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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMN-BPW-2007-11-14BOARD OF PUBLIC WORKS PROCEEDINGS CITY OF ITHACA, NEW YORK Committee of the Whole Meeting 4:55 p.m. November 7, 2007 PRESENT: Mayor Peterson Commissioners (5) – Chapman, Jenkins, Schlather, Tripp, Wykstra OTHERS PRESENT: City Attorney - Hoffman City Controller - Thayer Superintendent of Public Works - Gray Assistant Superintendent of Streets and Facilities - Ferrel Assistant Superintendent of Water and Sewer – Whitney City Clerk – Holcomb Environmental Engineer – Gibson City Chamberlain - Parsons Common Council Liaison – Coles Superintendent of Public Work Intern –Myers EXCUSED: DAC Liaison – Roberts City of Ithaca Cemetery – Historic Ithaca Presentation Jessica Evans, Preservation Director for Historic Ithaca, presented a report compiled by Historic Ithaca detailing the current conditions of the City Cemetery and recommendations for improvements. Evans informed the Board of the recent efforts made by the newly formed Friends of the Cemetery Group to clean up the cemetery and repair monuments. Evans further informed the Board that the Friends of the Cemetery wanted to have a solid working relationship with the Board and the City in order to accomplish mutual goals. Discussion followed regarding the use of the cemetery and the laws that govern or prohibit certain uses. Evans stated that the Mount Auburn Cemetery in Boston is a model cemetery in terms of use rules and maintenance. Commissioner Schlather expressed concern over the City’s legal rights to repair and restore monuments and vaults. City Attorney Hoffman and City Clerk Holcomb were unsure as to the City’s rights. The Board agreed that they would like to see more accomplished in the City Cemetery beyond the advances made with the extra labor put into the area this summer. Adopt-a-Park program Update Margaret Hobbie reported to the Board on the current participation in the Adopt-a-Park program. She reported that there has been an increase in adoptions by businesses and of City properties not designated as parks. Storm Water Local Law –Update and Discussion Environmental Engineer Gibson reported to the Board that the Storm Water Local Law is an unfunded state mandated program. He stated that the code enforcement of storm water law had previously been done by the Department of Conservation but with the requirement of municipalities to now draft and enforce a local law the city faces having to create a designated position or sub-department to handle the workload. Supt. Gray suggested that instead of providing a local law for Common Council to approve that they provide Common Council with a general law that would give the Board permission to adjust and change it as needed without having to go back to Common Council for approval. Mayor Peterson stated that due to the time restraints and when the local law is required to be in place it would not be possible to draft a new law to that effect and get it approved. Environmental Engineer Gibson stated that the local law that is adopted needs to be a minimum what the Department of Environmental Conservation wants it to be. Commissioner Schlather asked what financial implications the laws would place on contractors and developers and whether or not this had or should be investigated. Asst. Supt. Water and Sewer Whitney responded that the basic law has been on the books and enforced by the Department of Environmental Conservation since 2003 so there will be no changes in costs to any new development; they will just be administered by municipality instead of by the state. Environmental Engineer Gibson stated that the law draft for the Board is the same as the law being presented or adopted by contiguous municipalities so that, if there is interest, the municipalities could split the cost of hiring a private contractor to handle the enforcement of the Storm Water Law. Parking Rate and Water and Sewer 2008 Rate Setting Supt. Gray reported to the Board on the proposed parking rate increases and the need to meet parking revenue projections for 2008. Commissioner Schlather stated that he was concerned that the lack of small increases in fees on a yearly basis would lead to large jumps in the future. He further stated that he would prefer to see further increases across all garages to avoid such large jumps. The Board was in agreement that the proposed 2008 parking rates needed to include small increases to avoid making large rate hikes in the future. Discussion followed on the floor regarding the contracts held for spaces in the garages and the ability of the Board to increase the contract rates. Mayor Peterson left the meeting at 6:10 pm. Supt. Gray reported to the Board on the proposed water and sewer rate increases for 2008. He stated that he wanted to look at a NYCOM listing of rates to ensure that the city’s rates are in keeping with previous trends. Commissioner Schlather questioned whether the proposed rates would be enough of an increase to cover any increase in staffing or off hour coverage the plants needed. He further questioned whether the proposed rate increases were enough to avoid major hikes when the City decides if a new water plant will be built or if they will begin buying from Bolton Point. Supt. Gray and City Controller Thayer explained that the City has been saving money to fund whatever change is decided on and that they do not expect to see a dramatic rate hike with either decision. Water Directional Drilling – Power to Act By Commissioner Tripp; Seconded by Commissioner Wykstra WHEREAS, bids were received on October 30, 2007 for supply and installation of 1,020 feet of 8 and 12 inch water main by horizontal directional drilling methods as part of CP 512, Southwest Area Water Improvements capital project, per the plans entitled “Southwest Area Water Improvements – Home Depot to Commercial Ave” and for emergency replacement of the water main beneath the Third Street railroad crossing, and WHEREAS, the bid package consisted of a base bid and six add-alternate items to be awarded at the discretion of the City, and WHEREAS, award of the add-alternate items is dependent on receipt of permits currently under review by the Department of Environmental Conservation and Norfolk- Southern Railroad company, and WHEREAS, the City desires to award the project and issue Notice to Proceed as soon as possible once permits are received, and WHEREAS, staff has reviewed the four bids received and made recommendations for award, now therefore be it RESOLVED, That the Board of Public Works hereby gives the Department of Public Works Water & Sewer Division discretion to award the base bid plus such add-alternate items as deemed necessary to Upstate Utilities, Inc. of Rochester, New York for a total contract amount not to exceed $83,716.50. Carried Unanimously Handicapped Parking for the First Ithaca Chinese Christian Church Discussion occurred regarding the need to confirm that the spaces are in use on a daily basis and that the City should consider requiring the Church to put in a sidewalk since there currently is none. The Board agreed that they wanted to discuss this matter further with Traffic Systems Engineer Logue at a later date. Request for Waiver of Penalty on Water Bill - 106 Fairgrounds Memorial Parkway Commissioner Schlather stated that he would not be in favor of waiving the penalty fee since it arose out of a miscommunication between the owner and tenant and was no fault of the City. The Board was in agreement that they would deny the waiver request at their next voting meeting. Library Solar Panels Supt. Gray stated that the Tompkins County Public Library has had problems with their solar panels being damaged by individuals throwing rocks from the Cayuga Garage and would like the City to help come up with a plan to avoid this occurrence in the future. City Attorney Hoffman stated that since the City is so far removed from ownership of the Cayuga Garage that they may have no ability to make changes to avoid damages to the Cayuga Garage. ADJOURNMENT On a motion the meeting adjourned at 6:40 p.m. Jessica Myers Carolyn K. Peterson Department of Public Works Intern Mayor