HomeMy WebLinkAboutMN-BPW-1998-03-10BOARD OF PUBLIC WORKS PROCEEDINGS
CITY OF ITHACA, NEW YORK
Special Meeting 5:30 p.m. March 10, 1998
PRESENT:
Mayor Cohen
Commissioners (5) Ehrhardt, Jenkins, Leonardo, Smith, Vargas,
OTHERS PRESENT:
Superintendent Gray
Assistant Superintendent Fabbroni
Assistant Superintendent Ferrel
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
Mayor Cohen led all present in the Pledge of Allegiance to the
American Flag.
ADMINISTRATION AND COMMUNICATIONS ITEMS:
By Commissioner Ehrhardt: Seconded by Commissioner Leonardo
WHEREAS, the Department of Public Works is responsible for
cleaning and maintaining the parks and streets of the City of
Ithaca, including the Ithaca Commons, and
WHEREAS, the Board of Public Works is charged with overseeing
these activities, and
WHEREAS, the Ithaca Police Department has requested that Common
Council approve the use of police patrols mounted on horseback
within the parks and streets of the City of Ithaca, including the
Ithaca Commons, and
WHEREAS, the Board of Public Works and Department of Public Works
staff have reviewed the Ithaca Police Department’s proposal and
discussed it with the Chief of Police, and
WHEREAS, the Ithaca Police Department’s proposal does not provide
adequately for the prompt cleaning of horse manure and horse
urine from the parks and streets of the City of Ithaca, including
the Ithaca Commons, and
WHEREAS, the Board of Public Works disagrees with the Ithaca
Police Department’s proposal, which states that placing shovels
and containers at various locations on the Ithaca Commons will
allow the rider to adequately clean up horse manure and that
horse manure can remain in the streets until it “dries up and
blows away,” and
WHEREAS, the proposal is inadequate in its attention to the issue
of cleaning up horse urine, and
WHEREAS, the Department of Public Works is prepared to clean up
after horses on rare special occasions such as the holiday horse
and wagon weekends, but is not prepared to clean up after horses
on a routine basis, and
WHEREAS, the presence, odor, inconvenience, and slipperiness of
horse manure and horse urine are inappropriate, obnoxious, and
potentially hazardous nuisances to encounter in an urban
environment where pedestrians, cyclists, and baby-strollers use
the streets and parks throughout the day, and
WHEREAS, it is especially important that the Ithaca Commons
remain a clean and inviting place for pedestrians, shoppers,
outdoor-diners, and very young children, and
WHEREAS, the City of Ithaca has enacted ordinances prohibiting
the presence of animals on the Ithaca Commons and prohibiting
animal owners from allowing their animals to urinate or defecate
on the streets, parks, lawns, and curbs within the City of
Ithaca; now therefore be it
RESOLVED, That the Board of Public Works disapproves of spending
any Department of Public Works funds or using any time of any
Department of Public Works employee to clean up after horses,
except on rare occasions for which special permits are granted by
the Department of Public Works with the approval of the Board of
Public Works, and, be it further
RESOLVED, That the Board of Public Works strongly recommends that
Common Council deny the Ithaca Police Department request to
initiate a mounted police patrol anywhere in the City of Ithaca
and, be it further
RESOLVED, That the Board of Public Works strongly recommends that
Common Council deny the Ithaca Police Department request to
modify the City Code to permit horses on the Ithaca Commons or in
city parks.
Extensive discussion followed on the item. Commissioner Smith
noted that he respectfully disagreed with the resolution. He
noted that he wanted to hear input from the Police Department and
that the Downtown Partnership also has concern but is willing to
agree to an experimental basis which he also supports. He noted
that he believes interaction with the Police Department and the
community is important. Commissioner Vargas noted that he has
concerns but agreed that he also wanted to hear input from the
Police Department. Commissioner Jenkins questioned what the role
of the horses would be in the South Side Center and how frequent
the patrol would be? Officer Kathy Torres was present to discuss
the issue with the Board. She indicated that the patrol would
not be in the neighborhoods on a regular basis and that there
would be a mini-equestrian program held at the South Side Center.
She indicated that the horses are geldings (male) which generally
do not defecate while a rider is mounted. Commissioner Ehrhardt
questioned if the officers would at any time be dismounted at
which time the horse would defecate. He then pointed out that
manure is not appropriate for a pedestrian mall or city streets
in general. Officer Frank Brackin was also present to address
Board of Public Works
March 10, 1998
Page 3
the Board. He pointed out that quite often dogs are present on
the Commons which results in the need of clean up. Commissioner
Ehrhardt noted that dogs may go on the Commons, but without the
permission of the Board. Commissioner Leonardo questioned if the
officers are willing to clean up after the horses and what the
policy in other cities is. Officer Torres noted that the only
city they contacted where the officers do not pick up after the
horse is New York City. Officer Torres noted that they are
asking for an opportunity to try the program. She explained that
one horse will be used for the equestrian program while the other
will be used as mounted patrol.
Amending Resolution
By Mayor Cohen: Seconded by Commissioner Vargas
RESOLVED, That the fifth WHEREAS clause have the word “yet”
inserted between “does not” and “provide” and that the fifth
WHEREAS clause and the sixth WHEREAS clause be switched in order,
and the seventh WHEREAS be deleted, and, be it further
RESOLVED, That the first two resolved be stricken and add the
following:
RESOLVED, That Board of Public Works recommends to Common Council
that it approve the IPD experimental mounted policing program
only after the issue of the clean up of horse manure and urine
has been adequately addressed to the satisfaction of the Board of
Public Works.
Discussion followed with Commissioner Ehrhardt noting that he is
opposed to the proposed amendments. He added that he saluted the
effort by Officers Torres and Brackin to make this program happen
but does not agree with the idea of the program. Mayor Cohen
explained that the resolution requires that more discussion take
place in order to clarify the clean up issue including that DPW
funds should not support the clean up of the horses.
A vote on the amending resolution resulted as follows:
Ayes (5) Cohen, Jenkins, Leonardo, Smith, Vargas
Nays (1) Ehrhardt
Carried (5-1)
Main Motion as Amended
A vote on the Main Motion as Amended resulted as follows:
Ayes (5) Cohen, Jenkins, Leonardo, Smith, Vargas
Nays (1) Ehrhardt
Carried (5-1)
ADJOURNMENT:
On a motion the meeting adjourned at 6:05 p.m.
Board of Public Works
March 10, 1998
Page 4
Donna L. Payne Alan J. Cohen
Administrative Secretary Mayor