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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMN-BPW-2019-06-18BOARD OF PUBLIC WORKS PROCEEDINGS CITY OF ITHACA, NEW YORK Regular Meeting 6:09 p.m. June 18, 2019 PRESENT: Mayor Myrick Commissioners (5) – Blalock, Jenkins, McCormick, Morache, Warden OTHERS PRESENT: Superintendent of Public Works – Thorne Director of Engineering – Logue Common Council Liaison – Fleming Executive Assistant – Servoss EXCUSED: Commissioner Greene 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 requested the removal of item 8A, Street Permit Fees for Work Zones on the Commons. No Board member objected. MAYOR’S COMMUNICATIONS: Mayor Myrick reported he would be traveling to Binghamton on July 8, 2019, to request $10 million in funding to help with the proposed conference center and to build a bus depot in one of the parking garages. COMMUNICATIONS AND HEARINGS FROM PERSONS BEFORE THE BOARD: The following addressed the Board in opposition of the request to close South Titus Avenue:  Jan Lawles, City of Ithaca, stated she was not opposed to the concept, but South Titus Avenue was a really busy street. Last Sunday, she counted 145 cars in one hour because the street was a direct route to Rte. 13. She expressed her opinion that the road was too busy to close. She further distributed a new petition with signatures from drivers using that road. She did not see the point of closing the street when there was a park on that block that was never used.  Pamela Lang, business owner, stated she did some informal research and visited both street locations. She stated that Madison Street was a quiet residential street and felt that closing the street would not really affect anything other than the few residents on that block. However, she spoke with residents on South Titus Avenue, and though some approved closing the street, many didn’t know about the concept. She expressed her opinion that there were plenty of parks that were not being utilized, and fire trucks and ambulances drive down Titus Avenue regularly.  Marilyn Ryan, owner of a restaurant in the area that has a heavy senior clientele, stated she was afraid children might be hurt. She expressed other safety concerns as well. RESPONSE TO THE PUBLIC Mayor Myrick responded that he understood their concerns, and he was trying to find a way to make our residential streets calmer and slower to make people feel their children could safely run across the street. He stated that periodic road closures could help take back the streets. Commissioner Warden responded that years ago, Southwest Neighborhood residents had wanted barriers to cut down on through traffic and now residents want the through traffic. The City was trying to accommodate. REPORTS Council Liaison CC Liaison Fleming reported that Common Council requested that a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) be drafted with Lime Bikes to allow E-Scooters within the city. Board of Public Works Page 2 June 18, 2019 Regular Meeting Discussion followed on the floor regarding the proposed te rms of the MOU and restrictions that were being considered. Board Liaisons Commissioner Blalock, Planning and Economic Development Board liaison, reported that a new credit union was being built in front of Home Depot, the Chainworks project was moving forward, and the Cherry Street project was beginning soon. Superintendent and Staff Dir. of Eng. Logue reported that other than 1-2 people that don’t like the intersection change at Spencer Road and Stone Quarry, the project was going well; South Aurora Street was closed to build the new sidewalk; there were plans to close the North Aurora Bridge soon; crews were ready to begin Dryden Road Garage repairs; the Stewart Park Playground was moving forward with a low bidder, but there weren’t enough funds at this time for the spray pad or bathrooms. Supt. Thorne reported that if the weather cooperates, the 200 block of North Cayuga Street would be paved in the near future, and the new street lights had been installed. He stated that as the new crews got project experience, it was planned for them to take on larger projects and moving utility lines underground; sewer replacement work had begun on College Avenue; and crews were milling streets in the Fall Creek neighborhood where NYSEG replaced gas mains last year. ADMINISTRATION AND COMMUNICATIONS: Approval of the May 21, 2019 Board of Public Works Meeting Minutes – Resolution By Commissioner Blalock: Seconded by Commissioner Jenkins RESOLVED, That the minutes of the May 21, 2019, Board of Public Works meeting be approved as amended. Carried Unanimously BUILDINGS, PROPERTIES, REFUSE AND TRANSIT: Street Permit Fees for Work Zones on the Commons This item was removed from the agenda. HIGHWAYS, STREETS AND SIDEWALKS: Approval to Close City Streets on a Recurring Basis – Resolution By Commissioner Morache: Seconded by Commissioner Jenkins WHEREAS, the Board of Public Works received a request to close two one -block sections of city streets on a recurring basis over the Summer, and WHEREAS, the purpose of these recurring street closures is to allow regular play and neighborhood gatherings throughout the summer months, and WHEREAS, the residents of these streets agree to ensure the street barricades are put up and taken down, and to supervise the barricades to prevent vehicles from driving through the closed streets, and WHEREAS, the Board of Public Works discussed the requests at the April 16, 2019, meeting and agreed to allow a pilot program in 2019, now therefore it RESOLVED, That the request to close Madison Street and South Titus Street is hereby approved contingent upon approval from the Ithaca Fire and Ithaca Police Departments, and that the streets are not blocked in such a manner that would prevent emergency vehicles from getting through, and be it further RESOLVED, That the residents shall pick up and return the barricades from/to Streets and Facilities, maintaining the barricades in the same or better condition as they received them, and be it further RESOLVED, That the following street block sections are approved for closure during the following days and times: 1. Madison Street between Fourth and Fifth Streets from 12:00 pm to 4:00 pm each Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday between July 1, 2019 and August 28, 2019; and Board of Public Works Page 3 June 18, 2019 Regular Meeting 2. South Titus Street between Plain and Fair Streets from 12:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. each Sunday between June 30, 2019 and August 25, 2019; And be it further RESOLVED, That the dates and times of this approval can be adjusted at any time for any reason by the Superintendent and this approval is revo cable at any time for any reason by the Superintendent of Public Works or his/her designee. Motion to Remove from the Table By Commissioner Morache: Seconded by Commissioner Greene RESOLVED, That the item be placed on the table for further discussion. Carried Unanimously Discussion began with Mayor Myrick providing a summary of previous conversations about the request to close two street blocks on South Titus Avenue and Madison Street. He explained that Rusty Keeler with Just Play Projects had submitted the requests. Commissioner McCormick indicated that a petition was signed by 8 out of 10 residents located on the South Titus Avenue block. He noted that the petition provided by the audience had signatures from many more drivers from all over the place. Commissioner Warden stated he remembered the conversations about eliminating through traffic, which he felt that closing the street periodically would help with that request. Further discussion followed on the floor regarding construction projects in the area, the benefits of closing street blocks that help get people outside to meet their neighbors, the same type of closures that occur in Manhattan, and this request was an experiment that could be cancelled at any time. Commissioner Morache stated he didn’t think there was a reason not to try the closures; if emergency vehicles needed to get through, the barriers could be moved. CC Liaison Fleming suggested closing different street blocks each Sunday to “spread the joy around.” If the experiment succeeded, other neighborhoods might pick up the idea. Commissioner McCormick responded that he had suggested the same to Mr. Keeler, who thought that during the pilot it would be easier to keep the barriers in one place. Mayor Myrick suggested approving the pilot for the first two Sundays in July, which would go to the next board meeting. Supt. Thorne responded that the resolution indicate d the approval could be revoked at any time for any reason, so it would not need to come back to the Board. Commissioner Greene stated that maybe a record of the number of people that attended the weekly events should be kept and compared to the Streets Alive! events, which are known events each year. He noted that there was advertisement for those events; these smaller weekly events may not be advertised. Mayor Myrick indicated that if the resolution passed, he would like to visit the street blocks that were closed to observe. He agreed to report back to the Board on his findings. A Vote on the Resolution Resulted as Fo llows: Carried Unanimously Resolution to Authorize Execution of a License Agreement for Installation and Maintenance of TCAT Bus Shelters within the City Right of Way By Commissioner Jenkins: Seconded by Commissioner Morache WHEREAS, Tompkins Consolidated Area Transit, Inc. (TCAT), a not-for-profit corporation, has received funding to install certain bus shelters within the City of Ithaca; and WHEREAS, the current proposed site to utilize an existing concrete pad, installed by the City, and within the City’s right of way at the northeast corner of the intersection of West State Street at Meadow Street, outside of the Mobil Gas Station; and WHEREAS, the installation and maintenance of bus shelters provides a benefit to City residents; and Board of Public Works Page 4 June 18, 2019 Regular Meeting WHEREAS, the Superintendent does not anticipate any conflicts in the near future with public works uses or needs, due to the existing use of City owned property at this location; and now, therefore, be it RESOLVED, That the Board of Public Works authorizes the Mayor, u pon the advice and counsel of the City Attorney, to enter into a revocable license agreement with TCAT for installation of the above-referenced bus shelter. Carried Unanimously Declaration of Lead Agency Status for the Environmental Review of the DPW Fuel Island – Resolution By Commissioner Greene: Seconded by Commissioner Jenkins WHEREAS, the State Environmental Quality Review Act (SEQR) and the City of Ithaca Environmental Quality Review Ordinance (CEQR), Section 176 of the City Code, 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, SEQR and CEQR both provide for an uncoordinated review for “Unlisted” projects that involve more than one agency, and WHEREAS, the proposed construction of Fuel Island at the Streets & Facilities division of the Department of Public Works is a “Unlisted” action under SEQR and is an “Unlisted” action under CEQR; now, therefore, be it RESOLVED, That the City of Ithaca Board of Public Works does hereby d eclare itself lead agency for the environmental review of the proposed construction of Fuel Island at the Streets & Facilities Division of the Department of Public Works. Carried Unanimously Environmental Review for the DPW Fuel Island – Resolution By Commissioner Warden: Seconded by Commissioner Morache WHEREAS, the Board of Public Works has declared itself to be the lead agency for the environmental review for a project (“the Project”) entitled “DPW Fuel Island” in accordance with Section 176 of the Ithaca City Code (CEQR) and in accordance with Article 8 of the New York State Environmental Conservation Law (SEQR), and WHEREAS, the Project entails replacing an existing fuel island with a new fuel island, including an asphalt driveway, grading and land scaping, a concrete pad founded on wood piles, fuel dispensers, an overhead canopy, two 10,000 gallon aboveground fuel tanks, fencing, a concrete pad for fuel delivery containment, associated plumbing, underground electric conduits connecting the fuel island to the Streets & Facilities building, and associated computerized control equipment and software, and WHERAS, the Project is an Unlisted action according to CEQR and an Unlisted Action according to SEQR, and WHERAS, a Short Environmental Assessment form was prepared by staff for CEQR and for SEQR, and WHERAS, on June 18, 2019, the Board of Public Works declared itself lead agency for an uncoordinated environmental review for CEQR/SEQR, and WHEREAS, a copy SEAF and a set of plans for the project have been sent to the Chairperson and Council liaisons to the Parks, Recreation and Natural Resources Commission, in accordance with CEQR, and WHERAS, the Board of Public Works, acting as lead agency, has, on June 18, 2019, reviewed and accepted as complete Short Environmental Assessment Form prepared by staff, and Project plans prepared on behalf of the City by Baron & Loguidice, and other project materials, now therefore be it Board of Public Works Page 5 June 18, 2019 Regular Meeting RESOLVED, That the Board of Public Works determines that the project for the DPW Fuel Island project will result in no significant negative environmental impact and that a Negative Declaration for purposes of Article 8 of the NYS Environmental Conservation Law be filed in accordance with the provisions of Part 617 of the State Environme ntal Quality Review Act and that a Negative Declaration for purposes of Section 176 of the City Code be filed in accordance with the City Environmental Quality Review Ordinance. Carried Unanimously Dir. of Eng. Logue explained the project for the new fuel station, which would be a major upgrade to what the City currently had. He stated the project met all state and federal guidelines. ADJOURNMENT: On a motion, the meeting adjourned at 7:09 p.m. Kathrin D. Servoss Svante L. Myrick Executive Assistant Mayor