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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: Board of Public Works 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 Board of Public Works December 15, 1998 3 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. Board of Public Works December 15, 1998 4 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 Board of Public Works December 15, 1998 5 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 Board of Public Works December 15, 1998 6 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 Board of Public Works December 15, 1998 7 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