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.
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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
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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.
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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
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