these local streets, and WHEREAS, the Board of Public Works believes that the problem requires immediate and effective action by the city, and WHEREAS the Traffic System Engineer has recommended increased enforcement and suggested speed humps as a long-term effective remedy; now therefore, be it RESOLVED, That the Board of Public Work requests the Ithaca Police Department to increase enforcement of traffic laws on Wood and South Streets, and be it further RESOLVED, That the Board of Public Works directs the Traffic Systems Engineer to design a set of speed humps to control traffic speed on Wood and South Streets and to present the design tot he board on or before the second Wednesday in February 1998, and, be it further RESOLVED, That the implementation of the design is subject to funding by Common Council and to the Board of Public Works’ approval following the solicitation by the board of feedback from the Ithaca Police Department, the Ithaca Fire Department, Tompkins Consolidated Area Transit, the Ithaca Planning Department, the Titus Towers Tenant Council, the Bicycle Advisory Council, and the residents of the neighborhood, and, be it further Amending Resolution By Mayor Cohen : Seconded by Commissioner Gutenberger RESOLVED, That last RESOLVED clause be amended to read: RESOLVED, That the Board of Public Works’ vote to approve construction of the speed humps will take place no later than the fourth Wednesday in April 1998 and that it is the intention of the board that, should construction be approved, it be completed no later than June 1, 1998. A vote on the amending resolution resulted as follows: Carried Unanimously Board of Public Works – October 22, 1997 - Page 3 Amended Resolution A vote on the amended resolution resulted as follows: Carried Unanimously 14. ADMINISTRATION AND COMMUNICATIONS ITEMS: A. Holiday Meeting Schedule. By Commissioner Ehrhardt : Seconded by Commissioner Smith RESOLVED, That the Board of Public Works hereby adopts the following meeting schedule during the 1997 holiday season: November 12, 1997 Committee of the Whole November 19, 1997 Regular Meeting (Second Floor Conference Room) December 10, 1997 Committee of the Whole December 17, 1997 Regular Meeting (Second Floor Conference Room) Discussion followed on the floor. A vote on the resolution resulted as follows: Carried Unanimously 15. REPORTS OF SUPERINTENDENT AND STAFF: Assistant Superintendent Ferrel reported to the board on the following matters: Highways: all 1997 projects complete except paving 100 blocks N and S Cayuga St; 1997 highway capital program in the red; 1997 operating budget nearly exhausted; Alice Miller Way; utility patching; Spencer Rd wall collapse and sidewalk repair; Jim Miller retirement (Jim Kelly take over) Parks & Forestry: fall tree planting; Stewart Park playground eqpt Phase I; DEC structural soil and video grant submitted Building Systems: parking garage doors; heating system repairs; graffiti removal at parking ramps Sign Shop: new parking lot signage Electrician: excavation behind CVS for electrical service Other items: satellite weather service Mayor Cohen, Dep Controller Thayer, Asst Supt Ferrel and Supt Gray discussed the capital project billing system. Mayor Cohen suggested that areas subject to repeated graffiti attacks be treated to be resistant. Mayor Cohen suggested appropriate recognition for retiring Department of Public Works employees. Assistant Superintendent Fabbroni reported to the board on the following matters: $7M DEC grant application for WWTP and sewer improvements; water study (outlines distributed to board); pump stations going out to bid; WWTP complete in February; Jet Contractor working near IHS; MUNIS for water billing – staff loan to Chamberlain; Rt 96 lawsuit by contractor; Cascadilla St sewer delays; DEC charged silt dam permit violations – “absolutely without foundation” Commissioner Smith asked Asst Supt Fabbroni to provide a future recommendation on the water study options. Supt Gray responded that staff could give recommendations but the board has the ultimate responsibility Superintendent Gray reported to the board on the following matters: Stewart Ave bridge; cold storage bldg; GIAC doors; Southside; Cascadilla boathouse; parking eqpt; Esty St sidewalks; sidewalk rules and regulations; Frosh Alley; Haley Pool lawsuit; TCAT consolidation; water consolidation; CU chilled water impacts; water study 16. REPORT OF SPECIAL COMMITTEES: 17. REPORT OF BOARD LIAISONS: Commissioner Ehrhardt reported on the following matters:  Report to Common Council: Department of Public Works is short by $750K; requests for several staff positions 18. UNFINISHED BUSINESS: 19. NEW BUSINESS: 20. ADJOURNMENT: On a motion, the meeting adjourned at 9:55 p.m. William Kaupe Alan J. Cohen Deputy City Clerk Mayor