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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMN-BPW-2018-09-18BOARD OF PUBLIC WORKS PROCEEDINGS CITY OF ITHACA, NEW YORK Regular Meeting 6:04 p.m. September 18, 2018 PRESENT: Mayor Myrick Commissioners (5) – Blalock, Greene, McCormick, Morache, Warden OTHERS PRESENT: Superintendent of Public Works – Thorne Assistant Superintendent of Water and Sewer – Whitney Assistant Superintendent of Streets and Facilities – Benjamin Director of Engineering – Logue Common Council Liaison – McGonigal Executive Assistant – Servoss EXCUSED: Commissioner Jenkins City Attorney – Lavine Director of Parking – Messmer ADDITIONS OR DELETIONS TO THE AGENDA: Supt. Thorne noted that item 12A, “Recommendation to Release and Terminate the City’s Sewer Line Easement along Taughannock Blvd – Resolution” should be a voting item due the project deadline. MAYOR’S COMMUNICATIONS: The Mayor had no communications at this time. COMMUNICATIONS AND HEARINGS FROM PERSONS BEFORE THE BOARD: William Metro, Commons Magician, addressed the Board to appeal the suspension of his busking permit. He stated that there was a group of haters trying to ruin his reputation and have made complaints. He noted he has been performing magic since 2011, and people on the Commons love him. He’s done nothing wrong and believes he provides a service for the community. He’s been attacked for his magic and his politics. He has not done anything remotely like harassment, but there have been times when police had been called because he was being harassed. Mack Travis, local business owner, addressed the Board, stating he has known Mr. Metro for 20 years, and he’s never had any problems. He stated he sees Mr. Metro weekly on the Commons, and feels Mr. Metro was a valuable institution. He’s never seen Mr. Metro harass anyone, and though he was a respectable guy. He noted that there were other groups of people less desirable on the Commons. He stated Mr. Metro was a public figure, and asked the Board to reconsider the suspension. Russell Maines, Esq., representative of the Pirro Trust who owns 1006 W. Seneca Street, addressed the Board regarding the removal of the curb cut. He stated he was available for the Board if they had any questions. RESPONSE TO THE PUBLIC Supt. Thorne explained that the suspension of Mr. Metro’s busking permit was in effect from September 12th through October 13th. He stated staff thought a one month suspension was fair, after which Mr. Metro would be able to come back onto the Commons. The suspension was appealable. Mayor Myrick responded that it would have been helpful for the Board to review written complaints. He further stated that one option was to suspend the suspension until the Board had time to review the complaints and make a decision at the next meeting ; another option was to turn the suspension into a strong warning and if more complaints come in, then suspend the permit. Commissioner Warden noted that the Board had not heard anything prior to this meeting, all of the complaints were anecdotal, and there weren’t any written complaints. Commissioner Board of Public Works Page 2 September 18, 2018 Regular Meeting Greene suggested that there needed to be a procedure for this type of situation, such as requiring a written complaint. Supt. Thorne responded that this sends a message that the City is not ignoring Mr. Metro, but there weren’t just 1-2 complaints, but several. Supt. Thorne noted that it was written in the Commons Legislation where the City could remove permits if deemed necessary. That procedure could include a certain number of written complaints. Commissioner Warden stated he wanted to support staff, but written complaints should be submitted. Resolution By Mayor Myrick: Seconded by Commissioner McCormick RESOLVED, That the suspension of Mr. Metro’s busking permit that was issued on September 12, 2018, is hereby suspended, and that Supt. Thorne will work with the Clerk’s Office to create a more formal procedure for documenting complaints. Carried Unanimously REPORTS Board Liaisons Commissioner Blalock, Planning Board Liaison, reported that two new dormitories on Cornell’s north campus was under review and there was controversy regarding the heat source. In addition, Emmy’s Organics’ new building was under construction and moving forward. Superintendent and Staff Dir. of Eng. Logue reported on the following: 1. The wading pool at GIAC was substantially completed 2. Albany Street Reconstruction Project was nearly complete 3. East Spencer Street retaining wall and sidewalk was almost done 4. W est MLK Jr. Street Corridor Project was under way 5. Bid documents for the Dryden Road Garage repairs was being advertised next week 6. Two College Avenue development projects keep closing their sidewalks, causinging pedestrians to walk in the street. Asst. Supt. Benjamin reported on the following: 1. Cornell Street repaving was complete 2. Crews added drainage on Hook Place 3. Started to regrade South Hill Terrace 4. Crews would soon be over on Warren Place to replace a culvert 5. Mowing the Jungle One area near Cecil Malone Dr. on Thursday; City was borrowing the Town’s brush hog to do that work 6. City staff helped with the Community Build at Stewart Park on Friday Asst. Supt. Whitney reported on the following: 1. Crews were replacing a deep culvert on Warren Place, along with Streets crews 2. Completing the water main going up East State Street. Street crews plan to pave, then Water and sewer crews would go back down the north side of East State Street to replace individual connections. 3. Crews were installing services for new developments 4. An EPA inspection was scheduled for September 27th 5. Cornell’s engineer has done a sewer capacity analysis regarding the new dorms on north campus, which showed that it was at 100% capacity now, so the City would need to work with the Town and Cornell to mediate and increase capacity. 6. Supt. Thorne noted that the City was planning to replace the College Avenue sewer main Supt. Thorne reported: 1. Normally inspections of garages were structure, but staff found that the decorative panels on the Seneca Street Garage were loose due to rusted bolts. Straps had been used to hold the panels up temporarily, and crews were doing emergency repairs to bolt heavy steel clips to hold up the panels. The decorative panels weigh 4.5 tons each, so staff was working with a consultant to complete the repairs. 2. Brindley Street Bridge received a red flag and the City had 60 days to either close or repair the bridge. Delta Engineering suggested making repairs. 3. Dryden Road Garage had new parking equipment, though staff was still working the bugs out, including internet issues. Firstlight Technology was working on solutions. For now staff would remain in the booth until there’s at least one week without issues. Board of Public Works Page 3 September 18, 2018 Regular Meeting ADMINISTRATION AND COMMUNICATIONS: Approval of the May 15, 2018 and June 19, 2018, Board of Public Works Meeting Minutes - Resolution By Commissioner Warden: Seconded by Commissioner Morache RESOLVED, That the minutes of the May 15, 2018 and June 19, 2018, Board of Public Works meeting be approved as written. Carried Unanimously Blalock Abstained HIGHWAYS, STREETS AND SIDEWALKS: W. Martin Luther King Jr. Street Driveway at 1006 West Seneca Street Dir. of Eng. Logue explained the memo he provided to the Board that listed alternatives and recommendations. He stated that staff was uncomfortable requiring ingress-only since the driveway would have to be so wide to allow delivery trucks, people would likely use it as egress as well, even if signs were placed stating “No Exit.” The recommendation was to remove the curb cut. He noted that most people would be able to find their way to a destination. A full height curbing and sidewalk could offer options for landscaping and make better use of the property. Discussion followed on the floor regarding the property location, area for fire trucks to turn around, possibly allowing owners to put up a sign indicating where the entrance is, and the availability of parking that would increase without the driveway, adding spaces along the State Street side of the property. Extensive discussion followed on the floor regarding contact with the property owners, alternatives that were considered by staff, other options that could be designed, and potential effects on bike and pedestrian safety related to each option. Mr. Pirro joined the Board for the discussion of this topic. He stated it seemed to him that his property was not the cause of issues; the amount of traffic that pulls into his property in a full day was about the same as what Pete’s got in an hour, but the City helped with that traffic. He indicated that he wanted a smaller curb cut that would be for ingress only, not an exit onto State Street. He stated the prospective tenant had withheld signing a lease due to the removal of the curb cut. He further noted that the corner to turn onto Seneca Street was very tight, even for a 23 ft. Silverado truck. Discussion followed regarding ways to ensure the driveway was one way ingress by possibly redesigning the curb cut, having something like a slip lane only for eastbound traffic coming off of West Hill and not a full apron that would allow westbound traffic to cross lanes. Mrs. Pirro joined the Board, noting that there hadn’t been any accidents since she bought the property in 1984. Mayor Myrick noted that if the Board took no action, the curbline would remain as it was now. Seeing no motion, the staff recommendation stood. If Mr. Pirro wanted to continue to pursue his request, he should convince the Board to change their minds. Mr. Pirro offered to accept an eastbound entrance (right turn off W est State Street). Commissioner Warden said he would be open to that suggestions, noting that he did not want people crossing traffic. Commissioner McCormick expressed skepticism about having that type of entrance because it allowed vehicles to take the turn faster, which would put others in dangerous. He thought it would be very difficult to ensure traffic would not use the driveway as an exit. Commissioner Morache stated he was uncomfortable with making a decision without seeing additional drawings and designs, though he was still an advocate for improving the signage. Commissioner Greene agreed. Mr. Pirro noted that his tenant would not sign the lease until this issue was resolved, and asked the Board to make a decision as quickly as possible. Mayor Myrick put an end to the discussion and asked that a Board member sit with staff and the Pirros to design an option that the Board could act on next month. Commissioners Greene and Blalock volunteered. Board of Public Works Page 4 September 18, 2018 Regular Meeting Resolution to Amend Vehicle and Traffic Schedules By Commissioner Warden: Seconded by Commissioner McCormick WHEREAS, the Board of Public Works is authorized by Secti on 346-4 of the City Code to adopt and to amend a system of Schedules in order to administer the Vehicle and Traffic Law, and WHEREAS, Common Council has approved the relocation of inter-city bus operations from its current operation at 710 W State Street to 131/201 E Green Street, the parking and engineering office have made the following changes to parking designation to accommodate this change. RESOLVED, That the Board of Public Works hereby adopts the amendments below: Schedule XXVII: Parking Meter Zones. In accordance with the provisions of §346-77, the following described locations are hereby designated for 2 “Hour Parking, 9:00 AM to 6:00 PM, Monday Through Friday: West Green Street (Both Sides), Cayuga Street to Albany Street West Green Street (North Side), Cayuga Street to Albany Street West Green Street (South Side), Albany Street to 150 feet west of Cayuga Street East Green Street (North Side), From a point 280 feet east of Cayuga Street to Tioga Street Schedule XIV: No Standing. In accordance with the provisions of §346-46, the following described locations are hereby designated for No Standing Anytime: West Green Street (South Side), Cayuga Street to 150 feet west of Cayuga Street East Green Street (South Side), Cayuga Street to Tioga Street Schedule XVII: Time Limit Parking. In accordance with the provisions of §346-68, the following described locations are hereby designated for 2 Hour Parking: Cayuga Street (Both Sides), Cascadilla Street to the south line of 312 through 313 South Cayuga Street East Green Street (North Side), From a point 280 feet east of Cayuga Street to Tioga Street Cayuga Street (West Side), Cascadilla Street to 150 feet north of Clinton Street Cayuga Street (East Side), Cascadilla Street to Green Street Cayuga Street (East Side), Clinton Street to 250 feet south of Green Street In accordance with the provisions of §346-68, the following described locations are hereby designated for 15 Minute Parking: Cayuga Street (East Side) from Green Street to 250 feet south of Green Street East Green Street (North Side), From a point 280 feet east of Cayuga Street to Tioga Street. Mayor Myrick explained the resolution and the reasoning for removing the 15 minute loading zone outside of the library on Green Street and extending the 15 minute parking spaces on South Cayuga Street for library patrons. It was suggested to add a couple of 15 minute parking spaces on the west side of South Cayuga Street next to the gas station for those traveling south on South Cayuga Street in order to prevent them from having to make a U-turn to park on the east side of the street. Commissioner Warden expressed his approval of the resolution, stating it was reasonable. Mayor Myrick noted that the Library would be consulted for any further changes. Dir. of Eng. Logue noted that staff are looking at creating a capital project to redesign the area by South Tioga Street next to the Mental Health Building as a longer term solution for short term parking and drop-off area. A Vote on the Resolution Resulted as Follows: Carried Unanimously Board of Public Works Page 5 September 18, 2018 Regular Meeting CREEKS, BRIDGES, AND PARKS: Approval of the Cayuga Sound Festival Request to Close Stewart Park to Vehicular Traffic and to Temporarily Re-Route the Cayuga Waterfront Trail within the Park – Resolution By Commissioner Morache: Seconded by Commissioner Warden WHEREAS, a new ticketed Cayuga Sound Festival will be held in Stewart Park on September 21-22, 2018, with surplus proceeds going to local non-profit organizations, and WHEREAS, event organizers have requested to close the Stewart Park to public vehicular traffic, to fence off the festival area (approximately the western half of the park), and to reroute the Cayuga Waterfront Trail, and WHEREAS, the City of Ithaca Special Events committee is reviewing this festival and moving toward approvals and has requested that the BPW approve the request to use the park, and WHEREAS, the Board of Public Works discussed the Cayuga Sound requests on September 18, 2018, including the Festival’s plans to manage traffic, pedestrian and bicycle access, and emergency vehicle access, now therefore be it RESOLVED, That the Board of Public Works hereby approves the closure of Stewart Park to vehicular access on Saturday, September 21st beginning at 12:00 p.m. through midnight the evening of September 22nd, including the temporary rerouting of the Cayuga Waterfront Trail. Carried Unanimously WATER AND SEWER: Recommendation to Release and Terminate the City’s Sewer Line Easement along Taughannock Blvd - Resolution By Commissioner Warden: Seconded by Commissioner Greene WHEREAS, presently before the Board of Public Works is a proposal requesting that the City release its rights to an easement encumbering the premises of 323 Taughannock Blvd recorded by deed dated March 12, 1896, and recorded in the Tompkins County Clerk’s Office on March 17, 1896, in Liber 145 of Deeds of Page 53, and by easement conveyed by Right of Way Agreement for Sewer Purposes recorded in the Tompkins County Clerk’s Office on February 16, 1960, in Liber 425 of Deeds of Page 327 (hereinafter collectively, the “Easements”); and WHEREAS, 323T, LLC, the property owner of 323 Taughannock Blvd, tax map parcel 58 -3-1, has requested that the City release its rights to such Easements; and WHEREAS, the sewer lines described in the Easements are no longer necessary and have been abandoned by the City, and City staff are supportive of releasing the Easements; and WHEREAS, in consideration for the City’s release of the Easements of limited value to the City, 323T, LLC has offered $2,500; and now, therefore, be it RESOLVED, that the Board finds that the above-described City Easements are surplus for municipal purposes, and be it further RESOLVED, that the Board recommends that Common Council authorize the Mayor to complete the easement release. Asst. Supt. Whitney provided a short history about why the sewer main was installed in the 1890’s, noting that the sewer main has not been used since 1998, and there is no practical reason to keep it. A Vote on the Resolution Resulted as Follows: Carried Unanimously ADJOURNMENT: On a motion, the meeting adjourned at 7:38 p.m. Kathrin D. Servoss Svante L. Myrick Executive Assistant Mayor