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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMN-BPW-2004-10-20BOARD OF PUBLIC WORKS COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE October 20, 2004 NOTES PRESENT: Commissioners Chapman, Dotson, Romanoff, Schlather, Tsegaye, Alderperson Coles, Mayor Peterson, Superintendent Gray, and Assistant Superintendent Fabbroni and Ferrel. The meeting convened at 4:50 p.m. Additions: Update on Parking Rates There were no deletions from the agenda. Vice Chair Tsegaye chaired the meeting. ____________________________________________________________________ 1. Request for Use of Stewart Park for Lacrosse Tournament Mark Wenham and Lynn Retenbach were present to address the board concerning requests to use Stewart Park for their annual lacrosse tournaments. Mr. Wenham told the board that in the past, Mayor Cohen had given permission for the use of the park. He explained that this year he realized there were channels to go through to obtain permission. He noted that in the past, four fields have been utilized and that they always clean up the areas after the games. In addition to Stewart Park, they use Cass, Buttermilk Falls and the high school fields. Discussion followed concerning the fact that both tournaments are for profit and what the conditions of the fields are after the games are held. It was decided that an agreement be drawn up to provide use of the fields with the understanding that the groups are making a profit, they do not have exclusive use of the park, restoration of the area should be considered and that the city should be compensated for the use. 2. Discussion of State Street Bricks. Supt. Gray explained to the board that there are currently two requests for bricks. He added that the Ithaca Landmarks Preservation Commission based on their criteria set by council has approved both. Comm. Schlather stated that the area on Spring Lane is not visible from the street, but rather from a private road. Discussion followed concerning the stock pile of the bricks. Leslie Chatterton of the Planning and Development Department was present and noted that the bricks are in piles of dirt and that buyers must put a great effort into salvaging the bricks. It was decided to table the resolution for the sale of bricks for Spring Lane and they also decided to form a sub- committee to investigate the stock pile of bricks. 3. Power to Act - Request for State Street Bricks for State Theatre. Moved By: Comm. Romanoff, seconded by: Comm. Schlather WHEREAS, the Board of Public Works approved of the donation of State Street bricks to the Ithaca Performing Arts Center (IPAC) for a court yard on June 28, 1995, and WHEREAS, Historic Ithaca is requesting additional 274 bricks to renovate the courtyard shared by the Lost Dog Café and Chanticleer, and BOARD OF PUBLIC WORKS COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE October 20, 2004 WHEREAS, the Ithaca Landmarks Preservation Committee has reviewed and recommends the project, and WHEREAS, Historic Ithaca is requesting that the bricks be donated for their use; now, therefore be it RESOLVED, That the Board of Public Works has reviewed the request for the donation of 274 bricks, and be it further RESOLVED, That based on the City Attorney’s findings, items with value cannot be given away, the board hereby denies the request for waiver of the fee for bricks but agrees to the sale of the bricks under the usual terms and conditions. Discussion followed concerning the City Attorney’s findings that the bricks cannot be given away. A vote resulted as follows: Carried Unanimously 4. Discussion of Parking on Columbia Street. Moved by: Comm. Schlather: Seconded by: Comm. Chapman WHEREAS, the Board of Public Works has received a petition from residents of the 400 block of Columbia Street for the removal of a 9:00 to noon, Monday through Friday, No Parking restriction on the south curbline which they indicate was installed in the spring of 2004, and WHEREAS, staff has reviewed the request as well as related records, which show that the board passed a resolution establishing the parking restriction in late 1993 in response to a request at that time, but recognized that parking demands in the neighborhood might change, and WHEREAS, the parking enforcement efforts in the spring of 2004 seems to have established a need among the residents for change, and WHEREAS, the board has reviewed staff’s current recommendations for the 22’ wide street to further restrict or eliminate parking, or to consider retaining parking by making the 300 and 400 blocks one-way east bound matching the 200 block, and WEHREAS, the board feels that the modest accident history of the two-way traffic in the 300 and 400 block is due to the concentration of apartments and accidents related to their driveways rather than the product of the street width and the two-way traffic and that there could be a significant impact on the larger neighborhood without adequate improvements in public utility BOARD OF PUBLIC WORKS COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE October 20, 2004 and public safety, if 400 block became one-way; now, therefore be it RESOLVED, That the Board of Public Works grants the request of the residents of the 300 and 400 blocks of Columbia Street to eliminate the 9:00 to noon, Monday through Friday restriction and to install 24 hour parking on the south-east side and directs staff to monitor the traffic history on the blocks for indications that other changes may be required, and be it further RESOLVED, That the board shall review this traffic/parking pattern in 2005 after April 1st and prior to the winter. Alderperson Mackesey was present to address the board, she indicated that many of the residents have a one-car driveway and therefore need on-street parking. Discussion followed concerning winter street maintenance and the need for parking. A vote resulted as follows: Carried Unanimously 5. Signal Timing at Buffalo & Albany and Buffalo and Plain Street. Comm. Chapman told the board that he has received feedback from the neighbors stating that the cycles on Buffalo are too long for pedestrians to wait. Discussion followed concerning the programming of the signals and possibly prioritizing streets. 6. Update on Parking Rates. Comm. Schlather informed the board that the subcommittee has been meeting and that at this point, they are looking at three items. The first is to increase all permits, second is to continue the two hours free and charge a dollar an hour in 2005 and the third item is to continue with two hours free and charge $1.50 an hour and a cap of $6 for the day during 2006. This item will continue at the board’s next meeting with a final proposal at the next regular meeting. The meeting adjourned at 7:00 p.m. Notes by: Donna Redsicker Administrative Secretary