HomeMy WebLinkAboutMN-BPW-2001-05-09BOARD OF PUBLIC WORKS PROCEEDINGS
CITY OF ITHACA, NEW YORK
Regular Meeting 4:30 p.m. May 09, 2001
PRESENT:
Mayor Cohen
Commissioners (6) - Beach, Leonardo, Gutenberger, Korherr,
Jenkins, Vargas-Mendez
OTHERS PRESENT:
City Clerk – Conley Holcomb
Deputy City Controller - Thayer
Superintendent of Public Works - Gray
Assistant Superintendent of Streets and Facilities - Ferrel
Common Council Liaison - Hershey
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE:
Mayor Cohen led all present in the Pledge of Allegiance to the
American flag.
ADDITIONS TO OR DELETIONS FROM THE AGENDA:
Commissioner Beach requested the addition of Item 15C - Tops
Redevelopment - Resolution.
Superintendent Gray requested the addition of the following items
under New Business:
Power to Act: Streets and Facilities Roofing Contract –
Resolution
Linn Street Bridge Contract Alteration - Discussion
Commissioner Korherr requested an update on the use of credit
cards at Newman Golf Course.
No Board member objected.
MAYOR'S COMMUNICATIONS:
Mayor Cohen announced the passing of Gary Gleason, Ithaca Area
Waste Water Treatment Plant Operator. He offered remarks about
Gary’s years of dedicated service to the City, and offered his
condolences to the Gleason family.
COMMUNICATIONS AND HEARINGS OF PERSONS BEFORE THE BOARD:
Fay Gougakis, City of Ithaca, expressed bicycle safety concerns
as development and traffic increase.
Scott Heald spoke in support of the traffic calming measures in
the Washington Park area.
RESPONSE TO THE PUBLIC
Alderperson Hershey described the sub-committee structure that
was established to break the grid-lock of bicycle and pedestrian
issues as it relates to the proposed bike plan. He added that
Alderperson Pat Pryor, as Common Council liaison, will make a
report to the Neighborhood and Community Issues Committee.
Little progress has been made due to the complexity of several
issues, and he hopes that a compromise can be made on low volume
traffic routes.
Commissioner Beach voiced his concern for motorist’s disregard
for vehicle and traffic laws relating to pedestrians, runners,
bicyclists, skaters, etc.
Board of Public Works – May 9, 2001 - Page 2
Mayor Cohen gave input to the Board on the Ithaca Downtown
Partnership traffic study. The plan would involve the loss of 24
parking spaces at a capital cost of $200,000. The parking impact
will affect the 100 block of North Aurora as well as the 100
blocks North and South of Cayuga Street.
Commissioner Jenkins arrived at the meeting at 5:00 pm.
Discussion followed on the floor regarding loading zones,
pedestrian traffic and intersection configurations affected by
the traffic study impact.
REPORT OF CITY CONTROLLER:
Deputy City Controller Thayer stated that the Tompkins County
Trust Company staff has promised the delivery of the credit card
equipment to Newman Golf Course on Friday, May 11, 2001.
Commissioner Gutenberger stated that the pilot program should
extend through the 2002 golf season to include membership
purchasing.
PARKING AND TRAFFIC
Washington Park Traffic Calming
Planning Director Van Cort, Neighborhood Planner Chatterton, City
Planner Logue were present to discuss traffic calming. Planner
Logue summarized the project from Fall 1997 to date. Director
VanCort noted that the Planning Department’s involvement is to
assist Common Council with the development of a City policy
relating to traffic calming.
Planner Logue stated that 96 of 257 surveys were returned from
the residents of Buffalo and Court Streets. Although the majority
(75%) of the responders supported the concept of traffic calming,
30% of the positive votes expressed some reservation with
portions of the proposal.
Commissioner Vargas-Mendez arrived at the meeting at 5:15 pm.
Mayor Cohen confirmed that the Board’s involvement in the process
is to review the details of the traffic calming methods to
determine problems with the experimental measures that are being
proposed that have not been thought of, and to make appropriate
comments so that the issue can move forward. The logistical
perspective, regardless of future financing, should be the
Board’s focus.
Asst. Superintendent Ferrel left the meeting at 5:30 pm.
The Board raised many questions regarding costs, lasting impacts
and the reversibility of changes. Planner Van Cort stated that
the questions should be incorporated into the preparation of
construction documents and that the City should possibly hire a
consulting Engineer to design the actual improvements. He added
that off-the-shelf designs are available and that temporary vs.
permanent alternatives should be investigated.
Superintendent Gray noted that a preliminary design stage with
cost estimates would be the next phase that will be presented to
the Board.
Resolution
By Commissioner Beach: Seconded by Commissioner Vargas-Mendez
RESOLVED, That the Board of Public Works directs the Planning
Department to proceed with the design of the Washington Park
neighborhood traffic calming measures, and the other
neighborhoods as they are completed, and be it further
Board of Public Works – May 9, 2001 - Page 3
RESOLVED, That information on all of the neighborhoods will be
brought back to the Board for review.
Carried Unanimously
BUILDINGS, PROPERTIES, TRANSIT:
Request for Driveway Easement – 315 Haller Boulevard
By Commissioner Vargas-Mendez: Seconded by Commissioner Korherr
WHEREAS, the property at 315 Haller Boulevard is in the process
of being sold and the present and future property owners wish to
clarify the issue of access to the property, and
WHEREAS, the access to the driveway 315 Haller Boulevard is over
a 25’ wide strip of land acquired in 1933 by the city from George
and Minnie Hook “for highway purposes” to serve as access to the
Haller Boulevard water tank, and
WHEREAS, the City has provided similar driveway easements at
several locations in the city where paper streets have not been
improved to extend or create a municipal street; now, therefore,
be it
RESOLVED, That the Board of Public Works grants in principal a
driveway easement to 315 Haller Boulevard, and be it further
RESOLVED, That the Board authorizes the Mayor, in consultation
with the City Attorney and the Superintendent of Public Works, to
sign an easement with the usual terms and conditions.
Carried Unanimously
Resolution – Tops Redevelopment
Resolution Concerning Traffic Mitigation Monies from the
Benderson Redevelopment of Tops Plaza
By Commissioner Beach: Seconded by Commissioner Korherr
WHEREAS, on March 20, 2001, the Planning and Development Board of
the City of Ithaca granted preliminary and final site plan
approval for the Tops Plaza redevelopment, and
WHEREAS, as part of this approval, there will be fees established
and paid in conjunction with traffic mitigation concerns, and
WHEREAS, proposed traffic enhancements made by the developer will
be credited against the established mitigation fees, and
WHEREAS, the adjacent residential neighborhood from Clinton
Street South and West of the South of the Creek neighborhood will
be impacted in a major way by the increased traffic generated by
all the new development and redevelopment in the Meadow Street,
Elmira Road, Southwest Park Corridor, and
WHEREAS, by unanimous vote on March 20, 2001, the Planning and
Development Board of the City of Ithaca strongly recommended to
the Common Council that the remaining balance of unspent traffic
mitigation fees from this project be earmarked by Common Council
specifically and solely for mitigation of the traffic impact in
the Six Mile Creek residential neighborhood from Clinton Street
South and West of Cayuga, now therefore be it
RESOLVED, That the Board of Public Works supports the resolution
passed on March 20, 2001 by the City of Ithaca Planning and
Development Board.
Amendment
By Mayor Cohen: Seconded by Commissioner Beach
RESOLVED, That the following language be added after the last
Whereas clause:
Board of Public Works – May 9, 2001 - Page 4
“WHEREAS, the Board also sees it necessary to pay attention to
the area West of Clinton between Cayuga and Turner Streets, and
be it
RESOLVED, That the Board of Public Works supports the resolution
passed on March 20, 2001 by the City of Ithaca Planning and
Development Board, and be it further
RESOLVED, That the Board of Public Works expresses its support to
the Common Council to focus all of the remaining mitigation funds
on the area bounded by Turner and Clinton Streets.”
Carried Unanimously
Main Motion As Amended
A vote on the Main Motion as Amended resulted as follows:
Carried Unanimously
CREEKS, BRIDGES, AND PARKS:
Award of Bid for Stewart Avenue Bridge Reconstruction
By Commissioner Leonardo: Seconded by Commissioner Beach
WHEREAS, bids were received on April 3, 2001 for the replacement
of the Stewart Avenue Bridge over Cascadilla Creek, and
WHEREAS, the Board of Public Works has reviewed staff’s
recommendation to increase the project budget for Capital Project
266, originally authorized in July 1998 at $526,000, to
$1,270,000 which increases the city’s final cost from
approximately $26,000 to $63,000 (5% of the approved costs), and
WHEREAS, Common Council voted to increase the capital project to
$1,270,000 at their meeting of May 2, 2001, and
WHEREAS, staff has reviewed the bids and recommends that the bid
be awarded to the low bidder; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That the Board of Public Works hereby awards the
Stewart Avenue Bridge Rehabilitation Project to Economy Paving,
1819 NYS Route 13, Cortland, New York 13045, for their low bid,
including mobilization of $976,071.02, and be it further
RESOLVED, That the board authorizes the Superintendent of Public
Works to enter into an agreement with Economy Paving, following
Council’s approval with the usual terms and conditions.
Carried Unanimously
Award of Bid for Gooseneck Trailer
By Commissioner Leonardo: Seconded by Commissioner Gutenberger
WHEREAS, staff received bids for a new and unused 2001 Gooseneck
Trailer on April 24, 2001, and
WHEREAS, staff is recommending that the Board of Public Works
award the bid to the second lowest bidder because the low bidder
did not meet specifications; now, therefore be it
RESOLVED, That the Board of Public Works hereby awards the bid of
the new and unused 2001 Gooseneck Trailer to S.C. Hansen, Inc.,
110 Old Ithaca Road, Horseheads, NY 14845 for their low bid
meeting specifications of $38,338.00, and be it further
RESOLVED, That the Board authorizes the Assistant Superintendent
for Streets and Facilities to enter into an agreement with the
usual terms and conditions.
Carried Unanimously
Pud’s Run – Discussion
Mayor Cohen noted that the Board expressed hesitation to approve
a request for use of Stewart Park and a waiver of pavilion rental
fee for 2000. The City of Ithaca is now an official sponsor of
Board of Public Works – May 9, 2001 - Page 5
the event. Mayor Cohen is requesting closing the park for the
event and waiving the rental fee.
Discussion followed regarding closing Stewart Park to vehicular
traffic. Last year the vehicles were allowed to enter the park
and immediately turn right and traffic was only shut down for
approximately 10 minutes.
Alderperson Hershey suggested that the Board members compromise
their position and announce the expected delay of traffic to the
public in advance of the event.
Mayor Cohen stated that the City relinquishes the use of Stewart
Park to the Ithaca Festival and the festival closes the park to
vehicular traffic.
Mayor Cohen will draft a resolution for the June C.O.W. meeting
agenda.
Power To Act: Streets and Facilities Roof Construction
By Mayor Cohen: Seconded by Commissioner Gutenberger
RESOLVED, That the Board of Public Works grant themselves the
Power to Act to review a bid for the Streets and Facilities Roof
Construction project at their June 6, 2001 Committee of the Whole
meeting.
Carried Unanimously
REPORTS OF SUPERINTENDENT AND STAFF:
Superintendent Gray reported to the Board on the following
matters:
He has received a request to close Cascadilla Avenue for a one
day multiple family garage sale. Alderperson Hershey stated that
this is a low traffic volume street. Commissioner Beach noted
that allowing the set up of tables on the street would prohibit
emergency vehicle access. The majority of the Board approved the
street closing contingent upon the incorporation of Commissioner
Beach’s concerns.
A request for the use of Dewitt Park for theater performances on
Saturday nights from June through August, 2001 has been submitted
to the Superintendent. Commissioner Vargas-Mendez suggested that
the 1825 agreement with the church for the use of Dewitt Park be
updated to reflect current usage. Sale of refreshments, clean up
and usage by other groups were discussion items. The general
consensus of the Board was to approve the usage excluding the
request for refreshment concessions.
Linn Street bridge contract terms stated that the road would be
open by May 24, 2001 and contract completion would take place
July 15, 2001. The contractor has stated that by not re-opening
the road temporarily for Cornell graduation weekend, the contract
completion could be available as early as June 30, 2001. The
Board agreed to allow Superintendent Gray to act administratively
with input from Police Chief Basile and Cornell staff.
ADJOURNMENT:
On a motion the meeting adjourned at 6:50 p.m.
Julie Conley Holcomb Alan J. Cohen
City Clerk Mayor