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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMN-BPW-2016-07-11BOARD OF PUBLIC WORKS PROCEEDINGS CITY OF ITHACA, NEW YORK Regular Meeting 4:47 p.m. July 11, 2016 PRESENT: Mayor Myrick Commissioners (5) – Darling, Goldsmith, Greene, Jenkins, Warden OTHERS PRESENT: Superintendent of Public Works – Thorne Assistant Superintendent of Water and Sewer – Whitney Director of Engineering – Logue Executive Assistant – Servoss EXCUSED: City Attorney – Lavine Assistant Superintendent of Streets and Facilities – Benjamin Director of Parking – Nagy Common Council Liaison – Fleming DAC Liaison – Roberts ADDITIONS OR DELETIONS TO THE AGENDA: Commissioner Darling requested the addition of a discussion regarding parking for the Hangar Theatre. No Board member objected. MAYOR’S COMMUNICATIONS: The Mayor had no communications at this time. COMMUNICATIONS AND HEARINGS FROM PERSONS BEFORE THE BOARD: No members of the public appeared to address the Board. RESPONSE TO THE PUBLIC No response was necessary. REPORTS Board Liaisons Commissioner Darling reported that the Planning and Economic Development Board would have a meeting regarding the removal of the DeWitt Mall loading zone during the construction of the Tompkins Trust Company building, and the City was being sued about the project at 201 College Avenue. Superintendent and Staff Dir. of Eng. Logue reported the following: staff was working with the city’s oldest traffic signal at the five corners in Collegetown to help with traffic delays due to project detours; announced that a public meeting would be held next Tuesday, July 19, 2016 at 6:00 p.m. regarding the Cascadilla Creekway Project; a representative from the League of American Bicyclists would be in Ithaca to discuss potential funding sources for bike improvements; and Home Grown had approached the City about adding lighting to the skate park in Wood Street Park. Asst. Supt. Whitney reported that the discolored water that has been experienced in the city recently was from high manganese and iron. A field change order was issued to the contractor to complete a portion of the next phase of construction early that would filter out most of the iron and manganese from the water. Staff had already increased the corrosion inhibitor feed from .8 to above 2, which seemed to help. Staff were working closely with O’Brien & Gere to clean up the water as quickly as possible. He reminded the Board that the corrosion inhibitor was required because of the extremely old age of the water pipes throughout the City. Mayor Myrick noted that another FAQ sheet would be sent out to the media that addressed what the City was doing to alleviate the discolored water and what could be done to prevent it Board of Public Works Page 2 July 11, 2016 Regular Meeting from happening in the future. Asst. Supt. Whitney confirmed that the discoloration had nothing to do with lead in the water, and crews were consistently testing the water for lead. Discussion followed on the floor regarding communication with the public, complaints from residents that the Board received, and how to inform residents that the pipes were very old but the City didn’t have the funding to replace them. Supt Thorne reported that the Dryden Road Construction projects and the water and sewer line replacement project was nearing an end; NYSEG was about two weeks behind on their project, which has caused most other utility work to be behind in their schedule; construction may still be going on when students return, but the City would ensure the intersection Dryden Road and College Avenue was open. Discussion followed regarding the many projects that NYSEG had delayed over the past few years, including the Commons project and some hotel projects. Supt. Thorne believed NYSEG would be continuing to work after school restarts. The Board agreed that residents and businesses should be notified of NYSEG’s delay as soon as possible. It was noted that the City projects have continued to be on time and not delayed at all. Supt. Thorne further reported that staff spoke with Department of Environmental Conservation about dredging Cascadilla Creek, noting that a dredging plan would be developed soon. He stated part of the proposal would be addressing what to do with the dredging spoils. ADMINISTRATION AND COMMUNICATIONS: Approval of the June 13, 2016, Board of Public Works Meeting Minutes - Resolution By Commissioner Darling: Seconded by Commissioner Jenkins RESOLVED, That the minutes of the June 13, 2016 Board of Public Works meeting be approved as written. Carried Unanimously CREEKS, BRIDGES, AND PARKS: Award of Contract for Six Mile Creek Retaining Wall Reconstruction 2016 – West of S. Cayuga St – Capital Project 807 – Resolution By Commissioner Goldsmith: Seconded by Commissioner Jenkins WHEREAS, four bids were received on July 7, 2016 for Six Mile Creek Retaining Wall Reconstruction 2016 – West of S. Cayuga St and, WHEREAS, the Common Council established Capital Project 807 for Six Mile Creek Wall Replacement and, WHEREAS, R. DeVincentis Construction, Inc. One Brick Ave. Binghamton, NY 13901 submitted the lowest qualified responsible bid for the work, now be it, RESOLVED, that the contract for Six Mile Creek Retaining Wall Reconstruction 2016 – West of S. Cayuga St is awarded to R. DeVincentis Construction, Inc. One Brick Ave. Binghamton, NY 13901 based upon its base bid of $67,000, and alternate bid of $49 per square foot for additional work as determined by the City, and be it further, RESOLVED, that the Superintendent of Public Works be and hereby is authorized to execute and administer the contract for Six Mile Creek Retaining Wall Reconstruction 2016 – West of S. Cayuga St. Dir. of Eng. Logue explained that the alternate bid was $49 per additional square foot of sheeting. The City would determine the amount of additional sheeting to be constructed based on the amount of funding the City had available. A Vote on the Resolution as Amended Resulted as Follows: Carried Unanimously DISCUSSION ITEMS: Recommendation to Allow Dogs in Stewart Park – Resolution By Commissioner Goldsmith: Seconded by Commissioner Jenkins WHEREAS, the Parks Commission recently discussed and recommended that the prohibition on Dogs in Stewart Park be changed at their May 26, 2016 meeting, and Board of Public Works Page 3 July 11, 2016 Regular Meeting WHEREAS, Stewart Park is the only City park where dogs are prohibited, and this prohibition is often not adhered to and rarely enforced, and WHEREAS, the completion of the Waterfront Trail has brought an increase in the number of dogs as more people travel through and visit the park with their pets, and WHEREAS, neither the Parks Commission nor the Board of Public Works have received complaints about dogs in Stewart Park, WHEREAS, the BPW acknowledges there will be an additional maintenance costs, therefore be it RESOLVED, That the Board of Public Works recommends that Section 336-11 of the City Code be changed to allow dogs in Stewart Park under the following conditions: 1. Dogs are to remain on leashes no longer than 6 feet and under the owner’s control, and 2. Dog care stations for dog waste are provided and maintained Rick Manning, Friends of Stewart Park, joined the Board for the discussion of this item, and explained the request. Discussion followed on the floor regarding maintaining the dog waste stations. Mr. Manning stated that the Cayuga Waterfront Trail Initiative could provide the dog care stations but maintenance would fall on the City. In additional, the waste bags were not expensive. Mr. Manning believed that sponsors could be found to purchase and install the dog care stations. Commissioner Darling recommended that additional language be included in the resolution stating that the Board supports the idea, but funding would need to be budgeted for maintenance. Commissioner Goldsmith suggested that this was the sort of thing that funds from the room tax should contribute to. Commissioner Darling noted that the message that city parks were Carry In, Carry Out parks was not being received, especially by visitors where English was not their first language. It had to do with communication and how to teach the new generations and tourists. Mayor Myrick stated he would be comfortable recommending this to Common Council. Commissioner Greene suggested the Board talk with staff at Cass Park about how often the dog care stations along Cayuga Waterfront Trail was maintained, the costs for maintenance, etc. A Vote on the Resolution as Amended Resulted as Follows: Carried Unanimously Brindley Street Bridge Replacement Project Update Dir. of Eng. Logue explained that staff was working to update the environmental assessment form and comments were received from the Planning and Economic Development Board regarding this project. Some comments were mainly about aesthetics, and some were about how the bridge would handle the traffic, impacts on plants and animals, and trees that would be planted to replace those that were removed due to the project. Commissioner Darling noted that the possibility existed that this bridge could connect with Cecil Malone Drive without connecting to Cherry Street. He stated that would open up possibilities for the southwest industrial area for additional large truck traffic. Dir. of Eng. Logue noted that it was part of the City’s long-range plan to improve transportation options for the industrial area and there could funding from outside sources. Discussion followed on the floor regarding obtaining additional traffic information, comments from the Planning and Economic Development Board, and current traffic counts versus expected traffic after the bridge was built. NEW BUSINESS: Hangar Theater Parking Commissioner Darling began the conversation with explaining that no signs regarding parking were along park roads. He stated that there was ample parking at Allen Treman Marina and in Cass Park. Mayor Myrick asked that staff figured out who owned the property and installed Board of Public Works Page 4 July 11, 2016 Regular Meeting signs stating there’s no parking 50 feet from the intersection of Rte. 89. Commissioner Darling suggested that no parking be allowed on one side of the road or the other, and to make sure emergency access was not blocked in narrow locations. Commissioner Greene suggested that the City contact the Hangar’s Executive Director to request that season pass holders be notified of alternative parking locations. ADJOURNMENT: On a motion, the meeting adjourned at 5:54 p.m. Kathrin D. Servoss Svante L. Myrick Executive Assistant Mayor