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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMN-BPW-2009-06-03BOARD OF PUBLIC WORKS PROCEEDINGS CITY OF ITHACA, NEW YORK Committee of the Whole Meeting 4:51 p.m. June 3, 2009 PRESENT: Mayor Peterson Commissioners (5) - Jenkins, Brock, 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 Common Council Liaison – Zumoff DAC Liaison – Roberts Executive Assistant - Gehring Additions/Deletions to/from the Agenda: Commissioner Schlather requested a discussion, prior to the Mayor’s departure from the meeting, regarding scheduling future meetings concerning the Board’s recommendation to Common Council for the City’s water supply. No Board member objected. Power to Act – Approval of Minutes – Resolution By Commissioner Brock: Seconded by Commissioner Tripp RESOLVED, That the Minutes of the April 29, 2009, Board of Public Works Special Meeting be approved as published. Commissioner Schlather arrived at 4:58 p.m. Commissioner Brock questioned the need for handrails on the dock that would be used as a canoe/boat launch. Supt. Gray stated that building code interpretations are different and because the dock is tied to the land, the building inspector thought it required handrails. Director of Planning and Development Cornish stated the original project was a much larger dock with the current smaller dock being only part of the first phase. Discussion followed on the floor regarding other docks currently in use and code interpretations. Mayor Peterson suggested that Commissioner Brock make a site visit with the building inspector and a representative from the Planning Department to discuss the handrail issue. Commissioner Brock agreed. A vote on the Resolution resulted as follows: Carried Unanimously Appeal of Water Bill for 900 Stewart Avenue – Discussion A draft resolution was distributed to the Board for discussion. The owner’s representative, Sharon Sulimowicz, Esq., joined the Board for the discussion. Ms. Sulimowicz stated that the property in question had been vacant and the owner should not be billed for more than six years’ worth of water usage. She further stated that her client supports the proposed draft resolution. Supt. Gray stated that the draft resolution would be placed on the agenda for the June 10, 2009, meeting. Ithaca Motion Picture Project – Presentation Representatives of the Ithaca Motion Picture Project (IMPP), Diana Reismann, Todd Zwigard, and Constance Bruce, joined the Board for the discussion. They distributed site plan updates to the Board members. Ms. Bruce reported that IMPP would like to proceed with their proposal to incorporate a small motion picture museum into the Wharton Building at Stewart Park. She explained Board of Public Works Page 2 June 3, 2009 Committee of the Whole that the building is currently being used as a storage facility for the Youth Bureau and Department of Public Works. Ms. Bruce stated that IMPP has been working with the City since 2007 on this proposal, and plans have been shown to the Planning Department and the Parks Commission. Ms. Bruce further stated that IMPP is actively participating in the clean-up of Stewart Park, including removing vines from the Wharton Building, repairing and painting the windows, scraping eaves and painting the building. She thanked the Department of Public Works for the materials used to upgrade the building. Mr. Zwigard described the documents distributed to the Board, which included an aerial view of Stewart Park and a list of preliminary items needed for a new storage building. He explained that an analysis of the program suggested the installation of a 25’x75’ building near the circle drive next to the pond in Stewart Park which would be used by the Department of Public Works. He further explained that the addition at the back of the large pavilion could be used by the Youth Bureau for their storage needs. Discussion followed on the floor regarding the design of the proposed new building and the addition to the existing pavilion. Extensive discussion followed on the floor regarding the design of the addition to the pavilion and how to make it aesthetically and visually pleasing, along with providing functionally for storage needs of the Youth Bureau. Further discussion followed on the floor regarding the design of the new storage building for park maintenance equipment. Mr. Zwigard explained that due to costs, the building would be simply designed and that screening would help with aesthetics. He further stated that new water and sewer lines would have to be installed in the new building as well. Commissioner Tripp asked whether the train tunnel that is located in the park next to the carousel could be used for the replacement storage building. Ms. Reismann and Mr. Zwigard responded that use of the tunnel was studied, but it was found that modifying the building would impact the mature trees, and that a new road would need to be built due to lack of access from current parking areas. Ms. Reismann listed the next steps that IMPP and the City would need to take in order to act upon the proposal. 1. Request for Proposal – so IMPP can raise funds for the construction. 2. Letter of Intent from the Board. 3. Creation of a timeline for important decisions. Commissioner Schlather expressed his opinion that the new building should be built architecturally in the same manner as the other buildings in the park. He further stated that IMPP’s proposal is a great way to use the park and he is very interested in the project. Discussion followed on the floor regarding the need for a storage facility on park grounds for maintenance purposes. Asst. Supt. Ferrel recommended that a storage facility be located in the park due to the amount of maintenance the park requires. Administrative Item: Mayor Peterson presented Asst. Supt. Richard Ferrel with a gold wrench as a retirement gift from the Board of Public Works. Supt. Gray invited the members of the Board to attend a retirement party for Asst. Supt. Ferrel on August 22, 2009, at Stewart Park. Asst. Supt. Ferrel stated that during 723 board meetings he has attended, there has been a wide range of topics discussed. He stated that it had been a pleasure, most of the time to attend. The board meetings provided him with plenty of work. He stated that he had never been bored working in the Department of Public Works. He further stated the gold wrench will go well with his gold car. Commissioner Schlather stated that he has enjoyed sitting next to Asst. Supt. Ferrel and has had a vantage point that no one else had. He further stated it has been a Board of Public Works Page 3 June 3, 2009 Committee of the Whole pleasure to work with Asst. Supt. Ferrel. The Board extended their best wishes to Asst. Supt. Ferrel in his retirement. Water Supply fEIS Commissioner Schlather explained that it occurred to him that if the fEIS is published on June 5, 2009, the Notice of Completion could not be filed until June 15, 2009, and Commissioner Brock would be out of town after July 9, 2009, so that gives the Board only four regular meetings prior to July 9, 2009, to discuss the water source options. He proposed that the Board set aside sufficient time at those meetings to discuss everything regarding the decision and provide notice to the public of those meetings. Discussion followed on the floor regarding the focus for discussions during those meetings in June after the fEIS and the Notice of Completion are filed. Mayor Peterson stated that Common Council has also discussed many topics involving the water supply decision, including, but not limited to governance, costs, redundancy, and water quality. Commissioner Schlather suggested that the Board meetings on June 17, June 24, July 1 and July 8, 2009, be devoted to the discussion of the water supply decision. Mayor Peterson requested that the Board prepare a list of items they would like more information on and no Board member objected. Mayor Peterson left the meeting at 6:07 p.m. Discussion followed on the floor regarding compiling information from the past two years’ discussions for the Board review prior to the meeting on June 17, 2009. Further discussion followed on the floor regarding public notification and advertisement of the meetings. Hotel Ithaca’s Use of Green Street Garage Commissioner Schlather explained that at a recent meeting, representatives of TCAT explained their position concerning the bus stop that is currently located on Aurora Street, next to the proposed site of the new Hotel Ithaca. Commissioner Schlather stated that TCAT explained that they are quite happy with the proposed new location and that discussions would be held with the hotel’s developer regarding the bus stop. Supt. Gray stated the temporary relocation of the bus stop was already under discussion due to the upcoming construction on East State Street this summer. City Attorney Hoffman stated the issue was originally mentioned due to the Hotel’s request to have entrances between the Green Street Garage and Hotel Ithaca. He further stated that the hotel continues to request entrances into the garage; however, it will not need the parking spaces. City Attorney Hoffman stated that the bus stop replacement/relocation would be part of the purchase agreement and Common Council would vote on that request. Commissioner Schlather stated that a kiosk for the Martin Luther King Jr. Freedom Walk will be incorporated into the new bus stop. Power to Act – Cinemapolis Signage City Attorney Hoffman explained that the space below the Green Street Garage is owned by the City and leased to IURA, who sub-leased it to Cayuga Green who then sub-subleased to 7th Art (Cinemapolis). He further stated that the lease between the City and IURA states the lessee may install signs on the garage building. He suggested that if that language is acceptable, the Board will only have to vote on one sign that is proposed to be hung in the alley between the parking lot and the garage. He stated that the Board would have a resolution to consider at the June 10, 2009, meeting. Verizon Wireless Monopole – Discussion City Attorney Hoffman stated that Verizon is now interested in locating the monopole on the property of the Wastewater Treatment Plant. He further stated they would like permission from the Board to address the Special Joint Committee to make their request. Commissioner Wykstra stated he had heard of the proposal and would proceed with putting the discussion of that item on the agenda for the next Special Joint Board of Public Works Page 4 June 3, 2009 Committee of the Whole Committee meeting. He further stated that each municipality involved in the Wastewater Treatment Plant would have to approve the request. City Attorney Hoffman stated that currently the City is the owner of the land, so at the moment, the land can’t be leased without the City’s approval. Discussion followed on the floor regarding joint municipal discussion and decision regarding construction of cellular towers and wireless companies having to go to each municipality individually to request a location for the poles. Commissioner Wykstra invited the members of the Board to visit the site of the Wastewater Treatment Plant to see where Verizon is proposing to locate the pole. Appeal of Water Bill for 109 Dryden Road – Discussion This item was not discussed, and it will be placed on the agenda for the June 10, 2009, meeting. Appeal of Trash Violation for 215 Ridgedale Road – Discussion A resolution will be considered at the June 10, 2009, meeting. Appeal of Water Bill for 118-138 Prospect Street – Discussion This item was not discussed, and it will be placed on the agenda for the June 10, 2009, meeting. ADJOURNMENT On a motion, the meeting adjourned at 6:45 p.m. Kathrin D. Gehring Carolyn K. Peterson Executive Assistant Mayor