HomeMy WebLinkAboutMN-BPW-2001-03-14 BOARD OF PUBLIC WORKS PROCEEDINGS
CITY OF ITHACA, NEW YORK
Regular Meeting March 14, 2001 4:30 pm
PRESENT: Mayor Cohen
Commissioners (4) Jenkins, Beach, Leonardo, Gutenberger
OTHERS PRESENT:
City Clerk – Conley Holcomb
Deputy City Controller – Thayer
Assistant Superintendent of Streets & Facilities – Ferrel
Assistant Superintendent of Water & Sewer – Fabbroni
EXCUSED:
Commissioners Korherr, Vargas-Mendez
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE:
Vice Chair Leonardo led all present in the Pledge of Allegiance
to the American Flag.
BUILDINGS, PROPERTIES AND TRANSIT ITEMS
Support of Hangar Theater Improvements
By Commissioner Beach: Seconded by Commissioner Gutenberger
WHEREAS, the Board of Public Works has reviewed a letter from
Mary Ann Sumner, Business Director for the Hangar Theater, which
outlines some facilities improvements proposed for the theater
complex prior to the 2001 season, and
WHEREAS, the Board is interested in completing its review in
order to provide any comments and its required approval for those
modifications in a timely manner, which it already anticipates
will require immediate action; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That the Board of Public Works requests that the Hangar
Theater provide the necessary design information for the Board’s
review and that a presentation and project time line be prepared
for the Board’s committee of the whole meeting of March 21, 2001
in order to help the Board meet the theater’s objective.
Carried Unanimously
CREEKS, BRIDGES AND PARKS ITEMS:
Use of Credit Cards – Newman Golf Course
Deputy City Controller Thayer reported that New York State passed
a law in 1996 allowing municipalities to accept payment for
services by credit card. He noted that seven municipalities are
currently accepting credit card payments. He stated that credit
card companies charge an approximately 2% fee per transaction.
This fee would either have to be budgeted and absorbed by the
City, or charged back to the users. Discover Card and Mastercard
allow fee chargebacks, but Visa, the largest credit card company,
does not. New York State law provides that the 2% fee may be
charged back to the user when paying for traffic violations.
Banks charge a similar, but smaller, fee for debit card
transactions.
Deputy City Controller Thayer noted that Common Council has
several policy decisions to make before this issue can be
resolved. This matter will be discussed further at the next
Budget and Administration Committee meeting.
Approval of 2001 Golf Course Rates
By Commissioner Gutenberger: Seconded by Commissioner Jenkins
WHEREAS, the Board of Public Works adopted new rates for the
Newman Golf Course in March 2000 which were approximately five
percent (5%) higher than 1999, and
Board of Public Works – March 14, 2001 - Page 2
WHEREAS, revenue and membership results for 1999 were flat or
very slight increases leading the Board to recommend that expense
controls, possible use of credit cards and a requirement for good
weather should be used in 2001 to improve the balance of expenses
vs. revenues; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That the Board adopts the 2000 Newman Golf Course rates
for use in 2001, which are listed in the body of this resolution
for reference.
2000/2001 Newman Golf Course Rates
Weekday Weekends
18 Holes $12.00 18 Holes $15.00
9 Holes $ 9.00 9 Holes $ 9.00
Sr.& Jr. $ 9.00
Sr. Specials $ 6.00
Memberships City Residents Non-Resident
Individual $305 $340
Domestic Couple $425 $475
Senior $280 $310
Senior Couple $375 $415
Junior $140 $155
Family $470 $520
Weekday Only $200 $220
Carried Unanimously
Pilot Program for Off-leash Dog Park at Allan H. Treman State
Marine Park
By Commissioner Jenkins: Seconded by Commissioner Beach
WHEREAS, the Board of Public Works has reviewed a letter from
John Clancy, Regional Director of the Finger Lakes Region, New
York State Office of Parks, requesting city approval of a
cooperative effort between the parks and the non-profit Tompkins
County Dog Owners Group (TCDOG) to establish a pilot off-leash
dog park in Treman Marine Park, and
WHEREAS, the proposed dog park area encroaches on a portion of
city owned lands (“Festival Lands”) west of the marine park
parking lot, and
WHEREAS, the Board and staff received a presentation from
representatives of TCDOG, which raised a number of questions, or
concerns which may be best answered through the practical
experience gained during a one year (2001) pilot program run
cooperatively by TCDOG and state parks representatives; now,
therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That the Board of Public Works approves the request of
New York State Office of Parks and the non-profit TCDOG to
establish a pilot off-lease dog park at the Allen H. Treman State
Marine Park.
Carried Unanimously
Newman Municipal Golf Course Concession Stand
By Commissioner Beach: Seconded by Commissioner Gutenberger
RESOLVED, That the Board of Public Works authorizes the
Superintendent of Public Works to extend the original contract
for Newman Golf Course Concession Stand operations with the
current vendor for an additional two years based on the terms of
the original contract.
Carried Unanimously
Board of Public Works – March 14, 2001 - Page 3
WATER AND SEWER ITEMS:
Request for Expungement for Water and Sewer Bill – 223 Linn
Street
By Commissioner Leonardo: Seconded by Commissioner Jenkins
WHEREAS, the Chamberlain’s Office received a letter from Matthew
Keane dated December 20, 2000, requesting several adjustments and
consideration on his water and sewer bill covering a period of
more than a year, and
WHEREAS, the Board of Public Works has reviewed the request as
well as the recent history of the service to 223 Linn Street; now
therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That the Board of Public Works agrees to expunge the
water and sewer bills for May to August 2000, and August to
November 2000, both in the amount of $48.96, for a total cost of
$97.92 and requests that the Chamberlain arrange to refund the
May to August bill to the property owner, and, be it further
RESOLVED, That the Board denies the request to extend the payment
of the water and sewer bill in the amount of $395 covering the
replacement of the water service and sewer service to this
address, but agrees to waive penalty or interest on this bill
(Water & Sewer statement #17012) from the date of Mr. Keane’s
letter to 10 days following the of the department’s notice to Mr.
Keane of the Board’s action.
Amending Resolution
By Commissioner Leonardo: Seconded by Commissioner Jenkins
RESOLVED, That the first Resolved clause be amended to read as
follows:
“RESOLVED, That the Board of Public Works agrees to expunge the
water and sewer bills for May to August 2000 and August to
November 2000, both in the amount of $48.96, and a bill in the
amount of $15 for a turn-off fee, for a total cost of $112.92,and
requests that the Chamberlain arrange to refund the May to August
bill to the property owner, and be it further”
Carried Unanimously
Main Motion as Amended
A vote on the Main Motion as Amended resulted as follows:
Carried Unanimously
Commissioner Vargas-Mendez arrived at the meeting at 4:55 pm.
Request for Expungement of Water and Sewer Bill – 308 Pleasant
Street
By Commissioner Vargas-Mendez: Seconded by Commissioner
Gutenberger
WHEREAS, the Superintendent received a letter from Carol Bushberg
dated December 29, 2000, appealing the cost to replace a water
service at 308 Pleasant Street which had to go around a city tree
and resulted in a new trench cut in rock, and
WHEREAS, the Board of Public Works reviewed this request with Ms.
Bushberg at their meeting of January 17, 2001 and agreed to
consider a reduction of $745.20 on the original billing to
reflect the approximate cost of the new trench required because
the old trench in rock was now under an attractive Sycamore tree
in the curb lawn; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That the Board of Public Works agrees to reduce the
total amount billed to Carol Bushberg on Water and Sewer
statement #16957 from $2661.91 to $1916.71, for a reduction of
$745.20.
Carried Unanimously
Board of Public Works – March 14, 2001 - Page 4
REPORT OF BOARD LIASONS:
Commissioner Beach reported that the Planning Board will be
considering a site plan for the Tops Plaza re-development at
their next meeting. The Board will also discuss the removal and
installation of traffic signals. NYSDoT has suggested leaving
Wood and Meadow Streets signaled and adding an additional signal
at Hollywood Video, along with a middle turning lane.
Commissioner Beach expressed his concerns over the growing
pressure put on the Wood Street neighborhood as development
starts to expand in the Southwest area in the next few years.
Commissioner Vargas-Mendez reported that two abandoned properties
on Floral Avenue appear to be structurally unsafe. Superintendent
Gray stated that the Building Department should be contacted and
made aware of this condition.
REPORT OF SUPERINTENDENT AND STAFF:
Assistant Superintendent Ferrel reported to the Board on the
status of the following items:
Snow removal in the City: salt supplies are low and orders are
not being delivered. Cargill Salt Co.’s above ground reserves are
depleted and they continue to mine salt to replenish their
product supply.
Granite curb installation on South Titus is nearly complete. The
tree crew is working to clean up the North side of the creek.
Solid waste statistics conclude that 65% of residents use garbage
cans, and that 10.5 tons of additional trash is being collected
on recycling weeks. Yard waste collection will begin next month
on a bi-weekly basis on the off-recycling weeks. Additional staff
expenses are budgeted for the heavy collection periods when the
students leave and return to the area.
Plans for the construction season are underway although many
details still need to be worked out.
The Department of Public Works is preparing to operate the
Stewart Park Merry Go Round for the 2001 season.
Assistant Superintendent Fabbroni reported to the Board on the
following items:
Construction on the 100 block of West State Street sewer
replacement began yesterday. Similar work on the 100 blocks of
North and South Geneva Streets should be completed in the next 4-
5 weeks. Sewer replacement work on both sides of the 400 block of
Corn Street from Seneca to State Streets will take approximately
4-6 weeks. Water & Sewer staff will be scheduling themselves to
stay one month ahead of street construction crews. Two crews are
working simultaneously to replace sewer mains and restore the
area.
A 20” main across Parker Street from the tuning fork to the
bottom of East State Street will be completed in the near future.
Woodcrest Avenue and Homestead Road will have a main line
replacement. Main replacement at the Wastewater Treatment Plant
will be done.
The Water & Sewer Department has received grants for watershed
monitoring.
The Water Plant has the following maintenance needs: filter room
window replacement, overall plant maintenance, clear well leaks,
emergency generator replacement and valve work needed.
Board of Public Works – March 14, 2001 - Page 5
Superintendent Gray reported to the Board on the following items:
The Linn Street bridge will be replaced within the next few
months.
A pre-bid meeting for Stewart Avenue bridge construction is being
held soon.
Cornell University has requested replacement of the steam lines
located under the Thurston Avenue bridge. This project will
require excavation in the intersection, which will result in
traffic congestion.
The Department of Public Works is experiencing delays with the
garage lighting project.
ADJOURNMENT:
On a motion the meeting was adjourned at 5:40 p.m.
Julie Conley Holcomb, CMC Alan J. Cohen,
City Clerk Mayor