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Home My WebLink AboutMN-BPW-2005-12-14Approved on December 20, 2006 Board of Public Works Meeting j:\committee files\bpw\2005\12-14-05 bpw minutes.doc BOARD OF PUBLIC WORKS PROCEEDINGS CITY OF ITHACA, NEW YORK Regular Meeting 4:45 p.m. December 14, 2005 PRESENT: Mayor Peterson Commissioners (5) – Chapman, Dotson, Jenkins, Romanoff, Schlather EXCUSED: DAC Liaison – Roberts OTHERS PRESENT: Superintendent of Public Works – Gray Assistant Superintendent of Streets and Facilities – Ferrel Assistant Superintendent of Water and Sewer – Whitney Common Council Liaison – Coles Traffic Systems Engineer – Logue Executive Assistant – Grunder City Assistant Controller – Andrews George Apgar – 712 Cliff Street PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE: Mayor Peterson led all present in the Pledge of Allegiance to the American Flag at 4:54 p.m. APPROVAL OF MINUTES: Minutes from June 1, 2005, were unanimously approved (6-0) with the addition that Commissioner Schlather requested his recusal from any discussion/vote covering the issue of the Seneca Place Project due to a conflict of interest. REPORT OF SUPERINTENDENT AND STAFF: Superintendent Gray stated that Common Council and the Department of Transportation (DOT) have given us the approval to award the bid to the selected contractor for the Thurston Avenue Bridge capital project. He further stated that we still need approval from TIP. The next meeting is scheduled for December 20, 2005. The State has gone along with the increase to the Thurston Avenue Bridge’s budget. BUILDINGS, PROPERTIES, REFUSE, AND TRANSIT: A. Request for Encroachment Agreement – 316 East Falls Street Commissioner Schlather moved to table; seconded by Commissioner Romanoff until the agreement comes back with changes including insurance in the agreement. HIGHWAYS, STREETS, AND SIDEWALKS: A. Appeal of Tree Planting on Hector Street – RESOLUTION Moved by Commissioner Schlather; Seconded by Commissioner Romanoff WHEREAS, George Apgar, 712 Cliff Street, Ithaca, New York has appealed to the Board of Public Works regarding the recent planting of street trees along his property on the 600 Block of Hector Street. Mr. Apgar states that his lot is wooded and feels the street trees are unnecessary, create a maintenance problem for him, at least one of the trees prevents full use of a driveway, and was not advised in advance of the proposed plantings. Mr. Apgar further states that department staff piled soil and mulch material on his property without his consent. WHEREAS, George Apgar has appealed to the Board of Public Works to have six trees removed from the tree lawn in front of his property along the 600 Block of Hector Street along with appealing to have the lawn area restored where department staff had stock piled top soil and mulch, and Approved on December 20, 2006 Board of Public Works Meeting j:\committee files\bpw\2005\12-14-05 bpw minutes.doc 2 WHEREAS, the Board of Public Works has reviewed the appeal and visited the site on Hector Street, now therefore, be it RESOLVED, that the Department of Public Works is instructed to remove the tree to clear the driveway entrance to the Apgar property on the 600 Block of Hector Street, and be it further, RESOLVED, the department is instructed to restore the lawn area of the Apgar property where the soil and mulch piles were deposited to topsoil and grass seed by May 1, 2006. Motion Carried Ayes (4) – Dotson, Jenkins, Schlather, Mayor Peterson Nays (1) - Chapman Abstained (1) - Romanoff PARKING AND TRAFFIC: A. Award of Bid for Parking Lot Equipment – RESOLUTION Moved by Commissioner Chapman; seconded by Commissioner Schlather. WHEREAS, Bids were received on November 15, 2005, for parking lot equipment to replace the existing systems in the Seneca Street and Dryden Road parking garages. The bid equipment allows each garage to be operated with both an attendant and with automated pay stations in order to capture each parking ticket dispensed at the entrance and increase revenue, and WHEREAS, staff has reviewed the bid submissions and found that both submissions meet the bid specifications, now, therefore be it RESOLVED, that the purchase of the Seneca Street and Dryden Road Parking Garage equipment be awarded to Ber-National Controls, 105 Arterial Road, Syracuse, NY 13206 for their low base bid of $214,076 plus the optional bid for a license plate inventory system of $8,455 for a total of $222,531, and be it further RESOLVED, that the Assistant Superintendent of Public Works for Streets and Facilities be authorized to enter into and administer the contract with Ber-National Controls for installation of the parking equipment. Carried Unanimously (6-0) B. Floral Avenue Raised Crosswalk – CDBG Application – RESOLUTION Moved by Commissioner Schlather; seconded by Commissioner Romanoff. WHEREAS, the Ithaca Urban Renewal Agency has announced available funding for the 2006 Community Development Block Grant, and WHEREAS, various residents of West Hill have expressed their concerns about pedestrian crossings at the intersection of Floral Avenue and Elm Street, and WHEREAS, Engineering staff has recommended submitting an application for CDBG funding for design and construction of a raised crosswalk at said intersection, now, therefore, be it RESOLVED, that the Board of Public Works supports the submission of an application for CDBG funding for a raised crosswalk at the intersection of Floral Avenue and Elm Street and, in doing so, also approves of the conceptual project as it has thus far been proposed. Motion Carried Ayes (5) – Dotson, Jenkins, Romanoff, Schlather, Mayor Peterson Nays (0) Abstained (1) - Chapman ADMINISTRATION AND COMMUNICATION: Superintendent Gray gave the Board an overview of what the Collegetown Special Benefit Assessment District is. A. Public Hearing on Collegetown Special Benefit Assessment District Approved on December 20, 2006 Board of Public Works Meeting j:\committee files\bpw\2005\12-14-05 bpw minutes.doc 3 Resolution to Open Public Hearing: Moved by Commissioner Schlather; seconded by Commissioner Jenkins. RESOLVED, that the public hearing to accept the Collegetown Special Benefit Assessment District charges be declared open. Unanimously Approved (6-0) Resolution to Close Public Hearing: Moved by Commissioner Schlather; seconded by Commissioner Jenkins. RESOLVED, that the public hearing to accept the Collegetown Special Benefit Assessment District charges be declared closed. Unanimously Approved (6-0) B. Collegetown Special Benefit Assessment District Moved by Commissioner Jenkins; seconded by Commissioner Romanoff. RESOLVED, that the Board of Public Works accepts the Collegetown Special Benefit Assessment District charges for 2006, and be it further RESOLVED, that the City Chamberlain be requested to make the billing at the appropriate time. Commissioner Chapman moved to table; seconded by Commissioner Romanoff. Unanimously Approved (6-0) Commissioner Schlather moved to give the Board Power-to-Act at the December 21, 2005, meeting; seconded by commissioner Chapman. Unanimously Approved (6-0) NEIGHBORHOOD TROUBLESHOOTING: Commissioner Romanoff reported that the Lincoln Street house has been destroyed and cleaned up. It can be taken off the unfinished business list. UNFINISHED BUSINESS: Alderperson Coles stated she would contact the people who initially contacted her regarding the Redbud Woods plaque. ADJOURNMENT: On a motion, the meeting was adjourned at 6:30 p.m. _____________________________ ______________________________ Deborah A.Grunder Carolyn K. Peterson Executive Assistant Mayor