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HomeMy WebLinkAboutPWC Minutes 2003-04-29 1y OF 17, DISPOSITION DATE . 9 ( r )11®J OWN OF ITHACA ,O HIGHWAY DEPARTMENT 106 SEVEN MILE DRIVE, ITHACA, N.Y. 14850 publicworks@town.ithaca.ny.us PHONE(607)273-1656 Roads, Parks,Trails,Sewer,and Water FAX(607)272-6076 TOWN OF ITHACA PUBLIC WORKS COMMITTEE April 29, 2003, 8:00 a.m. Public Works Facility 1. Approval of Minutes David a. March 4, 2003—not available yet 2. Review West Hill Water System Dan 3. Discussion on Draft Sidewalk Policy from Fred Transportation Committee 4. Discussion on Yard Waste Disposal Fred 5. Update on Amendment to Expenditures of Highway Funds Fred • Capital Projects 6. Update on Public Works Facility Project Fred 7. Discussion on Plans for Reconstruction of Caldwell Road Fred ghk DISPOSITION DATE r - *4( TOWN OF ITHACA Public Works Committee April 29,2003 Public Works Facility 106 Seven Mile Drive Ithaca,NY 14850 Present: David Klein,Chairperson;Tom Neiderkorn;Cathy Valentino;Dan Walker;Fred Noteboom;Gene Redman; Wayne Sincebaugh; Rich Schoch; and Mike Smith The meeting started at 8:00 a.m. There were no minutes to approve this month. West Hill Water Projects Dan Walker informed the Committee that another site for the water tank has been found on Eco-Village's property. We are talking to Eco-Village regarding this, and they will get back to us regarding usage of the land before the May Town Board Meeting. Dan said that this site would allow the Town to keep the cost of the project down due to less piping needed. The site is closer to the road and it would boost the water pressure to residents on West Haven Road. Dan said now we need to figure out where to put the pump station that will be needed to help complete this project. The Town has proposed a site on Coy Glen Road, although the Coy Glen neighborhood may not want it there. There is another site behind Will Burbank's property (Ciaschi's property) that would work well,and the landowner may be willing to work with the Town. Another site would be on Glenside Road, although at one time the property was being considered for subdivisions. The Planning Board has reviewed this project and did not have many comments on it. The Committee felt that this project needs to "move along" so it can be contracted this year. Public Works Committee Minutes,April 29,2003 Page 2 Sidewalk Policy Fred Noteboom said that the Transportation Committee is currently looking at developing a sidewalk policy for the Town. Fred handed out a copy of a draft policy and a copy of the Town's Ordinance Regulating the Manner of Construction and Repair of Sidewalks (Adopted August 24, 1992). Tom Neiderkorn said that the Transportation Committee is just starting to talk about this and there are several issues that need to be included: 1. Where would a sidewalk be appropriate? 2. a. What would be the homeowner's expense? b. What would be the Town's expense? 3. Who would be responsible for maintenance? 4. Would sidewalk be on private property or Town property? The Transportation Committee does not feel a lot of sidewalks are needed,but they feel that the Town should have a policy on it for future reference. The policy will have to be reviewed by the Town's Attorney. Yard Waste Collection Sites Fred informed the Committee that Tompkins County Solid Waste Department had been in touch with him regarding the amount of brush being taken to Solid Waste during our construction project. This has overwhelmed their processing program to the point where they have restricted the amount of brush that can be dropped off at the transfer station. We have a lot of tree limbs and brush each year—this year being heavier then normal due to the ice and snowstorms. We also have been renting a drum chipper at least once a year (at approximately$3,800 a time). The shredded wood fiber is then given to Town residents who come and load it and it is used extensively in our public works projects. Solid Waste is going to conduct a survey to the municipalities to see how much their municipality might use a joint facility for brush and yard waste. Fred said that Tompkins County had originally planned on including an area at the Solid Waste site for yard wastes,but this did not happen. Currently they have a $40,000 annual budget to spend on hauling the brush to a site to have it chipped. Public Works Committee Minutes,April 29,2003 Page 3 The Committee agreed that the Public Works Facility would be the best place for the Town of Ithaca residents to bring their yard waste—it is monitored and can be closed at nights and weekends. The Committee would like to have Fred look into acquiring land adjacent to the Public Works Facility for this endeavor. Amendment to Agreement for Expenditures of Highway Funds This is to update the Committee on the Highway Department's proposed changes to the Capital Projects Plan for 2003. The changes are due to the severely cold winter we had and the toll it took on our roads. This has been reviewed by the Capital Projects Committee and will be going to the Town Board in May for their approval. The changes do include putting an overlay on Forest Home Drive. There was a discussion regarding the wall on Forest Home Drive and who built the wall. It could have been part of a drainage system. The adjoining landowner does own the land to the center of the road. The wall would have to be built where it is and some of the trees might suffer due to the reconstruction of the wall and the close proximity of the trees (roots) and wall. Update on the Public Works Facility None of the contracts have been closed out yet—although the plumbing and electrical contracts are completed now. The overhead doors are still not working properly, and there are things on the punch list that need to be done. The air handling system is not working yet. There was a discussion regarding how to get the rest of the work done as soon as possible so we can close this project out. A letter needs to be written (and the Town might want to be the one writing the letter) indicating that the work needs to be done within 30 days or we will have the work done ourselves and take the contractor's retainage money to pay for this work. The Committee decided that Cathy Valentino should sign the letter and we should send the letter to Streeter and to Kimble. The Committee discussed that the architect asked for more money for designing the sprinkler system. It was clearly a part of the original contracts so there should be no Public Works Committee Minutes,April 29,2003 Page 4 more money awarded to them. We have had approximately 5 percent in change orders, which is a very small amount of changes for a project of this size and complexity. The Town has started working on the parts of the project that we said the Town forces could do. This includes the landscaping,parking/driveway, and miscellaneous work on the shop area. Fred has been in contact with Al Carvell regarding the line items and restructuring them to include things that were left out of the original line items. This project was bonded. Caldwell Road Reconstruction Project Fred showed the Committee members a map of a proposed realignment and paving of Caldwell Road (the hill section). We would have to talk to Cornell Plantations to see if we can take out a few trees on the curve at the foot of the hill. We would put in underground drainage pipes and close in the ditches. We are proposing to have a 20' road (10' driving lanes) and 4' shoulders. At this point,we are proposing gravel shoulders. There would be no accommodations for bicyclists. The road would be moved over (to the west),which would allow vehicles to see up the hill better. There was a discussion regarding putting in curbing on the road. Curbing makes it harder for the snow plows to clear the roads of snow and ice. The Town's forces would be able to do this project and would like to start in 2004 during the Cornell University "off-season". There was a discussion regarding the Forest Home people wanting to have a "island" put in at the intersection of Forest Home Drive and Caldwell Road. Fred would not like to see this there, mainly do to problems plowing the roads as well as the issue of safety in having an island at the base of a steep hill. Cathy said that she has talked to people from Cayuga Heights and they do not feel that the island on Hanshaw Road has helped slow down traffic. Cornell University owns the land on both sides of Caldwell Road and we do not see a problem with reconstructing this road, as Cornell University would like to have it redone. Fred will meet with Cornell University to discuss the plans for the road. Public Works Committee Minutes,April 29,2003 Page 5 We will develop two plans, one using shoulders and the other using curbing so they can be compared. If curbing were used, the driving lanes would be 11' and if shoulders were used,the driving lanes would be 10'. Miscellaneous: Cathy asked if we have the authority to restrict roads to "Local Delivery" only. Fred said, "yes" and that Forest Home Drive and Honness Lane are designated as such. Cathy said that she received a letter from Bridgette Berry of the Ithaca/Tompkins County Convention and Visitors Bureau regarding helping landscape around "Welcome to Tompkins County and Ithaca" signs. We would be willing to help,but we would have to make it clear that we will not continue maintenance on them;other arrangements for care for the plantings would have to be made. Cathy indicated that the trees at the old Town Hall had been replaced,but we are not sure about the sidewalks. Rich Schoch will talk to Andy Hillman (City Forester) about this. Cathy is concerned that it is going to become increasingly hard to find parking in downtown Ithaca (they are building parking ramps and repairing the old ones). She is afraid people will start using Town Hall's parking lot. Is there anything we can do to stop this? Fred said he would look into this. The meeting was adjourned at 9:20 a.m. ghk