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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMN-BPW-2004-09-08BOARD OF PUBLIC WORKS PROCEEDINGS CITY OF ITHACA, NEW YORK Regular Meeting 4:45 p.m. September 8, 2004 PRESENT: Mayor Peterson Commissioners (6) -Tsegaye, Jenkins, Dotson, Chapman, Schlather, Romanoff 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 Common Council Liaison – Coles Information Management Specialist - Myers EXCUSED: DAC Liaison - Roberts PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE: Mayor Peterson led all present in the Pledge of Allegiance to the American flag. APPROVAL OF MINUTES: Approval of the Minutes of the August 11 and 25, 2004 Board of Public Works Meetings By Commissioner Romanoff: Seconded by Commissioner Dotson RESOLVED, That the Minutes of the August 11 and 25, 2004 Board of Public Works meetings be approved with noted corrections. Carried Unanimously MAYOR'S COMMUNICATIONS: Mayor Peterson noted that Larry Fabbroni, Rick Ferrel, and Bill Gray have met with her and the Controller to review their departmental budgets. The budget is due October 1st. She further noted that she and the City Clerk are working on an updated article that will provide current information/updates on construction projects taking place in the City that will also include information as to whether projects are on schedule. COMMUNICATIONS AND HEARINGS OF PERSONS BEFORE THE BOARD: Gary Ferguson, Ithaca Downtown Partnership, addressed the Board regarding parking permit fees and concerns that have been brought to his attention by TC3 and people that attend their workshops and seminars. He would like to work with the Board to address some of these concerns in order to keep these events in the downtown area. RESPONSE TO THE PUBLIC Commissioner Romanoff responded to Mr. Ferguson’s concerns and suggested that the bus be used by those attending workshops and seminars in the downtown area, and that TC3 advise attendees of the cost of parking. Commissioner Dotson stated that the Board desires to look at parking rates, and suggested that all day parking pricing and bus schedule information be provided by TC3 when information is sent out about workshops and seminars. Superintendent Gray stated that he had been in a meeting recently with the City Controller and City Chamberlain to talk about parking rates. He suggested that there might be a way to provide TC3 with parking permits at a cost that then could be incorporated into the cost of attendance at conference and workshops. Mayor Peterson suggested that the group meeting to discuss parking rates be expanded to include members of the Board. She further suggested that this discussion be continued at the Committee of the Whole meeting scheduled for September 15, 2004. Board of Public Works – September 8, 2004 - Page 2 Commissioner Schlather noted again for the record that he would volunteer to be involved with the committee to review parking rates. He stated that discussion regarding parking rates and fees needs to happen soon enough to be incorporated into the 2005 budget. The Board needs to review and make recommendations in time for the budget process. He noted that there are other areas that should be reviewed such as rates for parking meters. Mayor Peterson stated that there is a parking rate committee meeting scheduled for Tuesday, September 14, 2004 at 1:00 p.m. She further stated that there is a proforma on the Cayuga Green garage that also would provide useful information in review of parking rates and fees. Commissioners Schlather and Dotson both requested a copy of this proforma for their review. She further reported that the City Clerk had provided her with draft notes from the traffic forum and that she would work with the Clerk to provide that information for the Committee of the Whole meeting on September 15th. REPORT OF COUNCIL LIAISON: Alderperson Coles reported to the Board that the West Hill Civic Association has been raising concerns about a safe way for children to cross the street to get to the Alternative Community School. There is no safe way to cross on either Elm Street or Route 79 and there is a sidewalk on only one side of the street. She is also concerned about preliminary plans for development in the West Hill area with entrances to the proposed housing development being from Chestnut Street. She further reported that there is a similar unsafe condition on Hudson Street by South Hill Elementary School. Extensive discussion followed on the floor on how these safety issues might be addressed including additional signage, police enforcement and use of school crossing guards. REPORTS OF SUPERINTENDENT AND STAFF: Superintendent Gray reported to the Board on the following matters: 1) Construction work on Route 13/Elmira Road/Meadow Street is scheduled to be done by October 23rd, however, he noted that some of the utility companies being used have been pulled South to Florida because of emergency work which may cause some delays, in addition to local weather delays, and steel delivery delays. 2) Work on Spencer Street is proceeding and most of the work will be done by the end of September. The work on the lower portion of Cayuga Street will not be done this year. 3) The City was invited to a picnic at Nates Floral Estates in celebration of the new pedestrian bridge being installed on Cecile Malone Drive. The residents of Nates are very pleased with this project because it will bring immediate benefit to their quality of life. 4) Superintendent Gray and Asst. Supt. Ferrel looked at the driveways on the 600 block of West Court Street, and it appears that when a driveway was redone an overly wide 30’ curb cut was installed instead of the usual 16’. He wanted the Board to know that when the curbing is redone on West Court Street, the City will correct that curb cut and the Board may receive a complaint as the result of that work. Board of Public Works – September 8, 2004 - Page 3 Assistant Superintendent Ferrel reported to the board on the following matters: 1) Construction work has been delayed as crews have been needed to clear creeks of debris because of all the rain. There is a possibility of 3” of rain with the latest storm, and areas that need to be monitored for flooding include Floral Avenue, Elmira Road, Old Elmira Road, Lake Street, and Gibbs Drive because the lake level is high. 2) On September 3, 2004, New York State Department of Transportation put a safety flag on Lake Street bridge’s deck because it has holes. The bridge is on the City’s list for fall patching and temporary plates have been installed in the meantime. 3) Crews patched and paved a section of Stewart Avenue near the bridge over Fall Creek. Crews spent Tuesday patching East State Street to the City line. He has scheduled the milling machine for September 22nd to do Buffalo/North Aurora/North Geneva streets. 4) Construction season will be winding down because nice weather will be ending. Assistant Superintendent Fabbroni reported to the board on the following matters: 1) The Water and Sewer Department has finished work on the 600 block of West Court Street. 2) The crew is ready to begin work on the West Hill tank and is waiting for a special apparatus to do the work. 3) The crew will also be doing work at night on Elmira Road near Wendy’s laying pipe under the road which will connect all of the southwest part of the City to the new pump station behind the new Walmart. They are trying to do this work when it will cause the least inconvenience to traffic and before the road is paved. 4) Asst. Supt. Fabbroni is spending most of his time at the Waste Water Treatment Plant. The plant is having difficulty meeting the criteria for their phosphorus project, and testing is currently being done. 5) The department is losing a lot of staff members to the County. Catty Ann Campbell, GIS Specialist, has accepted a position with the County. He will be looking to fill the big hole in the department that will be left by her departure from a very vital role to the City of Ithaca. 13. BUILDINGS, PROPERTIES, TRANSIT: A. Bare-Root Tree Initiative Grant - Resolution By Commissioner Schlather: Seconded by Commissioner Dotson RESOLVED, That the Superintendent of Public Works is hereby authorized and directed to file an application for a matching funds grant seeking a grant of $10,000 to complete the funding of a proposed $25,000 project, and upon approval of said request to enter into and execute a project agreement with the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation for such financial assistance to this city for the “bare-root tree planning initiative”. Carried Unanimously 14. HIGHWAYS, STREETS, SIDEWALK: Superintendent Gray reported that the City Attorney had advised him that the city can’t “give” anything away. Discussion followed on the floor on how this request might be able to be granted without a waiver of the fee. The resolution was modified to reflect this change and the following resolution reflects the action by the Board. Board of Public Works – September 8, 2004 - Page 4 A. Request for Waiver of State Street Bricks - Resolution By Commissioner Schlather: Seconded by Commissioner Tsegaye WHEREAS, the South Hill Elementary School will be landscaping their entrance with volunteers, and WHEREAS, the ILPC has approved their use of West State Street Bricks, and WHEREAS, the school is requesting that the Board of Public Works trade the 25 cent per brick fee (for a total of 984 West State Street Bricks) for the volunteer labor to be expended in removing, cleaning and installing the bricks and enhancing the value of a quasi public place in the City of Ithaca; now, therefore be it RESOLVED, That the Board approves of the aforesaid trade and that the Superintendent of Public Works be authorized to enter into an agreement with the South Hill Elementary School, provided that the City Attorney’s Office reviews and approves this transaction. Commissioner Romanoff stated that the use of these bricks should not be taken lightly because they are a durable construction resource. She suggested the following: 1) A reserve of bricks be maintained for repair work on historical streets 2) Set up guidelines for use because these are hard fired, durable, long lasting bricks which can be used instead of creating bricks 3) Recycle the bricks for use in the City of Ithaca Mayor Peterson requested that Commissioner Romanoff put together a proposal, after working with the Ithaca Landmarks Preservation Commission, for use of city bricks. Commissioner Romanoff further suggested that bricks might be used throughout the city to define pedestrian areas. A vote on the Resolution resulted as follows: Carried Unanimously 17. WATER AND SEWER: A. Approval of Natgun Contract - Resolution By Commissioner Dotson: Seconded by Commissioner Jenkins WHEREAS, the Board of Public Works authorized the sole source bidding for repair and rebuilding of the Elm Street Water Storage Reservoir Roof at its meeting on July 21, 2004; now, therefore be it RESOLVED, That the Board of Public Works hereby authorizes the Assistant Superintendent of Water and Sewer to enter into an agreement with Natgun Corporation for their proposal of $215,000 for the repair and rebuilding of the Elm Street Water Storage Reservoir Roof, and be it further RESOLVED, That the contract also be reviewed and approved by the City Attorney with the usual terms and conditions. Carried Unanimously 18. ADMINISTRATION AND COMMUNICATIONS ITEMS: A. Power to Act – Award of Bid - Resolution By Commissioner Schlather: Seconded by Commissioner Tsegaye RESOLVED, That the Board of Public Works grants itself power to act in order to award the bid for the Cecil A. Malone Bridge contract for installation at its meeting on September 15, 2004. Carried Unanimously Board of Public Works – September 8, 2004 - Page 5 REPORT OF SPECIAL COMMITTEES: Mayor Peterson stated that the committee that has been meeting to review agendas and meeting structure has met and will bring recommendations to the Board in the near future. NEIGHBORHOOD TROUBLE SHOOTING: Commissioner Jenkins reported to the Board about gardens and archways that are in the tree lawns and sidewalks in the southside neighborhood area, which affects a person’s ability to access the tree lawn when parking, and hampers travel on sidewalks. Discussion followed on the floor regarding tree lawns and public right-of-way. Tree lawns are owned by the City but are maintained by the property owners. While the Board is encouraged to see property owners taking pride in making their properties look nice with gardens and arches, there needs to be some balance found that meets the needs of the public as well as the property owner and still maintains the beautiful gardens. ADJOURNMENT: On a motion the meeting adjourned at 6:25 p.m. Sarah L. Myers Carolyn K. Peterson Information Management Specialist Mayor