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HomeMy WebLinkAboutPWC Minutes 1995-10-26 OfSPOSITtON DATE /� e/I/1 ilr 4 tea. P:'.t �C� ti 9 Town of Ithaca Public Works Committee Meeting October 26, 1995 Town of Ithaca Highway/Parks Facility 1 . Approval of Minutes David 2 . Discussion of Town' s Culvert Pipe Policy Fred 3 . Discussion of Judd Falls Road Work Fred 4 . Discussion of Water and Sewer Capital Plan Dan 5 . Discussion of New Town Hall Plan Dan 6 . Discussion of Forest Home Bridge Dan 7 . Discussion of Christopher Circle Water Tank Site Work Rich ghk pc : Mary Bryant, Administrative Secretary Joan Lent Noteboom, Town Clerk Jon Kanter, Town Planner Andrew Frost, Code Enforcement Officer asposmON DATE /1* TO WN OF ITHACA Public Works Committee Meeting Minutes October 26 , 1995 Present : David Klein, Chairperson; Dan Walker; John Whitcomb; Rich Schoch, and Fred Noteboom Guests : Jonathan Kanter The meeting began at 8 : 10 a.m. The September minutes were approved as written. Discussion of Town Culvert Pipe Policy Fred Noteboom indicated that the Highway/Parks Department sees many problems with the culvert pipes around the Town and there is a need to revise the current policy. Some of the problems are inadequate drainage, rusted pipe, and pipes are too small for drainage flow. Fred explained that at present, the Highway/Parks Department replaces pipes, at Town' s expense, only if the need arises . This can create a problem with neighbors wanting their pipe changed too. Fred asked the Committee to give him suggestions on revising the Culvert Pipe Policy. Fred informed the Committee that some landowners have gravel driveways and some have blacktop driveways . It costs less to fix a gravel driveway than blacktop. David Klein feels that, as with all other work done by the Town, we should match the existing surroundings . Fred indicated that we do that when the Town decides to change a pipe . Dan Walker reminded the Committee that culvert pipes are in the right-of-way (ROW) , and Fred indicated that, by law, the Town only has to maintain drainage . Jonathan Kanter asked if the homeowners have to keep the culvert pipes clean. Fred said that they should but don' t. Fred also indicated that the Town might want to move toward underground drainage. David stated that the currently policy says, if it is a new pipe to be placed, the homeowner pays for it and shares the maintenance with the Town. It also states if we damage it, we will fix it . The Town will replace a pipe if we make changes to the road that warrant changing the pipes . October 26, 1995, Public Works Committee Minutes Page 2 John Whitcomb asked Fred about the consequences if the Town buys all the pipe and installs them. Fred said it would add greatly to our workload. Fred said that the County installs all pipes. Dan indicated that at his house, he had to purchase the pipe and the County put it in. Jonathan asked if the Town could stockpile culvert pipes and charge the owners for it . Fred said that we do that now. David asked what the price was for purchasing pipe. Fred said for a 15" pipe, which is the Town' s standard minimum, it costs about $100 for a 20' pipe . John asked how many pipes are changed a year. Fred said it is hard to tell, about 15 homeowners change the pipes themselves. They also need to get a Permit from the Highway/Parks Department for $300, which is refunded when work is completed and approved by Highway/Parks Department. David indicated that the need of a permit to work in the ROW is not mentioned in the policy. Any work in the ROW requires a permit. David said the policy addresses new installation, existing maintenance, damage, but does not include rusted out ones, etc. Fred said that it might be included in new installation. David said that it should be reworded. John felt the policy should be clarified, but that the Town should not get into buying culvert pipes for homeowners. Jonathan suggested that developers should have to show good drainage paths . David felt that homeowners should not be responsible to put in a larger pipe because of new development above them. Dan asked about drainage in the swales in people's back yards . Fred said that people will not be happy with any work done on these swales . David said that we need to continue to contact people about this . David feels that new developments should indicated their drainage system, and they should pay for installation. He also feels that it is fair that homeowners should continue to pay for culvert pipes . It was decided that the Highway/Parks Department should define the policy better, put in specification requirements, and inspection requirements . It also needs to be dated. October 26, 1995, Public Works Committee Minutes Page 3 a Discussion of Judd Falls Road Fred indicated that he met with Bruce Brittian to discuss some issues regarding the rebuilding of the road. 1. Curbing at the driveways . Bruce felt they were too shallow and the water will back up. David felt that would not happen and there is not a problem there. Fred agreed. John indicated that Bruce had concerns about dirt building up thus making the water go in the driveways . Dan indicated that the design was made to not let that happen. 2 . Toe Trippers. Bruce feels that more gravel is needed. John agreed with this, saying that he did not like the looks of the gravel and felt that it would be hard to walk on. David asked what was in the specifications, and Dan said that it just said gravel. David felt that we needed to remove what' s there and replace it. Fred agreed; he is not happy with it, and it needs to be replaced. Dan indicated that the homeowners asked for it that way. John asked if we could put in fine crusher run to compact some of the pea gravel. Fred said that Bruce was concerned about the width of the path. Dan indicated that it was the same as before the construction. John felt it was not the same by the wall. John was more concerned with the surface than the width. David asked if we have notes regarding what the people wanted there. Dan said that most of the owners were present when the work was being done. John feels that we should put in fines to bring it up to grade and then work on the width. Fred said we will talk to landowners and then do this . 3 . The Wall . Fred indicated that the original concept was to take the wall out and put it back in after work was completed. The issue now is what to do with it. Fred has talked to a stone mason. The mason felt that it would cost a lot, and we should not try to repair it . It needs to be taken down and rebuilt. October 26, 1995, Public Works Committee Minutes Page 4 L Fred also indicated that he talked to Kit Lambert, homeowner, and Bruce. She is in agreement with changing it, cleaning up the shrubs, etc. Fred indicated that the Town would like to share the expense with the Lamberts . Kit will have to talk to her husband. David asked if we would build it on gravel or a frost wall . The mason felt it should be gravel. Fred will get quotes on this. John asked if it would be the same height, Fred said yes. John then asked if the pole had been removed. Fred said no, but he talked to the phone company, who still has wires on it. The phone company was going to return Fred' s call . Dan said that the cable still needs to be replaced. The wall can not be worked on until the pole is gone. David asked were the money will come from to pay for the replacement of the wall. Fred said Highway/Parks fund. Fred also said it should not cost more than $5, 000 for mason and materials . Fred will get a quote for mason' s labor and materials . Highway/Parks Department staff can do some of the work. 4 . Height of Road at Insurance Company. Bruce says the height is higher and the road needs to be cut to the sidewalk for a 6" fall on the cross slope. David said that nothing is flowing toward the building. David then asked about water flowing to the Byway. Dan said there is no more water than before, it is less. Fred indicated that he looked at the road and drainage there on Saturday, the day it rained a lot, and saw no problems. Bruce said it does not drain away. David indicated that we will have to monitor the drainage, etc. and if problems arise in the future, we will deal with them. John said that we will correct the path width and the wall at this time only. David indicated that the sign we were looking for is near Ruth Mahar' s house . Discussion of Water and Sewer Capital Plan Dan handed out a work sheet on the priority plan. He considered four water projects a priority one; two sewer and two water projects as priority two; and two sewer and three water projects as priority three. October 26, 1995, Public Works Committee Minutes Page 5 David asked how these projects would be paid for. Dan indicated that John is working with a spreadsheet which will include the retiring debt . Dan said we also have approximately $800, 000 to $900, 000 in a fund balance for the Water account. David asked if these priorities were from the 1993 Capital Plan. Dan said yes . David also asked if there were any contributions for any of these, and Dan said no. Dan said the Trumansburg Road Water main replacement is the most important . We would add a tank by Valley View Road and then pump water from the City of Ithaca. David asked what the benefits would be . Dan said that all the serviced areas on west hill will benefit from this with better water pressure. Dan also said that the tank we presently have is about a half million gallon tank. We are servicing about three million gallons presently. David asked if it would benefit the Ecovillage, and Dan said no not directly. David then asked if it would benefit any other development in the area, and Dan said yes . David felt that the East Shore Drive Water main replacement might be more important, since there have been several breaks . Dan explained that the water is taken from the City now. John asked about the Cornell University water project, and Dan said that we could do the East Shore Drive project in conjunction with Cornell' s project. This is one reason why it is not the number one priority. David asked Jonathan if this plan should be presented to the Planning Board. Jonathan said that there has been some discussion regarding it at the Planning Committee. David then asked about the East Hill Water tank project . Dan said that it can be done in conjunction with Bolton Point' s project. The money amount on the work sheet is the total amount. The Town' s proportion of the cost may not be that much if shared with Bolton Point . David then asked if any projects were budgeted for in 1996 . Dan said no, but if any work was started, we would do a budget amendment. John indicated that the 1996 budget include only maintenance, not capital improvements . John said that we will have to pay the City for repairs to lines in 1996 . We received a bill from the 1993 flood. In 1997 we will have to pay for the Octopus replacements, which will be around $80 , 000 . Dan said this was a trunk project, and the link up will • be a different one. Dan said there are a lot of proposed project to discuss with the City. October 26, 1995, Public Works Committee Minutes Page 6 Discussion of Town Hall Plans John indicated that the project may be way over budget. David asked if it would be about a million and a half for the whole project . Dan thinks more like a million and a half for just the building. David' felt that was a high estimate, saying that the three floors are less than 12, 0.00 square feet. He asked if the basement was going to be a full basement or half. David asked if the boring has been done yet, and Dan said not yet . They will be going down about 100 feet, because they think there may be ground water there. Dan will get quotes, and David estimated the cost at $1, 500. David discussed that the building should be designed to the Code. John asked about a time table, since we need to have a public hearing on it. At this meeting we can discuss the report, then have a special meeting/public hearing after November 9, 1995 . The public has ten days to view the project before the public hearing.. David said the layout was a good one. David then asked if the east wall was on the property line . Dan said it was 10' off. Dan said the report regarding the boring will not be ready by the November 9th meeting. Dan discuss the permit, etc. that will need to be from the City. Schematics and Cost Estimate will be ready for the November 9th meeting. Discussion of Forest Home Bridge John asked if the ISTEA money from the state was guaranteed in writing. Dan said no. Fred said that there was a meeting and the design company was asked to cut $250, 000 from the design. Dan indicated that the Town will be digging by the bridge to see what is there. Dan also indicated that he talked to the consultant on Monday, and was told that the consultant sent the County revised estimates. We have not seen them yet . Discussion Christopher Circle Water Tank Rich Schoch informed the Committee that 50 trees have been planted and mulched. Work still needs to be done on the swale . He felt that rip rap will do for this . October 26, 1995, Public Works Committee Minutes Page 7 v-e David explained that the resident' s are happier now. David asked if the trees should be staked, and Rich said that Cornell suggests they not be staked unless need be, so we will watch them. David asked about the deer repellant; Rich said he will be putting some on soon. David asked about the building. Dan showed the Committee the plans for the building, and discussed these plans. He explained that he had quotes on natural ceder siding and vinyl siding that looks like ceder. He noted that the upkeep of the natural siding is more than the vinyl siding, since it is recommended to stain the natural ceder every five years. David asked why they were going to use the more expensive insulation. He felt it would cost more than the siding. Dan said it needs good insulation for the heating of the building. There was a discussion regarding the wet soil there, and Fred pointed out that it should be drier, since we improved the drainage there . David asked if the bird houses had been put up yet, and Rich said not yet, we still have the build them, which is a winter project . Meeting was adjourned 10 :00 a.m.