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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMN-BPW-2008-12-03BOARD OF PUBLIC WORKS PROCEEDINGS CITY OF ITHACA, NEW YORK Committee of the Whole Meeting 4:52 p.m. December 3, 2008 PRESENT: Mayor Peterson Commissioners (6) - Jenkins, Brock, Chapman, Schlather, Tripp, Wykstra OTHERS PRESENT: City Attorney - Hoffman Superintendent of Public Works - Gray Assistant Superintendent of Streets and Facilities - Ferrel Assistant Superintendent of Water and Sewer – Whitney Executive Assistant - Gehring Excused: Common Council Liaison – Coles DAC Liaison – Roberts Hotel Parking Agreement with Seneca Street Garage – Discussion Supt. Gray explained that a review of the parking contract with the Hilton Garden Inn Hotel was being conducted. City Chamberlain Debbie Parsons was asked to join the discussion regarding the parking arrangements. Supt. Gray explained that the city had thought the hotel reserved a certain number of spaces on a daily basis and that was the number of spaces the hotel actually used. The hotel, however, reserved a number of parking spaces related to the number of reserved hotel rooms and only pays for those spaces that are actually occupied. Many times, hotel clients will not require parking spaces or hotel reservations will be cancelled at the last minute, but the parking spaces are still reserved in the parking garage. The city would like the hotel to pay for the number of parking spaces that are reserved. Discussion followed on the floor regarding hotel parking procedures. Hotel guests receive a hang tag that notifies garage staff which vehicles are from the hotel. Supt. Gray noted the Board of Public Works did not review the agreement with the hotel when it was created in 2003. Supt. Gray stated that the Police Dept. would like each space signed stating it is reserved for hotel guests only before they will ticket unauthorized vehicles parked in those spaces. The Dept. of Public Works is not comfortable with placing signs at each space because of the cost. Long Term Parking Permits - Discussion City Attorney Hoffman explained that a long-term parking permit of this type would allow for the storage of vehicles at the Cayuga Street Garage. It would not require removal on a regular basis, would be sold at a lower rate, result in the use of spaces not currently being used, and provide additional revenue. This would provide an option for residents who don’t need their cars daily, just a place to store them. The consultants working on the Collegetown plan suggested this concept. Commissioner Schlather arrived at 5:10 p.m. He further stated there are currently four agreements involved with the Cayuga Street Garage. The long-term parking permits affect three of those agreements. Discussion followed on the floor upon review of all the contracts by the City Attorney’s office and whether there is a market for long-term parking. Commissioner Schlather requested excerpts from all of the current contracts to show how the long-term parking permit may affect them. City Attorney Hoffman agreed to provide this information. Utility and Service Rates for 2009 – Power to Act Supt. Gray explained that City Chamberlain Parsons recommends a rate change for the trash tags, although staff recommends that rates remain unaffected. Board of Public Works Committee of the Whole Page 2 December 3, 2008 Discussion followed on the floor regarding trash rates and revenues. The suggestion of changing trash pick up to every other week, like recycling, was made. Asst. Supt. Ferrel stated that a great portion of trash collected on a weekly basis comes from city facilities. Under DEC guidelines, yard waste that is collected from streets and city-owned properties can be stockpiled. However, yard waste removed from private property must be taken to a licensed compost facility. The City is currently trucking yard waste to a compost facility at $34 per ton. Residents may take their own yard waste to the Tompkins County facility, but most residents will not. Commissioner Wykstra would like the city to look into having a compost facility within the city, rather than paying $34 per ton to truck yard waste elsewhere. Discussion continued about the issues that would be faced if trash were collected on a biweekly basis. The consensus was that biweekly trash collection would not be conducive to cost or trash reduction. Commissioner Schlather suggested charging for the collection of yard waste as a way to assist the city’s revenue. He also discussed requiring residents to use trash bags to reduce dust, mold and pollen. Commissioner Jenkins pointed out that residents would not be in favor of having to pay for the trash bags along with trash collection and yard waste collection. Asst. Supt. Ferrel mentioned that one issue with charging for yard waste is collecting the leaves from city-owned trees, as opposed to the privately-owned trees. With respect to the proposed water and sewer rates Commissioner Schlather asked whether the decrease in water consumption within the city had anything to do with the Town of Ithaca developing its own water supply or if it’s because people are conserving more water. Supt. Gray responded that there are many reasons for the decrease, including the use of low-flow toilets and showerheads, etc. by residents, and no longer selling water to the town. Discussion followed on the floor about water bills and creating a policy for handling water bill appeals and penalties. City Chamberlain Parsons stated that the last set of water bills would be sent out in December. It was suggested that a subcommittee be created to review all the water bill appeals at one time. Commissioner Schlather pointed out that water rates in the 1990s increased in excess of 8% and in the 2000s the rates have increased an average of 4.2%. This year’s 4% rate increase, in his opinion, is a very reasonable increase and he supports it. Discussion began regarding the sewer rates and the cost of business at the wastewater treatment plant. Supt. Gray explained the differences in business practices between the wastewater treatment plant and the other water and sewer divisions due to the treatment plant being jointly owned by the City and the Towns of Ithaca and Dryden. Commissioner Brock requested information on meters that were under reporting and how widespread it was. The Board agreed to not change the trash tag rates but agreed to the proposed water and sewer rates for 2009. Supt. Gray will provide a resolution for the next board meeting. Possible Economic Stimulus Package – Discussion Mayor Peterson asked Supt. Gray to explain the stimulus package to the Board. Mayor Peterson departed the meeting. Supt. Gray stated that cities tie up a lot of money in road and bridge projects and in water and sewer projects. The City of Ithaca has submitted a $20 million list with various types of projects to NYSDOT for their consideration for the prospective stimulus package. It is uncertain what types of projects NYSDOT is looking for, but it is certain they are looking for projects that can be put out to bid in a short period of time. Supt. Gray went on to suggest that the city undertake design work so that the city will have projects that can be put out for bid in preparation for the stimulus package. The city will Board of Public Works Committee of the Whole Page 3 December 3, 2008 need to pay the upfront costs and then be reimbursed with state or federal dollars. The advantage of this is that we will have projects ready for bid. Commissioner Tripp asked if a large project could be included in the project list, such as a $10 million project to assess and repair all of the city’s sidewalks. Supt. Gray stated that the NYSDOT is not looking for planning projects or long-range projects. They are looking for constructions projects that can be done now. However, the list that was submitted does contain some trail and sidewalk projects. Discussion followed on the floor regarding having projects in mind that are eligible for federal funds and keeping local, smaller projects for city funds. The Transportation Improvement Program (TIP) is a five-year program that is renewed every two years. Commissioner Brock stated that the TIP is multi-modal and is willing to fund transportation projects other than vehicle-related, such as trails and sidewalks. Commissioner Schlather mentioned including Hector Street sidewalks on the project list. Commissioner Schlather asked which of the two bridges, Lake Street at Fall Creek or Cayuga Street at Six Mile Creek, is in worse condition and in need of repair. Supt. Gray stated the Lake Street Bridge deck is a “patchwork quilt” but the Cayuga Street Bridge is also in need of repair and that both bridges are in the TIP. Commissioner Schlather suggested recommending to Common Council that the city repair both bridges. No Board member objected. Asst. Supt. Whitney explained that he was recently in a meeting with the Town of Ithaca Planning and Engineering Department. They are looking at some development proposals near Hector St. (Mecklenberg Rd.) and Cliff St. (Trumansburg Rd.) where the city doesn’t have the sewer capacity to convey from the town through the city. He stated that the Water and Sewer Division will be looking at some additional trunk sewer upgrades through that area. Black Diamond Trail – Information and Discussion Supt. Gray informed the board that the Black Diamond Trail is tied to the current state budget, so the priority of this trail is not as high as we would like it. The state has some agreements with surrounding towns through which the trail passes, including the City of Ithaca, that they will begin clearing and preparing work for the trail within the next two years. ADJOURNMENT On a motion, the meeting adjourned at 6:28 p.m. Kathrin D. Gehring Carolyn K. Peterson Executive Assistant Mayor