HomeMy WebLinkAboutMN-BPW-1999-11-10BOARD OF PUBLIC WORKS PROCEEDINGS
CITY OF ITHACA, NEW YORK
Regular Meeting 4:30 p.m. November 10, 1999
PRESENT:
Mayor Cohen
Commissioners (5) - Ehrhardt, Leonardo, Vargas, Gutenberger,
Korherr
OTHERS PRESENT:
Deputy 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 - Hershey
EXCUSED: Commissioner Jenkins
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE:
Mayor Cohen led all present in the Pledge of Allegiance to the
American flag.
APPROVAL OF MINUTES:
Approval of the Minutes of the September 8 and 29, 1999 Board of
Public Works Meeting
By Commissioner Ehrhardt : Seconded by Commissioner Gutenberger
RESOLVED, That the Minutes of the September 8 and September 29,
1999 Board of Public Works meetings be approved as published.
Ayes (4): Commisioners Korherr, Gutenberger, Ehrhardt, Leonardo
Nays (0)
Absention-Commissioner Vargas
Carried
ADDITIONS TO OR DELETIONS FROM THE AGENDA:
Commissioner Ehrhardt requested that the following item be added
to the agenda:
Neighborhood Troubleshooting Item: Monthly agenda item
No board member objected.
COMMUNICATIONS AND HEARINGS OF PERSONS BEFORE THE BOARD:
David Nutter, City of Ithaca, addressed the Board on the bike
plan. He feels that inaccurate facts have prevented the Board
from voting on the plan and instead sending the plan back to
Common Council. He stated that the Board felt that most
bicyclists were children and he doesn’t know of any facts that
support that conclusion. He feels that the Board of Public Works
should never ignore parking alterations and avoid bicycle and
traffic coordination and safety issues. He further noted that
parking issues could be accommodated for those residents that
would experience hardships.
RESPONSE TO THE PUBLIC
Commissioner Ehrhardt stated that he felt the Board put into
perspective safety issues of bicyclists when they would not
support the mass removal of parking. He felt that the Board did
their job appropriately.
TRAFFIC, HIGHWAYS, STREETS, SIDEWALKS, CREEKS AND BRIDGES ITEMS:
Traffic Calming for Franklin Street
Board of Public Works – November 10, 1999 - Page 2
WHEREAS, staff reviewed the request for changes to traffic in the
100 block of Franklin Street to address speeding and excessive
cut-through traffic, and
WHEREAS, staff recorded traffic speed range from 24 to 27 mph,
average daily traffic is 345 vehicles per day, with no known
accident problem, and
WHEREAS, there are three day care facilities on Franklin Street,
most of the traffic volumes appear to be generated by the
residents of the neighborhood and parents dropping children off
at the day cares, and
WHEREAS, the Board of Public Works reviewed staff’s
recommendation for no changes, and
WHEREAS, the Board sees this as an opportunity to experiment with
some neighborhood traffic calming which deals with low volume
internal traffic; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That the Board of Public Works directs staff to install
a traffic diverter at the intersections of Franklin/Short/Auburn
Streets in order to separate Auburn from Franklin and Short, and
be it further
RESOLVED, That the Board would like updated traffic speeds and
traffic counts on Auburn and Lincoln Streets when the weather
allows in the Spring of 2000.
Mayor Cohen expressed his concern that the proposed barrier would
create hardships for the Northern most block of Auburn Street. He
presented an alternative solution installing a traffic diverter
across Auburn Street near the intersection at Jay and Franklin
streets. He requested that the Board grant themselves the power
to act at the next meeting to give staff the opportunity to
notify the public in the affected area. The Superintendents
office agreed to send out a notification on Friday.
Commissioner Ehrhardt stated that the diverter should be angled
down at the ends to accommodate pedestrian and bicycle traffic
and that the design should be written into the resolution. The
Bicycle Pedestrian Advisory Committee members should be notified
of the change in traffic patterns. As this is a temporary measure
the final design should be discussed prior to installation.
Mayor Cohen added that the language in the resolution should
address the Board’s sensitivity to the needs of pedestrians and
bicyclists.
Power To Act: Auburn Street Traffic Calming
By Mayor Cohen: Seconded by Commissioner Vargas
RESOLVED, that the Board of Public Works grants themselves the
Power to Act on the installation of a traffic diverter on Auburn
Street at the November 17,1999 meeting.
Carried Unanimously
ADMINISTRATION AND COMMUNICATIONS ITEMS:
Discussion of meeting schedule for December 1,1999
Mayor Cohen stated that several key people will not be in
attendance for the December 1,1999 meeting. The Board discussed
scheduling options.
Board of Public Works – November 10, 1999 - Page 3
Special December 1999 Meeting Schedule
By Commissioner Ehrhardt :Seconded by Commissioner Vargas
RESOLVED, that a the December, 1999 schedule for the Board of
Public Works is as follows:
Committee of the Whole meeting - December 8,1999
Regular meeting - December 15,1999.
Carried Unanimously
REPORT OF SPECIAL COMMITTEES
Report of Neighborhood Traffic Calming Client Committee:
Mayor Cohen stated that there has been only one meeting to date.
He will insure that a member of the Bicycle Pedestrian Advisory
Committee will be included in the future. The group has worked to
compare Ithaca to other areas, and prioritized areas and problem
situations using speed, volume, residential density, proximity to
heavily populated youth areas as criterion. A list of seven
different experimental roadways was compiled. These roadways will
have experimental projects implemented. Traffic calming measures
will be tested and then a local tool kit will be developed for
implementation. There is at least one test area in each of the
City’s wards. The seven roadways are North Aurora Street near
Fall Creek School, Dey Street, Washington Park area near Buffalo
and Court Streets, Cliff Street, Hudson Street, Albany Street and
Mitchell Street.
Commissioner Ehrhardt stated that public notification and
discussion will take place prior to implementation.
NEW BUSINESS
Neighborhood Troubleshooting
Commissioner Ehrhardt stated that he and Mayor Cohen attended the
South Hill Civic Association meeting. A group of South Hill
residents have expressed concern over a sidewalk job and other
street problems that have not been completed properly. He stated
that accountability should be assumed for all projects and the
notification of error should take place directly above the worker
level. He feels that neighborhood troubleshooting needs to be
addressed with a monthly agenda item so that the Board can please
the residents and proactively troubleshoot.
Asst. Superintendent Fabbroni stated that this forum should only
address the large projects.
Commissioner Korherr stated that recently Asst. Superintendent
Ferrel solved a Fall Creek neighborhood issue in a very timely
fashion, and the residents were very pleased.
Superintendent Gray explained that in some instances the streets
have to be completely dug up in order to fix drainage or other
problems. Straight pavement lines in certain areas cannot be
drawn due to concrete that moves with the flow of traffic.
Commissioner Ehrhardt questioned whether poor performance on
projects is a training issue or poor attitude.
Asst. Superintendent Fabroni stated that money savings, staffing
and total project completion dictate the departments successes.
The total project benefits need to reviewed when only appearance
issues are scrutinized by the public.
Superintendent Gray stated that the department needs to be
notified of complaints so that staff can correct the errors. The
Board of Public Works – November 10, 1999 - Page 4
department takes pride in the abilities of the workforce, and
staff do not like to have to repeat efforts unnecessarily.
No action was taken on this item.
REPORTS OF SUPERINTENDENT AND STAFF:
Assistant Superintendent Fabbroni reported to the Board on the
following matters:
1999 major projects have been completed. Extensive water and
sewer work is completed and restoration is 98% complete. The
staff would appreciate comments relating to incomplete areas.
Water and Sewer projects on the 1300 block of North Cayuga
Street, Woodcrest area, Inlet Island and South Plain Street are
planned for 2000.
Staff have been in contact with Senator Seward and Assemblyman
regarding the Bond Act application.
The Regional Merger Plan will allow the City to apply for 16
million dollars of New York State revolving loan funds at a
discounted rate of 3.8%.
The $ 90,000 return of funds relating to the Collegetown crane
will be shared with the Tompkins County Dept. of Public Works to
purchase a crawler backhoe.
Tompkins County Planning Dept. is forming a new regional sewer
group that the City will be involved with.
Asst. Superintendent Fabbroni stated that years ago City staff
rarely displayed motivation toward independent actions on the job
due to regularly being chastised for failures. Currently staff
take initiative. Motivating the workforce to perform at their
highest level is a priority. There is a thin line between
challenging the workforce and patronizing them.
Commissioner Gutenberger confirmed the current procedure for
responding to public concerns. The resident should contact the
Board of Public Works member or staff contact first. If the
resident is still not satisfied then the Board would need to take
action at that level.
Commissioner Ehrhardt stated that evaluation needs to be done
regardless of the outcome. The monthly agenda item would be that
vehicle.
Commissioner Gutenberger expressed support for the current
procedure for responding to public concerns.
ADJOURNMENT:
On a motion the meeting adjourned at 6:00 p.m.
Robin L. Korherr Alan J. Cohen
Deputy City Clerk Mayor