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BOARD OF PUBLIC WORKS PROCEEDINGS
CITY OF ITHACA, NEW YORK
Voting Meeting 4:45 p.m. April 9, 2008
PRESENT:
Mayor Peterson
Commissioners (4) - Jenkins, Chapman, 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
Commissioner Schlather
Pledge of Allegiance
Mayor Peterson led all present in the Pledge of Allegiance to the American flag.
Approval of Minutes – Resolution for Power to Act:
By Commissioner Tripp; Seconded by Commissioner Wykstra
RESOLVED, That the Board of Public Works grants itself power to act on the January 17,
2007 Board of Public Works Committee of the Whole meeting Minutes, the March 5, 2008
Board of Public Works Committee of the Whole Meeting Minutes, the March 12, 2008
Board of Public Works Voting Meeting Minutes, and the March 19, 2008 Board of Public
Works Committee of the Whole Meeting Minutes at the April 16, 2008 meeting.
Carried Unanimously
Additions or Deletions to Agenda
Supt. Gray requested that the award of bid for the Cascadilla and Court Streets mill and
pave project be added to the agenda.
Mayor’s Communications
Mayor Peterson reported that earlier in the day a meeting had been held to inform
Commons business owners of possible commons repair options for the repair project slated
for this year. She reported that if there was time later in the meeting she would report on
the meeting and if not more information would be provided to the Board at the next
meeting.
Mayor Peterson stated that the New York State budget was passed however she has not
been able to look at it. She stated that she would report out on the budget at the next
meeting.
Communications and hearings from persons before the Board
Fay Gougakis, City of Ithaca, addressed the Board regarding the Commons repair meeting
that was held earlier in the day. She stated that it was wrong to exclude Commons
residents from the meeting, as they will also be affected. She further stated that the City
should not do any of this work during the heaviest shopping season. She also questioned if
the Board was taking into consideration the possible traffic issues posed by the
construction of a hotel at the Aurora Street end of the Commons.
April 9, 2008 Board of Public Works Voting Meeting Page 2
Response to Public
There was no response to the public.
Buildings, Properties, Refuse, and Transit
Cal Ripken Baseball Fields 8 and 9 at Cass Park
Acting Director of Planning and Development Cornish, Recreation Supervisor D’Alterio, and
Rick Manning presented plans to improve the baseball fields by installing a fence. Cal
Ripken League will be paying for the entire cost of the installation and none of the other
sporting programs that use the field’s will be impacted by the installation.
Acting Director of Planning and Development Cornish stated that the environmental impact
statement should be completed soon. She further stated that a draft license agreement
should be coming to the Board next week.
Discussion followed regarding the benefits of the fencing installation and the possible
problems that might arise for other sports programs that use the field.
Mayor Peterson stated that the Youth Bureau, Cass Park, the Planning department, and
the Parks Commission have all worked together to come to a compromise and this solution
is one that everyone supports.
Resolution for Power to Act
By Commissioner Tripp; Seconded by Commissioner Chapman
RESOLVED, That the Board of Public Works grants itself power to act on the
improvements to fields 8 and 9 at Cass park by the Cal Ripken organization at the April 16,
2008 Meeting.
Carried Unanimously
Gateway Easement – Discussion
Kim Michaels of Trowbridge and Wolf, Elena Flash, Mack Travis and Traffic Systems
Engineer Logue were present for the discussion.
City Attorney Hoffman stated that there are many existing easements at the Gateway
property and that the Mack Travis, the property owner, and the City would like to see the
easements consolidated and revised. He further described the existing easements and the
proposed changes in detail. He stated that this is mainly getting rid of unneeded
easements, getting new needed easements and clarifying the ownership and responsibility
for the creek wall.
Further discussion followed regarding the extension of the creek walk, the boundaries of
the easements and the proposed changes in easements.
Resolution for Power to Act
By Commissioner Tripp; Seconded by Commissioner Wykstra
RESOLVED, That the Board of Public Works grants itself power to act on the Gateway
Easements at the April 16, 2008 Meeting.
Carried Unanimously
Award of Bids for Cascadilla and Court Street Mill and Pave
By Commissioner Tripp; Seconded by Commissioner Jenkins
WHEREAS, bids were received on April 8, 2008 for milling and paving Cascadilla and Court
Street, Capital Project (CP 705), and
WHEREAS, staff has reviewed the six bids received and made recommendations for
award, now therefore be it
RESOLVED, That the City of Ithaca Board of Public Works hereby awards the Cascadilla
and Court Street mill and pave project to Suit Kote Corp., of Cortland, New York, for their
low bid meeting specifications of $215,070.
April 9, 2008 Board of Public Works Voting Meeting Page 3
Asst. Supt. Streets and Facilities Ferrel stated that these two streets will not be paved at
the same time and that timing has yet to be worked out.
Carried Unanimously
Highways, Streets, and Sidewalks
University Avenue Memorandum of Understanding – Proposed Board of Public
Works Resolution - ENDORSEMENT OF MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING
BETWEEN THE CITY OF ITHACA AND CORNELL UNIVERSITY REGARDING A
PORTION OF UNIVERSITY AVENUE
City Attorney Hoffman reported on the changes that had been made to the draft MOU
since the last Board meeting.
Commissioner Wykstra stated that he really appreciated Commissioner Schlather’s
efforts to strengthen the documents referred to in the resolution.
There was unanimous support from the City and Cornell for the work those involved
with this decision and agreement have put into the documents.
Resolution
By Commissioner Tripp; Seconded by Commissioner Chapman
WHEREAS, New York’s General City Law, Section 20(7), grants to cities the authority “to
lay out, establish, construct, maintain, operate, alter and discontinue streets;” and
WHEREAS, the Charter of the City of Ithaca (in Section C-71) grants to the City’s Board of
Public Works the authority to “lay out, alter, discontinue, regulate, straighten, widen, pave,
curb, clean and sprinkle the streets, highways, bridges and crosswalks,” and (in Section C-
61), provides that the Board shall “have control” of the City department pertaining to
“Streets and Sidewalks” and its property, albeit “subject to the limitations herein contained
and the direction and review of the Common Council.”
WHEREAS, a certain public street or highway, known as University Avenue, is contained
within the boundaries of the City and runs, in part, through or past lands owned by Cornell
University; and
WHEREAS, representatives of the City and Cornell have been engaged in discussions from
time to time for many years without reaching a definitive conclusion about the nature and
extent of the public right-of-way over University Avenue, as well as the responsibility for
proper upkeep of the street (which is now in need of substantial reconstruction and
improvement); and
WHEREAS, as a means of resolving this situation, Cornell has offered to assume sole
responsibility for rebuilding that portion of University Avenue between the Thurston
Avenue/East Avenue/Forest Home Drive intersection and the intersection of University
Avenue with the westerly boundary line of Chi Psi Fraternity, to mutually acceptable
standards, and to keep the street open permanently, for use by the public, in exchange for
the City’s discontinuance of that portion of the street as a public street and conveyance of
its property interest therein to Cornell; and
WHEREAS, the parties acknowledge that it would be in the interest of the public health,
safety and welfare to resolve the parties’ on-going discussion about University Avenue, to
have the condition of the above-referenced portion of University Avenue improved, to have
a bicycle lane added to the upgraded portion of University Avenue where space permits,
and to facilitate the provision of certain other enhancements to the improved portion of
University Avenue; and
WHEREAS, it appears that the proposed discontinuance of a portion of University Avenue
as a City street, together with the proposed Agreement between the City and Cornell
University regarding the reconstruction of the street, its future maintenance, and the right of
April 9, 2008 Board of Public Works Voting Meeting Page 4
the public to continue to use it, are matters that should properly require the review and
approval of both the Board of Public Works and the Common Council; now therefore be it
RESOLVED, That the Board of Public Works hereby endorses the proposed
Memorandum of Understanding between the City and Cornell, dated April 9, 2008, as a
means of bringing a specific, proposed arrangement regarding a portion of University
Avenue before the public and for consideration and timely decision-making thereon by both
the Board and the Common Council.
Carried Unanimously
While Commissioner Schlather was not present for the vote he requested that the record
reflect that he is not in support of this resolution because it represents the sale of public
property to private entities and is therefore not in the public’s best interest.
Creeks, Bridges, and Parks
2008 Golf Course Rates – Resolution
By Commissioner Tripp; Seconded by Commissioner Wykstra
WHEREAS, staff has reviewed the advertised rates for other golf courses in the area, and
WHEREAS, Newman Golf Course rates were changed in each of the last three years, and
WHEREAS, the 2007 adopted rates for Newman Golf Course are competitive with
neighboring golf courses for the 2008 season, now therefore be it
RESOLVED, the Board of Public Works adopts the rates established in 2007 as the 2008
Newman Golf Course rate schedule
Asst. Supt. Streets and Facilities Ferrel reported on the decision to use the same rates
as 2007 for the golf course. He stated that with the years of steady and large increases
the City really needs to keep rates more consistent in order to retain membership.
Commissioner Tripp stated that she would like to see the membership rates for youth
significantly dropped to encourage golfing and use of the City golf course.
Steve Torrent, Golf Course Manager stated that currently many parents dropped their
kids off at the course before work in the morning and sometimes do not pick them up
until after dark in the evening. He stated that the golf course is one of the cheapest day
care facilities around even with the youth rates as they are. He stated that many of the
youth who currently use the course do not take the game as seriously as the adults and
often play only a few holes at a time never finishing a game. He further stated that if the
rates are dropped and more youth use the facility the tee time currently used by loyal
members will be taken up and the City will risk losing their business.
Discussion followed regarding the possibility of adjusting youth rates so that they were
more affordable, and looking into a scholarship or subsidy program from the Youth
Bureau. Further discussion followed regarding the competitiveness of the current rates.
Vote on Resolution
Failed 3-2
Nays: Commissioners Chapman and Tripp
Commissioner Tripp stated that she would not vote in favor of a resolution on golf rates
unless the youth membership rate was much lower then currently proposed.
Commissioner Chapman stated that he would not vote in favor of a resolution that
continues running the golf course at such a large deficit.
April 9, 2008 Board of Public Works Voting Meeting Page 5
Resolution for Power to Act
By Commissioner Wykstra; Seconded by Commissioner Jenkins
RESOLVED, That the Board of Public Works grants itself power to act on the 2008 golf
course rates at the April 16, 2008 Meeting.
Carried Unanimously
ADJOURNMENT
On a motion the meeting adjourned at 7:05 p.m.
Jessica Myers Carolyn K. Peterson
Executive Assistant Mayor