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HomeMy WebLinkAboutPWC Minutes 1996-10-24 DISPOSITION DATE . �I 9 o 0 Town of Ithaca Public Works Committee Meeting October 24, 1996 Town of Ithaca Highway/Parks Facility 1. Approval of Minutes David 2. Discussion on Equipment—Town of Danby Fred 3. Discussion on School Speed Zone—Boyton Middle School Fred 4. Discussion on Warren Road Walkway Fred/Rich 5. Discussion on Stop Signs Fred a. Judd Falls and Campus Road b. Poole Road c. John Street 6. Discussion on Correspondence from Mary Hudson: Dog Parks Cathy 7. Discussion on County Proposal for Bridge Agreement Dan 8. Update on Storm Water Management Plan Dan ghk pc: Joan Lent Noteboom Mary Bryant Andrew Frost Jonathan Kanter • DISPOSITION DATE TOWN OF ITHACA Public Works Committee Meeting Minutes October 24, 1996 Present: David Klein, Chair; Dan Walker; Fred Noteboom; and Cathy Valentino Guests: Jonathon Kanter The Meeting began at 8:20 a.m. Equipment Exchange Between Town of Ithaca and Town of Danby Fred Noteboom explained that the Town of Ithaca is currently using the Town of Danby's shoulder machine and the Town of Danby is using the Town of Ithaca's flail mower. Fred would like to formalize an exchange. David Klein asked what the value of the flail mower and shoulder machine is. Fred said that the flail mower is worth about $600 and the shoulder machine is worth more than that. David asked about how much we use the flail mower. Fred indicated because we have the new boom mower, we do not use the flail mower. David asked if some kind of bill of sale can be worked out, and Cathy Valentino felt that we should work out a mutual agreement. It was decided that a resolution is need and it will be put on the Town Board's Board Meeting agenda for November on the Consent Agenda. School Speed Zone (East Shore Drive) David said he thought a speed zone had already been established. Fred said yes, 20 MPH, and that signs have been erected, although he feels that the signs are not in the right place. Fred wants to know where to go from here, because he is still getting calls from residents. Cathy feels that adding a crossing guard is unwarranted because the volume of pedestrians in that area is low and the children are older (since it is a Middle School). Fred said that he has talked to the Sheriff's Department about enforcing the 20 MPH speed limit. Cathy suggested talking to the State Police too. Fred indicated that some residents want more there. It was decided to write the resident and tell him the Town feels this is adequate and that we will be contacting the law enforcement agencies to watch the area. We will also talk to the State about putting up different, more informative signs there. Cathy indicated that if this approach did not work, we could look into blinking lights for the cross walk. Public Works Committee Minutes Page 2 Warren Road Walkway David opened the discussion by letting the Committee know that the Warren Road improvements are in Tompkins County's budget for 1997. Fred explained that there was a meeting on Monday and Ellen Harrison will be talking to the Town's County representatives (Tim Joseph, Dooley Keefer, and Bev Livesay). Cathy said that Tim Joseph is opposed to the project and Bev is for it, but she does not know where Dooley stand on the issue. Dan indicated that the design of the reconstruction will be like the Mitchell Street project. Fred said that the basic plan is to bury the drainage and make a walkway, with the west side staying the same. Cathy pointed out that the Town needs to make sure the double solid line is maintained on sections of Warren Road. David asked if any trees would have to be removed to widen the road/walkway. Fred said it appears that they will not. Dan indicated that the County has also discussed putting in curbing on Warren Road. David asked how much of the road will be effected. Fred said there is approximately 4,000 feet between Hanshaw Road and BOCES (the Town's Trail). David asked if the drainage in that area will be affected, and Fred said no, but we may want to review it and possibly redirect some water. David said that the Committee does support this project and it will be put on the Town Board's agenda with a resolution stating the Town is supportive of this project. There was a discussion if this was part of the Park and Open Space Plan, and that possibly we should tie the walkway at the end of Winthrop Drive (on the water tank side) into this walkway. Jonathan asked if there is a separate line item for this. Fred said no, we have a construction line item though. The cost of the Town's part of the project may be around $100;000. This will be discussed in the future. Stop Signs in the Town Fred indicated that some residents in the John Street area feel there should be stop signs on Park Lane at John Street. The local law would have to be amended. There was a discussion about yield signs there, and Fred indicated that there is more liability (to the Town) with a yield sign instead of a stop sign. Dan feels it is inappropriate to put up stop signs on Park Lane; Cathy agreed that the steepness of the hill would make it treacherous in the winter. There was a discussion about a stop sign at Judd Falls Road and Campus Road. This discussion revolved into a discussion of closing the road and that the Town has put a lot of money into improving the road and Forest Home bridge in that area. Dan indicated that the State wants to close the road because of the poor design pattern there. Fred said that there is a discussion of Public Works Committee Minutes Page 3 putting up signals at the intersections of Caldwell Road, Tower Road and Route 366. David asked if there was a need for this. Fred indicated that there is a lot of traffic during morning and afternoon commutes. Cathy felt there are other issues to be addressed before looking at this. Forest Home Bridge Update David asked if the date of Mid-November is still viable for reopening the bridge. Dan indicated that one girder is down, and Fred said that they will be able to put a base coat(of asphalt) down but not a top this year. David indicated that the change order has been approved. Fred informed the Committee that Caldwell Road was scheduled to be reconstructed in 1997, although we will hold off on doing that. Review of Correspondence Regarding Dog Parks David indicated that the Town has received correspondence on creating dog parks in the Town of Ithaca. He felt that the Northeast water tank and the Eastern Heights Park are good places for such parks. Fred was concerned about the "policing" of it, and Cathy said that pet owners would have to keep it clean, etc. David asked the Planning Department to take the lead on this project. He indicated that it needs I ; to be made a part of the Park and Open Space Plan, if the Town is going to do this. Jonathon will ask JoAnn Cornish to work'on this. County Proposal for Bridge Agreements Dan indicated that he had received an agreement from Tompkins County regarding county-wide bridge maintenance costs. This agreement is proposing a formula for all bridges in Tomkins County whereas the County would be responsible for 80 percent and the municipality would be responsible for 20 percent of the maintenance. He felt that the Town of Ithaca has so few bridges, that we should look into a different way of calculating the ratio. Cathy indicated that this is still in the discussion stages and that she or Dan will report back as information becomes available. Storm Water Management Dan discussed the problems regarding the drainage that the Town is experiencing since the Arrowwood project(in the Village of Lansing) has begun. David asked Dan to formally request the Village of Lansing or Cornell University to improve the drainage so there is not such a great impact on the Town of Ithaca. Dan said that he will talk with representative from Cornell University because there have been some changes made. David asked about the gray waters and it was discussed that it was due to the Arrowwood project. _ , -h Public Works Committee Minutes Page 4 David asked when the neighborhood meeting regarding storm water management will be. Dan said he will schedule it for November. David then asked about the Dewitt Pond. Dan said it is - operational. Fred indicated that some lawn work need to be done, but it cannot be done until next spring. David asked how long the water will hold in the pond. Dan indicated, in a 25-year storm, six to eight hours. Fred indicated that we will build a stand pipe at the pond outlet to allow for more ponding per the schools request. David asked about the underground ditching project on Brandywine Drive. Fred said that we started the project this week and that some water may be diverted to Winthrop Drive for a while. We should be able to complete the project within a week or two. There was a brief presentation of the sewer camera that the Town is looking at. The meeting was adjourned at 10:00 a.m. ghk