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Home My WebLink AboutMN-BPW-2003-09-10 BOARD OF PUBLIC WORKS PROCEEDINGS CITY OF ITHACA, NEW YORK Regular Meeting 4:45 p.m. September 10, 2003 PRESENT: Mayor Cohen Commissioners (6) - Beach, Tsegaye, Chapman, Jenkins, Dotson, Leonardo OTHERS PRESENT: Deputy City Controller - Andrew Superintendent of Public Works - Gray Assistant Superintendent of Streets and Facilities - Ferrel Assistant Superintendent of Water and Sewer - Fabbroni Assistant City Attorney – Dunn Common Council Liaison - Hershey Information Management Specialist - Myers PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE: Mayor Cohen led all present in the Pledge of Allegiance to the American flag. MINUTES: Approval of August 13, 2003 Regular Board of Public Works Meeting Minutes By Commissioner Leonardo: Seconded by Commissioner Dotson RESOLVED, That the August 13, 2003 Regular Board of Public Works Meeting Minutes be approved as published. Carried Unanimously REPORT OF CITY ATTORNEY Assistant City Attorney Dunn reported on a request by the Salvation Army to hand out free food and snacks to the youth at the Wood Street park, and to inform them about their youth programs. She reported that a vending permit is not appropriate for this request. She further stated that Wood Street park is a recreational park oriented for children. The giving away of free snacks and drinks could entice unsupervised children and subject them to the prayer and faith based activities of the Salvation Army. She recommended that the Salvation Army post or distribute information in the park regarding their activities, but not combine that activity with the offering of free food/drinks. Discussion followed on the floor regarding how this request differed from others for the use of Stewart Park or The Commons. Superintendent Gray stated that he would draft a letter to the Salvation Army for the City Attorney’s office to review. 2 Board of Public Works September 10, 2003 BUILDINGS, PROPERTIES, REFUSE AND TRANSIT Request for Expungement of Trash Violation – Resolution By Commissioner Leonardo: Seconded by Commissioner Chapman WHEREAS, Annette Fuhr, owner of 442 North Tioga Street received a trash violation on May 6, 2003 for placement of material on the wrong week, and WHEREAS, Ms. Fuhr is appealing the bill because she was out of town at the time the violation was incurred; now, therefore, be it RESOLVED, That the Board of Public Works has reviewed the request and denies the expungement of the bill because the material was removed and the service was provided at 442 North Tioga Street. Discussion followed on the floor regarding the services that were provided. Superintendent Gray stated that he had approached the Neighborhood and Community Issues Committee some years ago regarding waivers for 1st time trash violators and there was no interest in pursuing this issue. A vote on the Resolution resulted as follows: Carried Unanimously Commissioner Tsegaye arrived at the meeting at 4:50 p.m. HIGHWAYS, STREETS, AND SIDEWALKS Request for New Location for Hot Truck – Resolution By Commissioner Chapman: Seconded by Commissioner Leonardo WHEREAS, the Hot Truck, currently owned and operated by Albert Smith, on Stewart Avenue has been in business since 1960 serving Cornell’s West Campus and has become a tradition for Cornell Students and Alum, and WHEREAS, Cornell University will be undergoing major construction in the next six (6) years included in the West Campus Residential Initiative, and WHEREAS, the location of the truck was considered an obstacle during the initial stages of construction; now, therefore, be it RESOLVED, That Albert Smith, owner of the Hot Truck, has met with Cornell University’s representatives for the West Campus redevelopment as required under the terms of the findings by the City’s Planning Board following site plan review and they have jointly agreed to reestablish the Hot Truck on Stewart Avenue, and be it further RESOLVED, That the Board of Public Works hereby recognizes the relocation of the truck approximately 100 feet north of its historic location along the east curb line of Stewart Avenue and approximately 250 feet south of the center of the University Avenue intersection as a continuation of the Hot truck’s existence and service at that location along with any rights that may be due to its grandfathered status. Ayes (4): Leonardo, Chapman, Dotson, Beach Nays (0): Abstentions: (1) Tsegaye Carried 3 Board of Public Works September 10, 2003 Request to Close 100 Blocks of Cayuga Street – Resolution By Commissioner Tsegaye: Seconded by Commissioner Dotson WHEREAS, the Ithaca Downtown Partnership (IDP) has requested that the 100 blocks of North and South Cayuga Streets be closed during the annual Apple Harvest Festival on Saturday, October 4 and Sunday, October 5, and WHEREAS, they are requesting that the street remain closed from 7:00 a.m. Saturday morning until 9:00 p.m. Sunday evening; now, therefore, be it RESOLVED, That the Board of Public Works hereby grants the closure of the 100 blocks of Cayuga Street on October 4th and 5th for the annual Apple Harvest Festival, and be it further RESOLVED, That the Board requires an emergency lane be maintained at all times during the street closure, and be it further RESOLVED, That the Board understands that security will be provided for the event at the expense of the Festival and/or Ithaca Downtown Partnership, and be it further RESOLVED, That trash generated by the festival will be removed at the expense of the festival and/or Ithaca Downtown Partnership. Discussion followed on the floor regarding security for the booths that will be up overnight. Board members wanted to have a statement in the resolution that indicated that City police would not provide overnight security services. A vote on the Resolution resulted as follows: Carried Unanimously Commissioner Jenkins arrived at the meeting at 4:55 p.m. 16. CREEKS, BRIDGES AND PARKS A. Award of Bid for Cass Park & Auburn Street Park Playgrounds – Resolution By Commissioner Jenkins: Seconded by Commissioner Dotson WHEREAS, the Ithaca Urban Renewal Agency has requested bids for the replacement of the playgrounds at Cass and Auburn Parks, and WHEREAS, bids were received and the IURA recommends the low bidder be awarded the bid, including two alternates; now, therefore, be it RESOLVED, That the Board of Public Works hereby awards the bid for replacement of the playgrounds at Cass and Auburn Parks to Landscape Structures, Inc., 601 7th Street, South, Delano MN 55328 for their total bid of $77,534, including base bids for each park, alternate number 1 for Cass Park and alternate number 2 for Auburn Park, and be it further RESOLVED, That the IURA will fund the replacement of both playgrounds from City of Ithaca Capital Project 396, and be it further RESOLVED, That the Board authorizes the Superintendent of Public Works to enter into an agreement with Landscape Structures, Inc. with the usual terms and conditions. Carried Unanimously 4 Board of Public Works September 10, 2003 WATER AND SEWER Request for Water and Sewer Bill Expungement – Resolution By Commissioner Dotson: Seconded by Commissioner Jenkins WHEREAS, Wilhemenia Piper, owner of 908-908 ½ North Tioga Street has requested an expungement of the water and sewer bill for the replacement of a broken lead water service, and WHEREAS, the bill was reduced following a review of charges for labor, material and equipment by $272.82 to an amount of $1468.66; now, therefore, be it RESOLVED, That the Board of Public Works hereby denies the request for further expungement of the water service replacement bill for 908-908 ½ North Tioga Street because this bill is the responsibility of the property. Carried Unanimously Award of Bid for Phosphorus Reduction at IAWWTP – Resolution By Commissioner Beach: Seconded by Mayor Cohen WHEREAS, bids were received on August 19, 2003 for the Phosphorous Reduction at the IAWWTP, and WHEREAS, staff is recommending that the low bidders be awarded their respective contracts; now therefore, be it RESOLVED, That the Board of Public Works hereby awards the General Construction Contract for the Tertiary Phosphorus Removal Upgrade Project at IAWWTP to Patrick Constructors, Inc. P.O. Box 188, Bloomfield, NY 14469-0188 for their low bid of $3,174,300, and be it further RESOLVED, That the Board of Public Works hereby awards the Electrical Contract for the Tertiary Phosphorus Removal Upgrade Project at IAWWTP to Schuler-Hass Electric Corp., 250 Mt. Hope Avenue, Rochester, NY 14620 for their low bid of $359,600, and be it further RESOLVED, That the Board of Public Works hereby awards the Ventilation Contract for the Tertiary Phosphorus Removal Upgrade Project at IAWWTP to King & King Mechanical, 16 Fairway Drive, Auburn, NY 13021 for their low bid of $107,600, and be it further RESOLVED, That the award of all three bids be contingent upon the approval of the Town of Ithaca’s budget for the project along with the local execution of Bond Act Contract from Albany, and be it further RESOLVED, That the Assistant Superintendent for Water and Sewer be authorized to enter into all three contracts with the usual terms and conditions and that the funds will be drawn from Capital Project 409J. Discussion followed on the floor regarding how Common Council's recently passed Living Wage resolution affects this project. Commissioner Beach thanked Assistant Superintendent of Water & Sewer Fabbroni for all of his work on this project. Commissioner Dotson expressed her appreciation as well. A vote on the Resolution resulted as follows: Carried Unanimously 5 Board of Public Works September 10, 2003 Award of Bid for Water Filtration Plan Electrical Upgrade - Resolution By Commissioner Leonardo: Seconded by Commissioner Jenkins WHEREAS, bids were received on September 10, 2003 for the Water Filtration Plant Electrical Upgrade and, WHEREAS, staff has reviewed the bids and 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 for Water Filtration Plant Electrical Upgrade to Bouille Electric, Inc., 154 East 5th Street, Elmira, New York 14902 for their low bid of $24,240, with an Add Alternate bid option of $3,690, and be it further RESOLVED, That funds are available and will be withdrawn from Water & Sewer Capital Projects Account No. 510, and be it further RESOLVED, That the Assistant Superintendent for Water and Sewer be authorized to enter into an agreement with Bouille Electric, Inc. under the usual terms and conditions. Carried Unanimously NEW BUSINESS Mayor Cohen informed the Board of the following items that will be coming to them in the next few months for consideration: 1)Construction of New Water Treatment Facility for the City of Ithaca. 2) Waste Water Treatment Agreement – review of 3 or 4 agreements for the following: a. Interceptors b. Cooperative Agreement c. Overall umbrella agreement for the six municipalities d. Agreement among three existing agencies. Commissioner Jenkins wanted it to be on the record that she thought the construction of a new Water Treatment Facility should have been done all along. Mayor Cohen also stated that the proposed 2004 budget will be presented to Common Council on October 1st, 2003. Departments' have submitted the -5% budgets as requested. He stated that it is unlikely that his budget and the Council budget will result in many changes to the Department of Public Works’ budget. The number one budget priority established by the Common Council was maintenance of infrastructure including: roads, bridges, water and sewer, parks, and buildings. He stated that he will give the Board a specific briefing at their meeting on October 1st . Further discussion followed on the floor with the Board members asking staff members about various projects and concerns. ADJOURNMENT On a Motion the meeting adjourned at 6:00 p.m. _____________________________ _____________________________ Sarah Myers, Alan J. Cohen Information management Specialist Mayor