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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMN-BPW-2003-03-19BOARD OF PUBLIC WORKS PROCEEDINGS CITY OF ITHACA, NEW YORK COW Meeting 4:45 p.m. March 19, 2003 PRESENT: Mayor Cohen Commissioners (4) - Beach, Gutenberger, Jenkins, Dotson OTHERS PRESENT: Administrative Secretary - Payne City Controller - Thayer Assistant Superintendent of Streets and Facilities - Ferrel Assistant Superintendent of Water and Sewer - Fabbroni Common Council Liaison - Hershey EXCUSED: Commissioners Leonardo and Tsegaye PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE: Mayor Cohen led all present in the Pledge of Allegiance to the American flag. BUILDINGS, PROPERTIES, TRANSIT: Commissioner Gutenberger led a discussion on the issue of downtown parking during Cayuga Green construction and stated that she did not want to continue two-hour free parking during the construction process. She noted that there are not enough spaces to supply current demand and proposed a one-hour free alternative. Commissioner Beach suggested that the hourly rate be increased. Gary Ferguson of the Ithaca Downtown Partnership was present to address the Board. He explained that the committee had concerns of short term parking as well as undue added pressure to users. The committee suggested that in order to balance demand that removal of permitted parking would be the best solution. Mayor Cohen noted that discussion to date has included the option of increasing the hourly and permit rates upon completion of the garage and reminded the Board that Thomas Associates are guaranteed 200 permits. Discussion followed on possible incentives to surrender parking permits. Mr. Ferguson stated that the parking committee wanted the public to feel that short-term parking is affordable and available. Commissioner Gutenberger confirmed that the Dryden Road Parking Garage rates are higher based on supply and demand and the lot is fully utilized. Mayor Cohen responded by saying he receives complaints from merchants that the rates are too high. He added that the city is competing with nearby shopping areas that have free parking. Downtown Parking During Cayuga Green Construction By Commissioner Beach :Seconded by Commissioner Dotson WHEREAS, the parking committee is recommending that the Board of Public Works establish a limit for the number of long term parking permits in the Green and Seneca Street Garages in order to accommodate the need for short-term parking, and WHEREAS, the committee is also recommending that permit rates in the Green Street Garage be set at $40 a month for both levels as well as changes to the hourly fee structure, and WHEREAS, staff has further recommended that the permit rate for the upper levels of the Seneca Street Garage also be set at $40 per month, while the permit rate for lower levels remains at $50, and WHEREAS, the committee has made arrangements with the P&C on Hancock Street and the nearby Bowl-O-Drome to provide parking for a park and ride system that will allow commuters easy access to the downtown area from a remote parking lot; now, therefore be it Board of Public Works – March 19, 2003 - Page 2 RESOLVED, That the Board of Public Works accepts the parking committee proposal to set the limit for parking spaces in the Green Street Parking Garage to 275 and that Seneca Street Garage permits be set at 200 for the top and 75 for the covered spaces, and be it further RESOLVED, That the Board sets the Green Street parking permit cost at $40 per month for either level, and be it further RESOLVED, That the Board sets the Seneca Street upper level permit cost at $40 per month, and be it further RESOLVED, That the Board sets the hourly rate structure at: first two hours free, $.50 each for the third and fourth hour or part thereof, and $2 each for every hour or part thereof over four, and be it further RESOLVED, That these provisions recommended by the parking committee continue throughout the duration of the construction of the Cayuga Street Parking Garage. A vote on the resolution resulted as follows: Ayes: (2) Beach, Dotson Nays: (2) Gutenberger, Jenkins Motion Fails Mayor Cohen indicated that the Board couldn't change the free parking due to an MOU with the Ithaca Downtown Partnership. Discussion continued on the MOU. Mayor Cohen asked Mr. Ferguson to obtain a copy of the signed MOU in order for the Board to continue this discussion. Intersection Reconstruction at Cayuga and Clinton By Commissioner Beach: Seconded by Commissioner Jenkins WHEREAS, the Board of Public Works has reviewed three preliminary alternative designs for the intersection of Clinton and Cayuga Streets which the DPW hopes to rebuild during the summer of 2003 in preparation for traffic changes resulting from implementation of Common Council's Six Point Traffic Plan and the Downtown Traffic Circulation Study especially the conversion of West Spencer Street from one-way to two-way traffic, and WHEREAS, the board would like to coordinate this construction with other current project such as the construction of the Cayuga Green Parking Garage on adjacent land or the replacement of downtown traffic signals, including this intersection, and WHEREAS, the redesign looks at the compromises of various design elements in urban street layout such as street width, tree lawns, snow storage, sidewalk placement, on street parking, lane width, designated pedestrian crossings and other amenities that control functionality, cost and impacts on adjacent property; now, therefore, be it RESOLVED, That the Board of Public Works directs staff to develop a final intersection design based on Alternative 3, giving consideration to any ideas and suggestions during the design, which will further improve the design considering the elements listed above. Discussion followed. Commissioner Dotson told the Board that the BPAC discussed this issue and felt that Alternative 1 is more appropriate. Board of Public Works – March 19, 2003 - Page 3 Amendment By Commissioner Dotson: Seconded by Mayor Cohen RESOLVED, That the Board of Public Works directs staff to develop a final intersection design based on Alternative 1, giving consideration to any ideas and suggestions during the design which will further improve the design considering the elements listed above. Carried Unanimously A vote on the main motion as amended resulted as follows: Carried Unanimously Installation of Bocce Court in Stewart Park By Commissioner Gutenberger: Seconded by Commissioner Dotson WHEREAS, the Special Olympics has received a grant for design and construction of a regulation size Bocce Ball Court for practice and competition, and WEHREAS, on November 6, 2002, the City of Ithaca Parks Commission, after conversations with representatives of the Special Olympics, passed a resolution recommending that the Board of Public Works consider the installation of a Bocce Ball Court in Stewart Park; now, therefore, but it RESOLVED, That the Board of Public Works hereby directs staff to work with the Special Olympics to install a Bocce Ball Court in Stewart Park at the site of the abandoned shuffleboard courts as time and staffing permits. Carried Unanimously Superintendent Gray noted that the Parks Commission confirmed that the Special Olympics obtained a grant that would cover the cost of materials and installation of the court. Request for Use of DeWitt Park By Commissioner Gutenberger: Seconded by Commissioner Beach WHEREAS, the Ithaca Downtown Partnership is requesting that an annual summer concert series be allowed in DeWitt Park for six performances this summer, and WHEREAS, the partnership has contacted the church, which did not object to the usage, and WHEREAS, the music during the performances would be strictly acoustic in order to keep with the quiet use policy of the park; now, therefore, be it RESOLVED, That the Board of Public Works hereby approves the request from the Ithaca Downtown Partnership for the use of DeWitt Park between June 14th and August 23rd on the second and third Saturdays of each month from 1:00 p.m. until 3:00 p.m., and be it further RESOLVED, That the IDP will provide clean up after each performance. Carried Unanimously Newman Golf Course Concession Stand By Commissioner Jenkins: Seconded by Commissioner Gutenberger RESOLVED, That the Board of Public Works authorizes the Superintendent of Public Work to extend the original contract for Newman Golf Course Concession Stand operations with the current vendor for an additional year based on the terms of the original contract and prior extensions in order to coordinate the bidding Board of Public Works – March 19, 2003 - Page 4 of the concession at the golf course with that at Stewart Park in the winter of 2003-2004. Amendment By Commissioner Gutenberger: Seconded by Commissioner Dotson RESOLVED, That the Board of Public Works authorizes the Superintendent of Public Work to extend the original contract for Newman Golf Course Concession Stand operations with the current vendor for an additional year based on the terms of the original contract and prior extensions in order to coordinate the bidding and awarding of the concession at the golf course with that at Stewart Park by February 1, 2004. Carried Unanimously A vote on the main motion as amended resulted as follows: Carried Unanimously Zolar Moving Request for Interim Parking Supt. Gray explained to the Board that Zolar Parking has requested permission to park in the cul-de-sac at Park Road during the new garage construction. It was noted that the city wouldn't be able to accommodate current parking agreements in the new parking garage. Mayor Cohen suggested that Zolar could contract for private parking. He noted that accommodating the buses for the Holiday Inn would be a tough issue to solve as well. Mr. Ferguson returned to the meeting with a copy of an unsigned MOU that would provide two-hours of free parking in the downtown lots for a five year period ending December 31, 2005. Downtown Parking During Cayuga Green Construction By Commissioner Beach :Seconded by Commissioner Dotson WHEREAS, the parking committee is recommending that the Board of Public Works establish a limit for the number of long term parking permits in the Green and Seneca Street Garages in order to accommodate the need for short-term parking, and WHEREAS, the committee is also recommending that permit rates in the Green Street Garage be set at $40 a month for both levels as well as changes to the hourly fee structure, and WHEREAS, staff has further recommended that the permit rate for the upper levels of the Seneca Street Garage also be set at $40 per month, while the permit rate for lower levels remains at $50, and WHEREAS, the committee has made arrangements with the P&C on Hancock Street and the nearby Bowl-O-Drome to provide parking for a park and ride system that will allow commuters easy access to the downtown area from a remote parking lot; now, therefore be it RESOLVED, That the Board of Public Works accepts the parking committee proposal to set the limit for parking spaces in the Green Street Parking Garage to 275 and that Seneca Street Garage permits be set at 200 for the top and 75 for the covered spaces, and be it further RESOLVED, That the Board sets the Green Street parking permit cost at $40 per month for either level, and be it further RESOLVED, That the Board sets the Seneca Street upper level permit cost at $40 per month, and be it further RESOLVED, That the Board sets the hourly rate structure at: first two hours free, $.50 each for the third and fourth hour or part thereof, and $2 each for every hour or part thereof over four, and be it further Board of Public Works – March 19, 2003 - Page 5 RESOLVED, That these provisions recommended by the parking committee continue throughout the duration of the construction of the Cayuga Street Parking Garage, and be it further RESOLVED, That these changes become effective contingent upon confirmation of the official signed MOU that reflects the date of 2005 on file in the City Clerk’s office. Carried Unanimously Mayor Cohen clarified that if the agreement is not until December 2005, the item would return for further discussion and decision of the Board. ADJOURNMENT: On a motion the meeting adjourned at 6:40 p.m. Donna Payne Alan J. Cohen Administrative Secretary Mayor