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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMN-BPW-2008-02-13BOARD OF PUBLIC WORKS PROCEEDINGS CITY OF ITHACA, NEW YORK Voting Meeting 4:45 p.m. February 13, 2008 PRESENT: Mayor Peterson Commissioners (5) - Jenkins, Chapman, Schlather, Tripp, Wykstra OTHERS PRESENT: City Attorney – Hoffman Deputy City Controller - Andrew Superintendent of Public Works - Gray Assistant Superintendent of Streets and Facilities – Ferrel Assistant Superintendent of Water and Sewer – Whitney Common Council Liaison – Coles Executive Assistant - Myers EXCUSED: DAC Liaison – Roberts Pledge of Allegiance Mayor Peterson led all present in the Pledge of Allegiance to the American flag. Approval of Minutes: By Commissioner Chapman; Seconded by Mayor Peterson RESOLVED, That the Minutes of the January 11, 2006 Board of Public Works Voting Meeting be approved as published. Carried Unanimously By Commissioner Schlather; Seconded by Wykstra RESOLVED, That the Minutes of the February 8, 2006 Board of Public Works Voting Meeting Minutes, March 8, 2006 Board of Public Works Voting Meeting, April 12, 2006 Board of Public Works Voting Meeting, January 9, 2008 Board of Public Works Voting Meeting, and the January 16, 2008 Board of Public Works Committee of the Whole Meeting be approved as published. Carried Unanimously Additions or Deletions to Agenda Supt. Gray requested that the Board consider the resolution for the bid award for the East State Street Mill and Pave project as item 8.3 on the agenda. He further requested that if possible those items which member of staff and the public were present for could be discussed and acted on prior to other business on the agenda. Mayor’s Communications Mayor Peterson reported that the first meeting of the Dr.Martin Luther King Jr. implementation committee had been a major success with a turn out of between 15 and 25 people. She stated that three subcommittees had been created and everyone was excited to be moving forward on this project. Communications and hearings from persons before the Board There were no members of the public who addressed the Board. Highways, Streets, and Sidewalks Giles Street Traffic Calming – Resolution By Commissioner Tripp; Seconded by Commissioner Schlather WHEREAS, the Board of Public Works has been informed of neighborhood concerns about the speed of traffic on Giles Street and Cornell Street, and the related risks to pedestrian safety, and WHEREAS, the Board has received and reviewed information on the current conditions for vehicular traffic and pedestrians in this area, including comments from neighborhood residents and a report from Traffic Systems Engineer Logue, and February 13, 2008 Board of Public Works Voting Meeting Minutes Page 2 WHEREAS, the Board wishes to affirm its commitment to pedestrian safety on City streets, therefore be it RESOLVED, That the Board of Public Works directs staff to take immediate steps to institute the following actions:  Request that the Ithaca Police Department increase traffic speed enforcement on Giles Street  Research the cost of purchasing a stationary speed display device  Install a crosswalk with a center stanchion at Giles and Bridge Street  Install an all-way traffic stop and appropriate warning signage (at the intersection of Giles and Water Streets)  Paint a fog line on the west side of Cornell Street between East State Street and Eastwood Avenue to aid pedestrians until a sidewalk is installed. and be it further, RESOLVED, That staff include planning for the installation of sidewalks on Giles Street and Cornell Street between East State Street and Eastwood Avenue in the work program for 2008 with a presentation on options to the Board no later than March 15, 2008, and be it further RESOLVED, That Board thanks neighborhood residents for bringing our attention to this matter and for their suggestions for possible solutions. Traffic Systems Engineer Logue reiterated to the Board that the use of a stop sign in this area is not entirely appropriate and that he was concerned about the other bullets in the resolved clause. Supt. Gray stated that this would not be the first time that the Board took action against staff recommendations. He further stated that the Board should carefully consider that the recommended location is not a safe location for the City to place a cross walk as there is not enough visibility or distance for cars to safely stop for pedestrians. He stated that the fog line would be a good addition to the area. Supt. Gray and Traffic Systems Engineer Logue stated that while the sidewalk suggestion would greatly improve the neighborhood it would be a tremendous undertaking and there would be many other neighborhoods in the City who would expect to see the same treatment. Both stated that this was something that the City would need to seriously consider and plan for prior to committing funding to the construction of sidewalks along Giles Street. Supt. Gray stated that if the Board does decide to build sidewalks along Giles Street they will need to be willing to displace other projects and they must understand that the resources that will be spent on the sidewalks might not go as far as they would in other projects in the City. He further stated that the Board should look at the real value of the project and compare it with other projects that will need funding. Traffic Systems Engineer Logue stated that the speed-reader would be a smaller expense than the sidewalks and could provide results to temporarily correct or lessen the problem at a much lower cost. He further stated that purchasing speed-readers for other areas of the City might be worth exploring. Discussion followed on the floor regarding the recommendations in the resolution. Further discussion followed regarding the safety of a cross walk at the proposed location. Commissioner Jenkins arrived at the meeting at 5:37 p.m. Resolution to Amend By Commissioner Schlather; Seconded by Commissioner Wykstra RESOLVED, That the second resolved clause read “RESOLVED, That the Board of Public February 13, 2008 Board of Public Works Voting Meeting Minutes Page 3 Works requests staff to include the installation of sidewalks on Giles Street and Cornell Street between East State Street and Eastwood Avenue in its consideration of sidewalk projects and related grant proposals in 2008, including TEP, and be it further Carried Unanimously Resolution to Amend By Commissioner Schlather; Seconded by Commissioner Tripp RESOLVED, That the second bulleted point of the first resolved clause read “ Find money for the installation of stationary speed display devices on Giles Street and propose the same for appropriate action. Carried Unanimously Resolution to Amend By Commissioner Schlather; Seconded by Commissioner Tripp RESOLVED, That the third bulleted point of the first resolved clause read “ Defer consideration of installing a crosswalk with a center stanchion at Giles and Bridge street pending further staff evaluation and recommendation. Carried Unanimously Vote on Main Resolution as Amended WHEREAS, the Board of Public Works has been informed of neighborhood concerns about the speed of traffic on Giles Street and Cornell Street, and the related risks to pedestrian safety, and WHEREAS, the Board has received and reviewed information on the current conditions for vehicular traffic and pedestrians in this area, including comments from neighborhood residents and a report from Traffic Systems Engineer Logue, and WHEREAS, the Board wishes to affirm its commitment to pedestrian safety on City streets, therefore be it RESOLVED, That the Board of Public Works directs staff to take immediate steps to institute the following actions:  Request that the Ithaca Police Department increase traffic speed enforcement on Giles Street  Find money for the installation of stationary speed display devices on Giles Street and propose the same for appropriate action  Defer consideration of installing a crosswalk with a center stanchion at Giles and Bridge street pending further staff evaluation and recommendation  Install an all-way traffic stop and appropriate warning signage (at the intersection of Giles and Water Streets)  Paint a fog line on the west side of Cornell Street between East State Street and Eastwood Avenue to aid pedestrians until a sidewalk is installed. and be it further, RESOLVED, That the Board of Public Works requests staff to include the installation of sidewalks on Giles Street and Cornell Street between Cornell and East State Street and Eastwood Avenue in its consideration of sidewalk projects and related grant proposals in 2008, including TEP, and be it further RESOLVED, That Board thanks neighborhood residents for bringing our attention to this matter and for their suggestions for possible solutions. Carried Unanimously University Avenue Committee – Discussion City Attorney Hoffman stated that the history of University Avenue is unclear as far as ownership is concerned. He stated that there are many costly repairs that will need to be made on the road in the near future and that Cornell University is interested in taking February 13, 2008 Board of Public Works Voting Meeting Minutes Page 4 ownership of the street and allowing it to continue to be open for public access. The University has done the same sorting with most of the streets on campus. He passed out a memo that outlines the tentative agreement between the City and the University and the suggested timetable for completion of the transaction. Mayor Peterson stated that she hoped that the Board would take time to carefully review the proposal and consider it. Discussion followed regarding the types of repairs needed to the road and the cost estimates. Further discussion followed regarding the process and concerns about the action being seen as selling a city asset to a private entity and the legal ramifications of doing so. Award of Bid for East State Street Mill and Pave – Resolution By Commissioner Wykstra; Seconded by Commissioner Tripp WHEREAS, bids were received on February 12, 2008 for Milling and Paving of East State Street Capital Project (CP 705), and WHEREAS, staff has reviewed the four bids received and made recommendations for award, now therefore be it RESOLVED, That the City of Ithaca Board of Public Works hereby awards the East State Street Mill and Pave Project to Chemung Contracting Corporation of Pine City, New York, for their low bid meeting specifications of $206,558.00. Carried Unanimously Creeks, Bridges, and Parks Stewart Park Dock Project Bid Award – Resolution By Commissioner Tripp; Seconded by Commissioner Schlather WHEREAS, bids were received on January 8, 2008 for Design and Construction of a Stewart Park Dock Capital Project (CP 706), and WHEREAS, staff has reviewed the four bids received and made recommendations for award, now therefore be it RESOLVED, That the City of Ithaca Board of Public Works hereby awards the Stewart Park dock design and construction project to McPherson Builders, Inc of Ithaca, New York, for their low bid meeting specifications of $69, 482.00. Carried 5-1 Nays: Commissioner Wykstra Commissioner Wykstra stated that he could not support this project as he felt that it was not thoroughly thought out and could easily interfere with larger projects that would be more beneficial to the public. Water and Sewer Johnson Controls Water Meter Project – Resolution By Commissioner Schlather; Seconded by Commissioner Wykstra WHEREAS, the City bills its utility customers over $8 million for water and sewer services each year based on water meters installed in the customers premises, and anticipates that this billing will increase significantly due to a current project to restore or replace the City’s water treatment plant, and WHEREAS, the City entered into an Energy Performance Contract with Johnson Controls in late 2006 but delayed the water meter portion of that contract in order to research options for water meter upgrade, automated meter reading, and a new system for imbedded leak protection, and February 13, 2008 Board of Public Works Voting Meeting Minutes Page 5 WHEREAS, Staff has returned with their recommendations which Johnson Controls used to develop a proposal for the Energy Performance Contract Phase 2 which projects $4.2 million in savings, increased revenues and other benefits to cover the current estimated cost of $2.3 million or 15 year total costs of $3.1 million, now therefore be it RESOLVED, That the Board of Public Works recommend the creation of a capital project in the amount of $2.3 million by Common Council for the purpose of upgrading the City’s water meters and converting to automated meter reading, and be it further RESOLVED, That contingent on funding by Common Council, the Mayor, City Attorney, City Controller, and Superintendent of Public Works are authorized to negotiate a final contract based on this resolution, and the Mayor is authorized to sign the contract. Carried Unanimously Mayor Peterson left the meeting at 6:40 p.m. Administration and Communications Engineering Office Staffing – Resolution for Power to Act By Commissioner Wykstra; Seconded by Commissioner Tripp WHEREAS, the Assistant City Engineer and the Traffic Systems Engineer have developed an office staffing recommendation in a memo dated December 20, 2007, which reflect the current and near term (5 years) operation of the office, which the Superintendent forwarded to the Board, and WHEREAS, the Mayor has requested the Superintendent forward this recommendation to the Human Resources department for review and recommendations, now therefore be it RESOLVED, That the Board gives itself power to act on any resolution concerning staffing that may be available for its meeting of February 20, 2008. Carried Unanimously Cold Storage Building Award of Bid – Resolution for Power to Act By Commissioner Schlather; Seconded by Commissioner Jenkins RESOLVED, That the Board of Public Works grants itself power to act on a resolution awarding the Bid for the construction of a Cold Storage Facility at the March 5, 2008 Committee of the Whole meeting. Carried Unanimously Staff Reports Erik Whitney’s Report Asst. Supt. of Water and Sewer Whitney reported on the two bids the department has out, one for the transportation of sludge and the other for the cold storage building. He further reported on the possible improvements to be made to the West Hill area through use of an old Town of Ithaca Tank to increase water pressure in the upper zone. He further reported on the progress of the Southwest Water Directional Drilling Project. ADJOURNMENT On a motion the meeting adjourned at 7:05 p.m. Jessica Myers Carolyn K. Peterson Executive Assistant Mayor