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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMN-BPW-2018-10-16BOARD OF PUBLIC WORKS PROCEEDINGS CITY OF ITHACA, NEW YORK Regular Meeting 6:02 p.m. October 16, 2018 PRESENT: Mayor Myrick Commissioners (6) – Blalock, Greene, Jenkins, McCormick, Morache, Warden OTHERS PRESENT: Superintendent of Public Works – Thorne Director of Engineering – Logue Common Council Liaison – McGonigal Executive Assistant – Servoss EXCUSED: City Attorney – Lavine Assistant Superintendent of Streets and Facilities – Benjamin Assistant Superintendent of Water and Sewer – Whitney Director of Parking – Messmer ADDITIONS OR DELETIONS TO THE AGENDA: Supt. Thorne asked to delete items 9A and 10A, and add item 13A, Request to Install a Mural on Southside Community Center. No Board member objected Mayor Myrick and Commissioner Morache arrived at 6:05 p.m. Commissioner Warden arrived at 6:07 p.m. MAYOR’S COMMUNICATIONS: The Mayor had no communications at this time. COMMUNICATIONS AND HEARINGS FROM PERSONS BEFORE THE BOARD: Fay Gougakis, City of Ithaca, addressed the Board regarding allowing vending carts on the Commons and Lime Bikes in the City. Victoria Armstrong, Bike Walk Tompkins, offered assistance with any concerns and clarity that the Board might have during its discussion. She reported that Bike Walk Tompkins had moved offices to the “Transportation Center” at 315 North Aurora Street with Carshare, noting that an open house was scheduled for November 7, 2018, 5-8 p.m. RESPONSE TO THE PUBLIC Discussion followed on the floor regarding funding Bike Walk Tompkins received to purchase bike corrals and lockers for use by the public, once a home was found for them. Mayor Myrick noted that Common Council would be taking over negotiations with Lime Bike. REPORTS Special Committees of the Board Commissioner Greene mentioned that he and Commissioner Blalock had met with Mr. Pirro and his tenant to discuss the curb cut at 1006 W est Seneca Street and felt they had a good discussion. Council Liaison CC Liaison McGonigal reported that the islands on W est State Street that he had not approved of were not as much of a problem as he had thought they would be. He had not seen a backup of traffic yet, though the traffic light wasn’t installed yet. He noted that people driving from Elm Street and Floral Avenue really like the 3-way stop. He congratulated the Engineering Department for the design and planning of the intersection . CC Liaison McGonigal expressed the dissatisfaction at Trombley Tire due to the sidewalk being moved, and the removal of a curb cut, which ha d caused issues for the business. Tow trucks were not able to deliver vehicles due to the location of the driveway, and they are unable to access their large vehicle bays without driving over the sidewalk. Board of Public Works Page 2 October 16, 2018 Regular Meeting Superintendent and Staff Dir. of Eng. Logue reported the following: 1. Bike lanes would be painted green on West Martin Luther King Jr./State Street in the near future; 2. Albany Street would be paved in the next couple of weeks; 3. The playground project was started in Stewart Park; 4. The City received a street permit application for the demolition of the old library, which would close the Court Street sidewalk; and 5. ITCTC would be updating the long-range transportation plan for the county with a public meeting on November 7, 2018, at 12:00-2:00 pm at the public library. Supt. Thorne reported that a staffing increase was planned for the Streets and Facilities Division that would allow the City to pave more streets and plow more streets in the winter. A budget meeting is scheduled for Thursday, October 18, 2018, with Common Council. Commissioner Jenkins asked for a report from Dir. of Parking Messmer regarding parking financial information for the City. Supt. Thorne responded that Dir. of Parking Messmer was working closely with the Mobility, Accessibility and Transportation Commission to put together a parking study. He further stated that new equipment was being installed in the garages that will provide detailed data, including occupancy information, and staff was working with the GIS Division to gather on-street data that would help project usage and rates. BUILDINGS, PROPERTIES, REFUSE AND TRANSIT: Request for a Food Cart to Use a Quiet Generator on the Commons Supt. Thorne explained the request, and the type of generator the vendor wanted to use, noting that the generator was a gas powered generator, which sounded like a small mower. Mr. Galal, the vendor, joined the Board and explained that the generator was used only to heat rice and to turn on the lights at night. During the conversation, he decided to purchase a battery operated generator, like the one used by Green Street Pharmacy to power their ice cream freezer. Resolution – To Recommend Granting of a Permanent Easement for 606 Madison Street By Commissioner Morache: Seconded by Commissioner Greene WHEREAS, Russell Maines, as representative for the owner of 606 Madison Street in the City of Ithaca (Tax Map Parcel No. 44-9-14, Sara Cacciotti Komaromi owner of record) hereinafter referred to as “Applicant”, has requested a permanent easement from the City into the adjacent Cascadilla Street right-of-way; and WHEREAS, Applicant requests an easement to permit the following encroachment by the primary structure into the City’s right of way: An encroachment comprising 4.125 square feet extending into the right of way for Cascadilla Street, as more specifically shown in the survey map entitled “Survey Map No. 606 Madison Street, City of Ithaca, Tompkins County, New York” prepared by Lee Dresser of T.G.Miller PC on August 9, 2018, and which is hereby incorporated as Exhibit A. And WHEREAS, City Code Section 170-5 vests Common Council with the authority to convey a permanent easement across City property; and WHEREAS, in consideration for the City’s execution of the easement, Applicant has agreed to pay the City $2,600; and WHEREAS, it appears that the encroaching portion of the structure in question has been in existence for many years, and that the proposed easement area is inside the current location of the existing public sidewalks on the north side of Cascadilla Street and will not interfere with the sidewalks right of way as currently constituted; and WHEREAS, the Superintendent does not anticipate any conflicts in the near future with public works uses or needs; now, therefore, be it Board of Public Works Page 3 October 16, 2018 Regular Meeting RESOLVED, That the Board finds that the above-described area proposed to be occupied by this easement is surplus for municipal purposes, and be it further RESOLVED, That the Board recommends that Common Council authorize the Mayor to execute the easement and also recommends the easement include a sunset clause Dir. of Eng. Logue noted that should the structure be demolished and rebuilt, the easement would be terminated. A Vote on the Resolution Resulted as Follows: Carried Unanimously HIGHWAYS, STREETS AND SIDEWALKS: Proposed Resolution to Deny an Appeal for a Driveway Curb Cut on West Martin Luther King Jr. Street/ West State Street at 1006 West Seneca Street WHEREAS, the City of Ithaca is sponsoring a project entitled, “West Martin Luther King Jr. Street Corridor Enhancements,” PIN 395050, and WHEREAS, as a part of this project, staff proposed and the Board of Public Works approved, a street design that removed a driveway on West MLK Jr. Street for the property at 1006 West Seneca Street, leaving the property with an existing drivewa y on West Seneca Street, and WHEREAS, the driveway was within the City’s right of way with no existing easement or other titled right to maintenance of the driveway within the West MLK Jr. Street right of way, and WHEREAS, as a part of the public outreach effort for this project, in addition to other efforts, staff went door to door in the corridor to discuss the scope of work with each business in the project limits, , and WHEREAS, the property owner at 1006 West Seneca Street has appealed the decision to remove the driveway on the West MLK Jr. Street frontage, and WHEREAS, BPW agreed to reopen the design considerations and consider the driveway as if the appeal was heard during the design phase of the project, based on the merits of the appeal, and WHEREAS, the property owner submitted written and oral comment at the BPW meetings in August and September of this year, and WHEREAS, at the BPW’s direction, staff had prepared sketches of two different sized driveways to accommodate various vehicles, and WHEREAS, City staff prepared a memo to the BPW, dated September 16th, recommending a denial of the appeal, WHEREAS, on September 27th, two Commissioners of the BPW met at the property with the property owner, a prospective tenant, and staff to consider t he appeal, and WHEREAS, the Board of Public Works finds that the proposed driveway is not in the public interest on this frontage of the property, has not otherwise heard a compelling rationale from the property owner why a driveway is so critical at this location, and feels that the property is not only adequately served and accessible to motor vehicles from the West Seneca Street side of the property, but also that there are benefits to the property without the W. MLK Jr. St. driveway (e.g., additional parking, potential outdoor dining or landscaping, etc.), now, therefore be it RESOLVED, That after hearing the appeal from the property owner and duly considering the stated reasons for and against the driveway, the Board of Public Works hereby denies the appeal from the property owner of 1006 West Seneca Street to allow for a driveway on the West Martin Luther King Jr. Street frontage of the property. This discussion was deleted from the agenda. Board of Public Works Page 4 October 16, 2018 Regular Meeting PARKING AND TRAFFIC: Lime Bike Scooters This discussion was deleted from the agenda. CREEKS, BRIDGES, AND PARKS: Cascadilla Creek Dredging & Sediment Trap Declaration of Lead Agency – Resolution By Commissioner Blalock: Seconded by Commissioner McCormick WHEREAS, 6 NYCRR Part 617 of the State Environmental Qua lity Review Law and Chapter 176.6 of the City Code, Environmental Quality Review, require that a lead agency be established for conducting environmental review of projects in accordance with local and state environmental law, and WHEREAS, State Law specifies that for actions governed by local environmental review, the lead agency shall be that local agency which has primary responsibility for approving and funding or carrying out the action, and WHEREAS, the City Board of Public Works intends to undertake a project to dredge the lower reach of Cascadilla Creek and install one sediment trap in the stream channel, and WHEREAS, the project involves the mechanical dredging of Cascadilla Creek between the confluence with Cayuga Inlet and the pedestrian bridge adjacent to New York State Route 13 (N. Meadow Street). The length of the creek corridor to be impacted is approximately 1,700 feet and between 12,000 – 18,000 cubic yards of sediment may be dredged to restore navigation and minimize winter ice jam forma tions. The sediment will be temporarily placed on an adjacent site for drying and subsequently removed. To minimize the future deposition of these coarse aggregates in the dredged channel, the City is also proposing the installation of a sediment trap within the channelized segment of the creek that can be accessed by City forces on a permitted basis to remove captured sediments, and WHEREAS, this has been determined to be a Type I Action in accordance with the City of Ithaca Environmental Quantity Revie w Ordinance (CEQR) 176-4 B. (1) (h) [2] and the State Environmental Quality Review Act (SEQRA) 617.4 (b)(10) and is subject to Environmental Review, and WHEREAS, the NYS Dormitory Authority, NYS Department of Environmental Conservation, and the NYS Canal Corporation, all potentially involved agencies in this action, have all consented to the Board acting as Lead Agency for this project, now, therefore be it RESOLVED, That the Board of Public Works does, by way of this resolution, declare itself Lead Agency in Environmental Review for the proposed project. Carried Unanimously Cascadilla Creek Dredging & Sediment Trap CEQR/SEQR Negative Declaration - Resolution By Commissioner Morache: Seconded by Commissioner Jenkins WHEREAS, the City Board of Public Works intends to undertake a project to dredge the lower reach of Cascadilla Creek and install one sediment trap in the stream channel, and WHEREAS, the project involves the mechanical dredging of Cascadilla Creek between the confluence with Cayuga Inlet and the pedestrian bridge adjacent to New York State Route 13 (N. Meadow Street). The length of the creek corridor to be impacted is approximately 1,700 feet and between 12,000 – 18,000 cubic yards of sediment may be dredged to restore navigation and minimize winter ice jam formations. The sediment will be temporarily placed on an adjacent site for drying and subsequently removed. To minimize the future deposition of these coarse aggregates in the dredged channel, the City is also proposing the installation of a sediment trap within the channelized segment of the creek that can be accessed by City forces on a permitted basis to remove captured sediments, and WHEREAS, this has been determined to be a Type I Action in accordance with the City of Ithaca Environmental Quantity Review Ordinance (CEQR) 176-4 B. (1) (h) [2] and the State Environmental Quality Review Act (SEQRA) 617.4 (b)(10) and is subject to Environmental Review, and Board of Public Works Page 5 October 16, 2018 Regular Meeting WHEREAS, the NYS Dormitory Authority, NYS Department of Environmental Conservat ion, and the NYS Canal Corporation, all potentially involved agencies in this action, have all consented to the Board acting as Lead Agency for this project, and WHEREAS, on October 15, 2018, the Board did declare itself Lead Agency in Environmental Review for the proposed project, and WHEREAS, this Board, acting as Lead Agency in environmental review, did on October 15, 2018 review and accept as adequate: a Full Environmental Assessment Form (FEAF), Part 1, 2 and 3, prepared by staff and the following documents: “Cascadilla Creek Preliminary Design Report” dated March 2018 and prepared by T.G. Miller P. C and “Subsurface Investigation Cascadila Creek Dredging, Ithaca, NY” dated July 24, 2018 and prepared by Atlantic Testing and Laboratories, Limited (ALT) and other a materials, and WHEREAS, DASNY’s Proposed Action would consist of its authorization of the expenditure of approximately $2,000,000 of the proceeds of the New York State Capital Assistance Program (NYSCAP) bond issuance for the Proposed Project, now, therefore be it RESOLVED, That the City Board of Public Works determines that for the reasons stated in the FEAF Part 3, the proposed project will result in no significant impact on the environment and that a Negative Declaration for purposes of Article 8 of the Environmental Conservation Law be filed in accordance with the provisions of Part 617 of the State Environmental Quality Review Act. Discussion followed on the floor regarding the project, impacts of the dredging already happening near the former Johnson Boatyard, how the overall dredging project impacts the inlet, working with NYSDEC and TG Miller to plan the dredging, dredging disposal costs, the location to place the dredges while it dries out, and the plan to truck it to another location. A Vote on the Resolution Resulted as Follows: Carried Unanimously NEW BUSINESS: Request to Install a Mural on Southside Community Center Supt. Thorne explained the project, stating that the mosaic was complete, but there was a question about the process to get it approved and installed. He believed it has been presented at the Community Life Commission for approve of the artwork. He stated it would also need a building permit because it was a very heavy piece of art. The request came to the Board of Public Works to obtain approval to install this to the old, historic building, or hear other options. He explained that one option was to require that the Southside Community Center contract with a structural engineer to develop a plan for attaching the art to the building, or develop a plan to put the art on a pedestal placed right next to the face of the building. He further noted that the Board could grant approval of the installation contingent on receiving approval from the Community Life Commission and receiving a Building Department Permit. A resolution could be voted on at next month’s meeting once there was more communication from Community Life Commission and the Building Department. Commissioner Warden asked if Ithaca Landmarks Preservation Commission or Historic Ithaca would provide an opinion on the project. Mayor Myrick responded that the building had not been designated as historic, that was unlikely. Another concern was that the idea of the pedestal was more appealing than attaching the artwork directly to the building. Supt. Thorne noted that the brick was old and it was unknown what was behind the brick. His personal preference would be to install the pedestal rather than bolting the artwork directly to the wall. Discussion followed on the floor regarding how long the materials used in the artwork might last, the potential of mold growing behind the art wall, causing it to rot, and other options for mounting the artwork to the building. The Board agreed it was okay with either option, but expressed concern that an analysis does need to be completed and there might be a cost difference. Additional discussion followed on the floor regarding who would be responsible for maintenance; Supt. Thorne responded that Southside Community Center would need to maintain the installation, and if the installation does damage the building, Public Works would repair the building. In that case, Commissioner Greene stated a non-attached approach would be preferable, even if engineers said installing the artwork on the wall was appropriate. Mayor Board of Public Works Page 6 October 16, 2018 Regular Meeting Myrick stated he was comfortable leaving the decision to staff and engineer’s analysis. Commissioner Morache suggested adding water stand-off to prevent rain from running between the artwork and the wall. Supt. Thorne agreed to provide additional details to the Board at next month’s meeting after passing on information to the Community Life Commission that the Board preferred a little space between the building wall and the artwork for air flow. ADJOURNMENT: On a motion, the meeting adjourned at 7:10 p.m. Kathrin D. Servoss Svante L. Myrick Executive Assistant Mayor