Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAbout03-26-12 Board of Public Works Meeting Agenda part2The Hot Truck, Inc PO Box 6474 Ithaca, New York 14850 L Board of Public Works City of Ithaca Dear Board Members 1�2- 1 r2 March 12, 2012 Please accept this letter as a formal request by us to be allowed to move our Hot Truck location from 635 Stewart Avenue to 410 College Avenue, in front of Shelden Court. If allowed, we would like to make the move during this summer. The Hot Truck, Inc would intend to pay all costs of this move. We would be moving the Hot Truck from in front of one University dormitory in a residential area to in front of another University dormitory in a commercial area. This move would bring the Hot Truck back close to it's beginning that started only feet away at Johnny,s Big Red Grill on Dryden Road. We believe that this the second best location for a food truck in the City. it is our understanding that since May of 2009 when Common Council adopted a comprehensive revision of Chapter 170 of the City of Ithaca Municipal Code that the regulation of the two existing food trucks in the City falls under the control of The Board of Public Works. It is our hope to get the Hot Truck moved under the direction of this Board. A full study of food trucks could involve several City Boards as well as Common Council and it could take years to complete. It is our hope to get the Hot Truck settled in this location that works long term, sign an agreement with the City, follow all rules and regulations, and to pay our annual fee. Sincerely: Albert Smith, President 1/1111 t CITY OF ITHACA 108 East Green Street, Ithaca, New York 14850 -6590 DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC WORKS William J. Gray, P.E. Superintendent / City Engineer Telephone: 607/274 -6527 Fax: 607/274 -6587 MEMORANDUM TO: William J. Gray, P.E., Superintendent of Public Works Board of Public Works FROM: Kathy Gehring, Executive Assistant DATE: March 21, 2012 RE: Request to Relocate the "Hot Truck" to 410 College Avenue Mr. Albert Smith submitted a formal request to the Board of Public Works on March 12, 2012, requesting that he be allowed to relocate his vending truck from Stewart Avenue to 410 College Avenue. Though I am an advocate for mobile vending within the City of Ithaca, following staff discussions of this and similar requests, I am opposed to the relocation of the "Hot Truck" to the requested location for several reasons. 1. The width of the street is barely wide enough for two passenger vehicles to pass each other when other passenger vehicles are parked next to the curb, not to mention when delivery trucks or buses are traveling through the area. 2. Parking lanes are normally between seven and eight feet wide. The width of the parking lane in the 400 block of College Avenue is approximately seven feet wide. The normal width of a vending truck is eight feet wide. Even with the vending truck pulled right up to the curb, this parking lane is not wide enough for the vending truck. 3. The 400 block of College Avenue is home to many businesses, most of which are restaurants. On the east side of College Avenue, there are six restaurants located in seven buildings. The west side of the street has a large dormitory, two restaurants and an apartment building. To park a competing vending truck within this block will cause too much contention between the mobile vendor and the brick - and -mortar restaurant owners. 4. The parking lanes within this block are used only as loading zones for the businesses during business hours. To allow a semi - permanent or permanent vending truck to park in the loading zone would take valuable space away from the businesses that currently exist and would limit their ability to receive deliveries. "An Equal Opportunity Employer with a commitment to workforce diversification." Board of Public Works Page 2 of 5 March 20, 2012 5. A large vending truck parked in the parking lane would cause a sight obstruction for motorists, which compromises public safety when pedestrians cross the street mid- block. 6. The sidewalk is not wide enough for patrons to loiter at a vending truck waiting to be served and accommodate pedestrian traffic traveling in both directions. During a site visit to the 400 block of College Avenue on March 19th, I took several photos of the location Mr. Smith wants to park his truck, as well as the surrounding area. 400 Block of College Avenue from Oak Avenue looking South Loading Zone Sign at 410 College Ave. Parking Lane at 410 College Avenue Delivery Truck Outside of a Business in the Parking Lane Board of Public Works Page 3 of 5 March 20, 2012 TCAT Bus Traveling Through Collegetown Businesses on East Side of College Ave. After looking at the 400 block of College Avenue, I walked within a few blocks and other locations that might be better suited for a vending truck. The first street, Oak Avenue, connects to College Avenue at the north end of the 400 block, it has scenic areas for patrons to sit while eating, and is within walking distance of Cascadilla Creek gorge and the bridges crossing the gorge. This street has wider travel lanes than College Avenue, with a wider parking lane and less traffic on a consistent basis. Though this is a residential area, this location would be very easy to find and walk to from the dormitories and apartments on College Avenue. Oak Avenue Board of Public Works Page 4 of 5 March 20, 2012 The orange dot shows the requested new location for the "Hot Truck." As you can see, it is very close to Oak Avenue. The second location that may be suitable for a vending truck is on Dryden Road east of College Avenue. It also is in a residential area, but is within a block of the business district, easily within walking distance, and has space enough for a large vending truck to park in the parking lane without causing visibility issues (indicated by the blue line on the map below). Dryden Rd. looking East from College Ave. Dryden Rd. looking East from Linden Ave. (1 block from College Ave.) Board of Public Works Page 5 of 5 March 20, 2012 Ave Dgoen Road �r .-..71 A third possible location is the 300 block of College Avenue. However, in the evening after school is ended for the day and this block is full to capacity with parked cars, TCAT buses routinely hit mirrors in this location with other large trucks as they pass each other, and parked cars, in this narrow space. Having a vending truck in the parking lane would only cause more obstruction and complications. My recommendation, at this point, is to deny the request from Mr. Smith to move the "Hot Truck" to 410 College Avenue. However, he may be interested in relocating to a metered parking space on either Oak Avenue or Dryden Road, both of which are within a block of his requested location. kdg CARL SAGAN BRIDGE COMMEMORATIVE PLAQUE REQUEST FOR APPROVAL APPLICANT: Emily Sullivan, AIA 136 W. State Street 607 - 592 -9385 emily.sullivan @gmx.us RECEIVED MAR 1 9 2012 Office of the Supt. and Engineering PLAQUE PROPOSAL. The Carl Sagan Bridge is a pedestrian bridge over Cascadilla Street built in 1999- 2000. It was a great collaboration of Cornell students and professors, the Ithaca Department of Works, a landscape architect, local professionals and community members. I believe that there is value in adding a commemorative plaque to the bridge for three reasons: 1. The bridge is officially called the Carl Sagan Bridge, dedicated in 2000. There is no indication of this on the bridge. Carl Sagan's legacy continues to live on in Ithaca, and should be remembered here, especially considering the bridge's prox- imity to the Science Center and part of the Planet Walk. 2. The bridge is unique as one of the first using Fiber Reinfocing Bars, an inven- tion of Petru Petrina, the Cornell professor who spearheadded the project. This technology is rapidly becoming used world wide, and it's humble beginnings here in Ithaca should be marked publicly. 3. Those involved poured their time and energy into designing and building the bridge, making sure it was a success. After following up with many of the stu- dents and faculty involved, they remember this experience as a milestone in their lives. Certainly it was high point in college for the students, if not in the span of their careers as well. Their efforts to see this project through and leave the com- munity with a functional and thoughtful design should be marked and remem- bered. For these reasons, I am proposing to fabricate and install a commemorative plaque describing the details of the project. This would include the dedication of the bridge, a brief description of its fabrication techniques, a list of those involved, and the dates of work completed. I believe that the community would benefit from knowing what a special bridge this is, and what great effort went into creat- ing it. pg 2 EXISTING CONDITIONS. The Carl Sagan Bridge is located over Cascadilla Creek, connecting the west and east ends of Adams Street. It is uniquely situated to provide access from the neighborhoods east of Cascadilla Creek to Conley Park and the Science Center. As such, I believe that it is a useful and visible part of the community's public walking path. Ob fy o cd, �,�..�i�I1111111V1 Bridge view from Conley Park t.' A ,4 r Bridge view from east Adams St. pg 3 PROJECT DETAILS Date of Completion: Summer 2000 Technology Used: Fiber Reinforced Polymer (FRP) rebar Guidance: Professor Petru Petrina, Cornell University's School of Civil and Environ- mental Engineering Students: Wei Kin Quek , Erik Boe, Dave Pittman, Babak Farhad, Steven Caldwell, Dan Mullins Landscape Architect: Mary Zebell Professor Petrina with students who designed and built the bridge. Installation of the Carl Sagan pedestrian Bridge in Ithaca, New York. June, 2000 The spans of the bridge were placed over the creek on June 12. Landscape artist Mary Zebell de- signed the symbols of the earth for each occulus. P .. A_ _- .tr pg 4 PLAQUE PROPOSAL. A sample of the proposed verbage for the plaque: CARAL SAGAN BRIDGE, 2000 In Memory of David Duncan, Professor of Astronomy and Space Sciences at Cornell University. Ingenuity and education came together in this bridge designed and built by students in Cornell's School of Civil and Environmental Engineering. The bridge is con- structed of Fiber Reinforced Polymer bars set in concrete, making it one of the most unique and structurally effiecient bridges of its kind. The following students volunteered their design and building skills: Erik Boe, Steven Caldwell, Babak Farhad, Dan Mullins, Dave Pittman, and Wei Kin Quek. Creative guidance, supervision, and mentorship was given by Dr. Petru Petrina; pro- fessor at Cornell's School of CCE and developer of the FRP composite rebar. Symbols of the Earth were designed by Landscape Architect Mary Zebel. June 3, 2012 pg 5 N1q 11 / IS 1 41 Mw� CARL SAGAN BRIDGE, 2000 , David DUnCW) ,npen•pT anp .p�oo•� f IpnM •ne Pannnnu�...., .. u�•pn01 fle•I R•in:o'' n- � r��y �ruc W anT •„{cc1•nl'er�0a•f •I r'M�.M•Ip N•.� 11 I T.• IWIP•I^Y flua•nl• ••i y�� Ma" •na euYe�M Enl 9M. 31•.•.. CvEefil. MMfne.. Dan MWnn• Da.a Pnlm•n � r... c-m-! Ou:p•nC1. �V•Ir M ~e Prol•c•� ' p�pn eT Dr E pn•iaY•r a. i e ��� gTmaale d In : i �scel�• -. 4•n Zpan. CITY OF ITHACA 108 E GREEN STREET ITHACA NY 14850 Bill to . THOMAS J MARINO 631 HUDSON St ITHACA NY 14850 Property : 629 -31 Hudson St Invoice From: Refuse and Garbage Entry Date Item Category 01/20/2012 NOT A RECYCLING COLLECTION WEEK 01/20/2012 NOT A RECYCLING COLLECTION WEEK Item Description NAME FOUND NONE NAME FOUND NONE Additional Description: SOLID WASTE FEE - 631 HUDSON STREET Make check payable to I COIT' CITY OF ITHACA X CHAMBERLAIN'S OFFICE 108 E GREEN STREET -ti ITHACA NY 14850 THOMAS J MARINO 631 HUDSON St ITHACA NY 14850 Return this portion with your payment Invoice Date : 01 /27/2012 Invoice # : 00016039 Account # : 00001515 Due Date: Refuse and Garbage General Billing Information (607) 274 -6580 Information specific to bill (607) 272 -1718 Invoice Ref. WORK ORDER 7536 Qty Price Total 1.00 $20.00 $20.00 1.00 $20.00 $20.00 Total: $20.00 Invoice Date : Invoice # : 01/27/2012 00016039 Please Pay on or before $20.00 02/27/2012 Amount Paid INV00016039 * I NV00016039 * 0000000000000000016039000000000000040000000 '1000000002000008 Kathrin Gehring - Fwd: Re: From Tom Marino, 631 Hudson St From: To: Date: Subject: CC: Attachments: Kathy and Bill Dan Spencer Gehring, Kathrin 3/14/2012 8:38 AM Fwd: Re: From Tom Marino, 631 Hudson St Benjamin, Ray; Gray, Bill 631 Hudson St. recycling violation.doc; 631 Hudson St. phone call.doc Pagel of 3 My recommendation is that the appeal from Mr. Marino be denied. I make this recommendation for many reasons. In his own words he admits to having placed his recycling at the curb on January 18 2012. He also admits to leaving the recycling at the curb an extra day. Why it was not collected on January 12 2012 is not the matter here. The recycling at the curb on January 19 2012 on a non collection week is the problem. The proper warning sticker was placed on his recycling bin on January 19 2012. He does not dispute that the warning sticker was in place. On Friday January 20 2012 the recycling was still at the curb. Mr. Marino states that he took them in. This is not the case. I collected the recycling from in front of his house on Friday January 20 2012. I placed the empty bin behind the sidewalk with the warning sticker still in place. When I collect a recycling violation and no name can be found I write a short note to put into the file. I am including the note that was written for 631 Hudson St. on January 20 2012. Attachment 631 Hudson St. recycling violation. I would also like to include the notes I took of our conversation on February 8 2012. I believe it will give a clear understanding why I ended our conversation by hanging the phone up. Attachment 631 Hudson St. Phone call. The same method of placing a warning sticker on recycling out on a wrong week was used at 631 Hudson St. as is used and has been used for years. For that reason and those listed above I would recommend that the appeal be denied. Dan Spencer >>> Kathrin Gehring 3/13/2012 11:20 AM >>> Hi Dan, Would you please send me information about this situation and your recommendation regarding the appeal? Once we receive your information, we can refer the appeal to the Board of Public Works for their decision. Please provide the information in writing either by return e-mail or memo to Bill. Thank you, Kathy Gehring Executive Assistant Superintendent of Public Works 108 E. Green St., Ithaca, NY 14850 (607) 274 -6527 (607) 274 -6587 Fax file: / /C: \Documents and Settings\kgehring \Local Settings \Temp\XPgrpwise \4F60591Fcoi... 3/21 /2012 Page 2 of 3 >>> Deborah Whitney 3/12/2012 3:49 PM >>> Mr Marino: In regards to your below appeal, I have been in touch with Dan Spencer and have his recount of the whole initial conversation between you and he. I also have contacted Leo Riley at Tompkins County Recycling. In short, the County can not say why your recycling was not picked up on 1/12/12 as it was a recycling week within the City. Dan Spencer, however, was correct in issuing you a fine on 1/19/12 as it was not a recycling week for the City. I am going to forward your email, Dan Spencer's recount of the conversation and Leo Riley's email to our office of Superintendent of Public Works. Because the guidelines I've been given does not grant me the right to dismiss a fine that was issued correctly, if you wish to pursue your appeal, please contact Kathy Gehring, Assistant to the Superintendent of Public Works at 274 -6527. She will place you on the agenda to be heard before the Board of Public Works. For future note Mr. Marino, when you put your recycling out on a day you know is a recycling day within the City of Ithaca and it is not collected, please call the Tompkins County Recycling & Solid Waste Management Division at 273 -6632. They contract with Casella for recycling collection. You may have received one of their calenders in the mail, but if not, it is also available at their website http://www.recycletompVins.org/editorstree/view/162/221. Please do let me know if you should have further question or concern. Deborah Whitney Fiscal Manager City Chamberlain's Office 108 E Green St. Ithaca, NY 14850 Ph: (607) 274 -6583 Fax: (607) 272- 7348 >>> Blocktrade <blocktrade @aol.com> 3/12/2012 12:30 AM >>> This is an appeal of a fine given to me 1/27/12 and paid 2/27/12 . The invoice ref. is WORK ORDER 7536. The fine was given for putting out recycles on the curb the wrong week . What happened - I put out my recyclables correctly on the night of January 11 . My recyclables were not picked up as they should have been on January 12 . I have no explanation as to why they were not picked up . They were put along the curb the same place they have been picked up from the last 20 years . As they were not picked up I assumed I must have been mixed up on which week was recycling week and put them out again on January 18 . When they were not picked up on January 18 1 left them out an extra day in case recycling was a day late due to the MLK holiday . I then took them in . A little over a week later I got notice of the fine for $20 in the mail . As I thought(and still think) the fine should have been waived as my fault was caused by the city's fault - I called into the City to ask about an appeal process and was referred to a Don Spencer . When I explained my situation Mr. Spencer lectured me on how I had to pay as there was a sticker put on my recycling bucket on January 18 . ( I do not dispute the sticker being there - but I did not see the sticker as I get home after dark .Acard in the mailbox would be better.) Unfortunately I got annoyed at Mr.Spencer for not seeing my side of things and he in turn gave me a lecture on how I was being disrespectful . When I stated that he was the one being disrespectful he slammed the phone on me . I actually am not so bothered by his behavior as my behavior was not so great either. I am only bothered that he gave me no impression I had appeal rights even though this is what I originally asked him about . I only discovered I could appeal when I paid the fine at the city office . So what am I asking for ? I still believe my fine should be waived and $20 returned. I believe this because I did the right thing when I put out my recyclables the right day . I only had recyclables out on the wrong day because of a mistake made by municipal employees in not picking up my recyclables when they should have . Sincerely - Tom Marino file: / /C: \Documents and Settings \kgehring \Local Settings \Temp\XPgrpwise \4F60591Fcoi... 3/21/2012 631 Hudson St. Recycling violation number 7536 Tagged 1/19/12 Picked 1/20/12 One recycling bin with mixed plastic. Most of the plastic was the type carryout food come in. The warning sticker was placed on the upper lip of the bin facing the house. After I emptied the bin I placed it behind the sidewalk. The warning sticker was still on the bin. No name was found - Dan Spencer 2/8/12 Tom Marino from 631 Hudson Street called and left a message on my voice mail. His cell number is -. He said he received a $20.00 bill for a recycling violation for having his recycling out on a wrong week. He said in his message that he had it out the week before and it was not picked. He said he thinks it's silly to have to pay for something he didn't do anything wrong. He said in his message that he wanted to know how to appeal the fine. I called him back at 11:45 am on 2/8/12. Right from the start he was very angry. I tried to talk to him a bit and explain the process. I told him that on 1/19/12 his recycling was at the curb on a non recycling week. A green sticker was placed on the bin telling him that he had 24 hours to remove it from the curb or a special collection fee of $20.00 would be charged. I told him it was still at the curb on 1/20/12 and collected. It was then he really got upset. In his words he told me this if fucking stupid and he should not be charged. He kept swearing at me many times using the "I"' word. I told him to please be respectful to me as I was being respectful to him. He then said I was not being so by giving him a fucking $20.00 charge. I asked him again to please not use that language to me as I was not talking to him like that. He was being very loud and getting more upset by the minute. He then said to me that he never saw any green sticker on his bin. I told him that it was there and I knew it was because on Thursday 1/26/12 I drove past his house and saw that he had refilled his bin and placed it back to the curb for collection on his regular collection day. I told him that I saw the green warning sticker still on the bin where it was placed on 1/19/12. It was then he told me "f* *k your green stickers, I don't care about your f* *king stickers" It was at that point I was not going to listen to anymore and I hung up the phone. I had told him two or three time I was not talking to him like that and he had no reason to speak to me like that. I was just trying to explain how the system works. Just a side note to this: I drove past his house on 2/9/12 as I was checking the route and noticed that his bin was out for collection. This is a pick up week and that was fine. What I did notice though is that the same warning sticker is still on his bin. He has just folded it over the edge of the bin. - Dan Spencer