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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