HomeMy WebLinkAbout01-20-10 Board of Public Works Meeting AgendaBOARD OF PUBLIC WORKS
COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE MEETING
Wednesday, January 20, 2010
*4:45 p.m.*
*Common Council Chambers*
1. Power to Act - Trash and Recycling Facility Agreement with Center Ithaca –
Resolution – 20 minutes
Awaiting information from City Attorney
2. Power to Act – Water & Sewer Easements on Elmira Road – Resolution –
15 minutes
When Benderson Development was working on their program in the southwest
portion of the city they worked with the Water and Sewer group to install utility
lines that the City would want to take over. They avoided some capital
construction and maintenance costs by agreeing to install more expensive
pipelines and pump stations. We got improved fire flows in the southwest corner
of the City as well as a modern sewage pump station and better sewer
alignments (shorter path) for sewage from that area. We recently discovered that
we did not have the easements on file and have been working with the attorneys
and Walmart to produce the documents. We have easements for both water and
sewer. Since they are basically identical we are only sending one. The other is
available upon request.
3. Stewart Park Rehabilitation – Presentation – 30 minutes
Rick Manning would like to make a presentation to the Board regarding the
Stewart Park Rehabilitation Project and the Architectural Grant Application.
4. Green Street Public Art Project – Discussion – 15 minutes
The Downtown Ithaca Alliance has set aside funds from the New York Main
Street Grant for a mural project for the Aurora Street Bridge over Green Street.
They are looking to paint the south wall on the eastbound lane of Green Street
under the Aurora Street Bridge. In coordination with the City’s Public Arts
Commission, a Call for Artists (enclosed) is ready to be distributed. They are
requesting approval from the Board of Public Works.
5. Water Treatment Plant Client Committee vs. Stakeholder Group –
Discussion – 15 minutes
It has generally been my experience, with projects of any size or complexity, that
the decision making body should be as small and as well informed as possible.
However in some projects there is a larger group of stakeholders that should be,
or want to be, involved for their particular interest or expertise. In the case of the
Water Treatment Plant I am guided by my experience and the Charter to regard
the Board of Public Works (Mayor and appointed members approved by Council)
as the Client Committee. I know the Mayor is already being approached by
individuals or groups who want to be represented among the stakeholders. It is
my understanding that this group can serve in many important capacities to
advise the board: citizen involvement, technical advisory, issue focus, working
group, and sounding board. My experience is that the largest value of the
stakeholder group will occur in the early phases of the work s goals are set, and
conflicting values are balanced. It is my belief that much of the hard work has
been done and value received during the detailed environmental review, where
issues were framed and many solutions formulated.
We are headed into the design and implementation phases. While important, the
work should be straight forward and responsive to the FEIS. My purpose here is
to tell you what my approach is and so that we will derive the greatest value from
the project organization.
6. BPW Duties & Responsibilities – Discussion – 15 minutes
Enclosed is a survey that was provided to the boards and committees that
function throughout the City. The information obtained from these surveys may
assist in reforming some of the committees. Since the Board of Public Works is
very structured and defined in the City Charter/Code, this survey was not offered
to the Board. It still might help your discussion.
The board has requested that a joint meeting with Common Council
(Commissioner Wykstra. Common Council has requested an agenda and a
statement of issues (Acting Mayor Cogan). It would be valuable to frame the
discussion so all parties can come prepared.
7. BPW Membership – 10 minutes
****NOTE: There is a special meeting scheduled for 6:30 p.m. in Common Council
Chambers which starts the 7:00 p.m. Planning Committee meeting.
W.J. Gray
January 15, 2010
1. Power to Act - Trash and Recycling Facility Agreement with Center Ithaca –
Resolution
2. Power to Act - Acceptance of Water and Sewer Easements from Wal-Mart
(for Tax Parcel No. 118-1-1.2) and Authorization to Execute the Same – Resolution
WHEREAS, certain water and sewer mains and related facilities have been or will be
installed on Tax Map Parcel No. 118-1-1.2 in the City of Ithaca, which property is owned
by Wal-Mart Real Estate Business Trust (hereinafter “Wal-Mart”); and
WHEREAS, the Superintendent of Public Works for the City has determined that it is in
the best interest of the City (and the optimal functioning of the City’s water and sewer
systems) to have control of and responsibility for the afore-mentioned water and sewer
mains and related facilities; and
WHEREAS, Wal-Mart is prepared to grant permanent easements to the City (without
cost), over, under and across the above-referenced property (which easement areas
would be required to remain free of buildings), pursuant to which the City will have sole
control of said water and sewer facilities within the easement areas, as well as sole
responsibility for the maintenance, repair or replacement of said facilities; and
WHEREAS, such proposed easement instruments, including maps showing the
easement areas, have been provided by Wal-Mart (through its counsel, Harter, Secrest
& Emery, LLP) and have been reviewed by the City Attorney and by the Superintendent
and/or his designees, and are in a form that is agreeable to them; now therefore be it
RESOLVED, That the Board of Public Works hereby accepts such water and sewer
easements from Wal-Mart, on behalf of the City of Ithaca, and authorizes the Mayor,
upon consultation with the City Attorney and the Superintendent (as needed), to
execute easement instruments for the same, in a form that is substantively the same as
the drafts provided to the City on or about October 23, 2009, as well as any other,
related, required documentation.
4. Green Street Public Art Project – Discussion – 15 minutes
CALL FOR ARTISTS (DRAFT)
DOWNTOWN ITHACA MURAL STREET ART PROJECT
The City of Ithaca Public Arts Commission (PAC), in conjunction with the Downtown
Ithaca Alliance (DIA), seeks proposals from artists for a site specific mural street art
project. Funds for this project will come from the New York Main Street program,
administered by the DIA. This is the first of a series of public art mural initiatives and
projects to be undertaken by the PAC.
Projection Description:
The Commission seeks to create a public art mural at a highly visible vehicular
community location in the heart of downtown. The surface is a concrete wall with
approximate dimensions of 30 feet by 16 feet. (see attached photo) This is primarily a
vehicular location but does have some pedestrian traffic. The durability of this mural is
an important consideration. Under the terms of the funding program, the mural must
remain in place for seven years. This is seen as a site specific project and content
should be appropriate to the site. This is an open theme but artists are urged to
consider work that reflects the character, history, multi-cultural nature or diversity of
Ithaca.
Start Date:
The DIA will want to enter into a contract with the successful bidder by March 15. We
expect work to commence by April 1, 2010 and be completed no later than June 15,
2010.
Remuneration: $2,000 (grant to cover all artist expenses and costs)
Target Location: The south side wall of the Aurora Street bridge underpass on
Green Street.
Eligibility: Open to all artists residing within the State of NY
Items to Submit: - Sketch of proposed work including a budget for materials &
equipment
- Description of work/narrative
- Artist resume
- Graphics of at least three previous pieces
Selection Process: The Public Arts Commission will serve as the selection committee.
Proposals will be juried based on:
- Appropriateness of work to location
- Quality of prior work
- Description of proposed work
Deadline for submissions: Proposals by 5:00 pm January 29, 2010
For more information, contact: Brett Boussard, Community Arts Partnership
director@artspace.org or 607-273-5072
Proposals should be submitted to :
Downtown Ithaca Alliance,
171 The Commons, #136
Ithaca, NY 14850
or gary@downtownithaca.com
6. BPW Duties & Responsibilities – Discussion – 15 minutes
CITY OF ITHACA
BOARDS AND COMMITTEES
Survey/Questionnaire
The Mayor, Common Council, and the City Clerk’s office are interested in obtaining
feedback and suggestions from the chairs and/or committee members. We are aware of
concerns that have been raised regarding committee quorum problems, goals, roles,
and committee involvement in the functioning of the City of Ithaca. We are interested in
your feedback about the following areas. We would also welcome any ideas and
suggestions that you and/or committee members might want to provide. Please
complete the survey and return it to the City Clerk’s Office no later than Tuesday,
November 17, 2009.
Thank you.
Date: _______________________________
Name of Committee: ___________________________________________________
Name of Person Completing Survey: ______________________________________
Membership:
(1) Is attendance and/or quorums at meetings a problem? _____ Yes _____ No
(2) Would you recommend changes regarding membership of your committee?
____ Yes ____ No – If yes, please explain ______________________________
________________________________________________________________
(3) What recruitment efforts would you suggest to help fill vacancies on committees?
________________________________________________________________
Liaison Role:
(4) What liaisons are assigned to your committee? __________________________
________________________________________________________________
(5) a. Have the liaisons been attending meetings? ____ Yes ____ No
b. Is there contact otherwise with your liaisons? ____ Yes ____ No
(6) Are there further assignments for your liaison from your committee (i.e.
sub-committee assignments)? ____ Yes ____ No; if yes please describe:
________________________________________________________________
(7) Is the role of Common Council/Board of Public Works liaison positions clear?
____ Yes ____ No
Communication:
(8) Is it clear who the staff person is that the committee should report to? ___ Yes
____No
(9) Do city staff/liaisons communicate regularly with the committee about
upcoming projects, plans, events that pertain to the committee? ____Yes
_____No
(10) Does the committee provide regular reports or updates to staff, Common
Council, and or the Mayor as required by City Code? ____ Yes ____ No
(11) Are annual reports and or updates provided to the Clerk’s Office on a routine
basis as per City Code? ____ Yes ____ No
(12) Are minutes available and/or taken regularly? ____ Yes ____ No
(13) If minutes are taken are they provided to the Clerk’s office for permanent
retention? ____ Yes ____ No
(14) What is the best way to share information between committee members, staff,
the Mayor, Common Council, and the public?__________________________
Committee Charge:
(15) Are committee members aware of what the committee’s charge is per City of
Ithaca Municipal Code? ____ Yes ____ No
(16) Are goals set yearly? ____Yes _____No
Other:
(17) What would help committee members feel more involved, informed and important
to the functioning of the City of Ithaca?__________________________________
We welcome your comments and suggestions on how to improve communications with
boards and committees and how to improve committee structures and roles.
______________________________________________________________________
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For questions please contact: Alderperson Maria Coles, mcoles@cityofithaca.org 272-
0106; City Clerk Julie Holcomb, julieh@cityofithaca.org, or 274-6570; Sarah Myers,
Information Mgt. Specialist, sarahm@cityofithaca.org, 274-6570
10/09