HomeMy WebLinkAboutMN-BPW-2001-02-14BOARD OF PUBLIC WORKS PROCEEDINGS
CITY OF ITHACA, NEW YORK
Regular Meeting 4:30 p.m. February 14, 2001
PRESENT:
Mayor Cohen
Commissioners (4) - Beach, Leonardo, Vargas-Mendez, Gutenberger
OTHERS PRESENT:
Deputy Clerk – Korherr
Deputy City Controller - Thayer
Superintendent of Public Works - Gray
Assistant Superintendent of Streets and Facilities - Ferrel
EXCUSED: Commissioner(s) Korherr, Jenkins
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE:
Vice Chair Leonardo led all present in the Pledge of Allegiance
to the American flag.
APPROVAL OF MINUTES:
Approval of the Minutes of the January 10, 2001 Board of Public
Works Meeting
By Commissioner Leonardo: Seconded by Commissioner Gutenberger
RESOLVED, That the Minutes of the January 10, 2001 Board of
Public Works meeting be approved as published.
Carried Unanimously
ADDITIONS TO OR DELETIONS FROM THE AGENDA:
Superintendent Gray requested that the following items be added
to the agenda.
Item 17A Award of Bid: Belt Filter Press
Item 18C Power to Act: Abandonment of Old Taughannock Boulevard
No board member objected.
BUILDINGS, PROPERTIES, TRANSIT:
Award of Bid for IPD Plumbing Modifications
By Commissioner Beach :Seconded by Commissioner Gutenberger
WHEREAS, bids were receive don January 30, 2001 for the Ithaca
Police Department Plumbing Modifications, and
WHEREAS, staff is recommending that the low bidder be awarded the
bid; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That the Board of Public Works hereby awards the Ithaca
Police Department Plumbing Modifications to Collins and Walton,
1525 Lake Street, Elmira, New York 14091 for their low bid of
$47,623.00, and be it further
RESOLVED, That the board authorizes the Superintendent of Public
Works to enter into an agreement with Collins and Walton.
Carried Unanimously
Request for Easement at 109 Vinegar Hill Road
By Commissioner Gutenberger :Seconded by Commissioner Beach
WHEREAS, it was recently discovered that a porch on the property
at 109 Vinegar Hill Road, owned by Alice Testut, encroaches
approximately three feet into the City right-of-way; now,
therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That the Board of Public Works hereby grants an
easement agreement to Ms. Alice Testut, property owner of 109
Vinegar Hill Road, and be it further
Board of Public Works – February 14, 2001 - Page 2
RESOLVED, That the Mayor be authorized to enter into an agreement
with Ms. Testut with the usual terms and conditions, including a
one year revocable notice.
Carried Unanimously
Award of Bid for Commons Waste Receptacles
By Commissioner Leonardo :Seconded by Commissioner Beach
WHEREAS, the Planning and Development Department received bids
for new waste receptacles to be placed on the Commons, and
WHEREAS, Planning staff has reviewed the bids and recommends that
the bid be awarded to the lowest bidder; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That the Board of Public Works hereby awards the bid of
waste receptacles to be placed on the Commons to R.E. Woodson,
Inc., 3520 Dewey Avenue, Rochester, NY 14616 for their low bid of
$22,536.00, and be it further
RESOLVED, That the Board of Public Works authorizes the
Superintendent of Public Works to enter into an agreement with
R.E. Woodson Inc. for the purchase of waste receptacles.
An independent contractor through the Planning Department
developed the bid and R.E. Woodson was the only company that
submitted a bid that met the specifications. Superintendent Gray
stated that he has never seen the design of this particular
receptacle and that he has reminded the Planning Department that
approval of the entire Commons renovation project is under the
jurisdiction of the Board of Public Works. Superintendent Gray
stated that he would draft a memo to the Planning Department
stating that the waste receptacle item is tabled until the
project is brought before the Board of Public Works.
Motion to Table
By Commissioner Leonardo :Seconded by Commissioner Beach
RESOLVED, That the item be tabled.
Carried Unanimously
PARKING AND TRAFFIC
Creation of Parking Meter Rate Sub-Committee
By Commissioner Vargas-Mendez:Seconded by Commissioner
Gutenberger
RESOLVED, That the Board of Public Works hereby creates a sub-
committee consisting of members of the board, DPW staff members,
the City Chamberlain and representatives of the Ithaca Police
Department to review the existing parking meter rates and to
return to the board with a proposal for consideration.
Carried Unanimously
Superintendent Gray stated that the Traffic Engineer, City
Chamberlain and staff from Streets and Facilities should be
appointed to the committee. Commissioner Leonardo will work with
Superintendent Gray to develop the committee’s membership and
mission.
WATER AND SEWER
Award of Bid for Belt Filter Press
By Commissioner Beach :Seconded by Commissioner Vargas-Mendez
WHEREAS, bids were received on December 20, 2000 for a Belt
Filter Press, and
WHEREAS, staff reviewed the bids with the consulting engineer and
required the low bidder to do on site performance tests, which
the equipment passed, and now staff recommends that the bid be
awarded to the low bidder; now, therefore, be it
Board of Public Works – February 14, 2001 - Page 3
RESOLVED, That the Board of Public Works hereby awards the bid
for a Belt Filter Press to Roediger Pillsburgh, Inc, 3812 Route
8, Alison Park, PA 15101 for their low bid of $170,935.00, and
be it further
RESOLVED, That the Assistant Superintendent for Water and Sewer
be authorized to enter into an agreement with Roediger
Pillsburgh, Inc.
Carried Unanimously
Superintendent Gray noted that a belt filter press is involved in
the processing of sludge at the Water and Sewer plant and that
the part carries a five year warranty.
ADMINISTRATION AND COMMUNICATIONS ITEMS:
Adoption of Revised Drug and Alcohol Testing Policy
By Commissioner Gutenberger :Seconded by Commissioner Beach
WHEREAS, the Board of Public Works adopted the current drug and
alcohol policy in December, 1995 in response to federal
legislation mandating the program, and
WHEREAS, it has recently come to staff’s attention following a
federal program audit that the policy statement must be drafted
so that federal requirement and local policy are distinctly
separate rather than intermingled as they currently are; now,
therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That the Board of Public Works hereby adopts the
revised Drug and Alcohol Testing Policy as presented at their
meeting on February 7, 2001 and as attached to this resolution.
Carried Unanimously
Mayor Cohen arrived at the meeting at 5:15 pm.
Approval of Revisions to Chapter 331, Garbage, Trash and Weeds
By Commissioner Leonardo :Seconded by Commissioner Beach
WHEREAS, the Board of Public Works has been presented with
proposed changes to the City Code, Chapter 331 which were
developed as part of coordinated changes to chapter 196, Garbage,
Rubbish and Refuse and Chapter 325, Zoning, and
WHEREAS, the Board has reviewed the proposed changes; now,
therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That the Board of Public Works adopts the following
proposed changes, to Chapter 331:
SECTION 1. The last sentence of Chapter 331, Section 331-
1A, entitled “Cutting required; exception,” is hereby amended as
follows: Cutting of grass every three weeks from May to October 1
of each year shall be deemed compliance with this section,
provided, however, that the property owner must also comply with
the requirements of Code Sections 325-23B(2)(c)[5] and [6].
SECTION 2. Chapter 331, Section 331-9, entitled “Placement
for collection,” is hereby amended as follows: No person shall
place any newspaper, loose paper, rubbish, rags or other trash or
refuse at or near any curb, sidewalk or street for purposes of
collection unless the same is contained in containers with tight-
fitting covers [or is securely bundled and tied to prevent
scattering] or, in the case of recyclables, is properly prepared
and placed at curbside in a manner consistent with this Code and
county and state laws, rules and regulations.
SECTION 3. Chapter 331, Section 331-10A, entitled
“Collection requirements,” is hereby amended as follows: Duty.
It shall be the duty of all householders to place garbage at the
Board of Public Works – February 14, 2001 - Page 4
curb before 5:30 a.m. on the day designated for collection.
There will be no call-backs. Such garbage shall be in [metal]
cans made of metal, plastic or other suitable material, with
tight-fitting covers, with handles on the top and sides, and
shall not exceed [22] 32 gallons capacity. [, or shall be
securely tied in plastic bags.] The loaded [metal] cans shall
not exceed 100 pounds net weight. All material shall flow freely
from the can. Such collections will be made weekly in the
residential areas and bi-weekly in the business districts. The
designated day for any area shall be ascertained by inquiry at
the office of the Superintendent of Public Works.
A Vote on the Main Motion Resulted as follows:
Ayes: (0)
Nays: (4) Commissioner(s) Beach, Vargas-Mendez,
Leonardo, Gutenberger
Abstention: Mayor Cohen
Motion Failed
Asst. Superintendent Ferrel stated that the costs involved with
the implementation of this ordinance are not currently available.
Commissioner Beach expressed his interest in determining whether
Common Council would invest in the increased costs of
implementation. Commissioner Gutenberger noted that use of
plastic bags inside of the waste container is not described in
the ordinance as an option. Superintendent Gray noted that the
Board of Public Works could develop their own language to alter
the ordinance.
Power to Act for February 21, 2001 COW Meeting
By Commissioner Leonardo :Seconded by Commissioner Gutenberger
WHEREAS, the Board of Public Works informally discussed the issue
of abandoning a portion of Taughannock Boulevard to transform it
into a parking area, and
WHEREAS, the board must hold a public hearing in order to abandon
a street; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That the Board of Public Works hereby grants itself
power to act at it’s meeting on February 21, 2001 so it may
schedule a public hearing during the month of March, 2001.
Following discussion, Commissioner Leonardo and Commissioner
Gutenberger withdrew this motion.
Call for Public Hearing
By Commissioner Leonardo: Seconded by Commissioner Vargas-Mendez
WHEREAS, the Board of Public Works informally discussed the issue
of abandoning a portion of Taughannock Boulevard to transform it
into a parking area, and
WHEREAS, the Board must hold a public hearing in order to abandon
a street; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That the Board of Public Works holds a public hearing
at their March 14, 2001 voting meeting.
Carried Unanimously
REPORTS OF SUPERINTENDENT AND STAFF:
Superintendent Gray reported to the board on the following
matters:
The Department of Public Works will be issuing a public notice to
the residents affected by the Linn Street bridge construction
project. Construction will begin at the end of the February,
2001. Residents will be notified that the street closure will be
for an extended period of time. He noted that the contract
Board of Public Works – February 14, 2001 - Page 5
completion date is May 24, 2001. The penalties for non-completion
as described in the contract are costly to the contractor.
The pedestrian bridge over Route 13 at Buttermilk Falls State
Park will go out to bid in the Spring of 2001.
A multi-year evaluation of City buildings including current and
future usage will be completed during 2001 and this data will be
used for future budget requests.
The February 21, 2001 Committee of the Whole meeting will be
cancelled due to the lack of a quorum and the Clerk’s Office will
notify the media of the cancellation.
Asst. Superintendent Ferrel reported to the Board on the
following items:
The Commons fountain construction is underway. The old structure
has been removed.
A crew is currently removing debris from the banks of the flood
relief channel at Cecil Malone Drive. Grant money through the
Soil and Water Conservation District is available for funding the
cleanup. His office will apply and perhaps receive reimbursement
for 1/3 of the cost.
The Parks and Forestry division will be removing the debris from
Six Mile Creek.
Commissioner Beach inquired as to the timeline for the completion
of Triangle Park. Asst. Superintendent Ferrel stated that the
work may begin as early as next week.
The increase in parking lot revenue is due to the extended hours
time slot. The 2 hour free parking losses are offsetting gains
made during the extended hours. The lots are being used more
frequently as a result so the meter revenue is down. A closer
evaluation of the decision to continue the 2 hour free parking
should take place.
The 2001 golf course rates should be discussed during the March
meeting since the course opening will take place the beginning of
April. Deputy Controller Thayer stated that credit card usage
should be authorized for the 2001 season. He will provide an
update at the next meeting.
ADJOURNMENT:
On a motion the meeting adjourned at 5:45 p.m.
Robin L. Korherr Alan J. Cohen
Deputy City Clerk Mayor