HomeMy WebLinkAboutMN-BPW-2002-12-11BOARD OF PUBLIC WORKS PROCEEDINGS
CITY OF ITHACA, NEW YORK
Regular Meeting 4:45 p.m. December 11, 2002
PRESENT:
Mayor Cohen
Commissioners (5) – Beach, Tsegaye, Gutenberger, Jenkins, Dotson
OTHERS PRESENT:
Deputy Clerk – Korherr
City Controller - Thayer
Superintendent of Public Works - Gray
Assistant Superintendent of Streets and Facilities - Ferrel
Assistant Superintendent of Water and Sewer - Fabbroni
EXCUSED: Commissioner Leonardo
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE:
Mayor Cohen led all present in the Pledge of Allegiance to the
American flag.
ADDITIONS TO OR DELETIONS FROM THE AGENDA:
Mayor Cohen requested that the following item be added to the
agenda:
14.A De-Mapping of Oakwood Lane: Possible Resolution
Assistant Superintendent Ferrell requested that the following
items be added:
18.B Expungement of Uncollectible Bills: Resolution
18.C Approval of Revisions for Drug and Alcohol Policy:
Resolution
No Board member objected.
Open Public Hearing: Collegetown Assessment Benefit District
By Commissioner Dotson :Seconded by Commissioner Beach
RESOLVED, That the Board of Public Works open the public hearing
portion of the meeting to allow the public to speak on the topic
of the Collegetown Assessment Benefit District.
Carried Unanimously
No one appeared before the Board during the public hearing
portion.
Close the Public Hearing: Collegetown Assessment Benefit District
By Commissioner Beach :Seconded by Commissioner Tsegaye
RESOLVED, That the Board of Public Works close the public hearing
on the Collegetown Assessment Benefit District.
Carried Unanimously
COMMUNICATIONS AND HEARINGS OF PERSONS BEFORE THE BOARD:
David Post, Fayette Street resident, addressed the Board on the
new parking signage that was installed in front of his house. He
stated that he works from his home and the new requirements force
him to move his vehicle twice daily. The mid afternoon
requirement prevents him from walking downtown for shopping. He
added that neighbors had no prior notice and he questions the
existence of a petition that provoked the parking changes. He
requested that the Board remove the parking restrictions and that
procedures be changed to include public notification.
RESPONSE TO THE PUBLIC:
A discussion on the parking changes followed. Staff will research
the history and report back to the Board.
Board of Public Works – December 11, 2002 - Page 2
Mayor Cohen stated that a discussion on downtown parking rates
would be added to the January 2003 Board of Public Works agenda.
APPROVAL OF MINUTES:
Approval of Minutes of Board of Public Works Meetings
By Commissioner Beach: Seconded by Commissioner Jenkins
RESOLVED, That the Minutes of the September 18, 2002 Regular
Meeting, October 2, 2002 Special Meeting, October 9, 2002 Regular
Meeting, and the October 23, 2002 Special Meeting of the Board of
Public Works be approved as published.
Ayes: (5) Cohen, Gutenberger, Jenkins, Tsegaye, Beach
Nays: (0)
Abstentions: (1) Dotson
Carried
BUILDINGS, PROPERTIES, TRANSIT:
Approval of Collegetown Special Assessment Benefit District.
By Commissioner Gutenberger :Seconded by Commissioner Beach
RESOLVED, That the Board of Public Works adopts the Collegetown
Special Benefit Assessment District charges for 2003 as prepared
by the City Controller's Office, and be it further
RESOLVED, That the City Chamberlain be requested to make the
billing at the appropriate time, and be it further
RESOLVED, That staff is directed to distribute a copy of the 2003
detailed assessment schedule for the public to review.
Carried Unanimously
Amendment to GIAC HVAC Improvements Contract.
By Commissioner Tsegaye :Seconded by Commissioner Jenkins
WHEREAS, the Greater Ithaca Activities Center (GIAC) gym floor
repair project expanded substantially over time to cover a number
of electrical and heating, ventilation and air conditioning
(HVAC) improvements, such that the approved capital project grew
from $70,000 to $270,000, which as now been successfully
completed, and
WHEREAS, in the process of closing out the project, staff has
discovered that the contract for consulting engineer services
needs to be amended in order to make final payment for those
services; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That the Board of Public Works approves an amendment to
the city's contract with Sear-Brown in the amount of $12,000 for
additional services with the amended contract not to exceed
$24,000 plus expenses, funds to be derived from CP# 339.
Carried Unanimously
BUILDINGS, PROPERTIES, REFUSE AND TRANSIT
Award of Bid Covering General Construction Contract for Station
Nine Generator Replacement.
By Commissioner Jenkins: Seconded by Commissioner Tsegaye
WHEREAS, bids were received covering the General Construction
Contract for Station Nine Generator Replacement on November 26,
2002, and
WHEREAS, staff has reviewed the bids and recommends that the
board award the bid to the lowest bidder; now, therefore be it
RESOLVED, That the Board of Public Works hereby awards the
General Construction Contract for the Station Nine Generator
Replacement to McPherson Builders, Inc., 710 Willow Avenue,
Ithaca, New York 14850 for their low bid of $10,755, and be it
further
Board of Public Works – December 11, 2002 - Page 3
RESOLVED, That the Superintendent of Public Works be authorized
to enter into an agreement with McPherson Builders with the usual
terms and conditions.
Carried Unanimously
Award of Bid Covering Electrical Contract for Station Nine
Generator Replacement.
By Commissioner Dotson: Seconded by Commissioner Gutenberger
WHEREAS, bids were received covering the Electrical Contract for
Station Nine Generator Replacement on November 26, 2002, and
WHEREAS, staff has reviewed the bids and recommends that the
board award the bid to the lowest bidder; now, therefore be it
RESOLVED, That the Board of Public Works hereby awards the
Electrical Contract for the Station Nine Generator Replacement to
Panko Electric, 1080 Chenango St., Suite B, Binghamton, New York
13901 for their low bid of $41,153, and be it further
RESOLVED, That the Superintendent of Public Works be authorized
to enter into an agreement with Panko Electric with the usual
terms and conditions.
Carried Unanimously
Award of Bid Covering Ventilation Contract for Station Nine
Generator Replacement
By Commissioner Beach :Seconded by Commissioner Jenkins
WHEREAS, bids were received Covering the Ventilation Contract for
Station Nine Generator Replacement on November 26, 2002, and
WHEREAS, staff has reviewed the bids and recommends that the
Board award the bid to the lowest bidder; now, therefore be it
RESOLVED, That the Board of Public Works hereby awards the
Ventilation Contract for Station Nine Generator Replacement to
Rainbow Sheet Metal, 33 Brookside Ave., Endwell, New York 13760
for their low bid of $4,988, and be it further
RESOLVED, That the Superintendent of Public Works be authorized
to enter into an agreement with Rainbow Sheet Metal with the
usual terms and conditions.
Carried Unanimously
Power to Act – Trash Tag Fees 2003
By Commissioner Gutenberger :Seconded by Commissioner Dotson
RESOLVED, That the Board of Public Works hereby grants itself
power to act at its meeting on December 18, 2002 to set the trash
fee tags for 2003.
Carried Unanimously
HIGHWAYS, STREETS, SIDEWALK:
Power to Act – De-Mapping of Area Adjacent to Oakwood Lane
By Mayor Cohen :Seconded by Commissioner Gutenberger
RESOLVED, That the Board of Public Works grant themselves the
Power to Act at the December 18, 2002 Committee of the Whole
Meeting on the de-mapping of a proposed street perpendicular to
Oakwood Lane.
Carried Unanimously
CREEKS, BRIDGES AND PARKS:
Naming of South Plain and North Cayuga Street Bridges
By Commissioner Tsegaye :Seconded by Commissioner Jenkins
WHEREAS, the Board of Public Works has decided to start a program
that provides names to bridges in the City of Ithaca, and
Board of Public Works – December 11, 2002 - Page 4
WHEREAS, the names of the bridges would be made in honor of
people within the city that have made an historic contribution to
the area that the bridge is located; now, therefore be it
RESOLVED, That the Board of Public Works would like to name the
South Plain Street Bridge at Six Mile Creek and North Cayuga
Street Bridge at Fall Creek which were recently renovated, and be
it further
RESOLVED, That the board hereby names the South Plain Street
bridge the "George Johnson Bridge" in honor of a local barber who
was instrumental in the underground railroad passing through the
South neighborhood of the City, and be it further
RESOLVED, That the board hereby names the North Cayuga Street
bridge the "Percey Hygerman Bridge" in honor of a local resident
who was influential in the North neighborhood and after whom
Percey Fields, athletic fields North of Fall Creek, were named.
Carried Unanimously
Commissioner Tsegaye stated that he would research the middle
initial for George Johnson and the proper spelling of Hygerman.
ADMINISTRATION AND COMMUNICATIONS ITEMS:
Direction to Submit Current TIP Update
By Commissioner Jenkins :Seconded by Commissioner Gutenberger
WHEREAS, the New York State Department of Transportation (NYSDOT)
had request that the Ithaca Tompkins County Transportation
Council (ITCTC) submit a Transportation Improvement Program (TIP)
to be used for the biennial update of the local and statewide 5
year programs which are used for coordinated planning and
budgeting by NYSDOT, and
WHEREAS, engineering and planning staff has developed a working
list of approximately eighteen projects ranging from bridge
rehabilitations and pedestrian improvements, to traffic
circulation and economic development projects, and
WHEREAS, city staff is working with ITCTC staff and regional
NYSDOT staff to establish the best combination of projects prior
to their initial submittal to ITCTC on December 12, 2002, and
WHEREAS, the submitted projects must be ranked in order of
preference by the submitting agency; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That the Board of Public Works directs staff to
construct project submittals and their project ranking in a
manner which will maximize the city's success in project funding
on the updated TIP.
Carried Unanimously
Expungement of Uncollectable Bills.
By Commissioner Dotson: Seconded by Commissioner Jenkins
WHEREAS, the City Chamberlain has several bills that have been
deemed as uncollectable for various reasons, such as bankruptcy;
now, therefore be it
RESOLVED, That the Board of Public Works hereby grants the
expungement of uncollectable bills that the City Chamberlain has
accumulated as follows:
Deborah Gesin - $669.43 1998 Hydrant/Car
City of Ithaca - Stewart Park $600.29 1997 Drain to Water Serv.
City of Ithaca - IPD $561.03 2001 Sewer Pump/Fire Range
City of Ithaca - 305 S. Plain Street $3526.03 1998 S Side
Fire Service
Board of Public Works – December 11, 2002 - Page 5
Cortland Paving - $259.58 2000 Kendall Water Tap
Marty Ottenschott - $292.80 1998 Water Line
Cortland Paving - $541.38 2000 E Hill Plaza Wtr Tap
Cortland Paving - $886.31 2000 E Hill Plaza Wtr Tap
Aaron Pitchel - 102 E Court Street $1665.86 2000 Slate/Concrete
s.walk
Carried Unanimously
Approval of Revisions to Drug and Alcohol Policy
By Commissioner Beach :Seconded by Commissioner Tsegaye
RESOLVED, That the Board of Public Works hereby approves of the
revisions made to the Drug and Alcohol Policy as reviewed by
Assistant Superintendent Ferrel during the Board's Committee of
the Whole meeting on November 6, 2002 with a copy of those
revisions attached.
Carried Unanimously
The Superintendent of Public Works has on file a copy of the
policy.
REPORTS OF SUPERINTENDENT AND STAFF:
Assistant Superintendent Ferrel reported to the board on the
following matters:
Assistant Superintendent Ferrell distributed photos that were
taken at a recent accident involving a truck and NYSDOT signage
on Route 13. A discussion relating to the determination of
responsibility for the sign replacement followed.
Snow related activity is more significant than normal. The 2002
salt expenses will be higher than normal.
A project preventing the Sears Street wall collapse will begin
soon.
Park and ride locations will be established once Lot D is closed
for Cayuga Green construction.
Abandoned shopping carts have been retrieved.
Assistant Superintendent Fabbroni reported to the Board on the
following matters:
The draft design for the Waste Water Treatment Plant is complete
and the NYSDEC is in the process of reviewing the application
submitted by the three owners for $ 2.7 million of funding on the
$ 4.1 million project. The Environmental Facilities Corporation
would provide the low lending rates.
He stated that he would be approaching the B&A Committee in the
near future for funding to replace the chains and scrapers in the
primary water tanks.
A five-year capital improvement and preventative maintenance
program must be developed for the Town of Ithaca stations.
Staffs have been working with Cornell on incinerator alternatives
for animal cremation. Research and development work is required
for meeting the needs of Cornell’s process.
Acetylene tank cracks have been detected.
The WWTP receives $ 350,000 in income for handling trucked in
waste and efforts to continue this revenue option are being
discussed.
Board of Public Works – December 11, 2002 - Page 6
Many agencies have been asked to develop lake sampling
partnerships that would initiate an aggressive monitoring program
and require the relocation of engineers trained in this field.
The Water and Sewer Industry recognizes the ISO 14001 as the
standard for total quality management initiatives and the City
will follow the same standard.
Staff from the Water and Sewer Division will be looking for
understanding and support for future negotiations with the City’s
partners.
The West Hill water tank is close to being complete; was put out
of service for emergency repair.
The water main replacement work in Lot D has been postponed for
the holiday season and staffs have kept ahead of Cayuga Green
planning efforts.
Superintendent Gray reported to the Board on the following items:
Coordination of planning and engineering efforts needs
improvement in order to meet the needs of community projects. The
Inlet Island discussions have been on going for a few years yet
his office, and the Board of Public Works, have not been involved
until just recently.
There is more construction occurring now than in past years, yet
staffing has been relocated to other divisions. The end result is
that outside contractors will be paid premium fees to complete
tasks which could have been done using City staff at
significantly cheaper rates, and capital projects will absorb the
increased costs. His focus, as well as the Board’s, was to
minimize cost regardless of the funding source, but this will no
longer be possible.
DPW staff are anxious to proceed with providing water services as
a separate City project rather than continue in the inter-
municipal arrangement. Sewer services may enter into business
relationships with managing the overflows from neighboring
facilities.
ADJOURNMENT:
On a motion the meeting adjourned at 6:45 p.m.
Robin L. Korherr Alan J. Cohen
Deputy City Clerk Mayor