HomeMy WebLinkAboutMN-BPW-1998-12-15BOARD OF PUBLIC WORKS PROCEEDINGS
CITY OF ITHACA, NEW YORK
Regular Meeting 4:30 p.m. December 15, 1998
PRESENT:
Mayor Cohen
Commissioners (5) - Ehrhardt, Smith, Vargas, Gutenberger, Jenkins
OTHERS PRESENT:
Deputy City Clerk – Korherr
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 – Marcham
Excused – Commissioner Leonardo
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE:
Mayor Cohen led all present in the Pledge of Allegiance to the
American flag.
ADDITIONS TO OR DELETIONS FROM THE AGENDA:
Superintendent of Public Works Gray requested the addition of the
following agenda items:
Buildings, Properties, Transit, Parks, Water and Sewer and Solid
Waste Items:
Item 12C - Maintenance of parking lot equipment-
Discussion/Possible Resolution
Item 12D Carousel Budget Amendment-Resolution
Item 12E SJS Proposal for WWTP Master Plan-Resolution
Item 12F Sidewalk Cleaning Equipment-Discussion/Possible
Resolution
Traffic, Highways, Streets, Sidewalks, Creeks and Bridges Items:
Item 13B Authorization to Enter into New Arterial Maintenance
agreement – Route 96 B-Possible Resolution
Mayor Cohen requested adding Item 13C Cleveland Avenue-
Discussion/Possible Resolution.
No Board member objected.
COMMUNICATIONS AND HEARINGS OF PERSONS BEFORE THE BOARD:
Reggie Teasley, City of Ithaca, addressed the traffic problems
and the need for improvement in the Albany Street, Spencer Street
and Elmira Road intersection.
Chris Anagnost, City of Ithaca, addressed the Board to request
that the public crosswalk constructed at 301-307 College Ave. be
moved away from his driveway. He stated that parked construction
vehicles and students crossing prevent him from exiting his
driveway safely. He suggested moving the crosswalk to 306 College
Avenue by the firehouse. Common Council Liason Marcham responded
that College Town Neighborhood Council has also asked Streets and
Facilities to relocate the crosswalk. Commissioner Ehrhardt
questioned the need to have it be an agenda item, could it be
handled as an administrative item. Superintendent Gray responded
that it will be an administrative item unless there is a large
difference of opinion.
REPORT OF CITY CLERK:
City Clerk Holcomb introduced the newly appointed Deputy City
Clerk Robin Korherr.
REPORT OF CITY CONTROLLER:
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December 15, 1998
2
Deputy City Controller Thayer reported on the following matters:
Year end account closing activity for Streets and Facilities.
Bids will be opened for refuse disposal of collected refuse on
December 17,1998.
The Golf Course concession stand contract ended this year. Should
this be bid out along with the other concessions at Stewart Park,
or extended for one more year? Mayor Cohen requested that the
golf course sub-committee discuss this item further. Mayor Cohen
further appointed Commissioner Gutenberger to Golf Course sub-
committee.
BUILDINGS, PROPERTIES, TRANSIT, PARKS, WATER, SEWER AND SOLID
WASTE ITEMS:
Approval of Request for Cemetery Plot:
By Commissioner Vargas: Seconded by Commissioner Gutenberger
WHEREAS, Danny Wheeler, 501 Willow Avenue, has requested that the
City sell him or otherwise provide space within the City
cemetery, and
WHEREAS, Mr. Wheeler is a member of the Grand Army of the
Republic which is the owner of the space he is requesting and
they have already granted his request; now, therefore be it
RESOLVED, That the Board of Public Works has received and adopts
a recommendation from the City Attorney’s Office to approve of
the request since adequate proof of ownership by the Grand Army
of the Republic was provided.
Carried unanimously
Merry-go-round and Park Concession Operations:
By Commissioner Vargas: Seconded by Commissioner Jenkins
WHEREAS, the City of Ithaca has recently taken possession of the
Merry-go-round in Stewart Park, and
WHEREAS, the Ithaca Youth Bureau has turned over the concessions
in the park to the Department of Public Works; now, therefore be
it
RESOLVED, That the Board of Public Works directs staff to put the
operation of both the concession stand and the merry-go-round out
to bid and to submit a budget to the B&A Committee for
incorporation into the City’s 1999 budget.
Discussion followed on the floor regarding the number of
concessions that will be put out to bid. Asst. Superintendent
Ferrel voiced his concerns regarding the maintenance and tear
down of the carousel. He feels that his staff should be
responsible for these tasks and he has prepared a preliminary
budget for both of these duties for 1999. Common Council may
choose to adjust the 1999 budget for the staff costs for some of
the project. Gross revenue records for the past few years are
available; the carousel grossed $23,000 in 1998. The Board
decided that the Merry Go Round concession should be packaged
with concession stand operations. This item should be forwarded
to the B&A Committee as the funds for the Merry Go Round
operations were not included in the 1999 budget. Superintendent
Gray would like to prepare bid packages as early as possible. The
Properties sub-committee will discuss this item further at it’s
next meeting.
Power to Act:
By Commissioner Vargas: Seconded by Commissioner Smith
RESOLVED, That the Board of Public Works has the power to act at
the next Committee of the Whole meeting to consider the approval
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December 15, 1998
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of concession bids.
Carried Unanimously
TRAFFIC, HIGHWAYS, STREETS, SIDEWALKS, CREEKS AND BRIDGES ITEMS:
Proceed with Design for Albany/Elmira/Spencer Road Intersection
By Commissioner Ehrhardt: Seconded by Commissioner Vargas
WHEREAS, the Mayor and Common Council of the City of Ithaca have
endorsed a reconfiguration of the intersection of Albany Street,
Spencer Street, Spencer Road, Park Street, and Elmira Road and
allocated funds in the 1999 budget for such reconfiguration, and
WHEREAS, their actions were taken in response to the requests of
neighborhood residents that the city take action to solve the
urgent problems attributable to excessive traffic volume on South
Albany Street and South Titus Street, and consequent overflowing
of traffic onto South Geneva Street and North Titus Street,
including both lowered property values, and the nuisances
attendant with high traffic which damage the quality of
residential life, and
WHEREAS, these problems are in part the result of a series of
actions by City government and private businesses including the
removal of a vehicular bridge on Plain Street, traffic reduction
measures on Spencer Road, and commercial development on South
Meadow Street that has produced traffic impacts which have not
yet been mitigated, and
WHEREAS, the neighborhood in question is presently in jeopardy
and vital to the integrity of downtown Ithaca as a residential
area of choice, and
WHEREAS, the Task Force on Traffic Issues recommended a
reconfiguration of the above-mentioned intersection as part of a
plan to remedy the traffic problems in a manner which would
negatively impact as few residents as possible and enable the
improvement of the neighborhood at large, and
WHEREAS, there remain questions and potential difficulties with
the plan that need to be resolved with the assistance of the
Traffic Systems Engineer before the plan can be presented for
public comment; now, therefore be it
RESOLVED, That the Board of Public Works directs the Traffic
Systems Engineer to bring to the board on or before February 15,
1999 a design for the reconfiguration of traffic flow on the
above-mentioned streets which addresses many of the following
objectives as possible:
1. Provides a more normal four-way intersection at Albany
Street, Spencer Road, Spencer Street and Elmira Road,
aligned with West Spencer Street.
2. Requires that vehicles make a turning movement to move
between Spencer Road and West Spencer Street, or includes
some other measure to frustrate the use of Spencer Road and
encourage the use of Elmira Road.
3. Reduces to less than 6,500 vehicles per day, the volume
of traffic using the South Albany Street bridge and the 500,
600 and 700 blocks of south Albany Street, measured on
Monday - Friday counts.
4. Significantly reduces the volume of traffic in the 100
and 200 blocks of south Titus Avenue to less than 1,200
vehicles per day, measured on Monday - Friday counts.
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December 15, 1998
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5. Discourages the use of North Titus Avenue (100 and 200
blocks) and South Geneva Street (300 and 400 blocks) as
shortcuts to avoid the traffic signals on South Albany
Street.
6. Does not encourage speeding on any of the streets in the
project area.
7. If necessary, places a higher priority on traffic
reduction than on preserving “level of service” as typically
defined by traffic engineering standards.
8. Reduces traffic along routes that are more heavily
populated by encouraging the use of routes through
commercial zones and, if necessary, along less heavily
populated routes.
9. If possible improves the movement of traffic between the
South Cayuga Street and Elmira Road in a manner which would
accommodate a future project to extend the two-way movement
on South Cayuga Street as far north as West State Street.
10. Provides options for mitigating any negative impacts of
the design, especially the preservation of as much of the
existing on-street parking as possible.
11. Includes a design option that uses West Spencer Street
as a two-way street linking South Cayuga Street to Elmira
Road, based on the concept described in the 1994 Report from
the Task Force on Traffic Issues.
12. Makes every effort to keep the cost of the project to
the $250,000 accounted for in the 1999 general fund and
breaks down the cost into project components that can be
considered by the board.
13. Makes every effort to produce a design which can be
implemented in 1999.
14. Provides emergency access to Titus Towers.
15. Provides for the safety of residents and drivers in the
area.
16. If it is necessary to exceed $250,000, break down the
cost so the board can understand the options for particular
features of the design.
17. Includes an additional design (or designs) to address
the same general objectives, along with cost estimates, time
to completion estimates, and if necessary and identifiable,
any alternative funding sources. These additional design
alternatives need not be based on the concept of the 1994
Report from the Task Force on Traffic Issues and need not be
based on removing parking from West Spencer Street, but can
include any other ideas which the Traffic Systems Engineer
believes can accomplish as many of the listed goals as
possible.
Commissioner Ehrhardt led the discussion regarding the changes
made to the original resolution. He noted that the changes
addressed the concerns that Traffic Systems Engineer Dan Cole
expressed in his memo to the Board of Public Works.
Mayor Cohen requested a definition for level of service as listed
in the resolution. Superintendent Gray defined the level of
service as delay of minutes of travel, the broader concept
relates to traveling safely. Minutes of delay is the form of
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December 15, 1998
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measurement. Improving the condition and safety level on a road
may allow the ability for a person to increase speed.
Superintendent Gray further explained that if projections cannot
anticipate a minimum level of improvement then don’t proceed with
the project. Commissioner Erhhardt expressed desire for safety in
the neighborhoods and stated that a level of service “A” means
minimum inconvenience to driver, level “C” is a little more
inconvenience.
Superintendent Grey stressed that need for a city-wide traffic
flow study to assist in the distribution of traffic in
neighborhoods
Commissioner Vargas reminded the board that SouthWest Park
development will occur in this area and that it will have an
impact on the traffic. Staff wants the ability to deliver proper
traffic flows. Commissioner Ehrhardt also recognized the fact
that the area will need to be developed further when the parkland
is utilized.
Council Liason Marcham noted that any proposal regarding the SW
Park traffic mitigation must come back to Common Council before
anything can be implemented. She stated that Council may not
support the use of funding if West Spencer Street cannot be a
two-way street. She further noted that project information must
be incorporated into this traffic data per Common Council
discussion.
Main Motion:
A vote on the resolution resulted as follows:
Carried unanimously
Maintenance of Parking Lot Equipment
By Commissioner Vargas: Seconded by Commissioner Smith
WHEREAS, the Department of Public Works needs to continue to
contract out the maintenance of parking lot equipment for at
least another year; now, therefore be it
RESOLVED, that the Superintendent of Public Works be authorized
to prepare a proposal to bring to the B&A committee authorizing
the City to enter into a maintenance agreement for parking lot
equipment.
Carried Unanimously
Request to Ammend IAWWTP Budget for Consultation Contract
By Commissioner Vargas: Seconded by Commissioner Smith
WHEREAS, the Ithaca Area Wastewater Treatment was designed in the
early 1980’s and completed in 1987, and
WHEREAS, Common Council at it’s meeting of November 4,1998
approved a $ 20,000 initial feasibility study for the IAWWTP, and
WHEREAS, a review of the feasibility study by the consultant,
IAWWTP staff and the S.J.S. has prompted the need to increase the
scope of services, and
WHEREAS, the Special Joint Subcommittee of the BPW has
recommended the compilation of a master plan complete with budget
estimates and engineering alternative recommendations, and
WHEREAS, it has been estimated that an additional $ 33,800 will
be needed in engineering services to complete said Master Plan;
now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That the Board of Public Works hereby recommends the
authorization of an additional amount not to exceed $ 33,800 for
a total engineering services contract of $ 53,800, to be
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December 15, 1998
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transferred from Account J1990 for the purposes of amending the
current contract with Stearns and Wheler to prepare a Master Plan
and report encompassing said scope of needs for the IAWWTP.
Carried unanimously
Requisition of Sidewalk Cleaning Equipment
By Commissioner Vargas: Seconded by Commissioner Gutenberger
WHEREAS, Department of Public Works is requesting to purchase
additional sidewalk cleaning equipment; now therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That the Board of Public Works directs the Department
of Public Works to present to B&A committee warranty terms, lease
vs. purchase options, new vs. conditioned equipment and
maintainability by in-house personnel of additional sidewalk
cleaning equipment.
Carried Unanimously
Authorization to Sign State Arterial Agreement:
By Commissioner Ehrhardt: Seconded by Commissioner Jenkins
WHEREAS, the City of Ithaca needs to process the old arterial
agreement for the Route 96B project in order to obtain funding
and then authorize amended plan; therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That the Board of Public Works authorizes the Mayor or
the Superintendent of Public Works to sign the State Arterial
Agreement.
Carried Unanimously
Cleveland Avenue Commercial Zoning Change:
Mayor Cohen stated that Bill Lower is a majority owner of
property in the area of Cleveland Avenue and Meadow Streets and,
therefore, wishes to develop additional commercial activity in
the area. The residents in the area met with Fernando Arragon and
Planning Department staff and decided that they do not want
houses removed and also wish to create a division between the
residential and commercial districts by adding a dead end street.
The Planning Dept. staff has reviewed this and found a new dead
end created on Cleveland Avenue to be the only reasonable barrier
to commercial enterprises without negatively impacting traffic in
the rest of the neighborhood. As Cleveland Avenue is a short
street it has unique conditions that would allow the dead end.
Superintendent Gray noted that a large bump out would be
appropriate as it would allow everyone to exit out onto Meadow
Street only.
ADMINISTRATION AND COMMUNICATIONS ITEMS:
Mayor Cohen announced his interest in changing the BPW meeting
time due to conflict with another meeting.
Mayor Cohen announced that terms will expire at the end of the
month for Commissioner(s) Vargas and Smith. Commissioner Vargas
has agreed to continue, however after six years of service to the
Board, Commissioner Smith will be retiring. Mayor Cohen thanked
Commissioner Smith for his time and effort.
REPORTS OF SUPERINTENDENT AND STAFF:
Assistant Superintendent Ferrel reported to the Board on the
following matters:
Budget items: ability to cover red accounts as well as allocate
funds for truck signage and to purchase equipment previously
discussed
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December 15, 1998
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Carousel: Contract closing took place last week. Many spare parts
available as well as historical information
Stream work permits applied for through DEC.
Appraisal Company work on property.
Dept. of Labor conservation training schedule.
Retirements this month: Working Supervisor at Stewart Park and
George Wood “Woody” at City Hall.
Repair trolley tracks on Commons due to damage
Certification training for electric power line clearing
Skateboard park: crew has placed the base, will pour concrete
soon.
Sidewalk repair work done.
Adopt a highway program: Ithaca High School students adopting a
section of North Cayuga Street. DOT has waiver of liability that
needs to be signed. The city liability issue is still out there,
minimum ages are requirement.
Incomplete 1998 items: W&S plans were altered somewhat. Late and
additional paving projects were completed.
Commissioner Gutenberger praised the Dept. of Public Works for
doing a great job, and noted that the city is in great shape.
Commissioner Jenkins commented that West State Street had only
two trees by Bishops lit for the holidays. She reminded the Board
that the West End Breakfast Club has $500 for lighting purposes.
ADJOURNMENT:
On a motion the meeting adjourned at 7:25 p.m.
Robin Korherr Alan J. Cohen
Deputy City Clerk Mayor