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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMN-BPW-2008-04-09 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