HomeMy WebLinkAboutMN-BPW-2009-06-17BOARD OF PUBLIC WORKS PROCEEDINGS
CITY OF ITHACA, NEW YORK
Committee of the Whole Meeting 4:53 p.m. June 17, 2009
PRESENT:
Mayor Peterson
Commissioners (5) - Jenkins, Brock, Schlather, Tripp, Wykstra
OTHERS PRESENT:
City Attorney - Hoffman
Superintendent of Public Works - Gray
Acting Assistant Superintendent of Streets and Facilities - Benjamin
Assistant Superintendent of Water and Sewer – Whitney
Common Council Liaison – Zumoff
Executive Assistant – Gehring
EXCUSED:
DAC Liaison – Roberts
Administrative Communications:
Mayor Peterson asked O’Brien and Gere consultants, Steve Eckler and Rick Gell, if
they were available to attend the special meeting scheduled for Common Council on
June 24, 2009, at 5:30 p.m. to discuss the water supply options. Mr. Eckler and Mr.
Gell stated they would plan to attend that meeting.
Acting Asst. Supt. Benjamin reviewed some of the road construction that street crews
are currently working on throughout the city.
Commissioner Schlather arrived at 4:55 p.m.
Power to Act – Award of Contracts for GIAC Renovations
Mayor Peterson stated that the bids received for GIAC renovations were over budget
and the request will need to go back to Common Council for approval of additional
funding.
Water Supply BPW Statement of Findings – Review of Draft
Director of Planning and Development Cornish and O’Brien and Gere Consultants,
Steve Eckler and Rick Gell, joined the Board for the discussion. Director of Planning
and Development Cornish stated the Notice of Completion was filed and published in
the Ithaca Journal and the State Environmental Notice Bulletin was published on
Wednesday, June 17, 2009.
Commissioner Jenkins arrived at 5:02 p.m.; Commissioner Brock arrived at 5:03 p.m.
Mr. Eckler explained that the Finding Statement certifies that the SEQR requirements
have been met and lists all of the impacts to the environment in a tabular format. He
further explained the purpose of each column and noted that the findings were divided
into positive and negative impacts.
Commissioner Wykstra arrived at 5:05 p.m.
Commissioner Schlather asked if the findings statement could be written toward one
option more than another. Supt. Gray stated the findings document could be written as
a decision document, focusing on the option that is chosen. Mr. Eckler stated it is
possible to write the findings document as a decision document, though the current
document was not written as such.
Discussion followed on the floor regarding specific questions and corrections regarding
the findings statement. Extensive discussion followed on the floor regarding whether
the decision would be made by the Lead Agency or by Common Council.
Board of Public Works Page 2 June 17, 2009
Committee of the Whole
Further discussion followed on the floor regarding the use of dredging alternatives.
Revisions to the Findings Statement were recommended and adopted by the Board.
Discussion followed on the floor regarding the next three meetings of the Board of
Public Works and the agenda items for those meetings. Alderperson Zumoff reminded
the Board that Common Council would like to make their decision in September 2009.
Mayor Peterson responded that the Board would like to vote on its recommendation on
July 8, 2009.
Mayor Peterson left the meeting at 6:30 p.m.
Further discussion followed on the floor regarding mitigation measures, which portions
of the water plant the City would own under the purchase option (i.e. the water main)
and site plan approval outside the City of Ithaca. Continued discussion followed on the
floor regarding updated timelines for the construction associated with each option.
Power to Act – Approval of the Minutes for May 13, 2009, Board of Public Works
Meeting – Resolution
By Commissioner Schlather; Seconded by Commissioner Tripp.
RESOLVED, That the Minutes of the May 13, 2009, Board of Public Works meeting be
approved as published.
Carried Unanimously
Power to Act – Approval of the Minutes for May 27, 2009, Board of Public Works
Meeting – Resolution
By Commissioner Schlather: Seconded by Commissioner Wykstra.
RESOLVED, That the Minutes of the May 27, 2009, Board of Public Works meeting be
approved as corrected.
Carried Unanimously
ADJOURNMENT
On a motion the meeting adjourned at 6:46 p.m.
Kathrin D. Gehring Carolyn K. Peterson
Executive Assistant Mayor