^ That's rather surprising news. Thanks Vis.
This sounds like a good idea to me:
Board calls for sidewalk expansion on Aurora St.
By Jennie Daley
Journal Staff
ITHACA — The sidewalks along the 100 block of North Aurora Street will be expanded and improved if the Board of Public Works' recommendation is heeded.
The board voted 5-1 on Wednesday to approve the $130,000 project for several upgrades. The motion will be considered by Common Council, who will have to create a capital project for the work if it is to go forward.
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Included in the project would be expanded sidewalks along about two-thirds of the block, the structural work required for eventual street light installations and improvements to the street trees. The expansion will allow larger outdoor seating areas for the approximately half-dozen restaurants along the block that offer it. Business owners pressed for the change after stricter enforcement of their outdoor seating areas was implemented this season.
At the meeting it became clear that, while the work could cost $130,000, the city may be responsible for only part of that sum. A portion of the cost could be billed to adjacent property owners if the Uniform Sidewalk Improvement policy is implemented.
The citywide policy charges adjacent property owners for work to sidewalks done by city crews.
Also, a portion of the work may already be accounted for by the budget covering water-main work under way on the block.
Jill Tripp was the sole board member to oppose the project, saying she thought it was too broad, too costly and considered too quickly.
On the other side of the argument, board member Ray Schlather saw this undertaking as an opportunity to address aging infrastructure while gaining amenities with minimal disruption since the street is already torn up. The sidewalk work is expected to add two weeks to the construction work along the block.
In other business, the board approved signage at the Seneca Street garage to address motorcycle, moped and bicycle parking, and it authorized the demolition of asbestos-laden city property on Inlet Island. The Inlet Island land, which is across from Castaways, will be reconfigured with paid parking.
The end of the meeting was reserved for discussion on the city water source decision, which had stalled in large part because of internal miscommunications. Already a drawn-out process, there was notable frustration among board members that work by consultant O'Brien & Gere had stopped. An informal survey of board members clarified that they wished to continue with the consultant and go forward with the $608,000 they authorized in April for further work.
The money will allow the consultants to begin work on the Environmental Impact Systems for the two options under consideration, either rebuilding the plant on Water Street that relies on Six Mile Creek as a source or joining the Southern Cayuga Lake Intermunicipal Water Commission, known as Bolton Point. Bolton Point uses water from Cayuga Lake and is governed by the five member municipalities.
The consultants' work will overlap with the 45-day public comment period for the scoping documents, which set forth the parameters to be considered in the Environmental Impact Statement. The plan is to have several public events during the public comment period to discuss various aspects of the project, beginning with a public information meeting from 5-7 p.m. July 9.
jdaley@ithacajournal.com
Originally published June 21, 2007