2025-01-06 January 06, 2025 Committee of the Whole Meeting Minutes - FINAL
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January 06, 2025 5:00 PM City of Smyrna Mayor and Council Meeting 2800 King Street SE Human Resources Training Room Page 5 of 6 for non-public works contracts, and $100,000 for public works contracts, but may change with future revisions to the policy. Finance is asking for formal approval to put this administrative approval in place. Anything over $100,000 for a unit price contract will always go through a formal bid process. CHOR2025-001: Eric Randall, Public Works Director, explained that as previously discussed, staff has worked with the contractor for options to create an aesthetic finish that can be more easily maintained to address the staining that has occurred on the wall surfaces for the Windy Hill Boulevard project. We have determined the most cost-effective solution is to treat the surfaces with a tinted coating, though this product has a higher unit cost because coverage is not as broad per gallon as the clear coat. The net increase in unit cost is $0.59/gallon. He stated that because of the cold weather, asphalt plants are not open. Realistically, this project will be substantially complete (finish work still being completed but open to traffic) by summer. CHOR2025-002: Mr. Randall also explained that after the pedestrian speed table was installed on the eastbound lanes at the westerly bridge of the Windy Hill Road project and the lane reopened to traffic, there was an apparent and obvious concern that the approach to the speed table was too steep and created a hazardous condition for drivers. City staff reviewed the conditions and design drawings and found that while both are consistent and within guidelines provided by the Georgia Department of Transportation, drivers have become accustomed to traveling faster than the design speed. This has created a potential safety hazard and liability. Working with the contractor we have developed a proposed solution to lengthen the approach ramp from 6’ to 10’, reducing the slope by 4% from 8.33% to 5.00%. Further, to reduce the time for which the lane will be closed to through traffic, the contractor proposes temporarily opening the right-hand eastbound through lane and closing the eastbound local lane from Friday, January 17, 2025 at 8 pm and reopening the local lane by 5 am on Monday, January 20, 2025. Council expressed skepticism that this needed to be done because the construction is not complete, and drivers are not adhering to the reduced speed limit and damaging their vehicles. Mr. Randall explained that if there is an unsafe condition in the roadway, the city could be held liable. Asst. City Attorney Jeffrey Tucker stated that the ambiguity of the Milton case makes this issue a little more complicated. The ideas of more signage, rumble strips, and Georgia State Patrol were mentioned. It was suggested that this be tabled indefinitely. AGR2025-001: Mr. Randall explained that with AGR2023-015, the City entered into a Framework Agreement with Cobb County DOT to administer the plan development process for the South Cobb Improvement project until such time as Smyrna attains its Locally Administered Project certification. The City has now attained that certification, and will start administering the project directly with the commencement of the Preliminary Design Phase of the GDOT Plan Development Process. This agreement is to complete the tasks that have not been started under the Cobb County DOT oversight phase. The funds are part of the 2022 SPLOST project list. 5. Other Business / Staff Comment Mayor Norton stated that at this moment, the retreat is still on. They will make a decision by noon tomorrow once weather issues have been confirmed. If the retreat is canceled, they will still meet later this week at City Hall, and they will reschedule the retreat. Mayor Pro Tem Gould said they had a well-attended and engaging town hall. He thanked Andrea Worthy, Economic Development Director, for a great job.