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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