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Home My WebLink AboutPWC Minutes 2025-03-18-DRAFT Town of Ithaca Public Works Committee March 18, 2025, 9:00 a.m. Draft Minutes Present: Rod Lowe, Joe Slater, Mike Beach, Dave O'Shea, Kelly Anderson, Justin McNeal, Sam Farris, Marty Moseley, Joe Talbut, Travis Mills, Mike Smith, CJ Randall, Rich DePaolo, Rob Rosen, Becca Wright, Becky Jordan. Guests: Owen Barden,TG Miller; Leslie Schill, Cornell Campus Planning; Kim Van Leeuwen, Fisher Associates. Approval of Minutes: Approval of February 25,2025 minutes was motioned by XX, seconded by XX. Carried. Member Comments/Concerns 2. Consider Modifications to Agenda Member Comments/Concerns a. Consider Modifications to Agenda—Winthrop Drive school speed zone was brought to the forefront as the least controversial agenda item. 3. Winthrop Drive School Speed Zone Mr. Slater stated the request to expand the school speed limit zone came from a board member via the PTA for Northeast elementary school. Shared map for reference. with a community population under 50k this request has to go to the state for review. The proposed extension would be westerly from the speed limit sign down through Brandywine and Sandra Place. Brandywine has a crosswalk that meets Winthrop Drive. There is also a crosswalk on Sandra Place. NNYS Manual Uniform Traffic Control Devices (MUTCD) for streets and highways supplement states the maximum distance for school zones is 1320' (0.25 mile). The existing school zone is 1320 feet. In addition,the state requires school crosswalks to be supervised by an adult crossing guard. They could require the same at Brandywine and Sandra. Ms. Drake advised that there has always been a crossing guard on warren Road. The town added a crossing guard on the corner of Winthrop due to severity of that corner 25+yrs ago. The cost to the town for crossing guards at warren and Winthrop is about$35,0001year at the current hourly wage of $19.001hr. Mr. Howe suggested submitting the request and making decision(s)based on state response. 4. 118 Ding Road West Drainage Project Mr. O'Shea shared a slide(see agenda packet). Drainage from up by Fospicare crosses 96B by Italian Carryout and funnels out by property#118. There is a concrete wall there that supports the road and is starting to overturn, deteriorate, and fail from the volume of water. The driveway culvert has blown out before. We want to make improvements for water drainage. The plan is to enclose a portion due to large volume and keep grades proportioned. Pave the driveway apron to stabilize course. Theres a small portion that is undersized. Need to fortify road. Culvert will increase from 22"to proposed 36". Reshape drainage swales to guide water into bigger 6-7' grated structures with secondary side openings. we will need to secure construction easements. Material costs are about$15-20k. Mr. Lowe and Mr. Rosen consent to move forward with project 5. Cornell Sewer Exemption Request—Game Farm Road Mr. O'Shea explained that Cornell is looking to install a turf field,parking,and eventually a club house and bathrooms connected to a sanitary facility located off Came Farm Road. The town sewer does not extend this far ending at Summerhill Drive and the system doesn't have any capacity left for this project. The applicant is applying for a sewer exemption to install an onsite private septic system. Mr. Lowe commented on the number of sewer exemption requests for this property and inquired if Cornell is almost done with anticipated development or will requests be ongoing. Ms. Schill provided that Came Farm Road is Cornells long term plan for field-based varsity level sports with very specific use. McGovern soccer fields have been out on Game Farm for almost 20 years. Access to proposed hockey field is same as McGovern field. Long term site plan synthetic turf with small press box, dugouts,and initial bathroom building. Anticipated phase two is a restroom facility to include a club house that depends on fundraising underway. Improve the driveway and parking to a 120-space lot to accommodate competition field hockey as well as McGovern Field practice facility. working with fire personnel to make sure the parking lot turn around is sufficient for fire apparatus. Septic field proposed slightly uphill from parking. Existing McGovern field septic not sized to support.New septic capacity is designed to support both McGovern field and both phases of the new field hockey site. Septic flow calculation design is to support a 6-hour event. Today's cost to tie into local sewer is an estimated$346k. In answer to 1'Vlr. Howe's question, we perceive maybe a total of seven fields/venues in the next 10-20 years. Competition softball and competition soccer would require auxiliary parking and stadium seating. This site is a low use seasonal in nature site to be used about 150 days/year. Usage will include field hockey for a couple hours/day, club team 50 days/year with about 6-7 home games/year. Ms. Randall reported that planning will make an environmental determination tonight. Utilities can induce development. In keeping with the overarching goal of the comprehensive plan we would like to keep this as seasonal recreation in nature and fitting with the character of the area. Mr. DePaolo gained applicant confirmation that the proj ect's water and sewer plan is designed to support both phases including a proposed two-story field house which will be more intensive in terms of water usage. There was general favor of moving project to town board. Project timeline: 3/18/25 Planning Board SEAR determination, 3/24/25 Town Board: Sewer Exemption 4/15/25 Preliminary and Final Site Plan Approval,4/22/25 Zoning Board Review, Summer '25 Construction 6. Project Updates Mr. Slater-NNYPA construction team contract not yet closed out based on communication issues with devices. It may be May before no cost change order from old wire mesh network to stand alone nodes. Mr. O'Shea—DPW MEP has kicked off. Finding drawing discrepancies that don't align. Change orders are required for scope. we've worked with the contractors before, so they are familiar with the facility. Town hall court/mezzanine is on the street bidding later than hoped for so will be competing with other projects. There is an interest on Bidnet. The court applied for a furniture grant. Only $1,100 per desk awarded, for a total of$2,200. The town may have to pick up the remaining $10-12k. TH weatherization: Architect drawings are about 90%. Internal staff are going to perform some testing in the basement for potential water damage or concrete deficiencies. Site Design Manual: B&L is almost through sewer details. Starting to draft water details. Starting to look at dedication and bonding procedures related to building infrastructure. King Road w Box Culvert: Making a push to get on the street in the next 2-3 weeks which is later than original schedule,however, should be able to pave this summer BridgeNNY: Submitted to DOT a couple months ago. Our region is backed up with staffing changes and Syracuse project therefore anticipating another month or two before we hear back.B&L pushing DOT to get approvals due to the long lead time on steel. Inlet Valley: Submitting to DOT and DEC this week.Doping to go on the street late spring. Project construction will more than likely be pushed into next year. Sewer Rehab: Started repairs and slated to be done in 60-90 days. we will meter and see if we can see a decrease in I&I after the funds spent there. Babcock Trail: 90%of drawings submitted last Friday which we are reviewing. Doping to bid next month or so. There's a flexibility on grant funds in that we have until end of 2026. East Shore Drive: Next week back on street to solicit design firms. Committee to review and request RFP's. Mr. Lowe commented a storm went through Sunday more heavily in west Mill area but also Renwick, Haller Blvd, and Culver Rd. Crews out yesterday and today cleaning up. Adjourn 9:57 a.m. The next meeting is scheduled for Tuesday,April 15,2025. Submitted by, Becky Jordan