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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2017-11-20Dryden Rail-Trail Friends and Task Force Minutes of the November 20, 2017 Meeting Freeville Village Hall Attendance: David Bravo Cullen, Todd Bittner, Victoria Armstrong, Bruno Schickel, David Fogel, David Keifer, Milo Richmond, Steve Winans, Miles McCarty, Ryan Maher, John Kiefer, Chris Tessaglia-Hymes, Judy Pierpont, Rick Kugler, Bob Beck, Alice Green, Nancy Munkenbeck Call to order (7:08 p.m.) – Bob Beck Additions to agenda David BC asked to add discussion of trail maintenance. He said there are issues of dog waste along the Schug trail and the extended trail should address these problems. Todd said clean up is an issue on all trails, and there can be posted guidelines on the Dryden Rail Trail. Approval of minutes David BC said his name should be added to the attendance list for the October meeting; he arrived late. Design Committee update – Alice Now that the Dryden Rail Trail name has been established, the next step for the Design Committee will be developing a trail logo. Alice said the committee also hopes to receive some recommendations from the June design workshop facilitators. Bruno said that the committee also needs to move quickly to make design decisions about basic amenities that are needed before opening the trail section between Dryden and Freeville. For example, signs are needed to prevent 4- wheelers from driving onto the trail from DPW drive. This will require coordination and cooperation with Freeville Village and state, county and village police. Establish new committees: Fund-Raising Committee; Events Committee – Bob At year-end, the town board reconsiders committee appointments, and Bob said the Rail Trail Task Force would like to do the same. He and Bruno are willing to continue as Chair and Vice Chair. In addition to the Design Committee, he suggested adding committees for Fund Raising and Events Planning. Bob said Bruno has agreed to chair the Fund Raising committee. Alice is interested in chairing Events Planning and in turning over the chairmanship of the Design Committee to another member. Todd said he would consider chairing the Design Committee, but he is already representing Cornell in a number of trail-related negotiations, and is limited in how much time he can give to the project. John K. said he is happy to continue helping with grant writing. Todd said that there will be overlap between committees, but it’s important to spell out the charge for each one clearly. Bob invited more discussion of the tasks for each committee. Design, Signage and Information Committee There were several suggestions to clarify the responsibilities of the Design Committee, by adding words including signage, construction, information and implementation. Vikki suggested that the committee could establish a timeline of design needs. Immediately needed items, like signage or road striping, could be installed temporarily, while the overall design motif is developed. Chris suggested that there’s a difference between design and the actual fabrication of trail amenities. David K. wondered if there’s a need for a separate construction committee. Bruno said construction work will likely pause over the winter. David F. said establishing rules and policies for the trail may go beyond the Design Committee, and would need approval by the whole Task Force. Todd said the trail protocols have been discussed over time in Task Force meetings, at the design workshop and are incorporated into the legal easements with landowners. Most guidelines are already understood, he said, with the possible exception of rules for equestrian use. Event Committee Bob noted that the Rail Trail has already had events including the June Design Workshop and booths at Dairy Days and the Dryden Lake Festival, as well as the volunteer build days on the Dryden-Freeville section and the teen trail clearing workweek in Etna. The next big event will be an opening for the Dryden - Freeville section. Judy volunteered to help. Fund-Raising Committee There’s a need to establish giving levels and donor recognition. Bob noted that some organizations have a separate committee for volunteer recruitment, and also for PR and Marketing. He suggested keeping the number of committees low, and that each committee could handle recruiting volunteers for its own area, and also PR for each area. Committee members will be recruited via the Task Force list serve, with a new invitation to join the list serve to be posted on the Rail Trail Facebook page. Initial sign-ups at this meeting: Design, Signage, information, Amenities Committee David Bravo Cullen, Nancy Munkenbeck, Diane Tessaglia-Hymes, Chris Tessaglia- Hymes, Steve Winans, David Fogel, Alice Green, Bob Beck Events Committee Judy Pierpont, David Keifer, Alice Green, Bob Beck Fund-Raising Committee Rick Kugler, Bruno Schickel, Bob Beck Construction John Kiefer, Steve Winans, Milo Richmond, Bruno Schickel, Bob Beck DEC/Game Farm update – Dan, Todd, Bob Dan described his follow up to the November meeting with Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC), Game Farm and Sporting Groups representatives. (See full meeting report in the November minutes). He said DEC official Jim Farquhar followed up that session with a letter summarizing the meeting, and outlining action steps expected from the Town of Dryden and the DEC. Farquhar confirmed to Dan by telephone that the DEC intends to approve a five-year agreement (in lieu of a permanent easement) that will allow the Rail Trail to traverse the Game Farm property, “most likely along the railroad bed,” Dan said. He added that Farquhar then gave him permission to announce the intended agreement. He said there has been some push back from some Sporting Groups that have opposed the trail, but “after things calm down,” the project will proceed to next steps. Bruno asked about the status of a separate expected Memorandum of Understanding to allow Cornell Ag use of a DEC owned triangle including a portion of the roadway to Cornell’s compost operation. Todd said a land swap is being negotiated, but this does not effect the CU/DEC/Trail agreement. He said it is time for the Town to reach out again to Cornell Real Estate to establish next steps for the trail agreement (on final CU the section, next to the Game Farm), including who would be responsible for fencing or vegetative barriers along that section. Route 13 crossing update – Todd, Bob Todd reported that NYS Assemblywoman Barbara Lifton continues to be willing to find state support for substantial part of the costs of building either a bridge or tunnel to cross Route 13. These are the two crossing alternatives that are acceptable to the DOT, following a traffic study and several discussions. She said the state funding could cover construction, but would require separately funded preliminary design and engineering cost work. It was suggested the crossing project be split into two phases: preliminary design and construction. County transportation planner Fernando de Aragon explained that procuring state funding instead of federal funds for construction could eliminate significant federal requirements and reduce costs, perhaps by as much as a third. Next step would be hiring a consultant to do the preliminary design estimates on a narrow scope of work for the tunnel/bridge options. Todd said the Task Force might reach out to the county (perhaps tourism dollars), town and Cornell to fund the preliminary design phase. The town has already earmarked $10,000 for the Rail Trail project. There was a question about whether some recreation reserve funds could be used for the trail design. John K. said that the design work phase generally amounts to about ten percent of the overall project. He estimated that between $20,000- $30,000 could pay for a good study that would pin down construction costs for a state grant. The first step is get a small group together to determine the specs and create a request for proposals (RFP) to civil engineering firms who might do the preliminary work. Barbara Lifton will hold state dollars for the project, if the design work can be implemented. F.H. Fox Bridge update – Bob Ownership of the bridge is in the process of being conveyed from former Town Attorney Mahlon Perkins to the Town of Dryden. Bob is seeking cost estimates for railings that would be required for its use as a pedestrian and bike overpass. Easements update – Bruno, Bob Bruno said Hansen Concrete now owns Saunders Concrete Company at Pinckney Road. The new owner expects to work on the easement proposal after the first of the year. NYSEG’s Rochester office is still considering our request for their easement. Bob said talks are continuing with Vanguard Printing at Hall Woods Rd, and the Finger Lakes Land Trust has given permission for the trail to traverse the edge of the Etna Preserve, thanks to approval from the step-daughter of the original donor, Sally Hoyt Spofford. Easement talks will continue with other contiguous landowners. Bob noted with sorrow the passing of two trail supporters and early easement donors: Gladys Payne and Tom Brown. He said that both gave strong boosts to initial efforts to reassemble the trail, and their contributions are greatly appreciated Next meeting scheduled for 7-9 pm Monday December 18 in the Dryden DPW building. Adjournment at 9:01 pm Submitted by Alice Walsh Green