HomeMy WebLinkAboutMN-BPW-2009-10-07BOARD OF PUBLIC WORKS PROCEEDINGS
CITY OF ITHACA, NEW YORK
Committee of the Whole Meeting 4:50 p.m. October 7, 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
Traffic Engineer – Logue
EXCUSED:
DAC Liaison – Roberts
ADMINISTRATION AND COMMUNICATIONS:
Supt. Gray announced a joint meeting of the Board of Public Works and Common
Council on October 21, 2009, at 6:30 p.m. for a presentation by Sasaki Associates on
the Commons Redesign Project.
Commissioner Schlather arrived at 4:56 p.m.
Commissioner Jenkins arrived at 4:58 p.m.
Approval of the Minutes of the July 8, 2009, Board of Public Works Meeting
Minutes – Resolution
By Commissioner Tripp: Seconded by Commissioner Wykstra
RESOLVED, That the Minutes of the July 8, 2009, Board of Public Works meeting be
approved with noted corrections.
Carried Unanimously
Approval of Commons Clock Tower – Resolution
WHEREAS, the Commons Clock Towers have not had a functioning time and
temperature readout since 2004 resulting in a lot of public comment and concerns
expressed by the downtown merchant community, and
WHEREAS, in an effort to resolve this issue and restore this service to the community,
in light of the city’s reluctance to incur this expense due to the impending Commons
Rehabilitation/Redesign Project, the Downtown Ithaca Alliance put out a request for
private sponsors, and
WHEREAS, one proposal for sponsorship was received from the Tompkins Trust
Company in a letter dated August 28, 2009, signed by Gregory Hartz, President and
CEO, in the amount of $20,000 (estimated cost for three units and nine faces) and
outlining certain considerations, and
WHEREAS, the Board of Public Works is interested in restoring the operation of the
clock towers for both the community in general, and for the community of downtown
merchants in particular, now therefore be it
RESOLVED, That the Board of Public Works directs the Superintendent and the City
Attorney to work with the Downtown Ithaca Alliance and Tompkins Trust Company to
develop a mutually acceptable agreement based on the previously-mentioned
documents and proposals, and authorizes the Mayor to sign the agreement provided
that it conforms with the understanding outlined above.
City Attorney Hoffman distributed a memorandum to the Board regarding this topic and
suggested that they read it prior to their discussion. Commissioner Schlather requested
that the discussion and consideration of this item be postponed until the October 14,
2009, meeting.
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Committee of the Whole
Home Depot Traffic Signal – Report
Traffic Engineer Logue joined the Board for the discussion. City Attorney Hoffman
explained that responsibility for maintenance of the traffic signal lies with the adjacent
property owner, who was informed that the signal was malfunctioning on multiple
occasions. Discussion followed on the floor regarding allowing the property owner to
further develop the same property without repairing the traffic signal.
Further discussion followed on the floor regarding the City repairing the traffic signal and
adding the cost of the repairs to the property tax bill. Supt. Gray stated that action could
be accomplished with proper notice, and then the traffic signal could be repaired within
a month. The Board expressed their approval for Supt. Gray to move forward with that
course of action.
Appeal of Water Bill for 318-320 W. Seneca Street, Illegal Connection –
Discussion
Commissioner Schlather recused himself from any discussion of this item.
Peter Penniman, Property Manager for PPM Homes, joined the Board for the
discussion. Supt. Gray explained that Mr. Penniman was surprised that there had been
an illegal and dangerous connection for the water service made at the above address.
Supt. Gray requested direction from the Board on how to proceed, as far as back billing,
and any future similar situations that may arise.
Asst. Supt. Whitney explained that the amount for the period of August 2006 through
July 2008 was $3,293.44. Mr. Penniman stated that when the problem was discovered,
the bill was $3,300, and that was when he requested an appeal. He further explained
that it was not his intent to steal water from the City, that he feels no water was stolen,
agrees that a penalty should be charged, but that the amount charged was too much.
Asst. Supt. Whitney explained that all of the City meters at this location had been cut
away from the water main and bypassed.
Discussion followed on the floor regarding the amount the City should receive, the
amount of water actually used over the past three years, and whether the City could
charge a penalty for the illegal connection. Mayor Peterson suggested that Supt. Gray,
Asst. Supt. Whitney and Mr. Penniman meet prior to the next Board meeting. The
Board requested that this item be placed on the agenda for the October 14, 2009,
meeting.
School District Curb Cut Request – Discussion
Superintendent of Ithaca City School District Pastel and Traffic Engineer Logue joined
the Board for the discussion.
Supt. Pastel explained that the school district was working to make health and safety
changes inside and outside of their schools. She further explained that there isn’t
enough land around Beverly J. Martin Elementary School to make the necessary
changes outside, and that work on the boiler room caused them to consider alternate
entrances for supplies. She explained how the curb cut would be used so trucks could
access the doors, and explained the deliveries and pick ups as: one hot meal delivery
per day at 7:15 a.m.; two cold food deliveries per week at 7:15-7:30 a.m.; one milk
delivery per week; one to two recycling pick ups per week; and three gym equipment
deliveries per year. She further stated that all deliveries and pickups would take less
than thirty minutes, that no truck would be allowed to idle, that the sidewalk would not
be blocked, and there are no weekend deliveries unless required for an emergency.
She explained that the only reason a vehicle would be parked for longer than thirty
minutes in the driveway would be for maintenance repairs.
Supt. Pastel further explained that the school district wants to make a safe environment
for the children and the community. She stated that each delivery or pick up requires
two people as one person remains with the truck at all times. She further stated that
they plan to install removable bollards so vehicles could not park in the curb cut without
authorization.
Traffic Engineer Logue explained the reason the City denied the school district’s
request. He stated that City staff believe that deliveries could be completed from the
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Committee of the Whole
street. He further stated that the City is concerned about pedestrian safety, and the
large trucks turning into the narrow driveway.
Sheryl Swink, resident of Albany Street, addressed the Board and expressed her
appreciation for the school district’s responses to some of the concerns presented by
residents of the neighborhood. She expressed her concern about control and her belief
that once the driveway apron was installed, it would be used as all other driveways
along the street, meaning that anyone could use it as a parking area. She further
expressed concern about the removable bollards and how they would be “policed.”
Discussion followed on the floor regarding alternate entrance locations to the school,
the necessary width of the driveway from the sidewalk, the turning radius that would be
required for large trucks to drive onto Albany Street, and plans that were presented from
2008 that eliminated the curb cut.
Mayor Peterson left the meeting at 6:05 p.m.
Further discussion followed on the floor regarding the curb cut, the location of the
bollards, the possible use of the no parking area between two driveways for backing into
the curb cut, and the possibility of creating a pull-off area along side the street for the
trucks to make deliveries.
Discussion followed on the floor regarding scheduling a field trip for Board members to
observe how a large truck utilizes the existing driveway. Further discussion followed on
the floor regarding the preparation of a resolution, and the need to add this item to the
agenda for the October 14, 2009, meeting.
Leaking Water Service, 235 Hector Street – Discussion
Supt. Gray explained that the property owner believes the City caused the leak. He
stated that the owner does not feel he should be charged for that cost.
Discussion followed on the floor regarding when property owners were required to
change water lines from lead and copper and whether those residences that still have
those lines should be required to incur the costs of replacement. The Board requested
that this item be added to the agenda for the October 21, 2009, Committee of the Whole
meeting.
Administrative Communication
Commissioner Tripp requested an update on the reconstruction of the 300 block of East
State Street/Martin Luther King Jr. Street. Supt. Gray reported that the expected
completion date is October 14, 2009.
BPW Meeting Schedule for November 2009
The Board agreed that the voting meeting would be the held on November 18, 2009,
since City offices would be closed on November 11, 2009, for Veteran’s Day.
ADJOURNMENT
On a motion the meeting adjourned at 6:40 p.m.
Kathrin D. Gehring Carolyn K. Peterson
Executive Assistant Mayor