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