MEETING MINUTES

Ithaca Commons Repair & Upgrade Project

Date
09/23/2014

Start
11:00 AM

End
12:00 PM

Purpose
2014 Construction Meeting #27
Distribution/Attendance:
City of Ithaca
Downtown Ithaca Alliance
Sasaki Associates
Labella Associates
Vacri Construction / ACP /
Power & Construction Group
Verizon
NYSEG Gas
DDS
NYSEG Electric

C#3A Surface, C#3B Electric

Next Date
09/30/2014

Next Time
10:00 AM

Prepared By
Nicole Mason / Jess Buckley

Location
Commons Project Office 215 East State St Ithaca, NY
(Present at meeting unless noted: A absent)
Michael Kuo, Jessica Buckley, Nicole Mason
Tammy Baker
Susannah Ross, Eamonn Hutton (A), Kimberly Michaels (A) TWM
Dan Walker, James Matzat (A)
Ralph Avery (A), Andy Breznay, Matt Thomas (A), Roberto DeVincentis,
Bob Bellavigna (A), Ken Height ACP
Lou Zupan (A), Bill Planert
Gloria Moran (A), Jeff Utter (A)
Doug Stafford (A), Jack Barker (A), Dawn Stillwell (A), John Mattiace (A)
Jeff Bubb (A), Flint Brann (A)
Jack Czapranski (A), Dennis Kuhn (A)

Item / Description
1. RFIs, SUBMITTALS
1.1. Vacri (Contract #3A):
1.1.1.Structural Soil (#90R2): Vacri to
update on status of re-submittal;
Need delivery of material for State
Street 9/29/14
1.1.2.Topsoil (#104R2): Sasaki reviewed
9/15; Must be mixed with other
components to form Planting Soil
per spec
1.1.3.Gateway (#106, #114a/b): Vacri to
advise on schedule for delivery
1.1.4.Play Benches (#117): Vacri issued
9/17/14; Sasaki to review
1.1.5.Trolley Circle Sculpture: Vacri to
submit sample of etched paver for
Sasaki to review
1.1.6.Bronze Inlays: Vacri to provide
submittal for bronze play pieces
1.1.7.Etched Pavers (Play Pieces): Sasaki
waiting for Hanover sample

Notes
1.1.1 Last test was Sand 23.6%. Silt 47.6%
pH 6.8 organic 3.87% Clay 18.8%
(minimum spec is 20%). Vacri will order
40 CY for Bank Alley green screen area
and submit current mix to document
exactly what it is. M Kuo approved
pulling back structural soil limits from
next to the northern seat wall so
concrete pour is not held up tomorrow.
Pogo said they now have all the
components for the mix that meets every
spec believe that they have a good
source of clay, they are waiting for a
nutrient test.
1.1.2 Going to get each component
approved and then mix it to spec. Need
to submit on mix as well as components.

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Due

1.2. P&CG (Contract #3B):

1.2.1.Bollards Components (#18R1):
Reviewed by Sasaki 9/22/14
1.2.2.Catenary Cabling (#22, RFI#24):
Material vendor/manufacturer
approved; PCG to submit shop
drawings
1.2.3.EX6 Cable (TBD): PCG to submit
shielded cable for City Electrical
Inspector to review
2. DESIGN, FIELD DIRECTIVES
2.1. Bulletin 21 (140 E State Storm Lateral):
Issued 8/29/2014; Vacri to provide cost
estimate
2.2. Bulletin 22 (Benchwarmers Vault):
Property owner to block up wall; Vacri to
backfill and demo existing walls when
work progresses to this area
2.3. Aurora/Cayuga Kiosk Pad: Kiosk pad for
Cayuga and Aurora to be 2 wider for
parking pay station; run conduit for
power to pay station
2.4. HH-2, HH-3: Relocate HHs to allow PCG
to complete DB to LP-1A/1B; Avoid
conflict with gateway footer
2.5. Weeps: Need to finalize spacing and size
of weeps; weeps to be packed with stone
and covered with landscaping fabric
2.6. Expansion Joints: Sasaki to comment on
using fibre in lieu of cork
2.7. Slot Drain Slab #3/DT511: Sasaki to
comment on revised detail as installed
behind Yellowwoods
3. CRITICAL PATH ITEMS
3.1. Bank Alley
3.1.1.Granite Curb & Seat Walls: AC+P to
provide delivery date
3.1.2.Planter Curbs: Excess concrete has
been removed; KM to visit site
9/23/14 to confirm number and
layout of trees
3.1.3.Gas Valve Adjustments: Vacri to
coordinate with NYSEG G
3.1.4.Waterproofing 202: Property owner
ok with specd material previously

1.2.1 Expect shop drawing for cabling

tomorrow.
1.2.3 Electrician to coordinate on getting
shielded cable for inspector.

Vacri to demo and backfill vault on T&M

Sasaki is to issue bulletin. PCG will run

spare conduit in case of future use to
the pay station.
Ithaca team to propose locations to
Sasaki.
ACP is concerned about installing weeps
close to expansion joint. Joint is at lowest
point next expansion joint before slot
drains.
Sasakis preference is cork however MK
approved use of fiber for increased speed
and ease of installation
ACP has 3 pavers ordered already.
Sasaki to review modified detail with
ACO and respond on acceptability.
3.1.1 Pouring up to the pavilion today,
finish slab in middle next week, seat walls
Oct 13, curbing Oct 20, setting the pavers
by Oct 27, through Nov 17.
200 block: concrete slab and footings by
Oct 13.
3.1.5 Sasaki to request a specific location
for paving mock-up on southern Bank
Alley.
3.1.7 Sasaki to look at which is preferred
location with Kim. Vacris surveyor

Page 2 of 4

used; MM advised that protection

course must be used on top of
membrane
3.1.5.Paving Mock-Up: Sasaki to select 8
x 8 area on Bank Alley for mock-up
3.1.6.Planting Soil: Vacri to provide
remaining material mix (see
Submittals)
3.1.7.Greenscreen: Location of
greenscreen (centered in planting
bed or offset to east) see PP103
layout vs. Detail #4/PP104; when to
install footings
3.1.8.Structural Steel: Vacri to provide
installation start date
3.1.9.Lighting: PCG to install EX3, EX4
when steel installed; EX2 to be
delivered 10/31; EX6 to be installed
when granite delivered
3.2. 200 Block
3.2.1.Light Poles: PCG sent letter to NYSEG
9/16/14; NYSEG G to remove all
conflicts within 20 of C/L light pole
on 9/24/14; PCG started augering
yesterday; had to replace 24 casing
with 25 casing
3.2.2.Bollards: 4 of 5 bollard bases
installed; will complete after
gateway footing is backfilled
3.2.3.Gateways: AC+P installed #4 rebar
for uprights instead of #8; DE to
review and advise on detail for
supplemental reinforcing
3.2.4.Signals Project Coordination: Electric
feed to NYSEG vault at Aurora
completed 9/23/14; Signals and
streetlights need power; Start date
for work at intersection?
3.3. Home Dairy Alley: Vacri to start 9/25/14;
Coordinate access through Center Ithaca
and Mate Factor
3.4. Trench Drains: Vacri to confirm with ACO
that channels shipped for job will
maintain warranty; Vacri to confirm if
protruding connecting pipe will conflict
with pavers
4. M&PTP: MAINTENANCE & PROTECTION

currently laying out location close to

property line with plants on west side of
screen.
3.1.8 Vacri thinks steel will be ready the
first week in October but may not have
area complete for install until end of
October. PCGs schedule is to pull wire at
the end of October.

3.2.1 NYSEG will be here tomorrow to cut

out old gas main. PCG to expose lengths of
pipe in preparation. Vacri will be ready to
install structural soil next Monday; light
poles are to be installed prior to Monday
so not to delay finish work.
3.2.4 Signals project will be completed
11/15.

Starting at the South side of the alley and

move north to keep truck access from
Commons. Will start on Thursday. DIA to
find place to store announcement panels.

Page 3 of 4

OF TRAFFIC & PEDESTRIANS

4.1. Site Maintenance: All trash and debris
must be removed on a weekly basis; PCG
to relocate stockpiles per coordination
with Vacri; PCG to clean up 100 block
5. New Business
ADDITIONAL NOTES:

B. Planert asking about size of lightpole base cover, needs to be big enough to cover width of
paving band diagonals.
Helical pile installation pushed back 2 weeks to the week of Oct 20.

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