HomeMy WebLinkAboutMN-BPW-2005-10-19Approved on April 18, 2007
Board of Public Works Committee of the Whole Meeting
j:\committee files\bpw\2005\10-19-05 bpw minutes.doc
BOARD OF PUBLIC WORKS PROCEEDINGS
CITY OF ITHACA, NEW YORK
Committee of the Whole Meeting 4:45 p.m. October 19, 2005
PRESENT:
Mayor Peterson
Commissioners (5) - Chapman, Dotson, Jenkins, Romanoff, Schlather
OTHERS PRESENT:
Superintendent of Public Works – Gray
Assistant Superintendent of Streets and Facilities – Ferrel
Assistant Superintendent of Water and Sewer – Fabbroni
Common Council Liaison – Coles
DAC Liaison – Roberts
Executive Assistant – Grunder
Deputy Director Planning and Development – Cornish
Deputy City Controller – Andrew
Margot Chiuten – Trowbridge and Wolf
PUBLIC HEARING
Chuck Coolie, Classic Optical in Collegetown, addressed the Board in support of a
parking validation system for merchants in the downtown area.
Bob Able, Operation Manager for Ithaca Rentals and Renovations, 100 West Buffalo
St., addressed the Board in support of the automated parking system in Collegetown.
Jevon Garrett, 115 The Commons, addressed the Board stating that getting rid of two
(2) hour free parking will hurt businesses and tax revenue. He asked that the Board
seek out an alternative or more creative options.
COTTAGE PLACE – BOARD POWER TO ACT
Supt. Gray reported that James Marshall, 111 Cottage Place, has approached the
Board concerning access to City water at his property. The property had City water for
roughly seventy (70) years but had a history of freezing up. The service is an old
galvanized service that needs to be replaced due to age and deterioration. When Mr.
Marshall set out to upgrade the service in the mid 1990’s, he found it would be at his
expense. He opted for, and was given permission for, a well to serve the property,
which he currently estimates has cost him $12,000. According to him, it is still not a
satisfactory source of water. He has reconsidered a new connection to City water and
been given estimates for the new service of approximately $17,000 to $39,000, or more.
Supt. Gray stated that the City picked up the properties now known as Cottage Place
and Renzetti Place as tax sales in 1935. The City does not maintain Renzetti or
Cottage Place as streets, nor are there public utilities, drainage, pavement, or plowing
on them. They are made available for access to private property and to provide access
to public utilities.
Supt. Gray reported that Mr. Marshall feels the City should accept an obligation to bring
City water to the edge of his property, which would account for about 280 feet of the
460-foot service he needs installed. Based on recent estimates for excavations,
restoration, and plumbing, he put this cost at $15,455 in addition to the rock excavation
costs.
Resolution
By Commissioner Romanoff; Seconded by Commissioner Chapman
WHEREAS, James Marshall has approached the Board of Public Works for assistance
in re-establishing his water service connection for the property at 111 Cottage Place
following an expensive experiment with a private well, which was undertaken in the
1990’s to avoid the substantial cost of replacing the existing service, and
Board of Public Works - October 19, 2005 - Page 2
j:\committee files\bpw\2005\10-19-05 bpw minutes.doc
WHEREAS, the Board feels that it is beneficial to eliminate private wells in the City
which are down gradient from developed industrial properties and could be connected
to the City water by mistake through cross connections, now therefore be it
RESOLVED, that the Board of Public Works is willing to undertake the installation of the
approximately 280 feet of private water service within Columbia Street and up Cottage
Place using copper pipe and full depth burial, for a cost not to exceed $8,000, billed to
the owner of 111 Cottage Place, including the proper trench compaction and surface
restoration necessary to restore Cottage Place to its pre-existing condition.
Carried Unanimously (6-0)
PARKING RATE STRUCTURE FOR 2005 – 2006 – POWER TO ACT
Supt. Gray stated that the Board adopted a rate structure for 2005 in December 2004
that included tentative rates for 2006. The 2005 rates for the Dryden Road Garage and
Collegetown Parking Meters were modified in August 2005. The Mayor and Controller
have requested modification to the rate structure for the downtown garages, which
would eliminate the free parking and would help reduce an anticipated 2005 revenue
shortfall of $145,000.
Commissioner Schlather reported that the committee meeting held on October 17,
2005, went well. He stated that there was a large turnout with a clear objection to
elimination of free parking altogether and no support for validation. He further reported
that the committee would not support changing meter rate structure for 2006. He
reported briefly on the tentative recommendations of the committee.
Discussion followed on the floor regarding other options that had been suggested and
creative alternatives to be looked at instead of the committee’s recommendations.
Resolution
By Commissioner Chapman; Seconded by Commissioner Romanoff
RESOLVED, That the Board of Public Works grants itself power-to-act at its meeting of
November 2, 2005, in order to consider any changes to rates for 2005 and to review
and possibly adopt rates for 2006, which are consistent with the Mayor’s 2006 proposed
revenues in the budget submitted to Common Council October 5, 2005.
Carried Unanimously (6-0)
GREEN STREET GARAGE PRESENTATION
Deputy Director of Planning and Development Cornish and Margot Chiuten of
Trowbridge and Wolf reported on the Green Street Garage Project. Cornish stated that
the Green Street Garage Reconstruction project is approaching the final stages of
design, which ties down a number of operational considerations. Chiuten reported to the
Board on the project history and the phases of the project.
ADJOURNMENT:
On a motion the meeting adjourned at 6:45 p.m.
Deborah Grunder Carolyn K. Peterson
Executive Assistant Mayor