HomeMy WebLinkAboutMN-BPW-2007-02-21BOARD OF PUBLIC WORKS PROCEEDINGS
CITY OF ITHACA, NEW YORK
Regular Meeting 4:45 p.m. February 21, 2007
PRESENT:
Mayor Peterson
Commissioners (5) - Jenkins, Dotson, Chapman, Schlather, Wykstra
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
DAC Liaison – Roberts
Executive Assistant – Grunder
EXCUSED:
Commissioner Tripp
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE:
Mayor Peterson led all present in the Pledge of Allegiance to the American flag.
ADDITIONS TO OR DELETIONS FROM THE AGENDA:
Supt. Gray explained that the February 14, 2007 meeting was canceled due to a
snowstorm. As a result, there are two resolutions to be considered at today’s meeting
from that agenda.
MAYOR'S COMMUNICATIONS:
Mayor Peterson stated that she requested Assist. Supt. Ferrel distribute pictures of last
week’s snowstorm to Board members and to provide a chronological listing of the
events that took place starting February 13 through February 20, 2007 regarding the
Department of Public Works response to the storm.
BUILDINGS, PROPERTIES, REFUSE, AND TRANSIT:
Request for Encroachment Agreement at 1016 West Seneca Street - Resolution
By Commissioner Dotson: Seconded by Commissioner Schlather
WHEREAS, Attorney Amy Emerson, representing the owners of 1016 West Seneca
Street, has requested an encroachment agreement for a fence which extends
approximately three (3) feet into City property, as shown on the survey prepared by
Michael J. Reagan, PLS, dated January 12, 2007, and
WHEREAS, it appears that the fence in question has been in existence in its current
location for an extended period, and
WHEREAS, staff has reviewed the request and does not anticipate any conflicts due to
the existing encroachment in the near future, now therefore be it
RESOLVED, That the Board of Public Works hereby authorizes the Mayor to sign an
encroachment agreement containing the usual terms and conditions, plus a requirement
that the private property owner be solely responsible for maintaining and repairing the
fence as deemed necessary by the City and at the private property owner’s cost, but
that the encroachment shall cease should the fence be rebuilt or replaced, and be it
further
RESOLVED, That the encroachment agreement shall not be subject to a fee at this
time, but that the agreement shall specify that at any time in the future it may become
subject to new license/use fees or other requirements established by the Board as the
result of its review of encroachments and license agreements, which review is
anticipated to be conducted in 2007.
Carried Unanimously
Board of Public Works – February 21, 2007- Page 2
HIGHWAYS, STREETS, AND SIDEWALKS:
Waste Hauler Trucks - Resolution
By Commissioner Schlather: Seconded by Commissioner Wykstra
WHEREAS, the City of Ithaca and its neighboring communities are crossed daily by a
large number of long haul trucks using State routes and Federal aide highways, with an
unusual concentration of trucks hauling municipal solid waste, and
WHEREAS, the City understands its benefits from and obligations to the State highway
system, a system which is necessary for the support of local commerce, industry,
institutions, State-wide tourism, and the local economy’s participation in interstate
commerce, and
WHEREAS, the City’s experience with long-haul trucks over the last decade has
included fatal accidents, brakes lost on hills resulting in out-of-control trucks tipping over
and spilling their contents (burying shrubbery in tons of sugar in one case and a car and
driver in tons of garbage in a second case), tickets written for over weight vehicles,
over-length vehicles, uninspected vehicles, vehicles with defective mufflers, lights, and
brakes, vehicles impounded because they were unsafe to drive, drivers arrested
because they were unsafe to drive, and similar disturbing experiences, and
WHEREAS, the City pays a price in the form of rapidly deteriorating roads and bridges
from overweight trucks, decreased safety from oversized or defective vehicles,
deteriorating neighborhoods and housing, from excessive numbers of large, heavy, and
noisy long-haul trucks, many of which appear to be taking shortcuts (or long cuts) to
avoid the regulation inherent with the interstate highway system, now therefore be it
RESOLVED, That the Board of Public Works supports the efforts of New York State’s
Senator Charles E. Schumer to address these types of problems as outlined in his
three-point plan summarized in an October 19, 2006, news release from his office, and
be it further
RESOLVED, That the Board of Public Works requests that Common Council adopt and
forward a resolution of support for Senator Schumer’s plan.
Amending Resolution:
By Commissioner Schlather: Seconded Commissioner Wykstra
RESOLVED, That the Fourth Whereas clause be amended to read as follows:
WHEREAS, the City pays a price in the form of rapidly deteriorating roads and bridges
from overweight trucks, decreased safety from oversized or defective vehicles,
deteriorating neighborhoods and housing, from excessive numbers of large, heavy, and
noisy long-haul trucks, often passing directly through the heavily-used waterfront and
Cass Park on the “scenic byway” designated Route 89 many of which appear to be
taking shortcuts (or long cuts) to avoid the regulation inherent with the interstate
highway system, now therefore be it”
Carried Unanimously
Main Motion As Amended:
A Vote on the Main Motion As Amended resulted as follows:
Carried Unanimously
Award Bid for One New and Unused Truck Mounted Catch Basin Cleaner and
High Pressure Sewer Cleaner
By Commissioner Schlather: Seconded by Commissioner Jenkins
WHEREAS, bids were received on Feb. 1, 2007 for one Truck Mounted Catch Basin
Cleaner and High Pressure Sewer Cleaner, and
WHEREAS, staff has reviewed the bids and recommends that the Board of Public
Works rejects the low bid of $145,540.00 from Cyncon Equipment Inc. on the basis that
the equipment proposed to be provided does not meet the compliance specifications in
the bid, and
Board of Public Works – February 21, 2007- Page 3
WHEREAS, critical bid compliance items checked on their bid form are contrary to the
specifications listed in the manufacturer’s equipment specifications and in the
accompanying sales literature, and
WHEREAS, staff recommends that the Board of Public Works awards the bid to Tracey
Road Equipment, which was $4,142.00 higher than the lowest, and
WHEREAS, Tracey Road Equipment meets all of our minimum specifications, now, therefore,
be it
RESOLVED, That the Board of Public Works hereby awards the bid of the new Truck
Mounted Catch Basin Cleaner and High Pressure Sewer Cleaner to Tracey Road
Equipment Inc., 6803 Manlius Center Road, P.O. Box 489, East Syracuse, NY 13057
for their total bid of $149,682.00, and be it further
RESOLVED, That the Board authorizes the Assistant Superintendent of Public Works,
W&S Division, to enter into a contract with Tracey Road Equipment for the Catch Basin and
Sewer Cleaner.
Carried Unanimously
Request for Two Curb Cuts – 124 Roberts Place - Resolutions
By Commissioner Schlather: Seconded by Commissioner Jenkins
WHEREAS, Robert Mzarek, the property owner of 124 Roberts Place, has approached
the Board of Public Works to consider his request for two curb cuts following the
rejection of that request by DPW staff, and
WHEREAS, Leslie Chatterton, as the City’s Historic Preservation Planner, appeared to
explain the review and acceptance by the Landmarks Preservation Commission of the
proposed project with reference to the preservation of the 100-year old landscape
shared with the adjacent property, and
WHEREAS, staff answered questions by the Board about the unusual street layout
around 124 Roberts Place that discourages automobiles, speed, bicycles and
pedestrians, and limits traffic counts to less than 100 vehicles per day, as well as
eliminates curbside parking, now therefore be it
RESOLVED, That the Board of Public Works approves the double curb cut request for
124 Roberts Place which results from the peculiar combination of historic designation of
the property and the geometry of property and streets with their associated traffic
factors with the belief that this can be done safely, and be it further
RESOLVED, that the Board reserves the right to revoke one or both curb cuts should
this prove to be unsafe for pedestrians, bicycles, or vehicles due to factors that are
unforeseen at this time.
Carried Unanimously
Amendment to the Vehicle and Traffic Schedules in Regard to Parking on Buffalo
Street to Create a Student Pick-Up/Drop-Off Zone for the Beverly J. Martin
Elementary School
By Commissioner Chapman: Seconded by Commissioner Wykstra
WHEREAS, the Board of Public Works is authorized by Section 346-4 of the City Code
to adopt and to amend a system of Schedules in order to administer the Vehicle and
Traffic Law, and
WHEREAS, the principal of the Beverly J. Martin Elementary School (BJM) has
requested that a student pick-up and drop-off zone be created to serve the school, and
provided some clarification on how the students will be delivered to the new zone, and
WHEREAS, Fire Marshall for the Ithaca Fire Department has agreed to the following
change provided it is properly enforced, and
WHEREAS, the Board of Public Works is in agreement with these amendments to the
Schedules, now therefore be it
RESOLVED, That Schedule XVI, No Stopping Certain Hours, be amended to add:
Board of Public Works – February 21, 2007- Page 4
West Buffalo Street on the north side of the street from a point approximately 50
feet west of from Albany Street (in which 50 feet is a handicapped parking zone is
provided) to a point approximately 20 feet west of the driveway along the
westside of BJM for the entire day except from 7-9 AM and 2-4 PM on school
days, and be it further
RESOLVED, That Schedule XV, Parking Prohibited Certain Hours, be amended to
change the location description for the north side of Buffalo Street to be:
From Plain Street to a point approximately 20 feet west of the driveway along the west
side of BJM, and be it further
RESOLVED, that the pick-up and drop-off zone created in Schedule XVI include posted
signs indicating that the area is a fire lane and that drivers must remain with their
vehicles.
Carried Unanimously
Amendment to the Vehicle and Traffic Schedules I, II, and III - Resolution
By Commissioner Dotson: Seconded by Commissioner Jenkins
WHEREAS, the Board of public Works is authorized by Section 346-4 of the City Code
to adopt and to amend a system of Schedules in order to administer the Vehicle and
Traffic Law, and
WHEREAS, the Schedules are in need of a complete review and update, and
WHEREAS, the Office of the City Engineer is carrying out this review and update, and
has recommended an initial set of updates, and
WHEREAS, the Board of Public Works is in agreement with these amendments to the
Schedules, now therefore be it
RESOLVED, That the following Schedules: Schedule I, Traffic Control Signals;
Schedule II, Speed Limits; and Schedule III, School Speed Limits be amended in
accordance with the attached schedule update, dated January 25, 2007.
Carried Unanimously
CREEKS, BRIDGES, AND PARKS:
Establish the Board of Public Works as the Lead Agency for the Environmental
Review of a Proposed Dock for Stewart Park - Resolution
By Commissioner Jenkins: Seconded by Commissioner Chapman
WHEREAS, the Youth Bureau has requested and Common Council has funded a
permanent dock to be installed at the large pavilion in Stewart Park to support their
waterfront programs, and
WHEREAS, State and City environmental review laws require that an involved agency
must be designated as lead agency for the environmental review of that action, and
WHEREAS, the above-referenced options appears to be an unlisted action, for the
purposes of environmental review, now therefore be it
RESOLVED, That the Board of Public Works hereby declares its intention to act as lead
agency for the environmental review of the proposed dock at Stewart Park, and be it
further
RESOLVED, That the Board direct the Superintendent, or his designee, to provide the
required notice of the Board’s intention in the matter to all other involved agencies.
Carried Unanimously
ADJOURNMENT
On a motion the meeting adjourned at 7:05 p.m.
Sarah L. Myers Carolyn K. Peterson
Information Management Specialist Mayor