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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMN-BPW-2009-01-21BOARD OF PUBLIC WORKS PROCEEDINGS CITY OF ITHACA, NEW YORK Committee of the Whole Meeting 5:03 p.m. January 21, 2009 PRESENT: Mayor Peterson Commissioners (4) - Jenkins, Schlather, Tripp, Wykstra OTHERS PRESENT: City Attorney - Hoffman Superintendent of Public Works - Gray Assistant Superintendent of Water and Sewer – Whitney Common Council Liaison – Coles DAC Liaison – Roberts Executive Assistant – Gehring Excused: Commissioner Brock Assistant Superintendent of Streets and Facilities - Ferrel Additions/Deletions to/from Agenda Mayor Peterson requested that the agenda items be rearranged to accommodate guests invited to attend the meeting. DEC Grant for Invasive Species Removal – Power-to-Act – Resolution By Commissioner Tripp: Seconded by Commissioner Wykstra WHEREAS, the Natural Areas Commission has identified a serious problem due to the spread of stilt grass, an invasive, exotic plant, in the Six Mile Creek Natural Area, and WHEREAS, the Terrestrial Invasive Species Eradication Grant Program, administered by the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation, is a potential source of funding to assist the City of Ithaca in its efforts to control and/or eradicate stilt grass, and WHEREAS, the match requirement from the city for the proposed grant may be comprised of volunteer time, use of existing facilities (i.e. Water Treatment Plant phone and computer), and DPW Parks & Forestry 2009 budgeted labor, tools, and materials, now therefore be it RESOLVED, That Andrew Hillman as Forester of the City of Ithaca, or his successor, is hereby authorized and directed to file an application for funds from the Terrestrial Invasive Species Eradication Grant Program in an amount of $21,450, and upon approval of said request, the Mayor is authorized to enter into and execute a state assistance contract with the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation for such financial assistance to the City of Ithaca for the eradication of stilt grass in the Six Mile Creek Natural Area and further, to carry out and comply with the terms of such project agreement. Mayor Peterson thanked Mr. Hillman, City Forester, for providing the background material on stilt grass and asked him how the city would manage the stilt grass in the Natural Area. Mr. Hillman stated that he plans to use weed wackers to remove the grass just as it begins to bloom. He further stated this would be the best method considering the location of the grass and it would not harm other plants in the area. Commissioner Schlather asked why the city would want to eradicate this grass. Mr. Hillman explained that stilt grass is a very invasive plant overtaking the Mullholland Wildlife Preserve. The grass will change the chemistry of the soil so the soil can support the stilt grass but not other types of plants that grow naturally in this area. He further stated that deer will not eat the grass and it will eventually choke out all other foliage. He noted that the Natural Areas Commission recommends and supports the removal of this plant. Board of Public Works Committee of the Whole Page 2 January 21, 2009 A vote on the resolution resulted as follows: CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY (5-0) Sidewalk Program – Power-to-Act – Resolution By Commissioner Schlather: Seconded by Commissioner Tripp WHEREAS, the City Code requirements for sidewalk repair were recently revised on July 9, 2008, part way through the construction season to discontinue the requirement for a public hearing prior to requiring the owner to construct or repair sidewalk and to discontinue the requirement for a public hearing prior to the assessment of charges, and WHEREAS, the City Code no longer requires public hearings for sidewalk repair and the assessment of sidewalk repairs charges, and WHEREAS, the Board of Public Works, City Attorney, Superintendent of Public Works and other staff wish to allow property owners, during this transition period, an adequate opportunity to share opinions on the sidewalk repairs performed by the city sidewalk crew in 2008, now therefore be it RESOLVED, That the Board of Public Works sets a Public Hearing on March 4, 2009, to allow property owners to protest the need for repairs or the proposed billing amounts for the work performed in 2008, and be it further RESOLVED, That the Board of Public Works directs staff to notify the affected owners of the proposed charges, public hearing date and protest options. Lynne Yost, Assistant Civil Engineer, explained that a public hearing has been scheduled for sidewalk work completed in 2008. A sidewalk committee met to schedule a public hearing for March 4, 2009. Commissioner Schlather asked how the property owners will be notified of the public hearing. Ms. Yost explained that letters will be sent out to them and that a legal notice would be placed. Discussion followed on the floor regarding changes in the sidewalk code, the estimated costs the property owners will need to pay for the repairs, and whether the City charges a fair market value for labor. Ms. Yost confirmed that property owners were given an opportunity to repair their own sidewalk. She further stated that the estimated amount the city is expecting for the sidewalk repairs made in 2008 is $108,000. Larry Robers, DAC liaison, stated that the DAC appreciates the work done on the sidewalks. A vote on the resolution resulted as follows: CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY (5-0) Sidewalk Assessment Disputes – Resolution By Commissioner Wykstra: Seconded by Commissioner Schlather WHEREAS, six disputed sidewalk assessments from 2005 have not been presented to nor resolved by the Board of Public Works, and WHEREAS, this work can be done most efficiently in a committee, now therefore be it RESOLVED, That Commissioner Cynthia Brock and Commissioner Wade Wykstra are appointed to meet with staff and form recommendations to bring to the Board of Public Works for action. Discussion followed on the floor on why these disputes had not been brought to the Board’s attention sooner. Commissioner Schlather recommended a subcommittee of Board of Public Works members be formed to discuss how to proceed and to bring back a recommendation to Board of Public Works Committee of the Whole Page 3 January 21, 2009 the Board. He further stated that he would recommend Commissioner Brock as she has expressed an interest in the sidewalk program, and noted that if she does not accept his recommendation, he will take her place on the subcommittee. Commissioner Wykstra volunteered to be the second board member on the subcommittee. Commissioner Tripp expressed her dissatisfaction with the city’s policy of going back to collect money from residents for work completed several years ago and believes the city should not attempt to collect the revenues from four years ago. Ayes (4) – Wykstra, Jenkins, Schlather, Peterson Nays (1) – Tripp Abstentions (0) CARRIED (4-1) Verizon Wireless Proposed Monopole – Discussion Jared Insk, Esq., Nixon Peabody Law Firm Ken Cowley, Site Acquisition, Airosmith Kathy Pomponio, Real Estate Market Manager, Verizon Wireless Greg Hanley, R.F. Engineer, Verizon Wireless Representatives from Verizon Wireless joined the Board for this discussion. Mayor Peterson asked where the lack of wireless coverage is and why a tower is needed. Mr. Hanley displayed images of the Ithaca area that showed where there is a lack of wireless coverage and explained that a lack of coverage equals a lack of reliable service. Verizon is focusing on the southeastern tip of Cayuga Lake going north around the eastern edge of the lake, including the Route 13 corridor as the possible location for an additional tower. Commissioner Schlather asked about the 850 mhz network vs. PCS network. Mr. Hanley explained that since 1988, an 850 mhz network has been used. Sites that are built now are using PCS (Personal Communication Service) networks. Phones currently use the 850 mhz system; if that is not available, it will flip to the PCS network automatically. The 850 mhz system alone is not sufficient to handle the call volume in the Ithaca area. PCS is in addition to, not instead of, the 850 mhz network. It is an overlay network that contains the same technology as the 850 mhz network. Discussion followed on the floor regarding the height requirement of the monopole, whether several smaller poles would be sufficient, whether several wireless providers share poles, and how the monopole could be made more appealing aesthetically. Discussion continued regarding the storage facility required for each pole installed to hold antennae array. Ms. Pomponio stated that each pole, no matter how tall the pole is, must have a building that is 12’x30’x10’ within 30’ of the pole to hold equipment. Each building must be fenced in and it must have an access road to it. Each building will contain such items as a generator, battery, and other items necessary to ensure the network antennae work continuously. Discussion followed on the floor about the need for a fall zone, the size of the fall zone required and the design of the monopole to collapse upon itself rather than fall like a tree. Mr. Hanley noted that there is currently a 120’ monopole already installed in the Community Corners area of Tompkins County. Mayor Peterson suggested that staff and board members make a visit to that monopole to get an idea of how one will look from ground level once it is installed. The Board agreed that more discussion is required before a recommendation can be submitted to Common Council. They anticipate making recommendation by the end of March 2009. Additional Capital Projects Under the Stimulus Package – Power-to-Act Mayor Peterson opened the discussion by stating that she received a summary of the proposed stimulus package from Peter Baynes from NYCOM. The summary states that most of the $550 billion will be distributed through local and state programs. Representatives from Governor Patterson’s office have advised that projects that are “shovel ready” may receive money from the stimulus package. Projects that may be Board of Public Works Committee of the Whole Page 4 January 21, 2009 ready in 90-100 days may still be considered. City Controller Steve Thayer noted that the State would like to see projects that would be “shovel ready” within 100 days so new employment opportunities can be opened up by the summer. Supt. Gray noted he has been told by a couple of federal and state agencies to stop adding projects to the list. Discussion followed on the floor about the summary document contents and other projects the city could consider that would bring in federal monies, such as environmental cleanup and dredging projects. Mayor Peterson agreed to forward the summary document to the board members. Commissioner Tripp left the meeting at 6:36 p.m. Mayor Peterson left the meeting at 6:40 p.m. Commissioner Schlather expressed his disappointment that the Hector Street sidewalk project was not on the project list. He suggested working with the Ithaca Neighborhood Housing Services and New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA) to install solar panels in single-family homes throughout Ithaca to help some of the lower income families save on utility costs and put people to work. He also suggested including larger sidewalk projects that would not otherwise be built. Commissioner Wykstra reminded the Board and staff not to forget the need to make a decision on the city’s water supply. Discussion followed on the floor about the expected stimulus package and projects that could be added to the list for the city. DAC Liaison Roberts expressed concern that whatever projects are added to the list should contain physical accessibility improvements for the disabled. Special Joint Committee Update – Discussion This item was not discussed. Revision of City Code Chapter 170 – Review of Proposal This item was not discussed. ADJOURNMENT On a motion, the meeting adjourned at 7:04 p.m. __________________________ _________________________ Kathrin D. Gehring Carolyn K. Peterson Executive Assistant Mayor