PUBLIC SERVICES COMMITTEE MINUTES

NOVEMBER 21, 2006

The meeting was called to order by Chairman Fogt at 7:00 p.m.

MEMBERS PRESENT: Dan Fogt, Ed Pleasant, Mark Reams (arrived later in the meeting)

OTHERS PRESENT: Rowland Seymour, Russ Jones, Dick Noland, Gus Stierhoff, Alan Seymour, Phil Roush, Tracie Davies, Ryan Horns (Journal Tribune)

AGENDA:

1. Fifth Street Traffic Study for Five Points to Coleman’s Crossing

Mr. Roush stated he sent the study to Council and asked them to let DLZ know when Council was ready to have DLZ make the full presentation. He also asked to put it on tonight’s agenda in order to determine the course of action for the next steps. Mr. Roush feels the next step would be to do an RFQ for a consulting firm to look at implementing the recommendations, which would be to look at the long term development of the second corridor, which may include plans for more lanes on Delaware Avenue. Need to look at the traffic pattern through the whole area where it’s coming from, which includes some traffic from the London Avenue area. Administration’s recommendation is to do an RFQ to see what firms are out there that have this experience, then sit down and talk specifics of what the outline of the scope of services for that type of work will cost for that next step. Actually define the specific project(s) and probable costs for those so we know where to go for sure.

Mr. Fogt asked if the City just wanted to do the east side of the City from Main St. east. Mr. Roush said yes. He feels that’s where the biggest traffic problems are. This would include the traffic coming from the 9^th Street/London intersection area then on out to Rt. 33.

Mr. Fogt said Ms. Sellers has been talking about an updated Comprehensive Plan for the City. He asked how this fits into that. Mr. Roush said it would fit into it. Any studies the City does that impact an area could be rolled into the Comprehensive Plan. The Plan would look at other things such as the Thoroughfare Plan done in 2000 and possibly include some more areas in addition to the one we’re looking at here. This traffic study is set up to recognize the specific problem on the east side, the traffic pattern along Delaware Ave and the commercial area.

Mr. Roush introduced Brian Palmer, the new Assistant City Engineer, and Greg DeLong, the new City Planner.

Mr. Pleasant feels we need to look at long-range plans. The two that are in this proposal are not enough. Look at one-way streets, the connection between Chestnut and London, even a round-about at Five Points. Need to look at very visionary things. He’s not crazy about studies because he’s not sure they are action based. Mr. Roush stated his perception for this phase is for them to come back with an actual recommendation for the alignment etc, and cost of doing it or a specific implementation plan. Mr. Pleasant is in favor of that as long as it is action-based.

Mr. Fogt does not want to make the study too small. If we’re looking at one-way streets, then it needs to go clear to Grove Street or if we’re looking at the new schools out on the Bunsold property. Mr. Roush stated the school has done a traffic study which he totally disagrees with. His fear is that if it’s too broad, we’ll have a study where we won’t be able to implement anything because it will cost too much money. Mr. Pleasant stated we’d have to prioritize in stages, medium range/long range. You need to look at the total picture because the City will continue to grow. Mr. Roush confirmed that the Committee wants to relook at the Thoroughfare Plan based on the way the City has grown since it was done, plus this study, then put everything together and look at the area again as far as what the specific needs are, but being a little more detailed than the Thoroughfare Plan because it was too general. It didn’t recommend specific projects, just areas. Mr. Roush will go back to Administration and come back to the Committee with a more specific plan on what the scope should be.

2. South Park

Mr. Fogt stated he was hoping that someone from Beazer Homes/Adena Pointe would be in attendance, but that’s not the case.

Mr. Roush doesn’t feel Adena Pointe is the problem; it’s the drains through South Park. It’s not an issue that needs to be discussed at the meeting. Mr. Fogt disagreed. Mr. Roush had the Asst. City Engineer and Inspector walk the area about 2 weeks ago. They looked at all the drainage. Joe Tracey has been out there within the last month. Any water that gets to the edge of South Park will drain through Adena Pointe. It’s not being held up by the Adena Pointe drainage. There are blockages within South Park itself and until Mr. Tracey gets to the point where the ground isn’t too soft to get equipment in and he’s not overwhelmed with the annual fall leaf program, he’ll get out there and do some work.Mr. Fogt showed some photographs that were taken towards the woods showing the construction that’s happened right on top of the tile. One picture showed the tile is actually right below this and the water is bubbling up out of the ground out of the tile and going on the surface. Mr. Roush said the drainage through Adena Pointe is not restricting the flow from South Park. There is enough fall from South Park that it can get through the Adena Pointe area. Mr. Fogt showed a picture of the tile coming out of the woods on the east edge of the woods. The water is actually flowing across the surface and not out of the tile itself. Mr. Roush said it’s because there are blockages up this way, from here down it’s flowing. The blockages up here in South Park are what the City needs to take care of; it’s not the Adena Pointe problem. Mr. Fogt disagreed. The tile within the woods on Adena Pointe are blocked. Mr. Roush said it’s in South Park. Mr. Fogt said the tile is 90 years old and it’s blocked with tree roots and soil or any number of things. That tile is not letting the water flow through. Mr. Roush stated the problem in South Park is the blockage in South Park. It’s the single-wall, corrugated interior tile that catches the twigs, sticks and brush. Ms. Davies said Mr. Tracey has identified where it is; he just can’t get to it.

Mr. Pleasant asked what happens when Mr. Tracey can get to it? Mr. Roush said Mr. Tracey is going to replace the tile all the way through South Park with a double-walled smooth interior pipe, 15” or 18” diameter, from the edge of South Park all the way over to London Avenue. Ms. Davies said they will focus on the section where they feel the main blockages are first.

Mr. Pleasant asked for a timeframe for getting this done. Ms. Davies said she only has one person working on stormwater. He can’t do it by himself, and he can’t get equipment in there. They can’t pump it down because Water and Wastewater needs their pumps now for other issues. Hopefully will be able to finish the leaf program within the next 2/3 weeks. By that time, the ground should be drier to be able to get back in there with the pumps. She hopes to be able to begin pumping within the next two weeks. Mr. Pleasant asked for the timing once the pumping is finished, when to expect installation of the tile. Ms. Davies responded that the whole project will take the entire winter due to other projects; they can only work on it when they have time. The one section will be done as soon as possible. Ms. Davies will contact the committee when they are able to begin the work. Mr. Pleasant expressed frustration with the timing. This has been a problem for a given length of time. He understands the leaf problem and understands having only one person, but feels priority needs to be given to this problem if it’s the City’s responsibility and get it taken care of as soon as possible. He encouraged Ms. Davies to make it a priority to get it done. She said it’s high in the priority list.

Mr. Rowland Seymour asked if Adena Pointe doesn’t have anything to do with the water in South Park, why is there more water in South Park now, even in the dry season, than there ever was. Mr. Roush said because there is more blockage in the pipe that runs through South Park. Mr. Seymour stated when Adena Pointe started construction, that’s when the problem started. Mr. Roush stated this has been one of the wettest years we have had for quite a while. That’s part of the problem, as well as the tile. Mr. Seymour disagreed with Mr. Roush.

Mr. Reams feels we’re dealing with a couple issues here and weather is part of it. He noted another place he drives by similar to South Park. The area on 334 gets wet then dries up, but this year it hasn’t drained.

Mr. Gus Steirhoff has been in the area for a long time and used to help with farming in that area. He stated the tile started breaking down back in the 60’s and 70’s. He knows this because he used to coon hunt and used to have to get in the tiles to get his dogs out of the tile. There were blowouts and the property owners would fix it up or jury-rigg it. It always used to drain and it was farmed for many years. It was not a wetlands. The wetlands is at the intersection of Timberview. When they started digging the dirt out to build houses, they couldn’t get the dirt out of the buckets because it was all the black muck dirt. That’s what’s causing the problems. All the water is coming from Timberview. He feels part of that should be an open ditch plated with great big stones. If a big tile is going to be put in, it will need big catchers. Need a big catch basin by the road where it’s coming across from Rt. 38. Also need to do something with the area by the golf course. It’s a mess there. The developers of that area should be the ones to have to pay for it.

Mr. Alan Seymour stated with regard to Adena Pointe, they are making contributions to the park. The tile that is plugged with tree roots, etc., is not immediately in South Park, but closer to the wooded area. Mr. Roush said they’d find out once they get in there.

Mr. Stierhoff suggested taking a backhoe, dig it out and let it drain naturally.

Mr. Pleasant asked for an update from time to time.

3. Impact fees/Traffic Count

Mr. Roush distributed maps and sheets from the Thoroughfare Plan that was done that show the traffic counts done at that point. The blue dots are the locations where the traffic was counted. City wants to recount many of these locations. Want to start with the major streets plus add the newer streets such as Coleman’s Crossing, Millwood Blvd., Creekview and Scott Farms Blvd. Counting will start next week and run through mid-December then start back up in early January. Do not want to skew the count with the holiday traffic.

Mr. Fogt asked if this would be coordinated with the east side study. Response was yes.

Mr. Pleasant said it appears that Delaware Avenue is not as crowded as it was four or five months ago. Mr. Reams noted with the railroad tracks repaired, traffic is flowing more freely, not having to go so slow over the tracks.

Mr. Roush noted the controller for the left-turn signal at Charles Lane and Delaware Ave. was repaired today.

Mr. Reams suggested recounting areas that have been improved, such as Watkins Road, Charles Lane. Anywhere where we had an identified improvement or it was borderline, area should be recounted.

4. 2006 Goals

Ms. Davies updated the committee on stormwater. Within the last two weeks, the City received official notification from Ohio EPA that City is a Phase II Community and a plan must be put together within the next six months. She noted the City is under Findings and Orders from the Ohio EPA to implement stormwater programs. Ms. Davies feels Marysville is ahead of the game compared to some communities. Mr. Roush noted as part of Phase II Plan, City will have do a water quality analysis. Will have to sample certain points and have them tested to show the conditions of the streams, such as Mill Creek, Town Run. This will have to be done on a regular basis. City has six months to come up with the Plan and five years to implement the Plan.

Mr. Reams asked if it was in the plan for next year to work on the Town Run? Mr. Roush stated it is not in next year’s budget. Ms. Davies stated we need to sit down with the committee and discuss what needs to be done and prioritize the projects.

Regarding the Fifth Street Traffic Study, Mr. Reams asked if his option of a one-way section of Fifth Street. Mr. Roush stated that will be in the next phase of the study.

Meeting adjourned at 7:45 p.m.