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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMN-BPW-1998-04-14BOARD OF PUBLIC WORKS COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE April 14, 1998 NOTES PRESENT: Commissioners Ehrhardt, Gutenberger, Leonardo, Smith (arrived at 4:20), Mayor Cohen (arrived at 4:55), Alderperson Marcham, Superintendent Gray and Assistant Superintendent Ferrel. Commissioner Ehrhardt chaired the meeting. Additions: Request for Trash can at Bus Station and in Collegetown Repair of Memorial in DeWitt Park Request to Place Historic Marker at 411 East State Street Report on Traffic Issues - South of the Creek Neighborhood TC3 Parking Permits There were no deletions from the agenda. 1. Ithaca Festival. co Laurel Guy, Festival Coordinator, was present to address the board. Ms. Guy noted that there are no major changes except that they would like to use the Commons on Thursday evening for a community dinner. The dinner is to celebrate Loaves and Fishes fifteenth anniversary. She also noted that she would like to work out details on trash removal with staff. It is hoped that they can bid out the trash removal to save money. Supt. Gray told Ms. Guy that the use of the Commons would need approval from the Commons Advisory Board. He also suggested that the board pass a .resolution allowing all future festival agreements to be handled administratively in order to save time. The board will vote on two resolutions at the next regular meeting. 2. Request to Place Historic Marker at 411 East State Street. Harvey Newkirk, president of Alpha Phi Alpha, explained to the board that his fraternity was founded in Ithaca and will be celebrating their 100th anniversary. The headquarters for the fraternity will be deciding where to hold the celebration and it is hoped that it will be here in Ithaca. Mr. Newkirk noted that they feel if the original location of the fraternity were to be identified with a plaque, it would be an added draw for the celebration. Supt. Gray explained that this is not something the department normally deals with. Generally, the property owner installs a plaque or some type of marker. He suggested that since the former location of the fraternity is at 411 East State Street and that there is no longer a building there, a plaque be installed on the existing hand rail adjacent to the sidewalk. He added that the ownership of the handrail is currently in dispute. The consensus of the board was that they would like to see the marker installed. It was suggested that the fraternity work with Leslie Chatterton of the Planning Department to contact the property owner for permission to install the marker. Awl Board of Public Works Committee of the Whole April 14, 1998 3. Residential Parking System Comm. Ehrhardt noted that the city charter charges the Board of Public Works with parking regulations. He added that the recent legislation to allow an on street permit parking system empowered council to establish a system. Ken Vineberg who is on the committee to fine tune and implement the parking system was present to address the board. He explained that the system would put pressure on the commuters in order to free up space for residents. State legislation does not allow for exclusion of commuters but for allowance of a permit system. The city will be required to allow 20% of the permits to the public. He added that the recent addition of signage prohibiting parking for a certain number of hours during the day has assisted residential parking. It is hoped that a permit will allow residents to ignore the time restrictions. Supt. Gray noted that the city currently has 24 hour and odd /even regulations which allows the department to clean and forces turn over of the parking spaces. Jeannie Lee of the Planning Department noted that it was intended for signage to be installed to regulate day time parking only. Asst. Supt. Ferrel noted that he is concerned with the installation and maintenance of signage for the parking system. Alderperson Marcham told the board that council has approved funding for the installation which would allow for the work to be bid out. Sale of permits would provide revenue to cover maintenance of the signage. Discussion followed concerning the number of permits per household. It was noted that two will be available and that off street parking will still be encouraged. This item will be discussed in more detail at a public meeting on April 28, 1998 at 5:00 p.m. by the board and Common Council members. 4. Lake Source Cooling. Comm. Ehrhardt noted that the Planning and Development Board approved of the installation of the main to be installed under the bridge at Fall Creek. By Mayor Cohen, seconded by Commissioner Smith WHEREAS, the city has been involved in a lengthy review of the Cornell Lake Source Cooling project through the DEC led environmental impact review process, and WHEREAS, the city has negotiated an agreement with Cornell for the use of city R.O.W. which results in significant savings in future investments by the city in infrastructure along the R.O.W., and WHEREAS, Cornell has asked DPW to issue a street permit for work under the LSC project as well as a Recreational River Permit from the city's Planning and Development Board, and Page - 2 L Board of Public Works Committee of the Whole April 14, 1998 WHEREAS, the DEC has accepted Cornell's EIS as final (FEIS), issued a finding statement and granted Cornell a State Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (SPDES) permit which contains the state's requirements for operation, and WHEREAS, the Planning and Development Board granted the requested Recreational River Permit on March 24, 1998 following their public hearing on the issue; now therefore be it RESOLVED, That the Board of Public Works directs the Superintendent to issue a generic street permit to Cornell and to issue final work permits, after consultation with the Mayor and City Attorney, which conform to the agreement between Cornell and the City for the Lake Source Cooling Project. A vote resulted as follows: Carried Unanimously (4 -0) 5. Reauest from Bov Scouts for Use of DeWitt Park. Tim English of the Boy Scouts was present to request that the board grant permission for the use of DeWitt Park. He explained that the Boy Scouts would like to hold an activity day on May 9, 1998 for about four hours. It would be their formal attempt to inform the cub scouts of what the boy scouts are involved with so that they can decide which group to move up to. Mr. English noted that DeWitt Park is a central location that would allow the public to see the activities and possibly recruit new members. The events will be very low key and non - disruptive to the area. Supt. Gray explained that the park is not city property but administered by the city as agreed upon by the Presbyterian Church who is the owner. He noted that it was an area intended as a quiet and contemplative promenade. Discussion followed concerning recent requests and uses of the park. Mayor Cohen suggested that the board agree to the use of the park by the scouts and that he and Supt. Gray would approach the church for clarification of what they intend for the use of the park to be. This item will be voted on at the next regular meeting. 6. Reauest for Trash can at Bus Station and in Colleaetown. Alderperson Farrell was present to discuss installation of trash cans near the bus station on Fulton Street. She questioned what is the policy on placement of cans? Asst. Supt. Ferrel noted that the cans are intended for use by pedestrians and if household garbage is found in them, they are removed. The consensus of the board was to install cans and to monitor the use of them. Page - 3 Board of Public Works Committee of the Whole April 14, 1998 Cans in Collegetown Alderperson Marcham noted that there are several receptacles on the Commons and that some should be distributed to the Collegetown area and even DeWitt Park. Asst. Supt. Ferrel noted that cans were removed from Collegetown because household trash was being found in them. Supt. Gray also commented that there is a lack of sidewalk space in the Collegetown area. Comm. Ehrhardt stated that a Capital Project was established several years ago to provide trash and recycling cans in the Commons and Collegetown area. He stated that he felt some of the cans on the Commons should be moved to the Collegetown area. 6. Eddy and Buffalo Street Parking Bumpout. Comm. Ehrhardt explained that there is a continual parking problem at the corner of Eddy and Buffalo Street. Vehicles are parked on Buffalo which interfere with the sight distance when turning on to Eddy Street. He noted that the traffic sub - committee is recommending that a railroad tie and gravel bumpout be installed in order to discourage parking on Buffalo Street. A resolution approving the installation of the bumpouts will be voted on at the next regular meeting. 7. Repair of Memorial in DeWitt Park. Alderperson Marcham told the board that Peter Meskill of the County Board of Reps has brought the damaged memorial in DeWitt Park to her attention. The county has $1,000 to repair the memorial but would like permission to repair it. Discussion followed, staff will investigate the ownership of the memorial so that repairs can take place. 8. TC3 Parking Permits. Discussion followed concerning the status of the programmability of the new parking system to allow for a balance to accumulate based on their usage. Supt. Gray stated that he will look into the possibilities. 9. Report on Traffic Issues - South of the Creek Neighborhood Comm. Ehrhardt told the board that the Titus /Geneva /Albany Street area neighborhood held a meeting concerning traffic issues. There were 66 people that attended. The consensus of the meeting was that they are tired of the volume of traffic as well as truck traffic. He suggested that the board set a policy for city trucks to stay on truck routes and avoid residential areas. In addition, he requested that the city work with other municipalities and large truck companies to reduce truck traffic in residential areas. The meeting adjourned at 6:00 p.m. Notes taken by: Donna L. Payne Administrative Secretary Page - 4