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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