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HomeMy WebLinkAboutPWC Minutes 1999-02-23 DISPOSITION DATE Town of Ithaca Public Works Committee Meeting February 23, 1999,8:00 a.m. Town of Ithaca Highway Facility 1. Discussion on Public Works Study. 2. Discussion on Caldwell Road. 3. Update on Town Hall Progress. 4. Progress of Warren Road Project. 5. Review Plans for Iacovelli Park site. 6. Review Plans for Trinity Lutheran Church Bikeway. ghk pc: Mary Bryant, Administrative Assistant Joan Lent Noteboom,Town Clerk Andrew Frost, Director of Zoning/Building Jonathan Kanter, Director of Planning DISPOSITION DATE 6(1' ' Town of Ithaca Public Works Committee Meeting February 23, 1999,8:00 a.m. Town of Ithaca Highway Facility Present: David Klein, Chairperson; Fred Noteboom; Rich Schoch; Dan Walker; and Gene Redman Guests: Jonathan Kanter;Wayne Sincebaugh;George Frantz; and Eva Chiamulera, Planning Intern The meeting began at 8:15 a.m. There was a general discussion regarding a Storm Water Management Conference that Dan Walker and Fred Noteboom attended in New York City last week. The Town will have to create a plan for Storm Water Management in which the Federal Government has guidelines that will be finalized soon. There will be more discussion regarding this in the future. Public Works Study Fred indicated that during the summer of 1998, this was the organizational structure we used. We would like to formalize the plan. David Klein expressed his concern about increasing the staff and balancing the winter activities and summer activities. Fred indicated that we are not proposing any additional staff members—we would be changing titles only. We currently have a vacant position. Dan indicated that there is an abundance of maintenance work on sewer and water lines. Fred indicated that we would also like to implement an inspection program for guide rails, ditches, culvert pipes, signs,etc. A regular on-going documented inspection program is long overdue. Public Works Committee Minutes,February 23,1999 Page 2 There was a general discussion regarding needing more staff in the summer months and how other departments do theirs. Fred indicated that some departments employ staff members during the summer and lay them off in the winter. David said the organizational structure makes sense as long as we can keep staff working throughout the year. David indicated that we need to be sure we can continue maintenance and do capital projects together. Fred indicated that it is very expensive to contract capital project to the private sector. We need to measure the efficiency of the Town's forces doing capital projects as opposed to private sector. Wayne Sincebaugh indicated that this structure would help the Town collect this information better. David asked the Highway Department to compare the actual costs to reconstruct Honness Lane and Eastwood Commons to the estimates. This study will be presented to the Town Board at the March meeting. There was a general discussion regarding the water line that supplies the hospital and the need for replacing it. There are also problems with the pump stations feeding that water line. There was a discussion regarding Coy Glen Road and the destabilized stream bank that endangers the road. � 1 Caldwell Road Dan explained Cornell University is planning to reconstruct Campus Road to the intersection of Caldwell Road. Cornell will be putting in curbing, so that there will be a definite entrance/exit to the Parking Lot at Campus Road. Cornell University would like the Town of Ithaca to rebuild the intersection of Caldwell Road and Campus Road. They would like the Town to put in a three-lane intersection with a median. There would then be a three-way stop. They have indicated that a 55-foot radius in need at that intersection. The three lanes would then need to be tapered into a two-lane road. David would like to see a planted median instead of asphalt. There are some concerns about this during snow removal operations. There was a discussion regarding the costs and what Cornell University is paying for. The plans indicated that they are going to the intersection. Fred indicated that he was concerned that it would not be necessary to have a three-lane intersection at Caldwell Road unless Cornell University wanted it. Maybe they should contribute more money to the project on Caldwell Road. Public Works Committee Minutes,February 23,1999 Page 3 Fred also expressed his concerned about putting a "bikeway" on Caldwell Road. His concern is the hilly terrain and the paved shoulder on the upper portion would lead �a nowhere. The plans do include a 6 foot paved shoulder. David asked if the Planning Board has reviewed the plans (for Cornell University). Dan said that he could write a memo to the Planning Board regarding the plans. There was a discussion regarding the traffic on Caldwell Road and that it is mostly Cornell University truck and parking lot traffic. Dan indicated that Cornell wants more traffic to use this area instead of Tower.Road. Again,the Committee feels that the Town needs to look at some contribution from Cornell University to fix Caldwell Road. This will be discussed that the March Town Board Meeting. Fred indicated that the Agreement of Expenditures might need to be changed if we work on Caldwell Road instead of Maple Avenue. Sewer on Lake Street Dan informed the Committee that because of the Lake Source Cooling System that will be put in, the Town may want to consider putting in new sewer lines on Lake Street. Dan said that he is working with Cornell University to inquire about using the same contractor as them. Warren Road Water and Sewer Project Dan indicated that we would be slip lining the sewer and putting it on the other side of the road. He indicated that they are looking into fixing the laterals that.lead to the houses. He also indicated that there would be a good base for a sidewalk on the sewer line. The costs for the water and sewer projects will be about$400,000 each. There is an informational meeting on February 25, 1999, at the Dewitt Middle School. Trinity Lutheran Church Bikeway Eva Chiamulera, Planning Intern, showed the Committee maps that have scaled down the costs of this project. They are proposing a one-to-one slope, which would eliminate the retaining walls except in two places. They have reduced the planting by 40 percent, and have eliminated approximately 250 feet of fencing. There would be no change in the alignment of the bikeway. Public Works Committee Minutes,February 23,1999 Page 4 The cost estimate is now $47,000, down from$70,000. Dan indicated that if we slope the "retaining basin" on a two-to-one slope there would be no need for retaining walls there either. Again, there was a discussion regarding the bikeway would lead to access to the other trails in the area. David asked what was the next step. George indicated that the Town needs to discuss this with the Church and the neighbors in the area. David asked if this was budgeted for in 1999. Fred said it was on the Work Plan for the Highway/Parks Department in 1999. Dan asked what was budgeted for in Parks development. Fred said that there is only one line item and it was not separated out to specific projects. There was a discussion regarding how the cost estimates were prepared for this project. Jonathan Kanter feels that Fred and Rich Schoch should review the cost estimates. There was a discussion regarding the easement and that the Town should request a permanent easement. David asked if this project would be ready for the Town Board's review in March. Fred indicated that April would be better. Dan agreed with this because he would like to review the storm water drainage in the area and re-survey the area. Dan indicated that before the trail can be built, we need to have construction plans made. In April, the staff will present,for the Town Board's review, the design, costs, and easements. There was a discussion regarding if the Church was going to proceed with their construction project, and if they did not, should the Town. It was decided that if the Church does not proceed, the Town should wait on this project. Iacovelli Park George Frantz presented a map that shows a basketball court, a play structure, and a pavilion. There would be a wood chipped trail through the park also. He indicated that we would be able to use the fill from various sites around Town for the basketball Public Works Committee Minutes,February 23,1999 Page 5 court. The court would be well above the South Hill Trail and there will be screening between them also. There are some concerns from the neighbors regarding having a basketball court put there. George indicated that we could do some other type of sport field, such as tennis court, etc. Jonathan suggested the Town Board get feedback from the residents on this. He said that we could have a meeting to get the ideas for the park from the residents. Jonathan said that we could put a small survey on the back of a letter to the residents announcing the meeting. At the February Town Board meeting this was discussed and the Board approved working on this project. This meeting should be conducted in March so that plans can be finalized soon for construction this year. Update on Town Hall David said that he reviewed the design development plans. There was a discussion regarding the size of the canopy in the back of the building. If they remain that big, it may look like the main entrance. `gm) We are waiting for Thomas Associates to get information on the Post Office entrance to us. The cost of the project is at its limit. Rental of Excavator Fred indicated that the Town would need to use an excavator when we work on the storm water project and on Park Lane. He indicated that last year we spent$24,000 to rent an excavator in 1998. We would like to look into purchasing an excavator instead of renting one. David indicated that we need to justify purchasing a unit like this. He would like the Highway/Parks Department to do an analysis of purchasing versus renting an excavator. The meeting ended at 10:45 a.m. ghk