HomeMy WebLinkAboutMN-BPW-2000-09-13BOARD OF PUBLIC WORKS PROCEEDINGS
CITY OF ITHACA, NEW YORK
Special Meeting 4:30 p.m. September 13, 2000
PRESENT:
Mayor Cohen
Commissioners (6) - Beach, Leonardo, Vargas-Mendez, Gutenberger,
Jenkins, Korherr
OTHERS PRESENT:
Administrative Secretary – Payne
Deputy City Controller - Thayer
Superintendent of Public Works - Gray
Common Council Liaison - Hershey
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE:
Mayor Cohen led all present in the Pledge of Allegiance to the
American flag.
MAYOR'S COMMUNICATIONS:
Mayor Cohen invited the Board to the employee recognition picnic
to be held on Friday September 15, 2000 at the Stewart Park
Pavilion.
COMMUNICATIONS AND HEARINGS OF PERSONS BEFORE THE BOARD:
Bea Heatley, 220 E. Falls Street, addressed the Board in response
to the installation of “No Parking” signs on her street. She
stated that she is one of two homeowners on the block that do not
have driveways. Her parents are handicapped and the removal of
parking creates an impossible situation for her and her family.
David Kraskow, 704 S. Plain Street, expressed his support for the
diverter installation although he suggested that snow removal
during the winter months would create problems. The City should
experiment with diverters in other areas.
Gary James, 615 W. Buffalo Street, expressed his disgust with the
diverters. He added that there are traffic problems everywhere in
the City and all areas should be treated equally.
Laurie Johnson Kelly, Town of Danby, expressed her lack of
support for the diverters. She stated that the City should share,
utilizing local media sources, data that has been compiled
relating to the traffic flows before and after the diverter
installation.
Sandy Ferrara, resident of Titus Towers, expressed her lack of
confidence with City administrators. She questioned the need for
such drastic measures to be taken.
Fay Gougakis, City of Ithaca, questioned the negative effect that
the diverter installation has had on the community without their
prior involvement or consensus.
RESPONSE TO THE PUBLIC:
Mayor Cohen reminded the Board of their prior decision to install
time-restricted signage on E. Falls Street with the options for
additional blocks in the area to petition if the need existed. He
added that the W. Falls Street neighborhood petitioned for
similar signage due to the volume of Ithaca High School students
parking their cars off campus. Mayor Cohen directed
Superintendent Gray to see if the resident’s specific concerns be
addressed.
Alderperson Hershey stated that the City was in receipt of a
letter from Mr. Lambert. The letter stated that the problem had
been temporary due to the presence of a construction company that
has since relocated. He added that the Board may not want to
Board of Public Works – September 13, 2000 - Page 2
solve a problem that doesn’t exist while creating another.
Alderperson Hershey suggested that the City also entertain the
placement of a public handicapped sign on the block in question.
DIVERTER DISCUSSION WITH EMERGENCY SERVICES PERSONNEL
Mayor Cohen led a lengthy discussion relating to the diverter
installation with the Board and Police Chief Basile, Fire Chief
Wilbur and Senior Deputy Chief Barnes. Mayor Cohen stated that
the Common Council members and the Board of Public Works do not
see the diverters as a permanent answer to the traffic problem
south of the creek.
Chief Basile stated that the temporary diverter placement should
have a time limitation since the process to adopt city-wide
traffic calming measures would be extremely time consuming. He
added that problems with snow removal on mountable curbs create
inaccessibility for emergency response vehicles.
Senior Deputy Chief Barnes stated that his concerns were related
to the increased volume of traffic on adjacent streets as well as
access issues brought forward by Police Department Patrol
Supervisors.
Fire Chief Wilbur stated that the blocking of streets is
considered a threat to public safety and the final design should
allow access to all neighborhoods. Mayor Cohen stated that the
IFD, IPD and Bangs Ambulance should consult with the designers of
the permanent solution.
Commissioner Beach questioned the improved access of mountable
barriers and the future enforcement of ticketing violators. Chief
Basile responded that he felt the ability to drive through would
eliminate the problem and that patrols would ticket but not
exclusively in that area.
Alderperson Hershey confirmed the need for the senior emergency
service personnel to approach the Board immediately with access
issues resulting from the adoption of the resolution on the
agenda.
Superintendent Gray stated that there are many types of barriers
that could be installed and that the mountable design is
difficult to remove at a later date if it is not found to be the
solution.
Commissioner Vargas stated that global calming devices in the
neighborhood should be analyzed before the first available option
is allowed to continue.
Chief Wilbur added that the current design is not a minor problem
and that hydrants are currently isolated.
Commissioner Korherr stated that new options should be brought
before the Board for analysis and an improved design be installed
as soon as possible. A sunset clause would guarantee timeliness.
HIGHWAYS, STREETS, AND SIDEWALKS
Modification of Diverters on South and Wood Streets
By Commissioner Beach; Seconded by Commissioner Korherr
WHEREAS, Mayor Alan J. Cohen has met with representatives of the
Ithaca Police and Fire Departments and Bangs Ambulance concerning
the traffic diverters located on South and Wood Streets, and
WHEREAS, all agencies have had concerns with the diverters for
several reasons including neighborhood safety, and
WHEREAS, suggestions generated from the discussions for modifying
the diverters have been forwarded to the Board of Public Works
for their review, and
Board of Public Works – September 13, 2000 - Page 3
WHEREAS, both the Board and Common Council (Item 2.5 passed at
August 24, 2000) recognize that the diverters are not the long
term solution but are committed to maintaining them until such
time as the additional traffic measures have been implemented;
now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That the Board of Public Works has reviewed
suggestions of moving the Wood Street traffic diverter farther
west on Wood Street to block traffic from passing through the
neighborhood while allowing access to Rite-Aid via Wood Street,
and be it further
RESOLVED, That the newly relocated diverter on Wood Street as
well as the current diverter on South Street be re-designed, in
consultation with the aforementioned agencies, in order to allow
mountable curbing to accommodate emergency service vehicles to
pass through the intersection, and be it further
RESOLVED, That the Board adopts the suggestions and directs
staff to implement the modifications.
A vote on the resolution resulted as follows:
Ayes: (4) Gutenberger, Leonardo, Beach, Cohen
Nays: (3) Korherr, Vargas-Mendez, Jenkins
Carried
Commissioner Korherr suggested that the 6 points in the Southwest
Park Findings Statement be implemented as an overall solution to
the traffic problem.
Alderperson Hershey added that Common Council has not devised an
alternative to the diverter as an intermediate measure to the
implementation to the 6 points in the South West Findings
Statement. He doesn’t feel as though Council will override the
Board’s decisions on this matter.
Commissioner Korherr expressed his concern for the cost of
additional temporary measures.
Commissioner Vargas-Mendez stated that the Board is advancing as
though the diverters are the only option and that staff should be
looking for alternatives.
Commissioner Beach stated that for many years the neighborhood
has attempted to preserve the safety for the residents and
currently there is a sense of calm and security. These residents
will be upset if the diverters are removed and he agrees that
they are not the long term solution. This neighborhood will have
the greatest impact from the development of South West Park and
traffic calming measures should include the needs of emergency
response personnel.
Alderperson Hershey confirmed that the issue is the volume of
traffic and not speed. He added that the removal of the diverters
would inhibit the development of a city-wide plan which is called
for in the Findings Statement.
Commissioner Vargas-Mendez stated that the diverters are a
negative response to growth in the area and an immediate solution
for the neighborhood and the city as a whole needs to be
developed.
Several Commissioners discussed their concern that the 6 points
will take years to implement.
Commissioner Korherr stated that fire hydrant inaccessibility
should not be tolerated and that public outrage has been the
result of the lack of needed protection.
Board of Public Works – September 13, 2000 - Page 4
Commissioner Vargas–Mendez added that the emergency personnel
have agreed to modifications for the only option brought before
them and that their lack of support for these devices should halt
any further discussion.
HIGHWAYS, STREETS, AND SIDEWALKS
Ithaca Plaza Curb Cut on Old Elmira Road
By Mayor Cohen :Seconded by Commissioner Beach
WHEREAS, the installation of diverters has created additional
traffic within the parking lot of the Ithaca Plaza, and
WHEREAS, the Board of Public Works recognizes the concerns that
the additional traffic in the parking lot has generated; now,
therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That the Board of Public Works would like staff to
continue their efforts to contact the owner of the plaza in order
to convince them to close off the north-eastern entrance to the
plaza and be I
RESOLVED, That the Board of Public Works would like staff to
investigate the possibility of increasing the length of the right
hand only turn lane (westbound on Old Elmira Road to north bound
on Route 13) at the traffic light located at the intersection of
Route 13 and Elmira Road.
A vote on the Resolution resulted as follows:
Ayes: (6) Leonardo, Vargas-Mendez, Korherr, Jenkins, Gutenberger,
Beach
Mayor Cohen absent for the vote
Carried
Commissioner Beach stated that this parking lot alteration
discussion relates to private property. This has been a long
standing problem that will grow with South West Park development.
The Board addressed alternatives such as additional right turn
lanes and the installation of islands for improved traffic flow.
Mayor Cohen stated that the owners should handle the conflicts
with the traffic volume and the City can offer friendly advice in
the engineering process.
BUILDINGS, PROPERTIES, TRANSIT
Request for Additional Bus Operators
By Commissioner Leonardo :Seconded by Commissioner Gutenberger
WHEREAS, Nancy Oltz, Manager of Operations and Maintenance is
requesting that two additional part-time permanent Bus Operators
be added to the TCAT Roster, and
WHEREAS, the Board of Public Works has reviewed the request which
lays out the operational logic for increasing the number of part
time permanent drivers by at least two positions and wishes to
move forward with the request; now, therefore be it
RESOLVED, That the Board of Public Works directs staff to
develop a more complete presentation that also addresses
budgeting impacts as well as projected costs for the proposed
positions, and be it further
RESOLVED, That the Board of Public Works requests that the
Budget and Administration and Committee approve the necessary
positions and budget adjustments necessary for the addition of
two part-time drivers.
Carried Unanimously
Board of Public Works – September 13, 2000 - Page 5
Superintendent Gray confirmed the excessive overtime that the
department has incurred due to the current staffing situation.
The B&A Committee will be given the detail that they need to
formulate their decision.
REPORT OF CITY CONTROLLER:
Deputy City Controller Thayer reported that the Board’s inquiry
into the acceptance of credit cards for Newman Golf Course fees
has proven to be more difficult than anticipated. Current
legislation exists that prohibits adding the percentage charged
by the bank back to the consumer or resident. He added that
exclusions such as parking ticket fees exist in the current law.
He has asked for assistance from the Government Finance Officers
Association.
Mayor Cohen directed the Deputy Controller Thayer to forward the
wording to him for his review.
Several Commissioners expressed interest in either asking Newman
Golf Manager Torrent to absorb the additional costs in his budget
or offering flat rates for fees with cash discounts extended.
Deputy Controller agreed to consult with other municipalities
that offer credit card payments, such as Elmira, on how they
handle the necessary legalities.
ADJOURNMENT:
On a motion the meeting adjourned at 6:25 p.m.
Robin L. Korherr Alan J. Cohen
Deputy City Clerk Mayor