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HomeMy WebLinkAboutPWC Minutes 2010-07-27 111,-026 44ITOWN OF ITHACA I i,. Public Works Committee July 27,2010 Present: Rich DePaolo,Chair; Bill Goodman;Susan Riha;Jim Weber; and Mike Smith The meeting began at 11.15 a.m. The minutes were approved with a few changes. Public Comments None Summer Hill Walkway The Committee discussed the crosswalk and if it should be at the intersection. The crosswalk is lighted but is not at the intersection. The lighting at intersections is there to make it safer for pedestrians. Jim Weber said that pedestrians would be better seen at night with lighting. Susan Riha was not sure if lights were need on the walkway. The Committee talk about the fact that the walkway really only serves one complex (Summer Hill Apartments). Summer Hill Lane is a dead end road. The Committee discussed the fact that people using the motel are going through the East Hill Plaza parking lot. The Committee discussed that on the east side of the walkway there is no lighting,but on the west side there is some because of the East Hill Plaza lights. Jim explained that Summer Hill Lane intersects with Ellis Hollow Road as a "T". The trail is about 50' from the T. There really is not much that the Town can do. Rich DePaolo said that the Town would work with anyone who would put in lights as long as they pay for it. Jim said that he has talked to the manager for Conifer—they are the company responsible for the plowing of the Plaza parking lot and walkway. Jim said that he would put together a letter letting them know the Town would work with them,but we would not pay for any lighting on the walkway. Their letter to us indicates they would like to work something out. Jim said that he will follow up on this. Public W.drksCommittee Minutes,July 27,2010 Page 2 �� e Committee was in agreement that lighting should be at the intersection. The cost to put lighting in is around $2,500. The Committee discussed that the Town only has an easement for the walkway and they believe it is with the dentist there. Jim said that he would send a letter to Cornell Federal Credit Union regarding the fence and bushes. Video Equipment for Tutelo Park Jim explained that there has been extensive damage due to vandalism at the Tutelo Park pavilion and dugouts. The drinking fountain was ripped off the wall, along with a light. There was significant spray painting on the pavilion floor and tables and inside and out of the dugouts. Some of the graffiti was threatening. Jim said that we were able to get some information,with the help of the City of Ithaca Bus Garage video, to apprehend some vandals. Rich Schoch and Joe Hulbert have looked into purchasing video surveillance cameras. It would be about$3,000. Jim said that we have browed the video camera from Town Hall and put it up in the pavilion. This takes a picture every 20 seconds. It is a little far from the ball field,but can still see some,so people may not be totally identifiable,but it is useable. Rich D. wondered if this is more of a problem in the summer. He suggested putting signage up to make vandals think that we are using cameras. Jim said that we are working on getting a sealer, and the hold up is due to the pre-cast panel on the dug outs. They are hard to clean up because of the pebbles. If we can't get the paint off,we will have to repaint the dug outs. Road Preservation Law Jim said that he looked at the gas drilling leases that are in the Town of Ithaca. He handed out a list of roads that he felt would be impacted. There is only about 15 miles of Town road that would be affected. Susan said that most gas drilling companies are streamlining there operations. They move the gather lines first,and then move the water up. This is making so that roads are not being used as much. She also felt that there is not much interest in the Ithaca area. Public Works Committee Minutes,July 27,2010 Page 3 There was a discussion regarding culvert pipes for makeshift roads and that those pipes could cause flooded roads due to water flow volumes. Jim reminded the Committee that the roads are not only subject to large volumes due to gas drilling,but also large development. Rich D. asked what the value of going with Delta is as opposed to having staff do the work. Susan said she felt that Delta would be able to write up the law. It was discussed that the law would not necessarily take long to write as there are other laws that we can work from. Susan wondered which way we would save money. Rich said an advantage to having Susan Brock or Guy Krough write the law is that they know the Town better than say Delta. It was discussed that Guy had prepared the presentation to the Town Board. It was pointed out that Susan Brock has not spent a lot of time on this. Either way,the Town's Attorney will have to review it. Jim pointed out that the Town of Ithaca is not like small Towns. We have planners, engineers, etc. He also said that the Town has good communication with departments within Tompkins County, so we would be aware of any "haul around" that might happen. Rich asked how the Town would do the survey if Delta didn't. Jim said yes,if it was needed. Jim said that we have a maintenance schedule and work with the developers closely. Rich wondered if Delta did the survey,what would happen if we want to resurface them. Jim said that the typical life cycle of a road is 25 years. That is why we surface treat them—to preserve them. Rich wondered if we could measure the impact on roads if we repaved roads or if we surface treated them. Jim said that if we resurface roads, the costs would be higher but there would be nothing to fix. Rich asked if it would be 10 percent of the cost, and Jim said more like 5 percent. Susan does not feel we need Delta to do a study because of the Town's resources. Jim questioned if Delta would have the resources to defend the Town regarding any legal issues that might come up and the Town would. Jim reminded the Committee that even if Delta does the study, there would still be Town staff time involved. Jim said that Delta will go out with staff to complete the study. When a developer comes in,they would have to go to Delta to plan out the roads needing to be fixed. Rich asked if we would have to go with Delta for level 2. Jim said we might. He did not feel that would be necessary, though,because of Town staff meeting with Public Works Committee Minutes,July 27,2010 Page 4 developers in the field. The Planning staff then gets involved to help developers set up presentations. Jim explained that developers can not get a Certificate of Occupancy without meeting with Public Works staff. Mike Smith said that most of the development is on County or State roads. It was decided that we should talk to Cornell Local Roads regarding doing a study. We should try to get more information on what other Town's are doing. Rich said that his concern is more with what would happen if something had to go to court due to a law suite. Rich wanted to talk to the Sullivan County attorney regarding what it cost to write their law and what it would cost to have our attorney adopt Sullivan County's. Warren Road Jim informed the Committee that we have sent the State the information they were requesting. The State is asking the Town to send that information to the DEC and to FHWA. Rich ask if we were supplying them with the correct information. Jim said yes. He explained that the State is moving very slowly on this project. There was a problem with the SEQA. Jim explained that we are hoping to get started in September. We can work on the whole project, except the pervious pavement. Jim explained that we will need to bid out the concrete and pervious pavement work. We had bid the pervious pavement once before,but it's taking so long to get State approve,we had to cancel the contract. There is another part of the grant, which has to do with educating the schools on safety when walking to schools. He thinks they wanted to get that part does before Marnie K. leaves. Miscellaneous Forest Home Traffic Calming: The bid opening will be July 28, 2010. There were around six or seven companies that picked up specs. Ridgecrest Road Water Tank Project: There were seven bidders. The bids ranged from $115,000 to 200,000. We would like to get this project done this year. It will be before the Board at the August 9,2010, meeting. Town Hall Roof: Jim has put this project in the proposed 2011 budget. He said that a total of$300,000 was put; $200,000 for the metal roof and $125,000 for re-pointing the roof. D Ti r Public Works Committee Minutes,July 27,2010 Page 5 Susan asked if the Town should continue to repair the current building or build a new one. Jim said that maintenance would be needed whether current or new building. He reminded the Committee that when the building was remodel, there were several things identified that needed to be fixed,but were not. Now they need to be fixed. Jim said that it would cost approximately$125,000 a year to maintain Town Hall. Rich asked about window treatments. He said that he was involved in a church restoration and the window where fixed. Susan suggested that we get someone in there to look at the windows. Rich asked how much it costs to heat Town Hall. It is approximately $36,000. Verizon Wireless Lease: Jim has be asked what the status of giving Verizon Wireless a lease to build a cell tower at the Trumansburg Water Tank site. He said that the Town Attorney has not looked at it. What does the Committee think? Susan said that she felt the Town Attorney should look at it. Rich and Bill agreed. Jim said that TCCOG has a generic lease agreement regarding cell phone towers. Equipment Purchases: Jim said that Towns can do a blanket resolution to allow Highway Superintendents to purchase equipment. We have looked into this and have drafted a resolution for this. Jim said he would present it to the Town Board when he does the Agreement of Expenditure of Monies. The next meeting will be August 24, 2010, at 10:30 a.m. The meeting was adjourned at 12:10 p.m. ghk