HomeMy WebLinkAboutPCDC Minutes 11/21/1988MINUTES OF THE PETALUMA COMMUNITY
DEVELOPMENT COMMISSION
NOVEMBER 21, 1988
ROLL CALL: 7:00 p.m.
PRESENT: Cavanagh, Tencer, Sobel, Woolsey, Balshaw, Vice Mayor Davis, Mayor Hill igoss
PUBLIC COMMENT Ed Love, Vice President of the Petaluma River Festival spoke on behalf of
the River Festival Committee. Mr. Love offers the help of the River Festival Committee and
requests that the Commission act as quickly as possible to see that the pedestrian bridge be in
place and accessible by August 1989.
PEDESTRIAN BRIDGE DESIGN Gene Beatty, Assistant City Manager presented additional
information regarding the pedestrian bridge. Photo's were obtained from Lake County with
regards to the Cache Creek Bridge. State inspection reports have also been received from the
State Department of Transportation along with their inspections of the bridge. These inspections
were reviewed and it is our recommendation that the bridge is in need of additional work to
support the load required particularly during the River Festival, and because the bridge is
approximately 18 feet in height it is to high for this particular area. The latest state evaluation of
the bridge is that it is in poor condition, therefore, it does not look like a viable alternative at this
point.
A meeting was held with a representative from the Engineering Department, Public Works
Department and an engineer from Winzler and Kelly who specializes in designing bridges and has
had some experience in putting together structures of this type. There are prefabricated structures
that will meet our needs as far as span, size and strength. These structures are available either in
steel or timber. Both types of bridges are constructed of site and brought here and placed on
abutments. Our recommendation would be to select the type of bridge and put together a request
for a design construction proposal. There is an estimated time line from Winzler and Kelly and
we feel that there is every possibility that the bridge could be in place and usable in time for the
August 1989 River Festival.
Contact was made with the sales representative for the steel structure who indicated that as long
as the dimensions and specifications are received by them in a timely manner they would have no
problem constructing the bridge. They would be building and constructing the structure at the
same time we are putting together the design and going out to bid for the abutments. In addition
to that, we would start immediately in finalizing the permit process. The proposal would include
the assistance in securing the permits needed from the Corp. of Engineers, and various other
agencies.
Mr. Beatty advised the Commission that there are different prefabricated bridges, but that it will
have to be designed to fit our particular application. There are some design constraints on this
application, the requirement not to impede the flood way and the height of the water. The bridge
has to be handicap accessible, yet there is limited distances, one from the railroad and also to
maintain as much parking as available in the event ramping is necessary.
The Main Street design committee's input indicated a steel structure. A wood structure was
mentioned to let the Commission know that it is available and would probably be comparable in
cost. There are two options, one of putting together a proposal for a metal structure or wood
structure or receiving proposals on both structures.
November 21, 1988
The structure would be prefabricated, but it can be fabricated as a bow -string or another type of
design. A bow -string is what was mentioned earlier as a preferred design.
Mr. Skavdal, of Winzler and Kelly advised the Commission, in order to prepare the proposal the
Commission would have to select the type of bridge to construct. All that is known at this point is
that it will be a prefabricated structure of steel or wood and it will have a truss type structure in
order to make the span. It would either be a cord or open webbed cord truss where the cord acts
as the railing of the bridge and would be approximately 3 to 4 feet in height. The other type is the
bow string truss. In order to select a bridge, Winzler & Kelly would work with the Commission in
evaluating the two different alternatives preparing cost estimates for each, evaluating the
maintenance costs for the different types of bridges, loading requirement, abutment requirements,
and come to a decision on the type of bridge that is desired. This work is proposed to be
completed by the end of December. The design work would then be completed by the end of
February and out to bid.
There is not a lot of alternatives because of the time line, the span, loading and project budget.
What you are really looking at is a bow -string or web -truss, wood or steel.
Commission was advised that the bridge structure itself is going to be somewhere between $55,000
and $70,000. This is an estimate from talking to both the steel manufacturers and timber
manufacturers. The total project will be approximately $150,000 to $200,000.
* * Commission Member Woolsey moved that there be a steel bridge with a bowed structure and
bow string. Commission Member Michael Davis seconded the motion.
* * No vote was called for.
Commission Member Cavanagh asked if there would be complications with the State Lands
Commission and the Railroad. City Manager John Scharer, stated that the railroad is a design
constraint but it is not a permitting restraint. Contact was made with the State Lands Commission
and were told there is no problem, but that we still have to go through the permitting process.
We have asked in this proposal from Winzler and Kelly that they represent us in that effort. We
think that within this time line the permit can be obtained.
Commission Member Tencer stated that in looking at the river area as a whole he would like to
see a wooden structure without any overhead. He would also like to have walking rails with some
sort of bow to it to give an open appearance to the turning basin. Tencer also believes that the
bridge can be done every bit as attractively with regards to some of the examples presented.
Assistant City Manager Gene Beatty, clarified that the deck of the structure can be flat or bowed,
the term bow -string really does not have anything to do with the fact that the bridge would be
bowed or flat. It has to do with the side profile of the bridge.
Commission Member Sobel agreed with Commission Member Tencer that perhaps we might want
to look at something that doesn't have all that structure to it.
Mr. Skavdal advises that the structure would be a truss type bridge approximately 6 ft. with the
railing height at 42 inches.
Assistant City Manager Gene Beatty, added that if we hire Winzler, Kelly Associates to do the
design work, with the development constraints of this location, believes the real preliminary work
that he will be putting into this process will tell us which design is feasible for this particular
location. He thinks the location will dictate what structure is used.
Commission Member Sobel made a motion for Winzler and Kelly Associates to bring back to the
Council 2 or 3 alternative bridge designs and cost associated with each one. Commission Member
Balshaw seconded the motion.
AYES: Cavanagh, Tencer, Sobel, Woolsey, Balshaw, Chairman
Hilligoss
NOES: Vice Chairman Davis n
The meeting was adjourned at 7:30 p.m.
M. Patricia Hilligoss, Chairman
ATTEST:
E. Bernard, Recording Secretary