HomeMy WebLinkAboutMN-BPW-2001-11-14BOARD OF PUBLIC WORKS PROCEEDINGS
CITY OF ITHACA, NEW YORK
Regular Meeting 4:30 p.m. November 14, 2001
PRESENT:
Commissioners (5) - Beach, Leonardo, Gutenberger, Jenkins,
Korherr
OTHERS PRESENT:
Deputy Clerk – Korherr
Deputy City Controller - Thayer
Superintendent of Public Works - Gray
Assistant Superintendent of Streets and Facilities - Ferrel
Common Council Liaison – Hershey
Alderperson Blumenthal
Alderperson Pryor
Planning and Economic Director - VanCort
ADDITIONS TO OR DELETIONS FROM THE AGENDA:
Superintendent Gray requested that a discussion involving a water
agreement with the Town of Ulysses be added to the agenda.
No Board member objected.
In the absence of a quorum Doug Austic, Supervisor for the Town
of Ulysses addressed the Board on the creation of the Town of
Ulysses Water District. Supervisor Austic’s presentation included
a request for the City of Ithaca to sell water on a temporary
basis to the Town of Ulysses residents. The Town created a map of
the commercial and residential sectors of the water district and
finalized future water planning concerns for the next 50 years.
An outline of the areas that would be serviced by the water
supply was presented. Providing water to residents and small
business’, rather than large-scale commercial development, is
their scope. The temporary need to purchase water from the City
will end when Bolton Point merges with the municipalities. A 10”
main would be required due to fire protection concerns.
The Town of Ulysses has already discussed their needs with the
Town of Ithaca. The Town expressed their concerns over land use
regulations, site plan reviews and zoning ordinances. Supervisor
Austic stated that the Town would not charge agriculture district
landowners the amount related to unoccupied units on the map. A
pump station will be constructed on Wolf Lane. Extracting water
from Cayuga Lake was discussed as an option along with a request
for water from the Village of Trumansburg.
Alderperson Blumenthal stated that this request would require a
formal environmental review rather than an informal Board review
and added that other City advisory boards should be allowed to
offer their input.
Negotiating water rates based on the required demand not to
exceed 200,000 gallons per day would be the next step. The
infrastructure alone would cost the Town of Ulysses $3.7 million.
Strategic initiative grants will provide funding assistance for
the project. Supervisor Austic stated that they would like to
enter the funding loan cycle during the Spring of 2002.
Superintendent Gray stated that he would forward the Town’s
planning documents to the City Planning Board to discuss
environmental review issues. Supervisor Austic will forward the
Town’s land use plan, present zoning regulations and overall plan
draft to Superintendent Gray who will put this item on the agenda
for the December 5, 2001 COW meeting. The Board of Public Works
is considered the lead agency for the project. Planning Director
VanCort suggested that the item be referred to the Conservation
Board of Public Works – November 14, 2001 - Page 2
Advisory Council and Tompkins County Planning Commissioner for
their comments.
Commissioners Leonardo and Jenkins arrived at the meeting at
4:45.
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 August, September and October,
2001 Board of Public Works Meeting
By Commissioner Gutenberger: Seconded by Commissioner Korherr
RESOLVED, That the Minutes of the August 8, 2001, September 12,
2001 and October 10, 2001 Board of Public Works meetings be
approved as published.
Carried Unanimously
PARKING AND TRAFFIC
Request for “Children at Play” Sign
BY Commissioner Gutenberger :Seconded by Commissioner Beach
WHEREAS, residents of Warren Place have requested a “Children at
Play” sign to warn motorists of children in the neighborhood, and
WHEREAS, the Board of Public Works has received input from the
City Traffic Engineer and the City Attorney, and
WHEREAS, the Board has reviewed the traffic engineer’s denial of
the requested sign during earlier requests based on traffic
counts, the origin of the traffic as well as other traffic
characteristics and guidelines for application of these signs
published by New York State; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That the Board authorizes the installation of a
“Children at Play” sign on Warren Place in a location where it is
meant to demark the change in driving environment from rural
State Route 79 outside the city to the urban residential nature
of Warren Place, and deems it appropriate due of the sudden and
unusual nature of the change.
Carried Unanimously
ADMINISTRATION AND COMMUNICATIONS ITEMS:
Recommendation for Position Upgrade
By Comissioner Jenkins :Seconded by Commissioner Korherr
WHEREAS, the Board of Public Works has discussed the need to fill
the City Engineer’s position several times in recent years as it
relates to balancing the workload in the engineering office,
providing the necessary day to day oversight required to maintain
productivity as well as professional development of staff and to
manage and coordinate the engineering work program required to
support the department’s annual projects as well as the city’s
capital projects program, and
WHEREAS, the Board and the Superintendent have been unsuccessful
in their efforts to have this position re-established and funded
during the recent tight budgets and the city wide competition for
additional staff positions, and
WHEREAS, the Superintendent has indicated that talent exists in
present staff to meet many of the needs for oversight management
and professional development even though the creation of some
advanced position such as Director of Engineering will not
resolve the imbalance between staff hours available and staff
hours needed, and
WHEREAS, the Board believes that the proposed position upgrade
will provide needed management and staff support in the
engineering office while also recognizing those skills and
Board of Public Works – November 14, 2001 - Page 3
efforts which are already expended for the city’s benefit; now,
therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That the Board of Public Works directs the
Superintendent to work with the Human Resources Department to
draft a new position duty statement with a recommended title and
salary range for submittal to the Civil Service Commission, the
Human Resources Committee and the Budget and Administration
Committee for action and funding, and be it further
RESOLVED, That the Board forwards its recommendation with the
understanding that the cost associated with this upgrade will be
derived from the funds in the Mayor’s proposed 2002 Engineering
budget (A1440) and/or charge backs to the appropriate capital
projects as determined by the Superintendent and the City
Controller.
Carried Unanimously
NEW BUSINESS:
Planning Department Presentation of the “6 Point Plan” Study and
Recommendations
Alderperson Pryor began the presentation by thanking Economic
Development Planner Kusznir and Neighborhood and Economic
Development Planner Logue for their work on the Six Point Plan
She also extended her thanks to the Board on their action
regarding the children at play sign.
Alderperson Pryor stated that traffic calming alone would not
have been an appropriate method to address the traffic problems
in the Southwest area of the City. She added that the Six Point
Plan was included in the Draft Environmental Impact Statement to
specifically address traffic mitigation. Alderperson Pryor
thanked the Resident Client Committee that worked diligently with
the consultant to develop the comprehensive plan.
Planning Director VanCort noted that the DGEIS and Common Council
members identified the six points and the study resoundingly
endorsed five of the six points.
Planners Logue and Kusznir presented several aspects of the plan.
Traffic counts from the GEIS and current counts were incorporated
into a demand model. The model that also included future
development traffic demands on the area was then projected over
twenty years at an annual 1.2% increase per year. Those final
projection figures were then incorporated into the current
configuration that became the Six Point Model. Alderperson
Hershey stated that regardless of future development in the area
a major piece of this model would need to be implemented to
address current problems.
Planning Director VanCort went on to describe the proposed
Southwest Benefit Assessment District. He noted that the City can
charge a special assessment to specific benefitted properties.
The Commons business owners were asked to fund 18% of the Commons
construction in 1974 and the General Fund absorbed another 20%.
Additional funding covered the balance. The Collegetown Garage
construction was funded similarly with 20% business owners and
80% City funds. Common Council is in the process of creating the
special assessment district that will include properties along
Route 13 and old Elmira Road as well as the new development in
the interior of the area. Residences will be excluded. Since the
traffic flow was determined to be 40% pass-by and 60% spread
about, the 60% will be charged out to business owners based on
their building’s square footage. The mitigation payment that was
initially expected to be the responsibility of the contractor is
no longer obtainable. The Controller’s Office is responsible for
designing the format for the fees.
Board of Public Works – November 14, 2001 - Page 4
Commissioner Beach supported Alderperson Pryor’s comment that
traffic mitigation be constructed through the development
process. He added that the residential neighborhood would be lost
if these issues are not incorporated into the construction.
Comissioner Jenkins expressed concern for the small business
owners that might not be able to afford this. Planning Director
VanCort confirmed that the charge is billed to the landlord.
Lease agreements would not be affected until they would be re-
negotiated. He added that the fee may reflect an estimated 5%
increase in rental costs. This percentage should not cause the
closing of any established business.
Alderperson Hershey stated that small business location shifts
would occur when properties become more valuable due to the
economic impact on the area.
Commissioner Korherr confirmed the need to have the costs
detailed sooner than later.
Alderperson Hershey stated that acting on the Six Point Plan
would require further mitigation such as the Plain Street Bridge
component. Alderperson Pryor noted that the additional bridge
would allow emergency access to the area during the construction
phases.
Alderperson Hershey discussed the impact on the residents that
would be losing their homes as a result of this development.
Power to Act – Support of the Six Point Plan
By Commissioner Leonardo :Seconded by Commissioner Gutenberger
RESOLVED, That the Board of Public Works grant themselves the
Power to Act at the December 5, 2001 Board of Public Works
meeting to address the Six Point Plan.
Carried Unanimously
REPORTS OF SUPERINTENDENT AND STAFF:
Superintendent Ferrel reported on the following projects:
Cliff Street construction has begun. Signage giving advance
notice to residents is in place.
The North Cayuga Street Bridge project at Fall Creek is scheduled
for 2002. The reason for the renovation is to remove the 12-ton
limitation on the structure to allow fire truck access,
strengthen the structural frame and repair rust damage. The
project will be bid out in May and the work will begin in June.
The bridge will stay closed until November 2002.
The top pavement on North Cayuga Street was not done over the
summer due to other projects and the need for the work to be
completed by the time the school year began. The work will be
done during the summer of 2002.
Commissioner Gutenberger questioned the status of the public
relations piece for DPW projects. Superintendent Gray stated that
the Board Vice-Chair could be included as a guest columnist for
the Ithaca Journal.
ADJOURNMENT:
On a motion the meeting adjourned at 6:45 p.m.
Robin L. Korherr Joseph Leonardo
Deputy City Clerk Vice-Chair