The Premier Magazine For America’s Municipalities
February 2022
STREETS, HIGHWAYS & BRIDGES
INSIDE: MRL Equipment’s new Mini Remover/Groover Hillsboro’s ReThink9 brings infrastructure improvements Bolingbrook, IL Permit No. 1939
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www.themunicipal.com
Deerfield Beach prioritizes pedestrian safety
Contents
February 2022 | VOL. 12 No. 11 | www.themunicipal.com
17 Focus on Streets, Highways & Bridges Shutterstock photos
18
Focus on Streets, 26 18 Highways & Bridges: Cedar
Rapids implements Snow Buddies program to assist residents with snow removal
22 Focus on Streets,
Highways & Bridges: St. Augustine seeks resiliency going forward
40 Parks & Environmental
Services: The streets of Eufaula are alive with the sound of music
Highways & Bridges: Build it once, build it right: Hillsboro’s ReThink9 project completed on time and on budget
44 Building & Construction:
Highways & Bridges: Hydrodemolition increases bridge longevity
50 Crisis Management:
40 26 Focus on Streets, 28 Focus on Streets,
Highways & Bridges: Deerfield Beach calms roadway to improve pedestrian safety
50
32 Focus on Streets,
A city on the move
48 Waste & Recycling:
Sacramento diverts methane through recycling organic waste Preparation and communication key to handling oil spill crisis in Huntington Beach
56 Maintenance &
Operations: Improving management by improving communications
ON THE COVER MRL Equipment Company’s Mini Grinder/Groover is the newest development in line removal equipment. Its compact, agile design enables increased productivity when removing pavement markings, groove inlaid pavement markings and slot cut for raised pavement marker installation. Learn more about this new addition to MRL Equipment on page 10.
STREETS, HIGHWAYS & BRIDGES
INSIDE: MRL Equipment’s new Mini Remover/Groover Hillsboro’s ReThink9 brings infrastructure improvements Deerfield Beach prioritizes pedestrian safety. www.themunicipal.com
4 THE MUNICIPAL | FEBRUARY 2022
Departments
Meet our Staff publisher RON BAUMGARTNER rbaumgartner@the-papers.com
editor-in-chief DEB PATTERSON dpatterson@the-papers.com
editor SARAH WRIGHT swright@the-papers.com
publication manager CHRIS SMITH chris@themunicipal.com
senior account executive REES WOODCOCK rees@themunicipal.com
8 Editor’s Note: Funding trickles in 10 From the Cover: Compact line
removal and grooving innovation from MRL Equipment
12 On The Road Again: Whimzeyland, Safety Harbor, Fla.
14 What’s In A Name: Rugby and Surrey, N.D.
58 Conference Calendar 59 Product Spotlights 62 News & Notes 66 Top 10: The most scenic highways in the US
graphic designer MARY LESTER mlester@the-papers.com
business manager CARRIE GORALCZYK cgoralczyk@the-papers.com
69 Advertiser Index director of marketing STEVE MEADOWS smeadows@the-papers.com
mail manager KHOEUN KHOEUTH kkhoeuth@the-papers.com
CORRECTION In January’s article “Fairfax County discovers many benefits to ultraviolet for wastewater treatment,” Ulliman Schutte Construction’s name was misspelled. The Municipal apologizes for this error and any confusion it may have caused.
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6 THE MUNICIPAL | FEBRUARY 2022
The Municipal does not knowingly accept false or misleading advertising or editorial content, nor does The Municipal or its staff assume responsibility should such advertising or editorial content appear in any publication. The Municipal reserves the right to determine the suitability of all materials submitted for publication and to edit all submitted materials for clarity and space. The Municipal has not independently tested any services or products advertised herein and has verified no claims made by its advertisers regarding those services or products. The Municipal makes no warranties or representations and assumes no liability for any claims regarding those services or products or claims made by advertisers regarding such products or services. Readers are advised to consult with the advertiser regarding any such claims and regarding the suitability of an advertiser’s products. No reproduction of The Municipal is allowed without express written permission. Copyright © 2022.
FEBRUARY 2022 | THE MUNICIPAL 7
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Editor’s Note
Funding trickles in roads fared even worse with a D, which is unchanged from the 2017 report card. Sarah Wright | Editor Of roads, the American Society of Civil Engineers website notes, “However, these vital lifelines are frequently underfunded, and over 40% of the system is now in poor or mediocre condition. As the backlog of rehabilitation needs grows, motorists are he wheels of government forced to pay over $1,000 every year in turn slowly, but finally a $1 tril- wasted time and fuel. Additionally, while lion bipartisan infrastructure bill traffic fatalities have been on the decline, has become law. According to over 36,000 people are still dying on the WhiteHouse.gov, this legislation nation’s roads every year, and the number will deliver clean water and eliminate lead of pedestrian fatalities is on the rise.” service lines; provide reliable high-speed “Dangerous By Design 2021,” published internet; repair and rebuild roads and by Smart Growth America and the National bridges; improve transportation options Complete Streets Coalition, found that for millions of Americans and reduce Florida led the nation in pedestrian fataligreenhouse emissions through the largest ties. Their report showed 5,893 pedestrian investment in public transit; upgrade air- fatalities between 2010 and 2019, amounting ports and ports; invest in passenger rail; to average annual pedestrian fatalities of 2.8 build a network of electric vehicle chargers; per 100,000, and a danger index of 201.4 as of the 2021 report. The next nearest danger among other improvements. The funding is badly needed across the index — Alabama — dropped to 174.6. The board. The “2021 Report Card for America’s overall national average is 63.3. Infrastructure” gave an overall grade of CWriter Dani Messick is spotlighting one for the U.S.’s infrastructure as a whole. Our Florida city’s efforts to improve pedestrian safety using tactical urbanism. Deerfield
T
8 THE MUNICIPAL | FEBRUARY 2022
Beach worked with Broward Metropolitan Planning Organization on the endeavor through its BTactical initiative. All in all, the project has been well received. A little further north, Hillsboro, Va., has also sought to increase pedestrian safety while also undertaking a massive infrastructure project that went beyond its roads. Writer Julie Young shares Hillsboro’s ambitious ReThink9, a $34 million, multifaceted road that included two roundabouts, raised crosswalks, sidewalks, a new municipal drinking water system, wastewater treatment facility, stormwater collection system, underground utility lines and state-of-theart dark-sky-compliant streetlamps. An impressive endeavor for a town of 200! Other topics in this issue include the U.S.’s oldest city, St. Augustine, Fla., and its mission to prevent flooding while also speeding recovery should it happen; Cedar Rapids, Iowa’s, volunteer Snow Buddies program; and finally the benefits of using hydrodemolition. As we get into the swing of the new year, may your roadways be relatively pothole free! .
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From The Cover
Compact line removal and grooving innovation from MRL Equipment By Liz Harding | MRL Equipment
MRL Equipment Company’s new Mini Grinder/Groover. (Photo provided)
10 THE MUNICIPAL | FEBRUARY 2022
MRL Equipment Company’s comprehensive Mini product line offers innovation across the entire category of road marking equipment. MRL Equipment is proud to share its newest development in Line Removal Equipment, the Mini Grinder/ Groover. Designed to remove pavement markings, groove for inlaid pavement markings and slot cut for raised pavement marker installation, the MRL Mini Grinder’s compact, agile design enables increased productivity in tight spaces and congested work zones. MRL’s Mini Grinder offers an advantage: all the features and capability of a large, full-sized truck — line removal, grooving and slot cutting — in a small, efficient unit that is sized similarly to a riding lawn mower. No commercial driver license is required, and use requires only one person for operation. Equipped with a 74 horsepower, 2.8liter Cummins turbo diesel engine, the Mini Grinder uses an 8-inch diameter head that removes or grooves up to a maximum of 13 inches wide. This size makes inlay or removal of 24-inch markings easy, with only two passes. Like a larger grinder truck, the Mini Grinder’s cutting head accepts a polycrystalline diamond (PCD) milling style cutting head, diamond saw blades or a carbide flail cutter drum. The RPM cutting head speed is variable for different cutting head attachments and surface materials. The removal head is positioned in front of the operator for high visibility of the work area, and tilt and depth control are adjustable for the removal/grooving head attachments. Rear steering offers a tight turning radius while inlaying or removing arrows or other symbols. MRL’s Mini Grinder comes equipped with a powerful, efficient 1,500 cfm vacuum that keeps the worksite clean and compliant with air quality regulations. Debris storage features easy-to-handle 5-gallon plastic buckets on lifting mechanism for 300 pounds of total load capacity (2.67 cubic feet). The hopper system makes for fast debris management to keep the machine in use with minimal downtime. The vacuum system comes with a cleanable/replaceable filter system. Variable vacuum suction control is available for the different road materials, from concrete dust to heavy aggregate. The Mini Grinder also comes standard with hydrostatic low speed cruise control to keep the machine operating at its maximum efficiency. Low speed cruise control is a huge advantage for efficient line removal, for cutting asphalt for inlaid pavement markings and using diamond saw blades on concrete. This makes it easier for operators to work in a variety of environments. Numerous options are available to customize your MRL Mini Grinder, including steel debris collection bin with dump door, laser guidance, custom powder coat paint color and more. MRL also offers an efficient, easy-to-use transport trailer for the Mini Grinder. This transport trailer features deck storage for the Mini, along with side tilt debris storage bin — a power tilt rear deck with hydraulic 5-foot-by8foot dump box — and a solar charger for on-board battery. These innovative, robust features, combined with MRL’s industryleading parts department and customer service, provide next level
The MRL Mini Grinder at work on a grooving job in Idaho. (Photo provided)
The MRL Mini Grinder grooving for inlaid pavement markings. (Photo provided)
service to the operator. With parts in stock and experienced technicians on call, MRL helps eliminate equipment downtime. MRL’s Mini Removal/Grooving machine greatly complements MRL’s Mini product line, meeting market needs by driving innovation and creating efficient and safe equipment for the end user. For further information on MRL’s entire Mini product line, visit www.markritelines.com. FEBRUARY 2022 | THE MUNICIPAL 11
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On The Road Again
Whimzeyland Safety Harbor, Fla.
Welcome to the eponymously “whimzical” place that likely houses more ocular blowout per square foot than anyplace else on the planet. 12 THE MUNICIPAL | FEBRUARY 2022
By RAY BALOGH | The Municipal
Whimzeyland began in 1985 as the fanciful brainchild of free spirits Todd Ramquist and Kiaralinda, artists and lifelong friends, when they purchased a pedestrian beige house near Tampa and launched their decades-long makeover. The self-dubbed “Whimzey Twins” painted Whimzeyland owners Todd Ramquist and Karalinda even take their portrait selfies with the house with an eye-popping palette of pas- out-of-the-ordinary flair. (All photos courtesy of Whimzeyland.) tels, with each window frame a different color and patches of artwork, hanging ornaments and sculptures adorning the structure from ground to roof peak. Then they installed a playful array of totems, wire carefree milieu of color and serenity far detached from the brutal grind sculptures and flowers (both real and artificial) in the immediate curti- of everyday life. lage around the house. Ramquist and Kiaralinda parlayed the local and regional interest in They eventually expanded their personalized accretion of kaleido- their enchanting endeavor into the formation of the Safety Harbor Art scopic artwork to pathways, gazebos, outbuildings and other nooks and and Music Center. They created and donated Whimzee the manatee to crannies throughout their tree-lined parcel, such that a guided tour of the city of Safety Harbor for display in city hall. the place now takes 90 minutes. They also sponsor participation in several art competitions, where parThe whimsy is expressed through the media of plexiglass, bottles, recy- ticipants have painted Honda Accords and hearses and have created cled materials, gardens, paintings — and bowling balls. a Y2K bug, a digital-inspired art car made from CDs, chipboards and Shortly after purchasing the home, Ramquist and Kiaralinda hap- keyboard pieces. Guests who would like to stay overnight are welcome to book accompened upon a cache of old bowling balls during one of their frequent flea market excursions. The price was right — free — so they hefted 10 modations at the two-bedroom, one-bath “Casa Loco,” described on balls home and commenced to decorate them and place them around Whimzeyland’s website, kiaralinda.com, as “our one-of-a-kind Mexicanthe property. Soon they enlisted other artists to contribute their personal- themed guesthouse.” ized works of bowling ball art and soon their collection grew, such that As would be expected, the decor exudes vibrancy. Kiaralinda’s descripthe collection merited its own shelter for display. The bowling ball art is tion: “The bathroom has a beautiful handmade Mexican sink and a now one of the central attractions of Whimzeyland. mosaic tub/shower and is cheerfully painted and decorated with MexiDismiss the enterprise as kitsch on steroids or admire it as a one-of-a- can flair. The kitchen has modern appliances and a breakfast bar that kind wondrous manifestation of the felicitous souls of two flower children, seats two and adjoins the dining room/living room open concept area. many of the visitors to Whimzeyland have found joy marinating in the The dining room seats six and features an Aztec carved-leather dining room table. The small front living space has two love seats and panoramic windows letting in the Florida sunshine with views of the gardens. There is a front patio for outdoor seating with a mosaic fountain to gaze upon.” Judging from the online reviews of visitors, Whimzeyland satisfies both curiosity and soul. The trifecta of most often used descriptions of visitors’ experiences are “magical,” “beautiful” and “amazing.” Lisa Renzo effortlessly worked in all three adjectives in her July 4, 2021, Facebook post: “Beautiful, magical, the art is amazing. Everywhere you look something new to see. I’m in love with this place. This is a soul filling experience.” “It’s like being in an amazing dream,” wrote Angela Amarante. “So colorful and peaceful.” Patty Olson Anderson commented, “An explosion of creativity. Such an inspirational happy place.” Jeff R. Kelledes chimed in with, “Saturate yer senses at a fascintatin’ outdoor art space, be intrigued. Renew, reuse, recycle at its finest.” According to the website, visitors are “free to wander grounds” during Daytime visitors are free to wander the grounds of Whimzeyland the daytime, but are urged to verify operating hours for guided tours or with no admission fee. Guided tours, which take 90 minutes, are to purchase artwork. reserved with a phone call. COLLAGE LEFT: As one Facebook reviewer put it: “At every corner was a lovely item.”
For more information, call (727) 725-4018 or visit www.kiaralinda.com. FEBRUARY 2022 | THE MUNICIPAL 13
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What’s In A Name
Rugby and Surrey, N.D. By Ray Balogh | The Municipal A string of municipalities in North Dakota, all situated along a transcontinental route of the Great Northern Railway, was dubbed by the railroad after locations in England. The towns included
Winter settles in on Surrey, N.D., a quiet community that has also been one of the fastest growing small towns in America for the past three decades. (Photo provided by Surrey, N.D.)
Surrey Surrey was founded on June 18, 1900, by Great Northern Railway officials and was officially incorporated in 1951. In 1910, Surrey gained popularity as being the starting point for construction to shorten the Great Northern transcontinental route. Completed in 1912, the new 44-mile shortcut, which came to be known as Surrey Cutoff, enhanced business for the town. The cutoff and the original line are still in place today, with the cutoff still used as part of the Burlington Northern Santa Fe (BNSF) Railway’s northernmost transcontinental route. Surrey is located 7 miles east of Minot, and its small-town and family-friendly atmosphere make the municipality of 1,415 residents an ideal bedroom community for those commuting to Minot (population 47,236), most of them to work at Minot Air Force Base, which employs 5,470 military personnel and 722 civilian employees. Surrey’s population, with occasional pauses of stagnation, has grown steadily since 1990, and has grown faster than 93% of similarly sized cities in the last 20 years. The town’s amenities include multiple parks with playgrounds, a ball complex, walking path, RV park, Lutheran church, senior activity center and various small businesses. Planners and developers have labored to accommodate newcomers. Silver Springs is a new 667-acre master planned community seven minutes from the center of town. The development consists of 14 unique subcommunities, parks and pet-friendly walking trails. For more information, visit www.surreynd.org. 14 THE MUNICIPAL | FEBRUARY 2022
Berwick, Leeds, Knox, Norwich, Penn, Churchs Ferry, Tunbridge and York. Among that number are Surrey and Rugby, both named after their respective counterpart towns in Warwickshire, England.
Though modern measurements place the geographic center of North America nearly 150 miles away from Rugby, the town still proudly proclaims its designation on a 21-foot obelisk erected in 1932. (Shutterstock.com) Rugby Rugby (population 2,470) was founded in 1886 as Rugby Junction, where a branch line of the Great Northern Railway met the main line of the transcontinental railroad. When the settlement became a city, it dropped “Junction” from its name. Its first permanent settlers arrived in 1812, bringing with them advanced farming methods and machinery, including an early McCormick Deering threshing machine, now housed in a Rugby museum in the restored Pioneer Village. Rugby has long billed itself as the geographic center of North America, a claim confirmed by geographical measurement in effect at the time. In 1932, the town erected a 21-foot rock obelisk marking the exact center of the continent. The monument was moved a short distance in 1971 to accommodate the expansion of U.S. Highway 2. The monument features flags of the United States, Canada and Mexico. Recent refinements in measurements, however, have cast credible doubt on Rugby’s claim, and it appears the true center is 145 miles to the southwest, located in the appropriately named town of Center, N.D. Dwarfing the obelisk is the nearby Northern Lights Tower, an 88-foot edifice of steel pillars lit to mimic the effect of the aurora borealis. Another notable historic attraction is the Victorian Dress Museum, located in a former church building listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The Prairie Village and Museum complex contains 23 historic buildings and exhibition halls offering an exhaustive curriculum of local and regional history and culture. For more information, visit www.cityofrugbynd.com.
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FEBRUARY 2022 | THE MUNICIPAL 15
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The percentage of St. Augustine, Fla., that is susceptible to flooding. The city is exploring measures to prevent flooding and speed recovery when it occurs. Learn more on page 32.
FOCUS ON:
90%
STREETS, HIGHWAYS, & BRIDGES 20
$34 million Hillsboro, Va., completed a $34 million, multifaceted road and infrastructure project called ReThink9, which aimed to improve Route 9. Find out more about this project on page 22.
36,000 PSI Utah Department of Transportation’s hydrodemolition robot blaster sprays a water jet into concrete at a force of 36,000 PSI, demolishing its top layer without damaging a bridge’s structure.
The number of snow heroes who have volunteered for Cedar Rapids, Iowa’s, new Snow Buddies program. This program pairs these volunteers with seniors or those with limited mobility who need help to clear snow off their sidewalks.
Read about this new program on page 18.
5,893 The number of pedestrian fatalities in Florida between 2010 and 2019.
Find out how Deerfield Beach is improving its pedestrians safety on page 28. Learn more about the benefits of hydrodemolition on page 26.
$1.9 million Upper Arlington, Ohio’s, street reconstruction program includes full pavement replacement, new curb and gutter and new driveway approaches. In 2022, the city will reconstruct eight roads for an estimated cost of $1.9 million. Source: https://upperarlingtonoh. gov/2022-capital-improvement-program/
450 The number of Waveland, Miss., residents who responded to an online survey to weigh in on what they would like to see come of the two-and-a-half-mile stretch of Highway 90 from lower Bay Road to Bay St. Louis. Source: https://www.wxxv25.com/ city-of-waveland-starting-the-process-of-revamping-highway-90-corridor/
FEBRUARY 2022 | THE MUNICIPAL 17
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Cedar Rapids implements Snow Buddies program to assist residents with snow removal
By NICHOLETTE CARLSON | The Municipal
After receiving comments and suggestions from local residents in 2019, Cedar Rapids, Iowa, adopted the “Pedestrian Master Plan.” Thus the Snow Buddies program had its beginning.
Cedar Rapids, Iowa, will pilot the Snow Buddies program this winter. Through the program, it has paired volunteers, or snow heroes, with residents in need of help clearing sidewalks of snow. (Shutterstock.com)
One need stated by residents was assis- reduction — amongst other changes made tance with snow on sidewalks during the to the ordinance — was to create safer, acceswintertime. Improved abatement of snow sible routes for members of our community, on sidewalks became one of several recom- including kids walking to school, residents mendations made in the master plan. The walking to the store or bus stop and people city used its innovation program to combine with disabilities who use mobility devices.” various departments to research problems With the innovation team’s recommenand come up with creative solutions to the dations in mind, the city did a root cause problems expressed. analysis to discover any issues residents may April Wing, Cedar Rapids’ program face regarding snow removal. Staff members manager, stated, “Responding to recom- then realized that one of the greatest barrimendations in the Pedestrian Master Plan, ers to effective snow removal in town was an innovation team recommended policy residents who did not have the appropriate revisions for the city’s ordinance for clear- resources for quick and proper snow removal. ing snow and ice from sidewalks. One of As Wing mentioned, the city realized the revisions was reducing the timeframe “seniors or residents with disabilities and for property owners to clear snow from 48 low income may not be able to hire the to 24 hours. The purpose of the timeframe services they need to ensure snow removal
compliance with the updated code. Staff realized there may be an opportunity to create a volunteer program to assist these residents.” The city then formed another innovation team to come up with viable options for these residents who may need assistance with snow removal. Programs used by other cities were reviewed, and Cedar Rapids took various aspects from each of the other programs it encountered in order to create a program that would fit its community the best. Several divisions were included on the innovation team creating and implementing the Snow Buddies program. These divisions included the community development department, solid waste and recycling
18 THE MUNICIPAL | FEBRUARY 2022
When snow accumulates 2 inches or more, volunteers will clear their matched residents’ sidewalks. (Shutterstock.com)
division, which enforces sidewalk snow removal ordinances, the city that they have been matched with a volunteer snow hero and give manager’s office and information technology. them their name and contact information of the volunteer.” In order to qualify for a snow buddy, a resident must be a senior or According to Wing, “Our community service coordinator, Stephanie Schrader, from community development was instrumental in the cre- someone with a mobility disability. Applicants must reside in Cedar ation and execution of the program. We worked with our information Rapids, be 65 year of age or older and/or have a disability and qualify technology department to create applications that would map the under the income guidelines. To qualify, a single-person household locations of both the volunteers and the residents to help with the can earn up to $31,300 a year and a two-person household can earn up to $38,800 a year to remain eligible. matching process.” The Snow Buddies program then became a reality. Wing menFor residents they could not match with a snow hero, the city tioned, “We started to advertise the need for volunteers first because called or emailed residents to let them know it could not match them that would dictate how many client matches we could make this year. this year. After a month, we received roughly 35 volunteer applications. We then Program promotion and the collection of volunteer applications opened the program to residents to apply to be matched with a ‘snow began in September 2021. By the end of November, all snow heroes hero,’ or volunteer. There was a lot of interest in the program. The who consented and cleared background checks were matched with sign-up process was closed in two days due to the limited number of snow buddies. volunteers we had. We continue to solicit program volunteer applica“Residents were matched with volunteers based on a first come, first tions for the current and future program years.” served basis, but it was also dependent on proximity,” Wing explained. All volunteers, or snow heroes, received a volunteer packet explain- “Quite a few volunteers specified they wanted to be matched with resiing the process and expectations of those volunteering in the Snow dents within a few blocks of where they live. Unfortunately, we had several volunteers who signed up in one part of the city where most Buddies program. “We require all volunteers to sign off on a liability waiver as well as of our need was in another part. Fortunately, we did have some volpass a background check,” Wing emphasized. “Once the volunteers unteers who said they were willing to travel further than their own cleared the background check, we began to match them up with a neighborhood or throughout the city.” snow buddy or more. Some volunteers asked to be matched with two However, Cedar Rapids has not used its Snow Buddies program yet. or three residents. After we match a volunteer with a resident, we send Volunteers are asked to shovel if there are 2 inches or more of snow, the volunteer the resident’s name, address and contact information and as of this interview, there had not been any substantial snowfall and ensure they can commit to the resident(s) we matched them up in Cedar Rapids. with. Once they confirm, we contact the snow buddy to notify them FEBRUARY 2022 | THE MUNICIPAL 19
continued from page 19
Wing said, “We are unable to evaluate the effectiveness as far as volunteer snow removal goes; however, we have learned several lessons with the sign-up and matching process. “Several residents and volunteers who signed up to participate in the program expressed their gratitude to the city for creating a program like this,” Wing continued. “At the end of season, we will evaluate this pilot year in totality and decided if it is feasible to continue for next year. If we do decide to continue the program, we will make any identified modifications needed to improve the program. An example of some changes we would likely make is starting the volunteer solicitation process in the beginning of August; though it will be hard because no one is thinking of snow at this time of year. When promoting the program, we would identify the areas within the city that have the highest need and we would hold a volunteer orientation in person so we can get their paperwork upfront and answer questions, program needs and expectations as a group.” The number of participants in the Snow Buddies program is limited purely by the number of snow heroes that volunteer. This year a total of 20 snow hero volunteers were matched with 29 residents in the Snow Buddies program. There are also four residents serving as backup volunteers in case one of the snow heroes are sick or out of town and unable to assist their snow buddy.
20 THE MUNICIPAL | FEBRUARY 2022
After the 2021-2022 snow season, Cedar Rapids will evaluate the Snow Buddies program to determine its viability and make changes as needed. (Shutterstock.com)
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M Focus on: Streets, Highways & Bridges
Build it once, build it right: Hillsboro’s ReThink9 project completed on time and on budget By JULIE YOUNG | The Municipal
Hillsboro, Va., may have fewer than 200 residents, but it is a community that knows how to get things done. After identifying a number of infrastructure concerns in the early 2000s, the town created a comprehensive plan to address — and subsequently pay for — the needed updates. The result was ReThink9, a $34 million, multifaceted road and infrastructure project on the town’s historic main street, the Charles Town Pike (Route 9). A huge undertaking ReThink9 consisted of two roundabouts, raised crosswalks, sidewalks, a new municipal drinking water system, wastewater treatment facility, stormwater collection system, underground utility lines and state-of-the-art, dark-sky-compliant streetlamps. The project was designed to relieve congestion and improve traffic flow while enhancing safety for motorists and pedestrians alike. The town of Hillsboro applied for dozens of grants over a 15-year period, appealing to every potential agency at the local, state and federal level. According to Mayor Roger Vance, Virginia Department of Health grants were applied to the drinking water project, as were grants from Loudoun County.
ABOVE LEFT: A new roundabout is only a part of the improvements that were installed during the Hillsboro ReThink9 project. (Photo provided by the city of Hillsboro) ABOVE RIGHT: The new walkway keeps pedestrians safe along the streets of Hillsboro, Va. (Photo provided by the city of Hillsboro) BELOW LEFT: A crumbling path puts pedestrians at risk prior to the Hillsboro ReThink9 project. (Photo provided by the city of Hillsboro) 22 THE MUNICIPAL | FEBRUARY 2022
“Loudoun County was also the source for a sizeable portion of the sanitary sewer infrastructure, along with town financing,” he said. “After applications for highway funds from VDOT were unsuccessful, the town appealed to Loudoun County and the Northern Virginia Transportation Authority. In 2018, the town was awarded $12 million from NVTA, combined with another $12 million from Loudoun County, enabling us to move toward a final design that integrated all the infrastructure and construction.” Originally slated to take three years, the project team used a data-driven process to maximize productivity while trimming the budget wherever possible. Vance said by making the decision to complete everything at once, the town reduced the work schedule to 14 months and cut costs by over $5 million. “Because of the vagaries of funding, we were forced to continually model different options and scenarios, including disengaging projects and phasing. However, the objective of ‘build it once’ was always paramount,” Vance said. “We presented the explicit and undeniable data that clearly showed the cost savings and common sense of building it as one project.” As the owners of the ReThink9 project, it was imperative that Hillsboro’s leadership knew and understood every aspect and element, understood the funding mechanisms and processes, knew and understood who the decision-makers were, and always displayed the utmost in confidence and capability. “Likewise, we laid down unwavering principles for the project,” Vance added. A pandemic presents opportunity One week before ReThink9’s start date of March 6, 2020, the COVID-19 pandemic shutdowns threw the entire project into uncertainty. Together with contractor Archer Western, Hillsboro implemented strict protocols to keep workers healthy while keeping the project on track; however, on April 1, the town’s aged water main, which was slated for replacement in November, collapsed, causing an immediate health emergency. “With that emergency and the dramatic decrease in traffic resulting from COVID shutdowns, we requested a complete resequencing of the project that would accelerate the utility work and require a
Prior to the Hillsboro ReThink9 project, there was nothing more than a painted white line to keep vehicles in their lane. (Photo provided by the city of Hillsboro)
Today, a new walkway gives pedestrians a way to safely move around the community while vehicles travel the highway. (Photo provided by the city of Hillsboro)
complete closure of the road within the work zone to complete the water main,” Vance said. “It was one of those rare things in which the pandemic actually helped us get the job done.” After an intense negotiation with the Virginia Department of Transportation, Hillsboro closed the road to traffic from May 4 to Aug. 15. This enabled crews unfettered
access to the work zone and allowed for the completion of the utility and deep excavation work. Vance said by planning ahead, anticipating the risks and having the ability (as the owner of the project) to make fast decisions that helped them adjust to unforeseen challenges, they made the most of their time and resources to build the project once and build it right. FEBRUARY 2022 | THE MUNICIPAL 23
continued from page 23
“(ReThink9 has been) totally transformational, creating a context sensitive, pedestrian-safe environment that has reinstated a sense of place and community,” Vance said. “The project has already spurred significant economic development opportunities.” The road ahead With the Rethink9 project behind them, Hillsboro is already contemplating its next project — the completion of three multimodal trails in the spring of 2022 that will provide complete pedestrian connectivity and create a hub to a growing biking network in rural Loudoun. There will also be the installation of a wastewater treatment package plant at the same time, permitting the connection of residences to the system via the already-installed low-pressure force main. “(We are also excited to) have high-speed broadband availability to each residence and business via town-owned fiber optics installed in our fiber optic conduit system, which was built as part of the undergrounding of utilities during the ReThink9 road project,” Vance said. In addition to roadwork, Hillsboro’s ReThink9 project included a new municipal drinking water system, wastewater treatment facility, stormwater collection system and underground utility lines. (Photo provided by the city of Hillsboro)
21_2760_The_Municipal_FEB Mod: December 15, 2021 10:08 AM Print: 01/03/22 1:52:24 PM page 1 v7
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M Focus on: Streets, Highways & Bridges
Hydrodemolition
increases bridge longevity
By JUDE STRIEBY | The Municipal
Maintaining the infrastructure of any place in which people live and travel is the most important task within a community, and road construction is the most visible aspect to this crucial part of making a society run smoother. Unfortunately, when lengthy construction timelines run over schedule, it often appears as if there is a highway somewhere that’s never finished. Who hasn’t heard of the joke about repair on a stretch of road taking so long that the maintenance crew just jumps from one end of a highway back to the start throughout the years? Jackhammers are a commonality in many “Generally speaking, this technique extends road construction sites, and a hellish traffic the life of a bridge by about 15 years.” jam usually surrounds the noise and dust First invented in Europe in the 1980s, accompanying these tools — the recipe for hydrodemolition is an alternative approach the perfect migraine. But Utah has been to resurfacing roads, walls or basically anymaking the miserable construction cliche thing that needs resurfaced. Structures dissipate with a newer technique called regularly need to be restrengthened or rehydrodemolition, which uses highly pres- cemented due to crumbling cement, but the surized water instead of a jackhammer. jackhammer approach can destroy the inner “We’ve been impressed with the results,” structure of rebar holding the underlying, said John Gleason, public relations director undamaged cement in place. at the Utah Department of Transportation. 26 THE MUNICIPAL | FEBRUARY 2022
ABOVE: In one 10-hour shift, 15,00017,000 gallons of water is used. The water can then be easily filtered, treated and reused. (Photo provided by UDOT)
“If you’re using methods like jackhammering, you could potentially cause structural damage, which requires even more extensive repairs,” said Gleason. “That can extend the schedule and add to the cost.” Not only can a jackhammer cause fractures in an otherwise secure foundation, it also brings unwanted vibrations and harmful silica dust for workers. With hydrodemolition, concrete structures can have their top problematic layers effectively “shaved off ” by a stream of water sprayed into the cement, which disintegrates and is then swept away. In other words, only the cement that needs to be taken off is affected, and the metal rebar can then be repoured with new concrete. “This technique adds a significant length of life to structures by taking away the possibility of damage during the deconstruction and repair,” stated Gleason. “The idea for us is we
want to preserve what we have. Utilizing an innovative tool like hydrodemolition helps us accomplish that without spending the money on a complete rebuild of the bridge.” The hydrodemolition process grew more streamlined in the last 30 years until, as is reflective of our time, it is now completed using a “robot blaster.” The way it works is simple: a robotic unit is placed upon a section of road needing resurfaced. Moved by a set of controls at a safe distance, the machine’s hyper-pressurized nozzle sprays a water jet into the concrete at a force of 36,000 PSI (24 times more powerful than the average home power washer), which demolishes the top layer of the cement. “Hydrodemolition usually takes about three to four inches off of the bridge deck,” explained Gleason. “The water jet machine operator can adjust the pressure in real time when they’re out there.” It’s a faster deconstruction and less labor intensive, usually needing only one or two workers, who control the robot unit that’s spraying water while others pump the water used during the spray session into a container unit. The water can then be easily filtered, treated and reused. The leftover concrete remnants are gathered to be ground up for use on future projects. One concern with hydrodemolition is water runoff — specifically, the proper disposal of the wastewater in a manner that will not harm any environmentally sensitive areas or any existing water sources. “On all of the projects, we have had to ensure that the water and the materials are carefully processed and taken care of so that you don’t have all of that excess water and construction materials that are out there and put back into the soil,” asserted Gleason. “We’ve worked hard to make sure that we’re taking care of the environment and still getting the job done.” Another thing that needs considered is whether enough water is available within the region the procedure is being utilized. In one 10-hour shift, 15,000-17,000 gallons of water is used, which is equal to the amount within an average backyard swimming pool. But if these issues are carefully investigated, hydrodemolition is a solution to revamping aging infrastructure safely, thoroughly and quickly in a more cost-effective manner. In 2019, UDOT used this method to repair 14 bridges on Interstate 70 between Fort
Hydrodemolition has proven to be a safe, cost-effective way for the Utah Department of Transportation to restrengthen or re-cement bridges. (Photo provided by UDOT)
Once the concrete is removed, workers can pour new concrete into the existing metal rebar. (Photo provided by UDOT) Cove and Sevier. Previously, this method was used for multiple projects on I-215, I-15 and U.S. 40. Several other states have also used the process in their highway projects. “Hydrodemolition really allows us to be more precise in demolishing a bridge deck,
and that saves time and money,” said Gleason. “It’s definitely one of the go-to tools that we’ve used more frequently in the last few years, and it’s definitely a method that we’ll continue to utilize.”
FEBRUARY 2022 | THE MUNICIPAL 27
M Focus on: Streets, Highways & Bridges
Deerfield Beach calms roadway to improve pedestrian safety An overhead view shows the finished roadway. (Photo provided by Deerfield Beach)
By DANI MESSICK | The Municipal
The citizens are taking back the streets in one Florida city.
Deerfield Beach citizens paint fish onto the roadway. (Photo provided by Deerfield Beach) 28 THE MUNICIPAL | FEBRUARY 2022
In December 2020, the Broward Metropolitan Planning Organization established BTactical, a streets initiative focused on multimodal safety improvements throughout Broward County. Florida is known as the most dangerous state in the country for pedestrians, according to “Dangerous By Design 2021,” published by Smart Growth America and the National Complete Streets Coalition. Their report showed 5,893 pedestrian fatalities between 2010 and 2019, amounting to average annual pedestrian fatalities of 2.8 per 100,000, and a danger index of 201.4 as of the 2021 report. The next nearest danger index — Alabama — dropped to 174.6. The overall national average is 63.3.
“Florida is one of the most dangerous states for people to walk or bike, and the MPO is interested in changing that,” said Complete Streets Manager for the Broward Metropolitan Planning Organization Stephanie Garcia. “We want to make our streets safer. We are trying to change these numbers because we want to make streets safer for our people. The city of Deerfield Beach was one of the first to submit a proposal when the new BTactical initiative came online. Garcia admitted the MPO already had crash data for the site the city wanted to overhaul so they were excited when the proposal came in. “This was actually in our master plan,” Garcia said. The location in question was a.7-mile stretch of roadway along NE Third Avenue that passed by three schools and a hospital. In the section of roadway, the MPO said a total of 496 traffic crashes had occurred in the last five years. There were jaywalkers all the time due to a lack of crosswalks. Bicyclists were using sidewalks instead of bike lanes because they, too, didn’t feel safe on the roadway there. With unmarked crosswalks, an intersection of only stop signs and the nearest signaled intersection at the end of the stretch, three fatalities and 117 injuries had also occurred during that time. There was also excessive speeding on the section of roadway, with an average speed of 46 mph. At one point, a study even confirmed a vehicle traveling at 90 mph. “The solutions that the city provided was that we needed some traffic calming features,” Garcia explained. After awarding the project to the city of Deerfield Beach, the MPO began meeting with residents to better learn how they, the residents, wanted to make the road safer. “Tactical urbanism started a long time ago, and it started with citizens breaking the rules,” Garcia said. It officially began as a DIY movement in San Francisco when a citizen group, Rebar, started the Praklet movement with a public space modification event known as Park(ing) Day, but the movement can be traced back to the mid-1990s and possibly as far back as the 1960s. “It was a citizen movement and what happened is agencies began looking at this concept as something that we could do, too, and maybe we could do it more permanent and more technical.” It’s not about the engineers and planners, she said; rather, it’s about getting the community involved in the planning and implementation to create a design that actually works for the people. “They will help us paint the elements of the streets. It’s a sort of empowerment when you go to actually paint what you asked for. It’s giving power to the community. If you paint a crosswalk, you will cross through that as you paint and you will invite other community members to safely cross where they should. It’s also about education. To be part of it and part of the solution is an educational process.” There’s no construction in this type of project so it’s quick to implement and relatively cheap. They’ll use paint, cones and other simple infrastructure to design a segment of road that will last six months to a year. Together with the city, the MPO applied for the AARP Community Grant Challenge and received $20,000 for materials. Deerfield Beach’s project began in April 2021. In June, the MPO returned for community feedback. Officials went back again in November, spoke to the community again and created the final design shortly after. That’s three visits and a final product in less than six months.
Sidewalks are painted per the Deerfield Beach citizen design. (Photo provided by Deerfield Beach)
Crosswalks are also painted with roadway paint and are expected to last up to a year. (Photo provided by Deerfield Beach)
FEBRUARY 2022 | THE MUNICIPAL 29
continued from page 29
“It’s a big effort,” Garcia said. “I think the most important part here is community participation. We went there and presented the idea, and they were on board. We need these. This is a dangerous corridor.” The Broward MPO is already preparing for two other projects in the BTactical program for next year. “Something that we noticed about the cities that are interested in implementing tactical organization projects is they are really close to their communities,” Garcia explained. “They are at community gatherings, and they hear concerns asking for safer streets.” She added that cities should have a mobility plan, or a master plan with a mobility plan included. It should include solutions for multimodal transportation and not just vehicular transportation. “It’s about the people: Do they walk? Do they use public transit? If you don’t have a plan, this is the time to start creating your plan to allow people to move around your city not just in vehicles but also biking, walking or taking transit.” Having a plan will also help city leaders uncover areas where tactical organization may be the right option. Over 70 volunteers helped to paint the five block area of NE Third Avenue, which took only four days to complete. In six months, the MPO and citizens will reconvene to evaluate the effectiveness of the new design and determine where long-term solutions can and should be made on the section of roadway.
30 THE MUNICIPAL | FEBRUARY 2022
The Deerfield Beach design makes the road more attractive while calming traffic, creating a safer environment for pedestrians. (Photo provided by Deerfield Beach)
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M Focus on: Streets, Highways & Bridges
St. Augustine seeks resiliency going forward By BETH ANNE BRINK-COX | The Municipal
The beautiful city of St. Augustine, Fla., is the oldest city in the nation, filled with historic homes and other examples of treasured architecture. It is also a city that is plagued with recurrent flooding, which threatens or even destroys those historic buildings. Before the city could disappear forever, a huge study was done to determine prevention measures to minimize damage while speeding up recovery. A grant-funded study began with Taylor Engineering in the lead and several subconsultants: Lisa Craig with The Craig Group; Place Economics; Marquis Latimer + Halback Inc.; and Archeological Consultants Inc. The city of St. Augustine’s “Resilient Heritage in America’s Oldest City” was recognized for Outstanding Achievement in the Resilient Preservation category. The results of this study outlined best practices for resiliency strategies that can be used in historic districts nationwide. The comprehensive final document identified methods for prioritizing 32 THE MUNICIPAL | FEBRUARY 2022
archeological sites threatened by rising seas, outlined the economic impacts of previous and future flooding events and recommended potential solutions such as mitigation strategies and policy revisions. Having city-wide vulnerability assessments, adaptation strategies and mitigation planning for flooding and sea level rise were valuable sources of
ABOVE: A coastal city, St. Augustine is susceptible to flooding, not only during hurricanes. (Photo by Sean Pavone; provided by the city of St. Augustine)
information for the city’s policymakers and the community’s property owners. “Three pilots/concepts came into play, and now we are looking for funding to move them forward,” said Jessica L. Beach, chief resilience officer of the public works department in St. Augustine. Flooding is usually thought of in tandem with hurricanes and other storms, but that’s not always the case. “We have rainfall flooding and surge flooding and even sunny day flooding, which is caused by really high tides and sunny weather,” said Beach. “And we have compound flooding, when two or more flooding sources occur simultaneously or subsequently within a short time. For all of this, we have lots of different strategies to work with. We’re trying to
figure out practices and things, but we are also interested in preserving our nation’s oldest city. We want to protect all of it, long term.” Beach added, “We’ve been dealing with flooding for centuries — streets that look like Venice! Our wake-up call came five years ago with Hurricane Matthew. Ninety percent of the city is vulnerable, and this got us started working with FEMA (Federal Emergency Management Agency) for funding in the middle of two hurricanes — Matthew (12-18 inches of rain) and Irma (10-15 inches of rain). Jenny Wolfe, previous historic preservation officer, got a grant, and Place Economics put a monetary value on it, which helped the importance of it. But we’d been doing it before then, working on storm prep before the storms hit, dealing with post-storm damage and issues. We needed to reduce the damages and frequency so we could bounce back sooner. Emergency management and disaster teams are critical in such times. Matthew brought to reality what the data was already showing, and we were fortunate to be able to work on the grant-funded study.” Another problem that has compounded is that “we are seeing an influx of new residents in St. Augustine, and 95% of complaints and requests for emergency assistance are from those new residents. They are not familiar with Florida and St. Augustine weather, and they don’t know what to ask. You don’t think of any vulnerabilities when planning a move, and so they have likely not done any due diligence and didn’t know they needed to,” Beach explained. Obviously, maps and regulatory standards needed to be revisited in the planning and development of crisis management. “What we used to do isn’t as effective as we thought it was. We are hoping to create a master plan, as our previous update was in 2013. Projections and the state suggested we include compound flooding, which would help with cost benefits and different solutions; it’s a statewide issue. We hope that the new infrastructure bill will lead to funding for the master plan, that we may make decisions on where to spend for capital projects. It looks as if the new bill will phase out existing programs and more money will be available than before. We are hopeful, because this would be a huge step in the right direction. The Floodplain Management Plan will boost the funding available, but it would triple or
This aerial photo shows extensive flooding in St. Augustine, Fla. The city is prioritizing protecting its historic structures and completed a study outlining best practices for resiliency strategies. (Photo provided by the city of St. Augustine)
St. Augustine has experienced flooding throughout its long history, as the U.S.’s oldest city. (Photo provided by the city of St. Augustine)
quadruple the amount that would help programs already in place,” said Beach. Many projects in the works are in various stages of completion. Hurricane season is June 1 to Nov. 30, but that doesn’t mean no other flooding will occur. Beach said, “There is a public push to do something; $36 million is invested in flood mitigation, but that’s not enough. The annual budget of $60 million allocated only $1 million for stormwater, and that’s a huge gap. We need to fix this, fix that, but it’s super complicated and not easily or quickly solved. We’re looking at tax incentives and different revenues — there are lots of options to get through and figure out. Everything is wanted and needed, but how do we pay for it?”
Several good ideas involve long-term major infrastructure. Private properties could see roads raised and houses elevated, as seen in the Carolinas. There could be barrier walls, house wrapping and even landscaping that property owners can do. Pumping stations in different areas would help, as well. Low lochs cause larger impacts. A FEMA grant flood mitigation assistance program requires the city to apply on behalf of multiple property owners, as requested by the public. Beach said, “We offer each year, to reduce flood risk. We go door to door, meet residents individually, offer education and outreach, but it can take years. This is in their control. We are aggressively pursuing grant money.
FEBRUARY 2022 | THE MUNICIPAL 33
continued from page 33
$600 million is available, and 600 applicants have needs that totaled almost $3 billion! It’s a huge need.” But historic buildings are different, and every effort is being made to preserve and protect them. Engineering experts have to be involved in the planning for prevention as well as during restoration after major flooding. Even so, there are many things the community can do to help, and that encourages the feeling of “we’re all in this together,” which is when you see great things happen. Beach explained the different ways people could help out. “Yes, there’s disaster relief, such as gathering food and supplies and working to get them where they’re most needed. But there is also preparation between disasters. Help your neighbors flood proof their homes, share the knowledge you have that they may not. Help with cleanup where you can. Being supportive and educated is a good step. (There’s also) lots of elderly and retirees in Florida; one of our next needs is feedback on what’s available for them. They may not have the resources to do major repairs or rebuilding, and they need to know what help is out there. FEMA offers assistance with this, but again, they have to know what they qualify for. And there is assistance for renters as well as homeowners.” Another part of prevention is staying on top of available information. Hurricane watches and predictions are televised, but other methods are important for sunny day flooding. “It happens 12 to 17 times a year, and it’s greatly influenced by the moon cycle and the tides, such as a King Tide, which is popularly described as exceptionally high tides occurring during a new or full moon. King Tides can cause localized tidal flooding and affect shoreline developments (think parks and resorts), and their effects 34 THE MUNICIPAL | FEBRUARY 2022
Walkers navigate a street filled with tree limbs following Hurricane Matthew. (Photo by ZIMA Press Inc.; photo provided by the city of St. Augustine)
are worse if they occur at the same time as cyclones or other storms,” said Beach. She added it’s important to look at charts to determine whether and where it might happen next. “We list dates for people to pay attention to the weather — see what’s coming up. I mean, the November event nor’easter added 2 feet of rain to normal high tide and caused city-wide flooding because of more rainfall on top of it! But it changes so quickly it’s hard to predict. Hurricanes are different in that we have more sophisticated equipment and storm trackers, but nor’easters are much harder to prepare for. We always learn lessons about what to do differently next time. “There’s no manual or road map for this, so you learn as you go. Education is vital. This is overwhelming, it’s huge, and it takes community effort, not just government. And we are sharing information, plans and studies to help make better decisions and preventions, with other coastal cities that have problems with regular flooding. Getting the message to as many as possible also helps with funding. In keeping with that, there is a website called totallystaugustine.com, with the header ‘We are forever changed,’ by Hurricane Matthew. You’ll see #STASTRONG, a good reminder for all of us, where people can post requests for help, or call the numbers provided. And ADAPT Media Agency did a series that was picked up by NPR, talking about our different challenges here.”
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hen thinking about conserving and keeping our limited freshwater supplies safe, two types of solutions spring to mind. Street sweepers and sewer cleaning tanker trucks are good solutions. Why not use them both to turn good into extraordinary? Street Sweepers Street sweepers fall into two major categories, compact sweepers and truckmounted sweepers. Both are the best at keeping the streets clean and preventing freshwater supply pollution. Compact Street Sweepers The compact sweepers’ primary advantage is maximum maneuverability that ensures perfect directional stability and safety for everyday work while also safe for city dwellers. Compacts’ agility shines through in municipal streets, bike lanes and even sidewalks. Advantages are narrow design, more economical to operate, diesel fuel options (and electric) and quieter operation. The reduced noise emissions make compacts ideal for mixed-use business and residential areas and much appreciated by neighbors. More and more electric street sweepers are coming onto the market, providing environmentally friendly alternatives to fossil fuel units. Truck-mounted street sweepers Heavy-duty truck-mounted sweepers made for broad surfaces consist of three different sweeping technologies. Mechanical street sweepers Designed in the Industrial Revolution, mechanical street sweepers predate the automobile. Today, municipalities will often hire contractors to take care of heavy road construction material, such as broken pavement, chunks of asphalt, concrete millings, mud and various construction debris. Mechanical sweepers use a series of brushes to sweep debris into a hopper. The sweepers then dump the waste into a dumpster or dump truck bed. Regenerative air street sweepers Regenerative air provides cost-effective, efficient road sweeping. Regenerative air circulation allows for large forward-facing digger gutter brooms and a fullwidth suction to maximize sweeping speed. Combined with ergonomic operator controls and low running costs, regenerative air sweepers provide an ideal solution to airports, long low cambered roads and urban environments. Pure Vacuum street sweepers Vacuum sweepers are suited for catch basin cleaning, general street sweeping and porous pavement. The suction mechanism will suck the debris into the hopper container for disposal. Truck-mounted sweepers come in a wide range of dependably configured options from single-engine hydrostatic truck-mounted sweepers to twin-engine sweepers. Like the compact sweepers, truck-mounted sweeper manufacturers are also introducing electric powered zero-emission machines. Street sweepers’ role in our ecosystem is much more than to keep things clean. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) created the PM-10 standard. PM-10 regulates the number of particles in the air 10 microns (.0004 inches) or smaller. Why that small? Because the particles are small enough to reach our lungs’s lower regions. So the PM-10 street sweeper removal standards protect not only our streets but also our lungs. Sweepers pick up chemicals, construction debris, dirt, motor oil, trash, and other contaminants, but they do so much more. When street sweepers remove
potentially harmful substances from construction sites, parking lots, roadways, and other paved surfaces before they go down storm drains, they are less likely to end up in our lakes, rivers and other freshwater sources. Municipal Separate Storm Sewer System (MS4) Practices Assessment Phase III – Reclaimed Water Areas - University of Florida Study The MS4 study found street sweepers far more effective and cost-effective than all other best management practices (BMPs) against water pollutions. BMPs are structural, vegetative or managerial practices used to treat, prevent or reduce water pollution BMPs for stormwater runoff pollutant removal. The study looked at the cost per pound for separation and recovery in regards to Total Nitrogen (TN), Total Phosphorus (TP), and Particulate Matter (PM). Cleaning via street sweeping came in at the lowest cost. The cost per pound for TN? $189. TP? $294. PM? $0.11, the most economical choice. The next least expensive alternative? Catch basin cleaning, which vacuum compact and truck-mounted street sweepers can accomplish via a power boom hose. Catch basin cleaning comes in at $1,016 cost per pound for TN. $1,656 for TP, and $0.70 for PM. In comparison, BMP Treatment Trains come in at $1,068 per pound for TN, a whopping $37,243 for TP, and $29.70 for PM. References: https://www.floridastormwater.org/assets/FSAEF/Research/ MS4/UF%20FDEP%2… Sewer Cleaning Tanker Trucks So what happens if the threat to freshwater is an unseen enemy? Unseen is usually the case with clogged sewer lines or catch basins. Unfortunately, sewer problems are not un-smelled. Likewise, when residents call their municipalities for help, usually a stinky situation or backup into their homes is an emergency. Combination Units and Remote Reels One use of flexible sewer cleaning units is as a first responder type of tool. These vehicles are especially useful to get in tight and densely populated metro areas as they have a smaller footprint than a recycling or supersucker truck. Combo units are powerful preventive cleaning, emergency cleaning of mains, septic and collection tanks and transport of dangerous goods. The advantage is the low maintenance costs, increased capabilities, low noise levels and high quality. If you need even a smaller approach, a remote or easement reel is perfect for jetting in parking decks, inside buildings and to navigate stairs with its mini-tank like treads. Sewer Cleaning Recycling Tanker Trucks Recycler sewer cleaning trucks equipped with fully automatic water filtration systems clean the toughest blockages, even the dreaded fatbergs. The advantage of sewer cleaner tankers is that they automatically and continuously separate water from the sludge to use the cleaned water to clean the sewer. This technology is not just right for the environment for the water recycling aspect, but the longer job-site time means less fuel used. Additionally, compressed natural gas (CNG) fueled trucks provide a cleaner working experience. It is also healthy for the bottom line and the sewer cleaner operator. The benefits of using street sweepers and sewer cleaning tanker trucks in unison is a smart offense in protecting and conserving freshwater. I ask again, could this combined approach help your DOT, municipality, or contracting business save your freshwater supplies? Some food for thought. Matt Starnes is the product marketing manager for Bucher Municipal North America. Starnes can be reached at matthew.starnes@buchermunicipal.com. FEBRUARY 2022 | THE MUNICIPAL 37
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Parks & Environmental Services
The streets of Eufaula are alive with the sound of music By BETH ANNE BRINK-COX | The Municipal
Music hath charms to soothe the savage breast, it is said, and while that sounds Shakespearian, it is not. This proverb comes from the play, “The Mourning Bride,” by William Congreve, an English author of the late seventeenth and early eighteenth centuries. In more modern language, music has the power to enchant even the roughest of people. It has healing and therapeutic powers, and it can also lift spirits and bring together a community, which has become more necessary than ever in these last tumultuous years. Research confirms that experiencing music in nature positively engages the brain, builds social symmetry and creates harmonious communities. Eufaula, Okla., knows that and has created a public gift for everyone, affecting how you can experience music. “The Eufaula Music Trail is an 11-piece ensemble throughout historic downtown Eufaula that anyone can play at any time. Music should be interactive, healing and expressive, not passive, static and expected. Ordinary people making extraordinary music — that’s what we hope to accomplish,” said Adam White, Eufaula’s city manager. “The music trail project intends to bring people together and enhance the whole person — mind, body, spirit and sense of being in your community.” White added, “I had the idea for a music trail when brainstorming solutions to a few different problems in our community — physical 40 THE MUNICIPAL | FEBRUARY 2022
Eufaula Music Trail engages all ages with its fun colors and shapes, encouraging residents and visitors to make their own joyful noises. (Photo provided)
health, social isolation from the pandemic, encouraging community participation with our downtown merchants and social polarization, to list a few. These are pervasive issues in small towns across the world. “The Eufaula Music Trail provides a catalyst to solve many of these concerns. If two things bring different people together, it’s food and music … I can’t cook,” said White, smiling. In the fall of 2021, the city of Eufaula won AARP’s Community Challenge Grant, one of three awarded in the state. “The city of Eufaula
and AARP have built a solid relationship since mid-2020. Joy McGill, the AARP Oklahoma associate state director of outreach, was phenomenal to work with on various projects in Eufaula. I brought the idea up to Joy, who encouraged me to apply for the AARP Community Challenge Grant. I can’t express my appreciation enough for Joy’s work in Eufaula. If every community had Joy McGill as a partner, our world would be a lot brighter,” said White.
This map relays instruments that people can find on the Eufaula Music Trail in Oklahoma. (Photo provided)
The AARP Community Challenge Grant funded 100% of the $28,000 project; and there is no maintenance cost associated with instruments after the initial installation, which cost less than $500 in concrete and labor. White explained, “We are in the process of installing a dozen artistic percussion instruments — mushrooms, lily pads, giant xylophones, flowers, butterflies and the list goes on. Although we picked the instruments due to their expressive style, we also wanted something easy for everyone to use. So it’s age and ability friendly; anyone can play a drum rhythm!” The instruments have been and will con- Workers install flower-shaped percussion instruments along Main Street. (Photo provided) tinue to be strategically placed in pairs to encourage social engagement. They are spaced apart to encourage more walking, as the goal There is no question that the fun, fanciful and including a griffin, a harp and marimbas as well. of the installation was to create interaction and colorful shapes will attract children of all ages, They are the company that supplied the instruinnovation in the community to combat lone- maybe even leading to dancing in the streets. A ments chosen for Eufaula and will provide more liness, which has been part of the pandemic/ traditional drum might have put someone off and different types when they are needed. quarantine. Additionally, the music walk proj- the attempt to play, but a polka-dotted mushThe trail is easily navigated, with instruments ect will encourage Eufaula residents and guests room? Irresistible. Flowers and lily pads? You placed along Main Street, Pine Avenue, Selmon to spend more time outdoors, which can help just might see some little frogs pop up, left by Road, Foley Avenue, High Street and JC Watts reduce health risks for individuals of all ages. someone who can’t resist adding such a fin- Jr. Avenue. Winter has a hibernation quality all its own; it ishing touch. Companies that provide these The hope had been to have a completed is to be hoped this trail will encourage locals instruments, such as Nature’s Instruments, fea- project by Nov. 10, but as so many have discovand visitors alike to wrap up in coats and boots ture chime fences and amandindas. Freenotes ered when it comes to materials and needed Harmony Park offers different types of chimes, supplies, “unfortunately, we are installing and try their hands at making music. FEBRUARY 2022 | THE MUNICIPAL 41
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the instruments the week of Christmas due to shipping delays. However, once every instrument is installed, we will have an official unveiling on Jan. 7 with AARP,” said White. Still, there has been interest throughout as the project began, and the excitement has only grown. Anyone who has visited New York City has seen street musicians and their ability to attract passersby for what can become an impromptu concert. White said this is the hope for Eufaula. “We are making a big push to have live music for every event in Eufaula. The music trail provides a fantastic opportunity for some local musicians to create one-of-a-kind jam sessions with everyone from kindergarteners to their grandparents. Where else can you find something like this in small-town America?” White added, “The city of Eufaula expects to expand the trail once we gauge which parts of the Eufaula Music Trail gain the most interest. Once the Eufaula Music Trail is officially unveiled in early January (we can’t keep people from playing them once they see them, which is an excellent problem to have), we will work to have interactive music events with local musicians playing live while everyone downtown can play along. And yes, we are going to keep adding instruments. This is just the beginning of the Eufaula Music Trail. Everyone loves it! The response has been 100% positive and exciting — from retailers and restaurants to churches and families.” This is evidenced by the complete lack of vandalism to any of the placements and has definitely begun a new way of thinking about what music
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Passersby embark on a jam session on two toadstool-shaped percussion instruments. Eufaula Music Trail aims to encourage people to engage with one another through music. (Photo provided)
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Building & Construction
A city on the move
Old Town Plaza reinvigorates an area that once served as a rock and gravel quarry. (Photo provided by Elk Grove, Calif.)
By MARY JANE BOGLE | The Municipal
Elk Grove, Calif., is a city on the move. Once a sleepy suburb of Sacramento, Elk Grove has made significant strides to become a destination location since its incorporation in 2000. With multiple private and public development projects either recently completed, currently under construction or in planned review, the city is well on its way to attracting new residents and tourists alike.
Old Town Plaza features a park and pavilion, providing residents with a new destination to visit. (Photo provided by Elk Grove, Calif.)
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Central – District 56 Located in the center of the city, District 56 is home to several new improvements, including a 28-acre nature preserve, 50-meter lane aquatic center and a new community center. Nature preserve Thanks to a $3 million land grant from California State Parks, along with a grant through the National Fitness Council, Elk Grove recently developed its own “central park,” showcasing a 4.3-acre lake, a network of trails and an outdoor fitness court. In addition, the city hopes to attract a return of native wildlife migration, including the burrowing owl, through the newly developed green space. Aquatic center and community center In the last three years, Elk Grove has also opened both a new aquatic center and community center, reaching all ages of the
growing population. The aquatic center is home to two local swim teams and boasts an outdoor 50-meter pool, creating an opportunity to host area swim tournaments and attract sporting tourism. The community center, meanwhile, offers multiple services to veterans and the aging population of Elk Grove. “As more of our population approaches 55 years and older, we wanted to make sure that we’re serving the needs of these populations through these new amenities,” said Kristyn Laurence, public affairs manager. North – Project Elevate Just north of District 56 lies another part of the city slated for revitalization through Project Elevate, a unique combination of retail, entertainment, dining and residential uses. As the name implies, the goal is to elevate the level of these mixed-use amenities while promoting pedestrian activity and offering central, public gathering spaces. A multiphase project, these new developments could take up to 15 years for completion and would enhance the city’s efforts to attract and retain new residents. “Before the pandemic,” said Laurence, “residents were commuting to Sacramento and other locations beyond Elk Grove. With more people working from home, these quality-of-life amenities are even more important. We want people to know that they don’t need to leave Elk Grove to work, dine, shop and play.” East – Old Town Just east of Highway 99 lies the Old Town Historic District. Efforts to reinvigorate this area include converting what was once a rock and gravel quarry into Old Town Plaza, a new community space complete with a park and pavilion. The renovations are also attracting private investment, such as Dust Bowl Brewing Company, which revitalized a 100-plus-year-old wine and grape storage facility into a new taproom, and School of Rock, offering music lessons and group band practices to preschoolers through adults. “Old Town improvements are still very much a work in progress,” said Laurence, “but there’s been some significant accomplishments this year. We reopened the Old Town Plaza last July, adding programming to the space with monthly food trucks and a farmer’s market. A holiday vintage market in December coincided with the opening of the new brewery, bringing new traffic into that space.” Other projects As if a new green space, a reinvigorated historic district and a new, urban mixed-used community weren’t enough, Elk Grove has three more significant projects coming down the pike. Sky River Casino The first of these is the Sky River Casino, developed by the Wilton Rancheria Tribe in partnership with Boyd Gaming and slated to open in 2023. “Not only will the casino bring revitalization to the tribe,” said Laurence, “but it will also create an opportunity for more night life, entertainment and dining options, drawing additional visitors and supporting the local economy.” A memorandum of understanding between the tribe and local municipalities includes the sovereign nation’s commitment of
The Elk Grove Community Center offers programming for all ages. (Photo provided by Elk Grove, Calif.)
Dust Bowl Brewing Company revitalized a 100-plus-year-old wine and grape storage facility in the Old Town Historic District. (Photo provided by Elk Grove, Calif.) $130 million investment in supporting the community in a variety of ways, including maintaining roads and public safety. “This agreement will provide for additional support to non-profit organizations and school districts as well as local emergency services,”said Laurence. Hospital Currently, Elk Grove doesn’t have a hospital within city limits; something the city is hoping to change in the near future. Dignity Health is spearheading efforts to build a 30-acre hospital, complete with an emergency room, operating rooms, intensive care, women’s health services and more. “We are really looking forward to having all these services right here in Elk Grove,” said Laurence. “The hospital will also be a great generator for jobs.” FEBRUARY 2022 | THE MUNICIPAL 45
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Zoo Clearly, the city council and development team in Elk Grove have been busy. “Most recently, we announced an exclusive negotiating agreement with the Sacramento Zoo to potentially build a new zoo in Elk Grove,” said Laurence. If discussions are successful, the new zoo would be located in the Kammerer Urban Design Study Area, part of the city’s Southeast Policy Area. The project would likely be built in phases over a period of several years and become a world-class zoo and cultural attraction for the entire region. To say that the city has been busy is an understatement, and these projects don’t even include improvements to Kammerer Road, diverting traffic from downtown Sacramento and increasing development opportunities, such as a recent collaboration with Kubota Tractor Corporation, which purchased 44 acres of land in Elk Grove with the goal of developing a new Kubota Western Division Office and larger equipment distribution hub. With all these projects underway, one thing is certain. Elk Grove is a city on the move—and well on its way to becoming a destination location. You can learn more about all the projects underway in Elk Grove at elkgrovecity.org.
Elk Grove’s aquatic center is home to two local swim teams and boasts an outdoor 50-meter pool, creating an opportunity to host area swim tournaments and attract sporting tourism. (Photo provided by Elk Grove, Calif.
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Waste & Recycling
Sacramento diverts methane through recycling organic waste
By LAUREN CAGGIANO | The Municipal
California has long been known as a leader in environmentalism, and one city is maintaining that distinction with another key move to reduce food waste. In accordance with a new statewide mandate, SB 1383, the city of Sacramento on July 1 implemented its new commercial organics recycling program and plans to target the residential base in 2022. Per the mandate, businesses and other commercial entities in Sacramento now are required to recycle their food waste and to subscribe to an organic waste commercial service. According to the Sacramento Commercial Waste Compliance Manager Erin Treadwell, these moves are driven by addressing climate change at the individual level. “Be it commercial or residential, the short-term climate action was the main thrust of it,” she said. “By diverting food waste out of the landfill, we potentially divert methane from being created, and that kind of thing has a real impact on climate and climate change.” According to Treadwell, this is not the first targeted action when it comes to addressing global warming. She said there have been other statewide food diversion programs in place. For instance, there was AB 1826. “So, a lot of businesses are already complying or needing to convert foodways,” she said. “But what 1383 does is it doubles down on what the commercial (sector) needs to do and mandates that all residential 48 THE MUNICIPAL | FEBRUARY 2022
ABOVE: Reductions of short-lived climate pollutant emissions like methane are one of California’s five key climate change strategy pillars necessary to meet its target to reduce greenhouse gas emissions 40% below 1990 levels by 2030. (Photo provided)
multifamily apartments, apartments, as well as single-family residents, have to divert. This will mean all food waste is diverted as the landfill across all sectors.” For the purpose of this program, food waste includes food-soiled paper such as pizza boxes, coffee filters, paper napkins and yard trimmings. The organic waste will be taken to one of the city’s recycling processors and turned into compost and made available to customers. On the commercial side, Treadwell said at the time of press, most businesses have already complied with the mandate, though they have until the end of the year to come online. She estimates that about 70% of businesses are already set up and actively participating. The next frontier is the noncommercial side. In her words, “multifamily is ramping up, and they’re going to be starting up in January and having food waste in apartment buildings. And then on the residential (end), we’re looking at probably implementing sometime this summer.”
With respect to residential customers, Treadwell said they should already have some familiarity with recycling programs. “In the city, we have three programs,” she said. “We a have mixed recycling, garbage and we have yard waste. So, for grass clippings, we have a weekly collection. A lot of jurisdictions don’t do that — they have every other week yard and every other week recycle, and the recycling yard waste weeks trade off.” According to Treadwell, this provides a firm foundation for success. “For most of our customers, it’ll be a matter of sort of putting your food waste in your garbage container.” Still, she expects a learning curve. “One of the biggest challenges is going to be the food-soiled paper,” she said. “State law requires that physical paper be treated as an organic and disposed of in organics. And so people might be confused about what The city of Sacramento will soon embark on an educational campaign with community they put in there. For instance, pizza boxes, outreach to help residents comply with the state law. (Photo provided) the paper, your Subway sandwich came in or the cup from Starbucks (are acceptable). But there’s a lot of stuff that isn’t accepted.” To that end, she anticipates some concern about contamination — whether intentional or otherwise — at least at the outset of the residential program. Right now, Treadwell said the city is concerned with helping businesses implement and maintain their waste diversion initiatives. “If people have to think about ‘Where does this thing go?,’ it’s going to be a learning curve. We do believe and hope that as foodways roll out — not only in the commercial sector but at your own home— that it will become much more natural (to comply).” However, there are exceptions to the rule. “We do have a waiver program — the law does allow for that,” said Treadwell. “If they can prove that they generate less than 20 gallons of organic material a week, then they may be able to be waived from the service. And so, we have probably close to 1,000 businesses that have submitted and been approved for that waiver.”
RIGHT: SB 1383 regulations went into effect on Jan. 1, 2022. The regulations aim to divert 50% of organic waste from landfills below 2014 levels by 2020 and 75% by 2025. (Photo provided)
FEBRUARY 2022 | THE MUNICIPAL 49
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Crisis Management
Preparation and communication key to handling oil spill crisis in Huntington Beach
By DENISE FEDOROW | The Municipal
Some might think luck played into the quick response to the oil spill at Huntington Beach, Calif., in October, but despite a couple of providential circumstances, Public Information Officer Jennifer Carey said preparation and established relationships were key. The spill occurred on Friday, Oct. 1, reportedly 4.5 miles off the coast of Huntington Beach. City officials first learned of the spill at an emergency operations center meeting planned for a large air show being held in Huntington Beach that weekend. “Luckily, we happened to have someone from the Coast Guard in that meeting. If not, I don’t know when we would’ve found out,” Carey said. Anytime a large event is hosted by the city, city officials assemble an emergency operations center team and meet for support in case something should go wrong. Carey said she was there in her role as public information officer for the police department. There were also representatives from the Federal
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Aviation Administration and Huntington Beach Fire and Marine Safety. The Coast Guard official received word there was a possible oil spill, but until 12:30 p.m., city officials still had not received notification that there was a spill and where it was located, but the Coast Guard official was “working with us to get confirmation.” Carey said sometimes residents will call 911 to report a strong smell of gas, something that happens a couple of times a year. Typically, dispatch will contact the Coast Guard and other agencies to look into it, and sometimes it ends up being nothing. However, since so many officials were in the same room when the news came, “it was the best-case scenario combined with the worst-case scenario,” Carey said.
ABOVE: Huntington Beach is a popular destination for surfing, swimming and sunbathing. During the oil spill, the beach was closed until water quality testing showed it was ready to reopen. (Photo by Sarah Wright)
On Saturday, officials were expecting 1.5 million people on the beach for the air show as well as hundreds of boats in the ocean. The Huntington Beach Air Show was canceled in 2020, so the organizers came back with a big bang in 2021. Carey said this air show was only the second time that the Blue Angels, the Thunderbirds and Canadian Snowbirds were all at the same show. “It was a huge spectacle,” she said. Officials wondered whether to evacuate the beach and how to get word to all the boats in the ocean. “Fortunately, because of the air show, everyone was in the room, and there was no lag time in assembling people.” The Coast Guard representative initially got word of the spill through a boat radio frequency channel, and he spent a lot of time
reaching out to his contacts and provided Carey with the public information officer contact for the Coast Guard so she could connect with that person right away. Crisis management process Within the city, the Huntington Beach Fire Department has a plan in place in the instance of an oil spill. Carey said the department recently held a drill to be proactive and to keep updated on training, rather than just “having the plans sitting in a binder on a shelf.” Another fortunate event was the fact the fire department had recently received a grant, which allowed it to acquire search-and-rescue equipment called booms. “It’s useful for oil spills and keeps oil out of our sensitive ecological areas, wetlands and ecological reserves — it’s critical to keep it out of there,” Carey said. Fire and Marine Safety began deploying booms Saturday afternoon in inlets, and it also notified various boats working in public safety to keep an eye out for oil. It also sent staff to the Unified Command Center to represent the department. Nonprofit partners Carey said, with the city’s location along the coast, it has a lot of environmental resources. “A lot of nonprofits take the lead caring for these areas — like the Bolsa Chica Ecological Reserve,” she said. California Fish and Wildlife works with the nonprofits to oversee the day-to-day operations and cleanups for areas like Bolsa Chica Ecological Reserve, Bolsa Chica Land Trust and Huntington Beach Wetland and Wildlife Care Center. Carey said the Wetland and Wildlife Care Center is the main emergency wildlife care center to take injured wildlife and is activated anytime anything happens. “We work very closely with representatives of those three agencies to determine what their needs are,” she said. Carey reported that some oil got into the Talbert Marsh before the city could get the booms in place. She described the boom as a long arm floaties — an inflated buoy that runs the length of the inlet to keep the oil out. Cleanup efforts Unified Command contracted Patriot Environmental Services for the cleanup.
Visitors stroll along Huntington Beach’s pier, a popular spot for tourists and residents. (Photo by Sarah Wright)
An aerial view of Huntington Beach and pier. A major oil spill occurred in October, hitting the beach the weekend of a large air show. The filmy substance surrounding the pier is oil. (Photo provided by Huntington Beach)
Representatives from Huntington Beach were recruited to assist. “We are the ones in the trenches and could identify priorities so we worked closely with them, collaborating so we all understood the game plan. Patriot was
great about asking for feedback from the city,” Carey said. However, it takes awhile to get everyone mobilized, and there was a two- to three-day lag before Patriot started work. Carey said city officials weren’t willing to wait so they FEBRUARY 2022 | THE MUNICIPAL 51
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reached out to local contacts to get boats in the water to identify pockets of oil. Huntington Beach Police Department has helicopters, and it used them to identify where oil was located so resources could be directed there. She said the city had a few cleanup boats through public safety agencies that offered to help. “The first two to three days of the oil spill were chaotic for us. It took awhile to get Unified Command established,” she said, adding, “We weren’t willing to wait; we were doing anything possible to get people out there to start cleanup.” She added the early information wasn’t always accurate. “Unified Command projected the oil spill would hit our shores Monday, but it hit Saturday evening so we had to take it upon ourselves to address it as a city. At the beginning, all hands were on deck, and there was an effort to reach out to contacts internally, seeing who was available to help.” After the first couple of days, Unified Command worked well. As for how long cleanup took, Patriot crews were out there for at least a month, according to Carey. The city conducted its own independent water quality testing — testing for oil and carbons. Orange County did water quality testing, but the city hired its own independent contractor and did testing twice a week. “Fortunately, our water was really clean, and we were able to reopen beaches fairly early and then other cities followed suit,” she said. The water quality was great even as cleanup was ongoing. Carey explained after the beaches were open when the tide would go out, it would leave a black trail on the beach and Patriot did a good job cleaning the beach. She said typically crude oil stays on the surface, but because this was post-production oil, it had thinner viscosity so some oil sank in and settled into the sand under the surface. “So we’ll likely see tar balls washing up on the beach for a while,” she said. Since some oil made it to the beach at Talbert Marsh, officials were very focused on cleaning that up. Carey thinks these partnerships worked by “having representatives from the city integrated in Unified Command.” This included having someone from the fire department within operational command and activating a joint informational center. 52 THE MUNICIPAL | FEBRUARY 2022
Tar washed up along the shore at Huntington Beach, Calif., after a pipeline leaked in October. Officials determined the cause of the leak was an anchor causing a gash in the pipeline. (Photo provided by Huntington Beach)
Carey added she had a support staff person who she could send to take part in the joint informational center. “It’s great to have people within the facility getting the most current information,” she said. Then Carey could relay that information to other cities, and they could go back and forth sharing what they were seeing on the ground. Both the Coast Guard headquarters and Amplify’s headquarters were in Long Beach, 30 to 40 miles north of Huntington Beach. She said that created a challenge because they weren’t necessarily there seeing what was going on so it was great having locals who knew the coast and the geography and understood the dynamics. “For them to say, ‘We’ve seen this weather pattern, and this is likely to happen, or due to the geography of the coastline, this will happen,’” she said. Orange County had representatives there, and while a lot of cities relied on the county, Huntington Beach officials felt it was more advantageous to have a representative there. Carey said from day one, Huntington Beach was the first to find out about the oil spill and came out quicker than other affected cities
because of having the Coast Guard partner in the room. “I tried to take the lead in working with and on behalf of the other cities and tried to ensure everyone’s interests were addressed,” she said. “I spoke regularly with a lot of other city’s officials, relaying information to Unified Command, and I’d ask my counterparts for information and vice versa.” She said they utilized a variety of communication methods — a lot of text messages and phone calls with Unified Command. Within the city, officials had Zoom calls twice a day. For informing the public, officials established a web page that would be updated daily throughout the oil spill, and they directed people to the website for the latest information. They posted press releases from Unified Command, water quality results and photos on the page. They also used social media and press releases. “We held our first press conference Saturday at 8 p.m., and we were the first to push out the information,” she said, adding she had her first interaction with the Coast Guard public information officer 30 minutes before that first press conference. She said the media covering the press conferences typically livestreamed the press
A bird covered in oil was recovered by a Huntington Beach Marine Safety officer. Oil spills create havoc for marine and wildlife. (Photo provided by Huntington Beach)
conferences, too. Local newspapers and TV station were contacted daily by Carey. The city also used the email distribution list to get the word out and placed signage on the beaches. “Surprisingly, with all that, people were still not realizing the beach was closed,” she said. “We had a pretty wide spread communication effort, and fortunately, we had a lot of different methods we could tap into.” Lessons learned “One of the things I learned is you can count on other agencies to help, but at the end of the day, it’s on your city to make sure everything’s taken care of — be proactive,” Carey said. “There’s no such thing as too much planning.” According to Carey, the police department and the fire department train for all sorts of crises, hoping they’ll never have to use it. In this case, fortunately, they’d just trained six months earlier so it was fresh in their minds. “Also, there’s no such thing as too much communication — make use of all the various channels.” Carey added, “Huntington Beach has close to 200,000 residents, but it feels like a small town. There was a lot of community support — a lot of people stepped in to help clean up, donate money and with ecological reserves. It can’t be overstated how important these types of connections are.” She advises no matter the crisis your municipality may encounter, identify the crisis communication plan up front, understand what agencies need to be in the room and who the three people representing each agency are. These are crucial. Have well-established representation in each room so you’re gathering information in a timely, accurate fashion. Take time to determine what’s true and false and identify the people who can help make those determinations. Bottom line, managing a crisis is like what you learned in the scouts — be prepared. “There’s no such thing as over-preparation,” Carey said.
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Maintenance & Operations
Improving management by improving communications Shutterstock.com
By TROY KIDDER | Kidder Media
When it all comes down to it, management of anything, especially a town or city, is about communication …
Having varied communications can keep residents in the loop. Ensuring newsletters and websites are well composed improves that message. (Shutterstock.com) 56 THE MUNICIPAL | FEBRUARY 2022
You can talk all day about the new world economy and the internet that connects us all, but the reality is that most people’s lives function within the limited borders of towns and cities. It’s the roads we travel to the store to purchase groceries and hardware supplies. It’s trips to the local school to pick up little Susie or Junior, and it’s those same roads that take us to the local park on the weekends, where the kids love to play while we parents sip sodas in the shade. Yes, it’s in the midst of this international information overload that we, as municipal managers, need to get our message out louder and clearer than ever before. There is much to communicate: services, where to get them and how they function; safety issues for the good of our community; and information about the parks and recreational facilities available for everyone. All this with a little PR twist to show what a great job our civil servants are doing. Hey, if you don’t show them and tell them, how will they know?
I’m sure you could make an even longer and more accurate list, and you should do so of what’s not clearly articulated to your community but should be. And that goes for internal communication as well. After all, the goal of management should be clarity of purpose, and how can there be clarity without consistent, sound communication? This can mean a weekly printed newsletter or e-newsletter. This also brings the team together and provides unity of vision — not to mention encouragement to every team member. The medium is the message Never has this adage been truer. As mentioned above, you are competing with the world at the doorstep. The old “just have Betty, the secretary, put something together and run out a bunch of copies” won’t cut it. I’ve known many public servants over the years who actually thought that a job poorly done communicated frugality and sensitivity to taxpayer funds. In reality, what their thrown-together piece was saying is, “This wasn’t important enough to do well, and we don’t really know what the heck we’re doing anyway. Period.” Everything must be done in excellence. I know … you have a hundred other things you’re required to do, and now I’m telling you that you’re not doing your job because you’re not a communications expert. The answer? Subcontract. Good management can also mean knowing what you’re good at and what you’re not. Just as you are an expert in your field, find experts to help you communicate your message. They are out there, and the price may be way less than you imagined. I know because I’m one of them. Newsletter, website and video The project I suggest first is a quarterly newsletter. This should be no more than four pages in length, printed in four-color process on glossy paper. Photos should be large and taken professionally, and articles should be short, well written and edited. If your budget can afford it, this should be mailed to every taxpayer. If your city is too large to mail to everyone, print off thousands of copies and get it into as many hands and institutions as possible. The next medium of great importance is an excellent website. This is the digital age: Folks can visit your town from anywhere in the world. What kind of impression does your site make? As with the newsletter, I suggest large, professional photos and short, well-written articles that are expertly edited. The website should be simplified in its message so that it’s easy for newcomers to navigate. It also should be updated on a regular basis. You have to give people a reason to come back to your site. This leads to the next medium, which is videos. These should be no more than two or three minutes in length. Have several produced and released one at a time — again, to give people a reason to come back to your site. Don’t go “old school” and produce some 10-minute piece with a boring voiceover. There should be happy, upbeat music with plenty of footage of folks enjoying your clean, safe and well-run town. That’s a powerful message. You’ll be amazed at how a great video catches fire on smartphones and other digital devices. Your web hits will go up by thousands. These are just three examples of ways to improve communications and PR with the community you serve. Remember that public
Newsletters can be digital or print; it is vital to get them into as many hands as possible. This may include mailing them or taking them to popular locales like coffeeshops. (Shutterstock.com)
Video can be another valuable tool in communications. Keep videos short and use them to showcase people enjoying your town. (Shutterstock.com)
relations is just that: It’s a relationship, not salesmanship. You’re making the statement with these mediums that you care enough about the members of the community to communicate with them and that everything you do is done in excellence. When people see and hear about good things happening in their community, they’re friendlier, towns are safer and the economy thrives as folks want to be a part of this kind of synergy. That’s good management; that’s a job well done. Troy Kidder is a former assistant town manager, former school teacher and a communications and PR professional. He serves communities across the country with communications and public relations solutions. Kidder has also trained the Fortune 500 in teamwork and leadership. His websites are www.la4marketplace. com and www.kiddermedia.com, or contact him by email: troy@ kiddermedia.com FEBRUARY 2022 | THE MUNICIPAL 57
M
Conference Calendar To list your upcoming conference or seminar in The Municipal at no charge, call (800) 733-4111, ext. 2307, or email the information to swright@the-papers.com.
MARCH
F E B R UA R Y Feb. 2-3 Maine Water Utilities Association Annual Conferece & Trade Show Civic Center, Augusta, Maine https://mwua.org/mwua-96thannual-conference-tradeshow Feb. 1-3 North Dakota Rural Water Systems & Expo Delta Hotels by Marriott, Fargo, N.D. https://www.ndrw.org/events/expo-fargo Feb. 2-4 League of California Cities Managers Conference Monterey, Calif. https://www.calcities.org/ detail-pages/event Feb. 7-9 New York Water Environment Association 94th Annual Meeting New York City, N.Y. https://www.nywea.org/ Feb. 8-9 Michigan Water Environment Association Operators Day Lansing Center, Lansing, Mich. http://www.viethconsulting. com/ Feb. 9-11 Michigan Association of Chiefs of Police Winter Professional Development Conference Amway Grand Hotel, Grand Rapids, Mich. https://www. michiganpolicechiefs.org/ Feb. 12-16 NACo Legislative Conference Washington Hilton, Washington, D.C. https://www.naco.org/events/ conferences
Feb. 11-15 ATSSA’s Convention & Traffic Expo Convention Center, Tampa, Fla. https://expo.atssa.com/ Feb. 15-17 IRWA Annual Technical Conference Keller Convention Center, Effingham, Ill. https://www.ilrwa.org/ Feb. 15-18 Texas Recreation & Park Society Institute and Expo College Station, Texas http://traps.org/institute-andexpo/ Feb. 21-24 WPRA Annual Conference & Trade Show Kalahari Resort & Convention Center, Wisconsin Dells, Wis. https://www.wpraweb.org/ annual-conference Feb. 21-24 WWETT 22 Conference Indiana Convention Center, Indianapolis, Ind. https://www.wwettshow.com/ en/show-info/show-hours.html Feb. 23-24 Delaware Rural Water Association 32nd Annual Technical Conference & Exhibition Delaware State Fairgrounds, Harrington, Del. https://drwa.org/events/ Feb. 23-25 Wisconsin Integrated Resource Management Conference Hyatt Regency, Green Bay, Wis. https://www.wirmc.org/
58 THE MUNICIPAL | FEBRUARY 2022
March 1-4 Missouri Park & Recreation Association’s Conference & Expo University Plaza Hotel & Conference Center, Springfield, Mo. https://www.mopark.org/ conference March 2-5 NUCA Annual Convention & Exhibit Hyatt Regency Hill Country Resort & Spa, San Antonio, Texas https://www.nuca.com/ convention March 6-9 Michigan Parks Annual Conference & Trade Show Grand Traverse Resort & Spa, Acme, Mich. https://www.mparks.org/page/ Conference March 6-9 New Jersey Recreation & Park Association’s 47th Annual Conference & Exhibit Harrah’s Waterfront Conference Center, Atlantic City, N. J. https://www.njrpa.org/NJRPAAnnual-Conference March 7-10 Colorado Rural Water Association 41st Annual Conference The Crowne Plaza DIA Convention Center, Denver, Colo. https://www.crwa.net/annualconference March 8-11 Work Truck Week 22 Indianapolis, Ind. www.worktruckshow.com
March 9-10 Healthy Worksite Summit Lynnwood, Wash. https://wacities.org/eventseducation March 10-12 Wisconsin State Firefighters Association Annual Convention Hyatt Regency/KI Convention Center, Green Bay, Wis. http://www.wi-state-firefighters. org/ March 21-24 Iowa Parks & Recreation Association Conference Dubuque, Iowa https://iapra.org/education/ iowa-conference March 22-24 Wildland Urban Interface 2022 Reno, Nev. www.iafc.org Mar. 23-25 Florida Ass’n of Governmental Fleet Administrators Spring Event Shores Resort & Spa, Daytona Beach, Fla. https://www.flagfa.org/ March 24-26 Mid-America Trucking Show Louisville, Ky. Rescheduled from Sept 2021 www.truckingshow.com
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News & Notes Curbtender Sweepers awarded Sourcewell contract CEDAR FALLS, IOWA — Government buyers of street sweepers and leaf loading trucks now have a simple and effective way to procure their equipment from leading OEMs. Curbtender Inc., and its subsidiary Curbtender Sweepers LLC, have earned a Sourcewell contract award in the “Street Sweepers and Specialty Sweepers” category through solicitation #093021. The RFP was competitively solicited across North America and awarded on behalf of Sourcewell government and education member agencies. Curbtender Sweepers is a manufacturer of leaf collection vehicles, mechanical street sweepers, and regenerative air sweepers based in Cedar Falls, Iowa. In October 2021 the company expanded into grapple loader trucks with its acquisition of the Brush Hawg brand of brush, debris, and limb loaders. With the newly awarded Sourcewell cooperative purchase contract, government fleets in US and Canada can purchase street sweepers and leaf loaders from Curbtender Sweepers without having to engage in lengthy and costly bid procurement processes. Sourcewell members additionally receive the benefit of a free one-year extended warranty when purchasing products from Curbtender. For more information, visit www.curbtendersweepers.com.
New data from 2021 survey shows increased employee absences is the top challenge related to COVID-19 NANAIMO, B.C. — Increased employee absences is the top challenge caused by COVID-19, VMAC’s 2021 State Of The Mobile Compressed Air Industry Survey reveals. Increased employee absences was selected by 41% of the survey’s respondents, followed closely by canceled service contracts (40%) and internal equipment and truck purchase delays (38%). “COVID-19 has brought unique challenges to businesses throughout the industry,” said Tod Gilbert, VMAC’s president. “Some of these challenges were expected but have lasted longer than many anticipated, and other challenges have come as a surprise.” VMAC’s 2021 State Of The Mobile Compressed Air Industry Report includes responses from 355 mobile compressed air industry professionals. Nearly half (45%) of respondents stated that COVID-19 negatively impacted their business, while 42% said it had no impact. The remaining 13% of respondents said COVID-19 had a positive impact on their business. VMAC’s research also revealed that 82% of respondents plan to invest as much or more in new vehicles and equipment despite these challenges. Only 18% of respondents expect their investment to lessen in 2021. The survey was conducted between October 2020 and February 2021. The response was optimistic when asked to predict what business conditions would be like in the next 12 months. Half of the respondents (49%) expected business conditions would improve, and a third of respondents (34%) thought business conditions would be the same. “There is always opportunity when industry rebounds happen, and many businesses have developed new ways of doing things that will leave a long-lasting positive impact,” explained Gilbert. “As industry
62 THE MUNICIPAL | FEBRUARY 2022
ramps back up, and equipment comes back online, the compressed air industry is well-positioned to flourish.” Review and download VMAC’s 2021 State Of The Mobile Compressed Air Industry PDF Report at www.vmacair.com/survey.
XL Fleet announces inducement grant under NYSE Rule 303A.08 BOSTON, MASS. — XL Fleet Corp., a leader in fleet electrification solutions for commercial and municipal fleets, announced that on Dec. 1, 2021, and in connection with the previously announced appointment of Eric Tech as CEO of XL Fleet, Tech received a onetime inducement grant under NYSE Listed Company Manual Rule 303A.08. As part of the grant, Tech received 493,026 stock options with an exercise price of $4.09, reflecting the closing price on Dec. 1, 2021. Additionally, Tech received 154,286 restricted stock units that will entitle him to receive one share of common stock as each of these units vests. As per the terms of this appointment, 25% of each grant will vest one year following the grant date, with the balance of each award vesting in equal installments each calendar quarter over the subsequent three years.
Parks and Recreation provides opportunities to fulfill health and wellness goals ASHBURN, VA. — Ninety-four percent of U.S. adults have health and wellness goals for 2022, according to a newly released National Recreation and Park Association poll. Top goals include: •D rinking more water and eating healthier. •R educing stress. • I ncreasing exercise and daily step counts. •G etting outside more often. “Park and recreation departments are leaders in providing the spaces and programs where people can fulfill their health and wellness goals,” said Kevin Roth, NRPA vice president of research, evaluation and technology. “Whether it’s walking a local trail with a friend or attending an exercise class at the local fitness center, park and recreation professionals work hard to ensure all people have access to activities that reduce stress and enhance overall wellness.” Local park and recreation agencies serve as community wellness hubs by leveraging their role as trusted gathering places that connect every member of the community to essential programs, services and spaces that advance health equity, improve health outcomes and enhance quality of life. Community wellness hubs meet the unique needs of their communities through a variety of ways, including access to healthy foods, physical activity, social connections and connection to nature. To learn more about parks and recreation as community wellness hubs, visit https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=35tWw-DxeAo. News releases regarding personnel changes, other non-productrelated company changes, association news and awards are printed as space allows. Priority will be given to advertisers and affiliates. Releases not printed in the magazine can be found online at www.themunicipal.com. Call (800) 733–4111, ext. 2307, or email swright@the-papers.com.
TOP 10 The most scenic highways in the US Nothing beats a scenic highway for the motorist. In 2021, Travel + Leisure writer Sarah Rose composed a list of the 23 best roads in the U.S. Of course each traveler’s mileage—get it!—will vary, but photos don’t lie: each highway offers varied scenic views. Not only do these highways offer stunning vistas, they are an experience, offering manmade attractions and kitschy shirts to rub in your visit to friends and family, such as “I survived the road to Hana.” The Municipal is sharing the top 10 of Rose’s list. Check out the source to see the entire list of 23. The U.S. has a lot to offer in terms of beautiful roads.
3
2
Blue Ridge Parkway, the Carolinas and Virginia
5 8
U.S. 1, Florida Keys
North Shore Drive, Minnesota
6 9
Lake Shore Drive, Chicago, Illinois
Route 12, Utah
Trail Ridge Road, Colorado
1 4 7
Hana HIghway, Maui, Hawaii
17-Mile Drive, California
Bluebonnet Trail, Texas
10
Kancamagus Highway, New Hampshire
Source: https://www.travelandleisure.com/trip-ideas/road-trips/americas-most-scenic-roads. Background photo: Monument Valley, Utah, Shutterstock.com 66 THE MUNICIPAL | FEBRUARY 2022
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68 THE MUNICIPAL | FEBRUARY 2022
M
Advertiser Index A
K
Air Netix LLC . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 42
Kidder Media . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 38
All Access Equipment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 68
KM International . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
Alumitank . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 39 AMCS Group . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9
L Land Pride . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 59
American Shoring . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 59
M B BendPak Incorporated . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 63 Blackburn Manufacturing Company . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 64 Bonnell Industries . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . BACK Bucher Municipal . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 36-37 Buyers Products Company . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 71
C CleanFix North America . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 38 Curb Roller . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 53 Clearspan Fabric Structures . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15
E
Mel Northey Company . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 47 Monroe Truck Equipment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31 MRL Equipment Company . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Cover, 10-11
N National Construction Rentals . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20 NTEA Work Truck . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16
O Olsson . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 46
P Prism Lighting Services, LLC . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 67
Elgin Sweeper Company . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25
S
Everblades Incorporated . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 55
Strategic Materials . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 54
F FCAR Tech USA, LLC . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 70 Fluid Control Services . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 43
Streamlight . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15 Strongwell . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 67 Super Products LLC . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 60 Swarco Industries . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 42
G
Switch-N-Go . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30
Global Environmental Products . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
T
Greystone Construction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 43
Transpo Industries . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24
GVM Incorporated . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 61
U
H
Uline . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24
Henderson Products . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 65
Unique Paving Materials . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3
I
W
ICC Distribution Group, LLC . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2
Winter Equipment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35
This index is provided courtesy of the publisher, who assumes no liability for errors or omissions. FEBRUARY 2022 | THE MUNICIPAL 69
70 THE MUNICIPAL | FEBRUARY 2022
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