HomeMy WebLinkAboutMN-BPW-2003-02-19BOARD OF PUBLIC WORKS PROCEEDINGS
CITY OF ITHACA, NEW YORK
Regular Meeting 4:45 p.m. February 19, 2003
PRESENT:
Commissioners (6) - Beach, Leonardo, Tsegaye, Jenkins, Dotson,
Gutenberger
OTHERS PRESENT:
Deputy Clerk – Korherr
City Controller - Thayer
Superintendent of Public Works - Gray
Assistant Superintendent of Streets and Facilities - Ferrel
Assistant Superintendent of Water and Sewer - Fabbroni
Common Council Liaison - Hershey
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE:
Vice Chair Leonardo led all present in the Pledge of Allegiance
to the American flag.
APPROVAL OF MINUTES:
Approval of Minutes of Board of Public Works Meetings
By Commissioner Beach: Seconded by Commissioner Tsegaye
RESOLVED, That the Minutes of the December 12, 2002 and the
January 15, 2003 meetings of the Board of Public Works be
approved as published.
Carried Unanimously
ADDITIONS TO OR DELETIONS FROM THE AGENDA:
Superintendent Gray requested that the following item be added to
the agenda:
Power To Act – Commons Street Lighting Project
No Board member objected.
COMMUNICATIONS AND HEARINGS OF PERSONS BEFORE THE BOARD:
Jim Houghton, Town of Danby resident, addressed the Board on the
Spencer Street traffic conversion and the effect it would have on
the Dahl property and the proposed parking alternatives on S.
Cayuga Street.
Larry Beck, Business Office located in the City, expressed his
support of Plan B for the West Spencer Street traffic conversion.
He asked that additional parking be added to the area in front of
his rental property.
Stanton Loh, W. Spencer Street resident, stated his support for
having the Dahl’s home relocated.
Adrienne Loh, W. Spencer Street resident, expressed her desire
for the preservation of the neighborhood and the quality of life
for its residents.
Lauri Dahl, W. Spencer Street resident, asked that the Board
preserve the neighborhood as they vote to alter the traffic
flows. She stated that she would endorse proposed Plan B that
relocates their home and would proceed with negotiations to have
the City move it to another location. She requests that accurate
traffic counts be sent to her to answer her concerns for
additional traffic as a result of Cayuga Green.
John Rogers, S. Cayuga Street resident, spoke in support of all
comments made and addressed parking issues resulting from the
conversion.
Board of Public Works – February 19, 2003 - Page 2
Steve Ehrhardt, S. Albany Street resident, asked that as the
Board decides on the W. Spencer Street design that they preserve
the neighborhood to ensure that the street does not become a
highway. He added that the proposed option of a parking lot on a
hill may be problematic and that the City should act with fiscal
responsibility when voting on the options of relocating
residences.
RESPONSE TO THE PUBLIC
Commissioner Beach thanked the members of the public and
requested that copies of alternative Plan B be distributed to
Board members. He requested confirmation of the level of
authority that Common Council retained as a result of their
actions on the West Spencer Street configuration and what should
be extended to the Board of Public Works. Alderperson Hershey
suggested that City Attorney Schwab attend the Committee of the
Whole meeting on February 26, 2003 to discuss the Board’s
authority.
Superintendent Gray stated that his staff would develop a
timeline for the project.
A discussion on the effects that the changes would have on the
community and the need to communicate the information to other
City committees followed. Civil Engineer West shared comments
received by other committees and agencies with the Board.
Superintendent Gray stated that this form of street design
infrastructure alteration would not need formal site plan review.
HIGHWAYS, STREETS, SIDEWALK:
Award Of Bid for Traffic Signal Upgrade
By Commissioner Beach: Seconded by Commissioner Jenkins
WHEREAS, bids were received for the upgrade of traffic signals at
the Intersections of Buffalo & Albany, Buffalo & Plain, and Court
& Plain Streets, and
WHEREAS, staff recommends that the Board award the bid to the
lowest bidder, now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That the Board of Public Works hereby awards the bid of
the Traffic Signal Upgrade at the intersections of Buffalo &
Albany, Buffalo & Plain, and Court & Plain Streets, to O'Connell
Electric Co., 830 Phillips Road, Victor, New York 14564-9747 for
their bid of 4257,451.50, and, be it further
RESOLVED, That this project be funded from Capitol Project 349
and 425, and, be it further
RESOLVED, That the Board authorizes the Superintendent of Public
Works to enter into an agreement with O'Connell Electric Co.,
Carried Unanimously
West Spencer Street – Recommendation for Preliminary Design
By Commissioner Jenkins : Seconded by Commissioner Tsegaye
WHEREAS, Common Council, after extensive sketch plan review and
public input passed a resolution providing direction for the
Board of Public Works in the design and reconstruction of West
Spencer Street between Cayuga Street and Albany Street and funded
the project for construction in 2003, now, therefore be it
RESOLVED, That the Board of Public Works grants itself power to
act on a resolution selecting design alternatives to complete
preliminary design.
A vote on the resolution resulted as follows:
Ayes (5): Leonardo, Beach, Gutenberger, Jenkins, Tsegaye
Nays (0)
Abstentions (1): Dotson
Carried
Board of Public Works – February 19, 2003 - Page 3
Designation of Lead Agency Status for Environmental Review
Of the Rehabilitation of the Stewart Avenue Bridge over Fall
Creek Project P.I.N. 2210620
By Commissioner Dotson: Seconded by Commissioner Gutenberger
WHEREAS, State Law and Section 176.6 of the City Code require
that a lead agency be established for conducting environmental
review of projects in accordance with local and state
environmental law, and
WHEREAS, State Law specifies that for actions governed by local
environmental review, the lead agency shall be that local agency
which has primary responsibility for approving and funding or
carrying out the action, and
WHEREAS, the proposed adoption of the Bridge Rehabilitation
Project Stewart Avenue over Fall Creek is a "Type II" Action
pursuant to CEQR because it is the maintenance of an existing
facility and therefore does not require the preparation of an EIS
or any other determination or procedure under the City's
Environmental Quality Review Ordinance; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That Board of Public Works of the City of Ithaca does
hereby declare itself lead agency for the environmental review of
the proposed adoption of the Bridge Rehabilitation Project for
Stewart Avenue Bridge over Fall Creek, and be it further,
RESOLVED, That the board concurs with determination that the
bridge replacement is Type II action and directs staff to ensure
that the construction documents contain all necessary
requirements to see that there are no long term negative
environmental impacts resulting from the construction process.
A vote on the resolution resulted as follows:
Ayes (5): Leonardo, Beach, Gutenberger, Jenkins, Tsegaye
Nays (0)
Abstentions (1): Dotson
Carried
Superintendent Gray stated that he would ask the Conservation
Advisory Council to comment on the project.
Power to Act – Bids for Commons Street Lighting Project
By Commissioner Leonardo : Seconded by Commissioner Gutenberger
RESOLVED, that the Board of Public Works grants itself the Power
to Act on the bids for the Commons Street Lighting Project at the
February 26, 2003 Committee of the Whole meeting.
Carried Unanimously
Commissioner Gutenberger left the meeting at 6:15 pm.
ADMINISTRATION AND COMMUNICATIONS ITEMS:
Projects for Consideration During TEA 21 Reauthorization.
By Commissioner Leonardo :Seconded by Commissioner Tsegaye
WHEREAS, The United States Congress is currently developing
legislation to reauthorize the Transportation Equity Act for the
21st Century (TEA 21) and
WHEREAS, The staff has developed a list of projects for
consideration as "member items", now therefore be it
RESOLVED, The Board of Public Works directs staff to forward the
following projects as ones that represent the full range of
projects, supported by TEA21, which are covered by the City's
Transportation Improvement Program
East State Street Reconstruction $2,400,000
East State Street (Rt79) from
Mitchell Street east to city line
Board of Public Works – February 19, 2003 - Page 4
Thurston Avenue Bridge $3,700,000
Vital vehicle/bicycle/pedestrian
Link adjacent to Cornell Campus
Cayuga Waterfront Trail $1,500,000
Third Phase of waterfront acres
And neighborhood revitalization
Effort connecting city and state parks
A vote on the resolution resulted as follows:
Ayes (5): Leonardo, Beach, Gutenberger, Jenkins, Tsegaye
Nays (0)
Abstentions (1): Dotson
Carried
For the record, Commissioner Dotson stated that, without more
information on the pool of projects and staff rationale for
recommending these particular projects, she did not have enough
information to support this resolution.
A discussion regarding the removal of snow due to significant
snowfall followed. Commissioner Beach requested confirmation that
the Town of Ithaca as the property owner was in fact responsible
for clearing the walkways in front of their building.
Superintendent Gray stated that Building Department enforcement
staff would fine the property owner if they did not comply with
the City’s snow removal policy.
REPORTS OF SUPERINTENDENT AND STAFF:
Assistant Superintendent Ferrel reported to the Board on the
following matters:
Recent storms have strained the department resources and the
public has shared their praises and concerns with the media. He
shared the detail of staffing levels required for the snow
removal and stated that cleanup will take several additional
days.
The price of salt has increased and the supply allotment per day
is limited.
Concerns for proposed action to repair potholes were discussed.
Alderperson Hershey suggested that staff submit an evaluation for
projects such as potholes and snow related expenditures to B&A
and request that contingency funds be accessed to meet these
needs, prior to the funds being dispensed for other City
purposes.
ADJOURNMENT:
On a motion the meeting adjourned at 6:45 p.m.
Robin L. Korherr Joseph Leonardo
Deputy City Clerk Vice-Chair