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HomeMy WebLinkAboutPWC Minutes 1996-06-20 Town of Ithaca Public Works Committee Meeting June 20, 1996, 8 : 00 a.m. Town of Ithaca Highway/Parks Facility NOTE: Due to vacation schedules, meeting has been changed from June 27, 1996 to June 20, 1996 . 1 . Approval of Minutes David 2 . Update of Culvert Pipe Policy Fred 3 . Update on Forest Home Bridge Fred/Dan 4 . Update on Dewitt Retention Pond and Northeast Drainage Fred/Dan 5 . Report of Flood Control Inspection Dan 6 . Update on Joint Water System Planning Dan 7 . Discussion on Proposed Mecklenburg Water Improvements : Saddlewood Dan ghk pc : Mary Bryant, Administrative Secretary Joan Lent Noteboom, Town Clerk Jon Kanter, Director of Planning Andrew Frost, Director of Building and Zoningy DISPOSITION DATE . ti 9 TOWN OF ITHACA Public Works Committee Meeting Minutes June 20, 1996 Present : David Klein, Chairperson; Dan Walker; Rich Schoch; and Fred Noteboom The meeting began at 8 : 10 a.m. The minutes will be approved at the next meeting. Culvert Pipe Policy Fred Noteboom handed out a draft policy on culvert pipe installation on Town Roads . Fred summarized that in the "Purpose" section of the policy we quoted the Highway Law. David Klein informed the Committee that Cathy Valentino has some concerns if the Town should even be replacing culvert pipes or not . David then asked what the rationale was that the Town do this . Fred explained that the culvert pipes are within the Town' s right- of-way, and the Town has an interest in maintaining proper drainage throughout the Town. David asked what the repercussion would be if an owner was informed that their culvert pipe needed to be replaced and the owner did not want to pay for it . Fred indicated that we have not run into this situation so far. David then asked if the headwalls needed to be replaced at the same time as the culvert pipe is replaced. Fred said that they do not necessarily need to be removed to put in a culvert pipe. David summarized that if the Town replaces a culvert pipe, then we will know that the correct size has been put in and the grades are right . David asked if the Town has a right to change a pipe and then charge the landowner. Fred feels that we do, and Dan agreed, stating that the culvert pipes are in the Town' s right-of-way. David when on to discuss the Procedures part of the policy. It was decided to reword the statement about a $300 deposit for working in Town' s right-of-way. Where to obtain a permit is needed in this section. There were several other changes of the wording discussed, along with scenarios of different situations . One of the changes is that Public Works Committee Minutes Page 2 � 1 the Town will install all culvert pipes on Town roads, with the exception of new subdivisions. There was a discussion on Tompkins County' s culvert pipe policy and that the Town' s should be somewhat consistent with the County' s . There was a discussion on the State' s policy for culvert pipes installed on State roads . The current policy has a section on contractors and how they are to place them. This section will be cross-referred to the Subdivision Regulations. David felt that something needs to be mentioned about if a resident wants underground drainage through their property. Fred talked about the procedure for billing residents for pipe and material . Currently we do not charge tax, since the Town is not charged for tax. David said that technically we should be charging sales tax. Dan asked if the Town has a right to charge tax and if we have a tax number. David felt that we should get more information on this . David asked what are some types of culvert maintenance problems. Fred indicated that plugged culvert pipes, yard waste, etc . David indicated that leaves and yard wastes should not be deposited in the ditches. The other question Cathy had was what is Town damage. There was much discussion on this and it was decided to work out some language to distinguish between Town' s responsibility and homeowners andreview it again. Fred asked if there was an easement for the back lot in the Eastern Heights area. Dan said no, we had just a construction easement . Update on Forest Home Bridge Fred informed the Committee that Gail Kroll had talked to John Lampman this morning, and the County is waiting to execute the contract. David said that he has been up through the area and there are no signs indicating that the bridge will be closed soon. Gail informed the Committee that John Lampman said he will have a draft signage proposal ready for review to the Town, Cornell, and Forest Home Association, possibly tomorrow. David asked Fred to write a letter to John Lampman regarding the need for the detour plan and copy Stu Stein, Bill Goldsmith, Tim Joseph, Bev Livesay, and Dooley Kiefer. Fred said that he will mention the pre-warning signs that were supposed to be up. Public Works Committee Minutes Page 3 Dewitt Retention Pond and Northeast Drainage Dan revealed a draft plan of the Dewitt Pond project . He said that we will have to realign the trail. He also said that the primary flow will be into the Pond with a spill system. Dan indicated that approximately 1, 200 cubic yards of material will have to be excavated from the pond. David asked how it will be done, and Dan indicated that we will use the trail and then rebuild the trail after trucking is done. Dan asked Fred to contact the school and see if they want any of the fill. Dan said he designed the project as a 25 year storm management system; indicated that the system will hold 4" of rain in a 24 hours period, with a run off of 2 . 9" . Dan is comfortable that this plan will work. Dan said that the question now is how to get more water flowing to the Brandywine Drive pipe. Fred indicated that there is a limit of 29" pipe on Brandywine because of the bedrock there . There was a discussion on extending the pipe and- that at least one resident will be willing to give the Town easements for work to be done on their property. Dan indicated that we will work on the Pond first . David said that we need work on the drainage going down Brandywine to the back lots of Simsbury. Again, Dan said that we have no. easements, but he felt confident that the residents would make some kind of an agreement. Dan indicated that he has been talking to residents in the Northeast about the drainage problems there. Fred indicated that we will be putting in a pipe under the trail (to Texas Lane) . David then asked when will the work be done . Fred indicated that we would like to start the work in mid-July. Fred talked to the Committee about rental of equipment to help get work done this summer. David said that it should be added to the Town Board' s agenda. Flood Control Inspection Dan indicated that the annual inspection on the Flood Control dike was completed recently. He indicated that the Town has received a notice of SEQR to dredge the area. David asked if this will be done this year, and Dan said probably not until next year. Dan said that there is about 2, 000 cubic yards of material to take out of the dike. Fred indicated that the State asked to have the Town not start this project yet, because they may want to pay the Town to do it . Public Works Committee Minutes Page 4 Joint Water System Dan indicated that the City of Ithaca will be conducting a comprehensive study on the City' s water system. Bolton Point has agreed to participate. Bolton Point' s share of the cost will be between $15, 000 and $30, 000 . This is a joint effort and Cornell University is involved too. David asked where the funds will be coming from to do the study, and Dan indicated Bolton Point' s funds . Dan also suggested that this may lead the City to decide that the watershed is not as useful as "buying" into Bolton Point . Saddlewood David asked if the project was still alive. Dan said possibly. He indicated that the Planning Board still has some concerns about the project . Dan indicated that the proposal is for the water to be connected to the Town' s West Haven site, and then have a water tank constructed on the high section of the subdivision. Dan indicated that if, in 7 the future, the Town took over the tank there, we could supply more pressure to the West Haven area. Dan talked about a possibly of constructing a tank at a site in the City to help boost the pressure in the West Haven area. David asked if the developer will pay for the water lines and tank. Dan said that it would be part of the subdivision development, but that the construction of the tank on the City site would be the Town' s cost, of approximately $200, 000 . Miscellaneous Fred indicated that he heard there was a petition being circulated to have a park developed near East King Road. He is not sure where they are interested in the park or if it will be seen by the Town. David asked Dan if he has talked to Ed Hallberg about acquiring the property for the trail, and Dan said not yet . Dan discussed the meeting with residents regarding the Chase Farm lighting district . There are still some details to be worked out. Dan indicated that a representative of the Post Office will be coming to talk to the Town about that building site for a new town hall. There are still issues to be worked out. Dan indicated that the Town has met with Cornell University on the proposed sites on East Hill. He indicated that the Ellis Hollow site is not Public Works Committee Minutes Page 5 available, but two other sites are. One is on Judd Falls Road, which the grades are not good, and the other is on Pine Tree Road near Snyder Hill . This seems like a better place since the view is nice and the slope is gentle. - Fred indicated that Crest Lane up to the crest of the hill is 130 feet, to answer a question the Town Board has regarding a proposed parking ban on Crest Lane. Meeting was adjourned at 10 :10 . ghk 7