FACILITIES PLANNING COMMITTEE

 

MINUTES

 

February 22, 2007

 

 

Members Present:  Yasser Ayad; Paul Bylaska; Deb Fleeger; Curt Foltz; Jack Hubauer; Mark Kilwein; Michael McConnell; Erin Schuetz; Dave Tomeo; Lou Tripodi; Ron Wilshire

 

Others Present:  Janet Knepper; Michael Phillips; Rein Pold

 

I.               Approval of Minutes – January 25, 2007

 

1.       A motion was made by Curt Foltz and seconded by Yasser Ayad to approve the minutes of January 25, 2007 as presented.  The motion passed.

 

2.       Capital Program Submissions was added to the agenda under new business at the request of Paul Bylaska.

 

II.         Old Business

 

1.  Venango Projects

 

·        Deb Sobina updated the committee on the Venango Pond project.  The university is closer to receiving all the permits necessary for the dam.  A meeting with HRG will be held in the next couple weeks.  The targeted bid date is April 2, 2007, but currently the project is running a week behind of schedule.

·        The highway occupancy permit was received today from the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation.

·        The water shed is an expanse of 730 acres.

 

2.     Science Technology Center

 

·        The Department of General Services will be scheduling a job conference shortly.  Currently the closing of the Peirce parking lot is estimated to be during winter break.

·        Paul Bylaska suggested that a presentation on the Science Technology Center may clear up some of the questions that are being raised by faculty members.  A posting on the website could be done as appropriate with information that may already be in place.

·        A groundbreaking ceremony for the building will take place in early May.

 

 

 

 

3.      New Dining Facility

 

·        Dave Tomeo presented prospective views of the new dining facility and stated that part of the expense of the building has to do with the visual appeal that is created from all sides of the building due its visible location.

·        A meeting will be held on March 1 with the local committee and March 8 with the architects.

·        In response to a question raised by Ron Wilshire, Dave Tomeo told members that the dining hall is being paid for by dining fees.

·        The main dining room will have a 500 seat capacity and will not be wireless or have internet connectivity with the idea not to encourage students to linger in the main dining area.

·        Deb Fleeger questioned that with only 500 seats, would there be a problem getting students in and out.  Dave Tomeo stated that in his estimation they could probably feed 1,000 - 1,100 students over a two hour period in the new dining hall.  Chandler currently feeds about 700 for lunch.

                        

III.       New Business

 

1.         Faculty/Staff Lounge

 

·        Janet Knepper inquired about the status of a location for a Faculty/staff lounge.  She stated that her initial survey did not receive a lot of feedback and at the time a new dining hall was not being considered.  She said that faculty and staff are looking for a ritazza style dining area and not just simply a meeting room.

·        Paul Bylaska said that he could not commit space in Gemmell or the Dining Hall because they are buildings that are funded by the students.  He suggested that in the short term, a flexible space that may require consistently reserving a meeting room should be considered.

·        In response to a question from Janet Knepper as to the possibility of using Moore Hall, Paul Bylaska stated that the building is in need of extensive renovations and currently there is no projected date as to when those renovations will occur.

·        Dave Tomeo suggested that with the renovation of Becht Hall in 3-4 years, that Chartwells may be interested in coordinating something in that area.

·        Lou Tripodi asked that Janet Knepper contact Chartwells and talk to Jeff Gauger and Jeff MacTaggart to get some ideas on the short term and then return to the March FPC meeting.

 

2.         Parking

 

·        Dave Tomeo advised the members of the new signage to direct individuals to the P.I.A.A. events being held on campus.  Students have also been hired to assist in directing.

·        Orientation would like to use lot 14 for the five Fridays of orientation, displacing 100 students who typically park in lot 14.  The parking committee would like to recommend the use of the 60 spaces on the basketball courts and 40 spaces in lot 6 for orientation.

·        With the expected construction of the dining hall in fall 2007, lot G next to the Admissions building will be closed.  This will result in a loss of 46 employee spaces.  The parking committee will be discussing converting Lot 9 from resident student parking to employee parking.

·        Any event needing to reserve more than 15 parking spaces will require approval from the Director of Public Safety prior to the approval of the event.  Erin Schuetz in Events Scheduling is the first point of contact for an event.

·        The contract for the demolition of Campbell Hall is currently being written.  The project is expected to begin in May and could take nine months due to the asbestos removal in the building.

·        Ron Wilshire asked about the Corbett Street properties being torn down and used for parking.  Paul Bylaska noted that he would explore the option.

·        Yasser Ayad asked if a parking garage had been considered.  Dave Tomeo noted that garages run approx. $10,000/space, but that deck parking which is less expensive could be a possibility at the Campbell location.  (Note:  After verification for the minutes, it was found that an amount of $100K/space was misquoted at the meeting).

·        After the closing of the Peirce lot, lot 11 and lot 6 will be monitored for their use.

 

3.         Ralston Hall Offices

 

·        Item tabled until the next meeting.

 

4.         On-Campus Residences

 

·        Dave Tomeo reported that a meeting had been held with Capstone Development.  Construction of residence halls will begin in fall 2007.  Two 350-400 beds/suite units will be constructed in the Ralston flats area.  Two more units will be constructed in the space that Chandler occupies.

·        Clarion would like to stay in line with other sister institutions that charge $3,000/semester.

·        Students in the suites will be required to have a dining plan.

 

5.         Emergency Cancellation

 

·        Paul Bylaska stated that the emergency cancellation that occurred last week was based on university policy.

 

6.         Capital Program Submissions

 

·        Paul Bylaska distributed a draft of the Capital Program Submissions that will be submitted to the PASSHE.  Projects on the list are in order of priority.  He noted that Tippin, a recent addition to the list, is shown ahead of Marwick Boyd due to the deteriorating state of the Tippin building.  Rein Pold stated the upkeep on Tippin was more expensive than Marwick Boyd.  Ron Wilshire also noted that Tippin has more public visibility than Marwick Boyd.

 

The meeting adjourned at 4:10 p.m.  The next Facilities Planning Committee will be held on March 22, 2007 at 3:00 p.m.