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HomeMy WebLinkAboutPWC Minutes 1995-05-25 DISPOSITION DATE FINAL Town of Ithaca Public Works Committee Meeting May 25, 1995 Town of Ithaca Highway/Parks Facility 1 . Approval of Minutes David 2 . Discussion of Pedestrian Walkways/Crosswalks Fred/Rich 3 . Discussion of Baldwin/Colle Trail Fred/Rich 4 . Judd Falls Road Update Dan 5 . Forest Home Bridge Update Dan 6 . Water Tank Inspection Reports Dan 7 . Snyder Hill Sewer District Status (Dryden) Dan ghk pc : Mary Bryant4,_, Administrative Secretary Jon Kanter, Town Planner Andrew Frost, Code Enforcement Officer osInar OAR ter. C FINAL TOWN OF ITHACA Public Works Committee Meeting Minutes May 25 , 1995 Present : David Klein, Chairperson; Dan Walker; John Whitcomb; Rich Schoch, and Fred Noteboom Guests : Jonathan Kanter The meeting began at 8 : 05 a .m. The minutes were approved with no changes . Pedestrian Walkways/Crosswalks Fred Noteboom handed out a copy of Section 1150 through 1157 of the Vehicles and Traffic Law book. David Klein summarized the law by saying that pedestrians have the right of way in a crosswalk. Fred asked what the discussion for the Town Board meeting was going to entail . David asked if the Town has crosswalk signage and do we need it . Fred indicated that there are warning signs at the crosswalks within the Town. Fred also explained that he was looking into where a crosswalk can be put in a road. He cited that at Christopher Circle, the school children walk across the road where there is no crosswalk. He would like to find out if it would be appropriate for a crosswalk there . There are no sidewalks at that particular place . Dan Walker suggested looking in the Manual of Traffic Control Devices . Fred indicated that he had already. This book tells how to put them up but not where . Jonathan Kanter indicated that Section 1152 puts as must responsibility on the pedestrian and as on the driver. David rephrased the Section and said if driver can stop they should. David also felt that the advantage to marking crosswalks is that pedestrians will be seen better. David then asked if this was taken from the latest edition of the Vehicle and Traffic Law book. It was taken from the 1990-1991 edition. Fred will check to see if this is the latest edition. (Editor' s note : This was not taken for the most recent edition, but we have ordered the new edition. ) Jonathan then asked about the laws regarding bicycles . Stating that pin :cnnec i c-4.. there are ac..�.ua .s of signs for b_ _ of is I.s . Rich Schoch indicated that the Tow: c_ _ lac,.G. :_as warm s ns for bicyclists on the South Hill Trail . • 'i"r.'.`°" r--... --W7 -... t R f P. =. PuBlic Works Committee Meeting Minutes - Page 2: • Dan informed the Committee that most of the Town crosswalks are not striped. Fred explained this is because it is very expensive to strip crosswalks . He also indicated that the Town Highway/Parks Department is going to try a new tape that is suppose to be more _ _ -- - --- durable. _- The County has been using--it,- and it seems-to be- holding---^: up very well . The Committee has asked Fred to find out more about where crosswalks can go and what are the laws regarding signage. Baldwin/Colle Trial (Pew Trail) Jonathan showed the Committee (from a map) where the trail will go. He indicated that there was still some land rights the Town needs to obtain. Fred indicated that the Highway/Parks put together a cost estimate to build this trail, and a handout was giving to each member. The total cost was approximately $64, 000 . Jonathan asked how the costs were broken down. Fred indicated that they were split out between the trail and the sidewalks . David asked if the trail was 3 , 700 feet long. Rich indicated that figure includes the land we still need to get easements for. Jonathan asked if the landscaping costs were included in this estimate. Fred said no. David asked if this was going to be a major project . Fred said yes . Jonathan felt that the Town should design the project and then take the design to the public. David had concerns that more time would be spent on the design than on the building as was the case with the South Hill Trail . John Whitcomb told the Committee that the costs to build the trail are mostly "in-kind" . The out of pocket cost will be around $20, 000 . John then asked Fred if building this trail will put the Highway/Parks Department behind in their regular maintenance program. Fred felt that if there was sufficient amount of time for scheduling, this would not be a problem. Jonathan then suggested the building of this trail be made apart of the Capital Plan. Dan indicated that the clearing and grubbing could be worked on over a period of one or two years . John was concerned about when the public will be informed of this plan. Dan felt they should be involved in the planning stage, and Jonathan felt they should be involved in the design. .h. W ", > .Pi•- 3. :.ra -9d m,n._ ..ti{ : _kY:s ntr ; r x 7"77727-7-: Public Works Committee Meeting Minutes "Page 3 . John then asked if this trail would be part of the Greenway. Rich indicated that it would be linked up to the City' s greenway. Jonathan suggested if the project will not be started for a couple _ ___ _ _ of years, that the Town_look_irito ISTEA funding. David felt that the Town should secure the easements and then look --- at the plan to prioritize the building of trails . Dan then asked if the Baldwin/Colle' s have a time line of their own. Fred said we will have to work together on this and keep all parties informed. David asked if this project could be contracted out . Fred said that Judd Falls Road may be a good "pilot" project to see the outcome of contracting projects out. Maybe the Highway/Parks Department should look into the costs of hiring more employees versus contracting work out . David said we need to-get an estimate of how much time the Highway/Parks Department spends on regular maintenance, such as ditching. Dan indicated that this trail will add more to the Highway/Parks Department in regards to snow plowing. Rich Schoch informed the Committee that at present, we have three plows for trails (one on a pickup truck, 1 ton truck, and tractor) . Rich also explained that the users are demanding more for their trails . At this time, John asked if there was any action the Public Works Committee needed to take. Fred said no. Jonathan added this was for the Committee' s information and that it will be looked at through the Capital Plan. David reiterated that the negotiations are proceeding with the Baldwins and Colles . Jonathan said he will be talking to John Barney (Town Attorney) . David then asked if the Board had taken action on this project . John indicated that a resolution to negotiate with the landowners was signed. John also felt that a resolution was needed to start talking to the rest of the land owners affected and John Barney. Judd Falls Road Update Dan handed out a construction schedule for Judd Falls Road. He indicated that the contractor wants to start May 30 . After looking at the schedule, David asked if the road would be closed for six weeks . Dan indicated that part of the road will be closed in June (at the Tin Can) , except for local traffic . Dan indicated that the contractor will be paving in July or August . David asked if this was a longer time frame then originally planned. Dan said yes, but that it was still in the time frame of 90 days, which is stated in the agreement . W"is, :!'1�" ':21` Y erfr s.S"x <., .-.. T '.-c_ i Public Works Committee Meeting Minutes .ry '' z Page 4 `, A k Dan explained to the Committee that the contractor will be leaving the surface in tact until later in the project . This would be more tolerable for the residents . __ David asked if it would be completed before.. Cornell- University.'-s ---- -- registration. Dan said yes . Forest Home Bridge Dan informed the Committee that John Lampman from Tompkins County Public Works still has not received a final design, and that it will not be contracted out until October. David then said that the - - - project will not be able to be started until next year. John said that he received a phone call from Barbara Blanchard, Tompkins County Board of Representatives, and she said that the hold up was because the Office of Parks, Recreation, and Historical Preservation Society (OPRHS) has to review the design. Dan indicated, that to his knowledge, there is no design to review. Dan explained that MRB contracted the project out to Flint, and that the design would be complete by the end of the month. Dan also informed the Committee that there will be a meeting on May 31, 1995 between the County, Town, and Forest Home Association. (John • Lampman felt that after that meeting, they would send the design to the OPRHS . ) John indicated that Barbara Blanchard said the project will not be done until next year. John is concerned that if the project is not started this year, the ISTEA funding might be lost . Fred then asked how to proceed with the money in our accounts to hold it over until the project is started. John felt that we should encumber the money. David asked Fred if the bridge will hold up for one more year. Fred indicated that we will do our best to keep it up. Dan suggested that the Town charge the County for any maintenance costs on the bridge. John felt that Barbara Blanchard should be invited to the May 31 meeting. David felt that if the contract was put out to bid in October the earliest any contractor could start would be March, and the students are still at Cornell at that time . Dan said that it could be worked on and closed in the winter. John did not want to see that happen . g effirern- ''i +^-w- .r • dx - sm - - Public Works Committee Meeting Minutes page SM' Water Tank Inspection Report Dan informed the Committee that three water tank have been inspected this year. They are: Ridgecrest Tank, Sapsucker Woods Tank, and Danby_ Road Tank. Of those three__tanks, _ Ridgecrest and__ Sapsucker Woods need to be painted. David asked where the paint from the inside of the tanks goes. Dan indicated that it peels off in sheets and goes to the bottom of the tank. David then asked how the tanks are inspected. Dan indicated that they drain the tank, going through an access hole in the tank they open the hatch using confined space techniques, take pictures, hose down loose paint, and refill the tank. Basically the tanks are in good shape, there has been a little pitting, though. John asked if we would be bidding out the painting job., and Dan said yes, although we need to look into where the money will come from. It costs about $35, 000 each to paint the inside of the tanks. David asked if this uses an epoxy base paint . Dan said yes and that the tank will not be able to be used for 30 days . John ' was then concerned about how residents would get water. Dan indicated that each tank, except Ridgecrest, has a "sister" tank. Dan also indicated that the Ridgecrest tank has no paint on the walls. David asked if the walls were galvanized, and Dan said they were steel . Dan also indicated that it may cost more to have the exterior done. John asked if it would be cheaper to replace the tanks . Dan said no that a new tank costs about a half a million dollars . Dan did indicate that in the future, he will recommend that the Town buy Concrete tanks since they do not need to be painted. John asked how often each tank has to be painted. Dan indicated that there is a 10 year cycle, although we are behind and it has been about 12 years since they have been painted. Dan would like to have two of the three inspected tanks painted this year, and David asked if it was budgeted for and what budget it would come out of . Dan indicated the water budget and that he will be talking with Sally to discuss the finances . Dan also indicated that there is about $5, 000 in the current budget . David felt that the tanks with no paint on them are high priority. John asked how many tanks the Town has. Dan indicated between eight and ten and that as a maintenance schedule, he would like to paint one tank a year. John asked if there are liners for this type of tank . Dan said there must be, but he was not sure of the cost . K, Y rY.ZS�R n'y6. Tom' :fts-aw a •a o _ } sw{r It sm a n Y k V X � r 1 i Y Cam ..• . 1 I-u ' ,.. • ti:L S'.'_ {3 ) -^1 Public Works Committee Meeting Minutes � - -- Page 6s'-" Snyder Hill Sewer District Status Dan informed the Committee that he, John Whitcomb, and Jim Schug (Town of Dryden) had a meeting. John indicated that Jim has initiated discussions in the past and that' it is now in our "ball park" . John then . asked Rich if he could supply the Committee with the costs to maintain Eastern Heights Park and who uses the park. Jonathan suggested conducting a survey of park users . Dan said that the Dryden Town Board had approved the sewer district and that the Health Department also approved. An agreement between the Town of Dryden and Town of Ithaca has not be put in place yet. Miscellaneous • Dan informed the. Committee that there was a ground breaking at the octopus at 11: 00 a.m. today. He also told the Committee that the newspapers reported that the detour on Campbell Avenue will not be used. David asked how many years it will take to complete the project . Dan said it was slated for two years, but he thinks it will take mare like four. David then asked if the Shady Corners project will be completed this year. It is slated to be. David explained that they would be taking down a house to complete the project from the City line to Route 13A. Fred talked to the Committee about purchasing new software for the Highway/Parks Department to keep better maintenance records and to update the Signs Program, which will not run on a 486 computer. Fred indicated that it was an expensive program, but that CHIPS money can be used to purchase it . Fred than asked if it needed to be brought before the ADP Committee. John was not sure, but he didn' t think so. This purchase would only be used on the Highway/Parks Department computer. John indicated that he had received a letter from Bob Spaulding, Town of Caroline, regarding drug and alcohol testing. Fred informed John that there was a meeting on June 1, 1995, at the County to discuss the mandated law of drug and alcohol testing in employees who have a CDL license . Dan .discussed the Village of Cayuga Heights' concerns about the procedures of Bolton Point . This topic will be discussed at the next Public Works Committee Meeting. The meeting was adjourned at 9 : 50 a.m. ahk -