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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