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HomeMy WebLinkAboutPWC Minutes 2002-04-23 mac'x Lc)L 3 OF IT DISPOSITION DATE ARCHWE COPY �► J ® TOWN OF ITHACA HIGHWAY DEPARTMENT 106 SEVEN MILE DRIVE, ITHACA, N.Y. 14850 PHONE(607)273-1656 Roads, Parks,Trails,Sewer,and Water FAX(607)272-6076 PUBLIC WORKS COMMITTEE April 23, 2002, 8:00 a.m. Highway Facility 1. Minutes David February 26, 2002 March 26, 2002 2. Update on Highway Facility Fred 3. Discussion on Different Types of Guide Rails Fred 4. Discussion on Sprint PCS Antenna on Christopher Circle Water Tank Fred 5. Discussion on Forest Home Study Fred 6. Discussion on Dog Waste on Rights-of-Way Rich 7. Update on PEW Trail Rich 8. Update on Water and Sewer Capital Projects Dan ghk pc: Mary Bryant, Sr. Typist Tee-Ann Hunter, Town Clerk Andrew Frost, Director of Zoning/Building Jonathan Kanter, Director of Planning DISPOSITION DATE l TOWN OF ITHACA Public Works Committee Highway Facility, April 23, 2002 Present: David Klein, Chair; Cathy Valentino; Tom Niederkorn; Dan Walker; Fred Noteboom; Gene Redman; Rich Schoch; and Mike Smith The meeting began at 8:10 a.m. Public Works Facility There was a general discussion on the referendum period and that no residents have come to get papers to petition against the proposed Public Works Facility expansion. Fred Noteboom showed the Committee member the new office layout. There was a discussion on the reason why we are using Corning Interiors. They do have state bid and we used them for Town Hall. There was a discussion on the types of panel system to use here. Although it would be the same as Town Halls, the newer panel system is more versatile. The time line for this project is looking like this: May 7th it will be presented to the Planning Board, May 13th it will be before the Town Board for their approval of the final design and bidding. May 14th we will advertise the bidding, May 20th it will be before the Zoning Board for their special approvals, June 13th the bids would be due back to the Town. We may want to have a special Town Board meeting around June 19th to approve the bids and let the construction process start. We figure it will take approximately six months for construction. Fred informed the Committee that Delta Engineers had requested more money because they were not aware of the sprinkler system being installed. Fred reviewed the documents and the sprinkler system is in the original documents. He informed the Architects of this and we have heard no more. Wooden Guide Rails Fred informed the Committee that he was looking into wooden guide rails. They are more expensive but are more attractive. A regular Box Beam guide rail costs about$20 a foot and the wooden guide rails about$55 a foot. The company that Fred has received the cost and other information has wooden guide rails that are approved by NYS DOT. Fred would like to use the wooden guide rails on a section on Renwick Drive. Cathy Valentino asked what the cost difference is, and Fred said that it would be about$3,000 more. Box beam would be about$2,000 and the wooden guide rails would be about$5,000. Public Works Committee Minutes,April 23,2002 Page 2 • The Committee asked if this is something that Town would start using throughout the Town. Fred said not necessarily,he would rather use it on a case-by-case basis. The wooden guide rails would - look good on Judd Falls Road at Forest Home Drive. Committee felt that we should go ahead with the wooden guide rails on Renwick Drive if there is enough money in the budget for it. The Committee discussed fixing guide rails and Fred said that some things we can fix—others have to be done by the guide rail installer. This is true for either box beam or wooden guide rails. Sprint PCS Antenna on Water Tanks Sprint PG had asked the Town to put up a temporary antenna on the Christopher Circle Water Tank to see how good of a signal they would get from it. The test went well and they have been in contact with Cathy as to their next step to possibly leasing the space for an antenna. There was a discussion on how the antennas are attached to the water tanks. On the Sapsucker Woods Water Tank the antenna is attached to the side of the tank and there is a small building on the site to use with the antenna. The Committee suggested that Sprint PG be told to put their request in writing to the Town Supervisor. After that it would go to the Town Board for their approval, then to the Planning Board and the Zoning Board. Forest Home Traffic Calming Study Fred informed the Committee that the Forest Home Committee is at odds with each other over the roads in Forest Home being two-way or one-way. Fred asked.the Committee if they would like to send a letter to them letting them know what the Town would like. The Committee did not want to get in the middle of this issue yet. The town has not seen the final report and we are not sure if the Forest Home Committee has it yet. TCAT is going to have a meeting with the Forest Home Committee. The Committee discussed that the one-lane bridges act as traffic calming measures. Dan wondered if the entrance to the Cornell University campus had rerouted traffic away from the Forest Home area. Dog Waste on Rights-of-Way The Town Board received a letter regarding dog waste on the trails and in the parks. We could purchase"Mutt Mitts" and have them on the trails and in the parks. This would then mandate us to put trash receptacles in the parks and on the trails. This would be a horrific job to take care of though, according to the staff. Public Works Committee Minutes,April 23,2002 Page 3 Currently,the Town has signs on the trails and at the parks. There is no language stating the owner of the dogs would be penalized. The Committee feels that we should replace the current signs with signs using stronger language and stating there is a fine. We have to establish a $50 fine and would need to find some way to enforce the fine. The Committee asked the Highway Department to develop a budget for dealing with dog waste: Things to include in this budget would be: Signs,waste receptacles, Mutt Mitts, employees' time, equipment, enforcement, and any other materials. PEW Trail Town staff has been reviewing the design for this trail and will be sending it to the State for their review and approval. The Town will be receiving funds to help build this trail. We will be recommending the name—East Ithaca Recreation Way;PEW branch—to the Town Board for their approval. The Committee reviewed the map and talked about the entrances to the trail, parking,and where a good spot for the pavilion will be. There is a scenic overlook and that would be a good place to put the pavilion. The map that will go to the state will not show the pavilion, although when we have the informational meeting,we will add it to the map. Rich Schoch said that he has been in contact with Royal Colle and Mr. Colle is not happy with the length of time it is taking to do this project. We might want to have Jonathan talk to Mr. Colle and review the tax map. There was a brief discussion on the work to be done on Slaterville Road. We need to get back to working on this, even though since the Highway Department put in drainage on Park Lane most of the water has been diverted from the ravine. We will send project plans to the State and have a public meeting in May. The town forces will be building this trail and it should take about 2 or 3 years. We were hoping to start clearing some of the path this year—that might have to wait for the approval from the State. There was a discussion on the employees' time being tracked for the records and reimbursement of the funds. Public Works Committee Minutes,April 23,2002 Page 4 Miscellaneous: Fred informed the Committee that we would be changing the names of two road sections. Penny Drive will become Penny Lane and Pinewood Drive will become Pinewood Place. The spelling of Siena Drive will now be with one"n" instead of two. Fred also handed out a copy of the Town's Safety Polices and Procedures for their review. We will discuss this at the next meeting. Fred will give John Barney (Town Attorney) a copy also. There was a discussion regarding the Town's responsibilities with regards to handicapped parking space at Town Hall. The Town will get a van and videotape a handicapped person getting in and around to the ramp. We will discuss with the Town Board this and other handicap parking violations within the City,Tompkins County, and the Town. There is a new law that requires putting in a"No Parking" sign in the access lane of the handicapped parking space. Water and Sewer Projects We are in the process of finalizing the documents to have the Town Board approve the projects and bid them out. This is slated to go before the Town Board in June and construction would start in the fall. The project will last about 90 to 120 days but heavy digging should be done within 60 days. We - would like to do three projects at the same time: Hospital sewer (and extending sewer on Route 96), West Hill water tank,and possibility E. King Road sewer. We will need to check with the Town's Attorney to see if a Public Hearing is needed for the E. King Road water. There was a discussion regarding the use of the City of Ithaca s interceptors. Dan said that we would not be adding to the flow into and out of the City by doing the West Hill water and sewer projects, although we are concerned about water getting to West Hill from the City. At this time the Intermunicipal Agreement is stalled. It seems as the City of Ithaca may not be interested in this agreement, and Bolton Point and Cornell University are concerned with the decision making of the City. There will be a meeting tomorrow to discuss this further. We have been working on this agreement for the past two years and the City of Ithaca has not made a decision as to what they would like to do. The Committee discussed the possibility of the Town not using the City's water lines,water plant, and interceptors for water to the West Hill. It would be more expensive and we would have to finish the loop (build on from Pearsall Place to Emerson to the rail road grade to West Hill) and put in a booster,but the Town has concerns with the deteriorating water facility in the City. Public Works Committee Minutes,April 23,2002 Page 5 The Committee discussed putting water lines on Burns Road. We discussed that these small projects are why the Town set up a Town-wide water district. The meeting was adjourned at 10:10 a.m.