The Municipal November 2021

The Premier Magazine For America’s Municipalities

November 2021

Technology

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Contents

November 2021 | VOL. 12 No. 8 | www.themunicipal.com

Shutterstock photos

20

18 Focus on Technology

30 20 Focus on Technology: Meetings move toward hybridization

24 Focus on Technology: How AI technology is helping to keep Tuscaloosa beautiful

40

28 Focus on Technology: Keene unrolls needed infrastructure for electric vehicles

30 Focus on Technology: Arizona installs dust detection warning system for drivers

40 Public Safety: Training and preparation key to firefighting with new technologies

46 Municipal Management: Making the move: Paducah attracts residents with new incentive program

48 Parks & Environmental Services: Madison concludes Carts in the Park pilot

52 Streets, Highways

& Bridges: Anderson Transit Center honors past, creates gateway to future

48 ON THE COVER Creating a sustainable fleet can be a challenge, especially when faced with budgets. Optimus Technologies, however, has developed a fuel system upgrade for existing engines to use 100% biodiesel. Learn more about this system, which makes B100 a viable option no matter external temperatures, on page 10.

Technology

INSIDE: Optimus Technologies Hybrid meetings

www.themunicipal.com

4 THE MUNICIPAL | NOVEMBER 2021

Partnership leads to new blight detection

NOVEMBER 2021 | THE MUNICIPAL 5

Departments

Meet our Staff publisher RON BAUMGARTNER rbaumgartner@the-papers.com

8 Editor’s Note: Straight out of science fiction

editor-in-chief DEB PATTERSON dpatterson@the-papers.com

editor SARAH WRIGHT swright@the-papers.com

10 From the Cover: Clearing the path

to sustainability: How municipalities are reducing carbon with the Optimus Vector System

12 On The Road Again: Bishop Castle, Rye, Colo.

14 What’s In A Name: Lackawanna and publication manager CHRIS SMITH chris@themunicipal.com

senior account executive REES WOODCOCK rees@themunicipal.com

graphic designer MARY LESTER mlester@the-papers.com

Mechanicville, N.Y.

16 Veterans Day 38 City Profile: With scenic beauty,

Estes Park prides itself on quality of life

58 Conference Calendar 59 Product Spotlights 64 News & Notes 66 Guest Column: Purchasing

technology calls for ever-changing strategies

business manager CARRIE GORALCZYK cgoralczyk@the-papers.com

director of marketing STEVE MEADOWS smeadows@the-papers.com

70 Top 10: Best places to raise a family 73 Advertiser Index

mail manager KHOEUN KHOEUTH kkhoeuth@the-papers.com

WWW.THEMUNICIPAL.COM PO Box 188 • 206 S. Main St., Milford, IN 46542 866-580-1138/Fax 800–886–3796 Editorial Ext. 2307; Advertising Ext. 2505, 2408

6 THE MUNICIPAL | NOVEMBER 2021

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 © 2021.

NOVEMBER 2021 | THE MUNICIPAL 7

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Editor’s Note

Straight out of science fiction

I

genuinely appreciate Arthur C. Clarke’s Third Law: “Any sufficiently advanced technology is indistinguishable from magic.” There is a truth that rings from it, of which I am reminded of almost every day after reading or watching various tech-related articles or videos. I can understand the basics for some advancements, while others leave me thinking: We truly live in Sarah Wright | Editor magical times!

For instance, in Japan, some public toilets are enclosed in colorful, transparent glass, but the moment the door is closed and locked, that glass goes opaque. What is this sorcery?! It’s actually electric currents. They align crystals in the glass to increase or decrease the light passing through, creating a transparent or frosted appearance. This “smart glass” enables people to see what awaits them on the bathroom’s interior while conversely providing privacy when occupied. That Japan has created such beautiful, high-tech public toilets is not a surprise, as it has long dominated toilet technology in the home.

It’s not just public toilets toeing the line with magic.

In the Netherlands, the city of Amsterdam has developed “the first peer-reviewed, privacy-by-design” crowd monitoring system, called Public Eye. Created with Life Electronic and Tapp, this system uses existing city cameras and a computer vision artificial intelligence algorithm to monitor and predict crowds in public spaces. The pandemic showed its potential to measure social distancing. With data gathered by Public Eye, the city can better manage crowds and reduce risks of injury.

Amsterdam and its partners had privacy on their minds when developing it and also had no desire to use it as an enforcement tool. Boen Groothoff, project manager for smart mobility in the city of Amsterdam’s Chief Technology Office, told Cities Today, “We don’t want people to get (enforcement) tickets or fines; we want to prevent that by making sure areas don’t get too crowded in the first place and helping people make informed decisions.”

Since Public Eye is open sourced, any city can try it out, with its files being available at https://github.com/Amsterdam/public-eye.

COVID-19 has had a profound impact on technology’s development and adoption.

From video conferencing to better air quality management tools, there has been so much growth and rapid deployment.

Writer Janet Patterson highlights this growth in her article this month, zooming in on two cities’ technology updates that will ensure hybrid meetings going forward. During the pandemic, both noticed an uptick in constituent engagement through virtual meetings, and they hope to continue that engagement.

The Municipal will also highlight a city-university partnership that has created a new technology for blight detection, Keene, N.H.’s, efforts to go zero emissions and the Arizona Department of Transportation’s infrastructure game changer.

There are so many exciting technologies being unveiled each day. Truthfully, I’m just ready for a transporter for hopefully cheap, instantaneous travel — barring mishaps.

Cheers, everyone, and Happy Thanksgiving!

8 THE MUNICIPAL | NOVEMBER 2021

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From The Cover

Clearing the path to sustainability: How municipalities are reducing carbon with the Optimus Vector System

By HARPER YORK

Across the nation, municipal fleet managers struggle with the challenge of making their fleets sustainable while balancing priorities: namely, not breaking budgets, finding solutions that are available today, meeting demanding equipment and operating specifications, while avoiding deep investments in all-new infrastructure.

In the heart of the Midwest, Rich Iverson prepares his snowplow fleet for the coming winter. Five hours Northeast, engineers prepare the city of Madison fleet for a remarkable transformation. Along the shores of Lake Michigan, the Chicago Parks Department assesses damage from the latest windstorm. In the nation’s capital, Ryan 10 THE MUNICIPAL | NOVEMBER 2021

Frasier of the District of Columbia Department of Public Works deploys the country’s largest fleet of sustainable garbage trucks and snowplows. In each of these cities, fleet personnel confronted the questions of how to make their trucks more sustainable; how could they address climate change now? In each case, they came to the same conclusion,

ABOVE: District of Columbia Department of Public Works has installed The Vector System on 70 of its trucks, with another 63 on order. Optimus has given it the ability to cut its carbon beyond current reduction goals. (Photo provided)

and in each case, they are running 100% biodiesel in their heavy-duty vehicles. Yes, 100% biodiesel.

Biodiesel is a sustainable, domestically sourced, advanced biofuel with a nearzero carbon. Made from waste fats and oils — like used cooking oil and animal tallow — its biogenic nature reduces Scope 1 carbon emissions by 100%. It’s an immediate solution that can have major impacts on greenhouse gas emissions. Biodiesel’s

biggest challenge has been its cold-weather properties. When the mercury falls, biodiesel congeals. In its gel form, biodiesel gums up fuel filters and injectors, causing headaches and downtime. It has lead fleet managers to reduce biodiesel blends for the colder months.

However, Optimus Technologies has developed a fuel system upgrade for existing engines to use B100 that solves the gelling problem — no matter the temperature — and all other challenges that are typically associated with blends above 20%, including exhaust system aftertreatment compatibility and crankcase oil dilution.

Using diesel for startup and shutdown, Optimus’ system uses waste heat from a vehicle’s engine to condition the B100, allowing diesel engines to operate without any loss in performance in any weather.

Reliability in extreme weather is essential when it comes to emergency response. Rich Iverson’s quest to reduce carbon in the Ames, Iowa, fleet without sacrificing performance led him to Optimus and The Vector System. Emergency snow removal happens under the harshest conditions, and it’s essential that vehicles have the ability to run nonstop, sometimes for days on end. With the Optimus Vector System, Rich found a way to leverage the vehicles already in his fleet while reducing his carbon emissions to near-zero.

After weathering two winters with Optimus-equipped snowplows, Iverson asserted, “We depend on the Optimus System every day.

It performs with outstanding reliability, even during the harshest conditions we face. When it comes to cutting carbon, the Optimus Vector System using B100 is the fastest, simplest and most affordable way to significantly reduce our diesel emissions.”

Being at the forefront of sustainable cities is paramount to Mahanth Joishy, fleet superintendent at the city of Madison.

Joishy said, “We have an opportunity to make impactful, lasting change that will shape our cities economically and environmentally.

At the city of Madison, we’ve set the goal of being carbon-neutral by 2030. For us, that means electrification of our fleet everywhere we can and targeting 100% biodiesel for everything else. We have years of experience with biodiesel. It’s clean, biodegradable, renewable, and processed here in Madison with Wisconsin-sourced materials, which also means that we’re supporting local jobs.”

The versatility of Optimus’ system also allows Madison to reduce carbon in its off-road assets as well, including its 1,100-horsepower wood chipper, the city’s single largest fuel consumer.

Whether it’s collecting trash or clearing downed trees, the Chicago Parks Department takes pride in maintaining the shores of Lake Michigan. Using B100 to get the job done provides the added benefit of drastically reducing soot from combustion. For environmental justice communities, like Chicago, it’s important to be stewards of both land and air. Optimus’ system works in tandem with, and can improve the operations of, modern SCR and DPF systems to ensure engines not only achieve near-zero carbon emissions but also nearzero tailpipe emissions.

In the nation’s capital, Ryan Frasier, fuel management officer for D.C. Department of Public Works, knows the importance of leading by example. When establishing D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser’s aggressive climate plan, DCDPW evaluated every available technology in terms of effectiveness and affordability.

“Cutting carbon isn’t an option. D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser says it is something we must do, both as a nation, and as the District of Columbia, the nation’s capital. Heavy-duty electric options are extremely expensive and aren’t ready for wide deployment yet. Optimus has

Biodiesel’s cold-weather properties have hobbled its adoption, but Optimus’ system uses waste heat from a vehicle’s engine to condition the B100. The city of Ames, Iowa, has implemented this system in its snowplow fleet. (Photo provided)

The city of Madison strives to be carbon-neutral by 2030. The Vector System has enabled it to use 100% biodiesel to achieve this while also implementing electrification in segments of its fleet. (Photo provided) given us the ability to cut our carbon beyond our reduction goals. We currently have The Vector System on 70 of our trucks with another 63 on order. In addition to upgrading existing trucks, the system can be integrated on new trucks, so we include the B100 system onto every new refuse and dump truck bid specification we release,” Christine Davis, director, D.C. Department of Public Works, said.

Sustainability. Climate Action. Carbon Neutrality. These are the buzzwords of the day, and for good reason. When we see the devastation of floodwaters filling the streets and subways of New York City, power outages in New Orleans that last weeks and fires that consume entire towns in the West, it’s clear that climate change is here, and it’s staring us right in the face. While policy makers in Washington and in state governments are debating the rules and regulations, in truth, the work toward sustainability is and will be done by local governments, cities and municipalities. Let’s get to work.

Contact us at https://www.optimustec.com, 412-727-8228 or info@optimustec.com for more information NOVEMBER 2021 | THE MUNICIPAL 11

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On The Road Again

Bishop Castle, Rye, Colo.

By RAY BALOGH | The Municipal

“After all,” goes the idiomatic rejoinder, “what can one man do?”

Well, in Jim Bishop’s case: build a castle — a 160-foot edifice, half a century in the making, majestically rising at 9,000 feet above sea level and dwarfing the surrounding trees of the San Isabel National Forest near Rye, Colo.

Bishop laid every single one of the thousands of stones used in the construction, handling them each an average of six times as he hauled them in from the nearby Wet Mountains, chiseled them to his own specs and mortared them into place.

In addition, he felled and milled timber into lumber; carved railroad ties into archway forms; built scaffolding; hand dug foundation holes, some 12 feet deep; mixed his own mortar; created a complex pulley system; and crafted ironwork for stairs and customized hand railings, outdoor bridges and walkways, window frames, structural supports, inner roof support trusses and various ornamental enhancements.

The result — so far — is a palace, albeit never inhabited, consisting of three stories of interior rooms, including a grand ballroom; soaring turrets; a steeple and bell tower; elevated wrought iron bridges and walkways; winding staircases; and a fire-breathing dragon made from discarded hospital warming plates and powered by a donated hot-air balloon burner.

Bishop, who does acknowledge divine assistance — he describes the castle as “built by one man with the help of God” — began his tireless labor in 1969, a decade after he purchased the heavily forested 2 1/2-acre parcel when he was 15.

Bishop and his dad, Willard, who owned an ornamental wrought iron shop, spent 10 summers preparing the groundwork for an eventual family cabin. Jim married his sweetheart, Phoebe, in 1967 and two years later commenced building a one-room cottage. In

ABOVE LEFT: A family of Amish visitors eyes the front facade of the 160-foot Bishop Castle. (Photo by Rejaymes/Shutterstock.com) BELOW LEFT: Jim Bishop, 77, perches atop a turret of his castle.

He placed every stone in the construction and continues his 52-year labor of love of what some consider the largest one-man building project in the world. (Photo courtesy of www.bishopcastle.org) 12 THE MUNICIPAL | NOVEMBER 2021

The castle interior includes a grand ballroom appointed with stained glass windows and a hand-forged wrought iron archway.

(Photo by Rexjayme/Shutterstock.com) ‘more’ was going on, that maybe it was the Creator of All Things working through him in this magnificent endeavor that seemed to have a spirit of its own.”

As the project grew to unignorable proportions, more and more visitors stopped by the site. One of his friends suggested the castle could be a real moneymaker, but Bishop revealed his altruistic character by refusing to consider the proposal.

According to the attraction’s website, “He hated it when he was a kid and couldn’t go to the zoo or the ballpark because admission for the A stone wall protects the Bishop Castle, situated in the San Isabel whole family was too high for a bunch of working class folks. Seeing National Forest near Rye, Colo. The geodesic dome on the right as the original idea for a castle came from people visiting the property, turret rotates as visitors walk the spiral staircase inside. (Photo by Jim figured that if people were welcomed onto the property for free Rexjaymes/Shutterstock.com) then he could put out a donation box and people could put in there what they felt comfortable putting in there. The honor system would 1971 he installed a 40-foot metal gravity-fed cistern for the budding be the financier.” family’s use.

All along Bishop tussled with authorities, including the Bureau of As he erected the cottage walls, neighbors, friends and passersby Land Management, IRS, Custer County code enforcement and Departcommented how much the construction project resembled a castle. By ment of Transportation, and an unscrupulous former friend who late spring 1972, with his imagination in overdrive, he began announc- sought to usurp ownership rights over the property. All the skirmishes ing that he was, in fact, building a castle and converted his modest initial have been settled or otherwise resolved in his favor. effort into perhaps the world’s largest one-man building project.

Viewing America as “a free country made up of free persons,” Bishop When he launched his castle-building dream, Bishop didn’t intend drew up legal documents ensuring the castle would offer free admission to do it alone. For the first eight years of construction, he accepted all as long as it stood. Every year, thousands of people visit the castle — at offers of assistance. But none of the prospective Good Samaritans ever their own risk, as stated on the entrance signs — and the site hosts made good on their promises to help, so he vowed, “By God, I’ve gotten wedding ceremonies year-round. A significant portion of the tours, all this far by myself. If you’re going to do something right, do it yourself.” self-guided, is not for the acrophobic.

And he did — without plans, schematics or blueprints — the castle Bishop is not yet finished with his medieval fantasy project. He plans taking shape as features “suggested themselves” or were added as to add a moat and drawbridge, a roller coaster mounted on an outer Bishop visualized them in his mind. The only drawing of Bishop Castle wall and a balcony large enough to accommodate an orchestra.

Bishop Castle is located at 12705 State Highway 165, Rye, Colo. Castle is the one he created to illustrate his 1990 book, “Castle Building From hours are 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. every day during the summer season and 9 My Point of View.”

Bishop’s unstoppable work ethic (he even spurned his doctor’s order a.m. to 5 p.m. during winter. Summer gift shop hours are 10 a.m. to 5 of bed rest after his cancer diagnosis) is fueled by personal compul- p.m. Monday through Friday and 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday and Sunday sion coupled with inspiration beyond his control. According to the in the winter. attraction’s official website, www.bishopcastle.org, “The more Jim experienced massive wonder himself about how certain features lined up For more information, call (719) 564-4366 or visit or fell into place is when he started suspecting that maybe something www.bishopcastle.org or www.facebook.com/bishopcastlecolorado NOVEMBER 2021 | THE MUNICIPAL 13

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What’s In A Name

Lackawanna and Mechanicville, N.Y.

By RAY BALOGH | The Municipal One constant in American history has been the unflinching spirit of industriousness of its people. The courage and sacrifices of its earliest intrepid trailblazers carved the way for the pioneers who established communities through back-breaking toil while contending with the dangers posed by enemies and elements.

As the population grew and technology advanced, laborers took on the challenges of grueling, filthy work in factories and mills. Others performed the task of building essential infrastructure in the form of roads, canals and bridges.

That tireless work ethic was so endemic to America’s early settlements that some towns were named after businesses and industries, such as Lackawanna and Mechanicville, N.Y.

Lackawanna is named for the steel company that occupied the city’s entire Lake Erie frontage. At its zenith, the municipality’s steel industry employed 20,000 people, more than Lackawanna’s current total population. (Photo by Pjard/Shutterstock) Lackawanna Lackawanna, a municipality of 19,949 on the Lake Erie shore in the Buffalo-Niagara Falls metropolitan area, was named for the Lackawanna Steel Company, the world’s largest steel plant during the early 20th century.

The area, originally part of the Buffalo Creek Reservation, was opened to settlement when the Seneca Indians sold it in 1842. Lackawanna’s nominal precursor, Seneca, was founded as a town in 1851 and changed its name to West Seneca the following year.

The Lackawanna Steel Company, originally based in Scranton, Pa., purchased West Seneca’s entire shoreline in 1899, began construction of its new plant in 1900, relocated to the area in 1902 and began operations in 1903.

In 1909 some of the area’s residents voted to split from West Seneca and formed a new city, which they dubbed Lackawanna.

Bethlehem Steel bought the company in 1922, and the city’s population and institutions blossomed. At its peak, the steel plant employed 20,000 people, many of them immigrants from a variety of nations. The town doubled in population, from 14,549 to its peak of 29,564, during the first half of the 20th century.

Industry restructuring and excessive town assessments caused Bethlehem’s business to decline. It drastically reduced operations in 1977 and closed its doors in 1983. During that decade, Lackawanna lost more than

14 THE MUNICIPAL | NOVEMBER 2021

one-fifth of its population and has declined every decade until the 2010s, when it experienced a significant resurgence.

Recent efforts have been made to develop the resultant brownfields, and wind turbines were installed on the property in 2007. The city’s economy is now service-based.

Once a community bristling with places of worship, Mechanicville has only two remaining churches, one Catholic and one United Methodist.

(Photo by Carol Ann Mossa/Shutterstock)

Mechanicville Mechanicville, the smallest city by area in New York, has a current population of 4,923. It is located on the Hudson River 20 miles north of Albany and midway between the restfully named towns of Stillwater and Halfmoon.

The city’s name derives from the occupations of its early residents when “mechanic” embraced a far broader definition than it does today.

“Mechanics” in the early settler days referred to independent master craftsmen in the artes mechaniae, or mechanical arts, from millers to carpenters to butchers and many professions in between. Such occupations were contrasted in medieval times to the so-called liberal arts worthy of free men, which included mathematicians, musicians, astronomers, orators, educators and the like.

Though the mechanical arts were deemed to be vulgar and servile, the more accurate — and euphemistic — terms include “useful arts” and “applied arts.”

The first documented settlement in the Mechanicville area was in 1721, when Cornelius Van Buren constructed a sawmill at the mouth of Thenendehowa Creek, where it emptied into the Hudson River.

The first printed reference to the name Mechanicville dates to 1829.

Over the next several decades, flour mills were put into operation, and when the Champlain Canal and Rensselaer and Saratoga Railroad reached the settlement, Mechanicville acquired prominence as an important commerce interchange.

The community, then with 1,000 residents, was incorporated as a village in 1859 and grew rapidly with the establishment of textile and paper mills, factories, brick makers, sash and blind manufacturers, the American Linen Thread Company and one of the country’s first manufacturers of friction matches.

Robert Newton King built a hydroelectric power plant on the Hudson River in 1898. That plant is now the oldest continuously operating hydroelectric plant in the United States.

Mechanicville became a city in 1915 and grew steadily until the decline of the railroads. Now a quiet residential city, it serves as a bedroom community for employees in Albany, Schenectady and other nearby municipalities.

NOVEMBER 2021 | THE MUNICIPAL 15

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Veterans Day

“Honor to the soldier and sailor everywhere, who bravely bears his country’s cause. Honor, also, to the citizen who cares for his brother in the field and serves, as he best can, the same cause.”

– Abraham Lincoln

Honoring those who have served.

Thank you 16 THE MUNICIPAL | NOVEMBER 2021

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“We’re realizing much more public engagement with the Zoom and YouTube meetings. People are able to see their city government first-hand.

It’s really more convenient for people. They can make dinner, watch their children and still take in the meeting.” — said Mayor Steve Noble Read more about hybrid meetings on page 20.

18 THE MUNICIPAL | NOVEMBER 2021

Focus on: Technology

focus on:

technology $100,000 The city of Kingston, N.Y., has committed this amount toward new technology that will enable hybrid meetings. The city also employs three full-time information technology employees.

100% Keene, N.H., aims for 100% of all its thermal energy and energy used for transportation to come from renewable energy sources by 2050.

Learn how cities are embracing hybrid meetings on page 20.

Read more about Keene’s efforts to create the necessary infrastructure on page 28.

13 The number of visibility detectors along Arizona’s I-10 corridor. These stateof-the-art detectors strive to reduce accidents in dust storms.

Read more on page 30.

$3.5 million The U.S. Department of Commerce awarded Bloomington, Ind., a $3.5 million grant to help develop and construct a new technology center in the Trades District.

Source: https://www.idsnews.com/article/2021/09/city-of-bloomingtonreceives-3-5-million-grant-new-technology-center

54% Root reports that 54% of the 1,819 adult motorists it surveyed have had trouble concentrating on the road after making videoconference calls with Zoom, Microsoft Meet or some other software platform.

Source: https://www.thedetroitbureau.com/2021/04/ zoom-zombies-are-the-driving-dead/

$51,193 Lake Mills, Wis., city council members approved the purchase of a TriCaster 2 Elite to allow future council meetings to integrate people who attend in person or virtually. The purchase and installation will be $51,193.

Source: https://www.hngnews.com/lake_mills_leader/news/government/ article_184192c3-d4cc-5124-b337-1561c5d11f2f.html

NOVEMBER 2021 | THE MUNICIPAL 19

Meetings move toward hybridization

Shutterstock.com

M Focus on: Technology

By JANET PATTERSON | The Municipal

While the COVID-19 pandemic brought some aspects of life to a halt, it caused others to pivot and go in a new direction. Technology in municipal governments might be at the top of some of those pivot lists.

Special equipment and furniture are on order for the technology that will be used in 1872 city hall in Kingston, N.Y. The new equipment will allow full participation in virtual and hybrid meetings.

(Photo provided by City of Kingston)

20 THE MUNICIPAL | NOVEMBER 2021

While cities around the world were in lockdown, the business of running a municipality continued by way of virtual online meetings.

Some cities were ready to meet the challenge. Others had to quickly patch together a way to make that happen.

Ultimately, a year and a half later, virtual meetings have become the new normal, and some cities have taken the adoption of technology to new levels.

In Kingston, N.Y., city officials have found that more and more citizens are participating in the online meetings.

“We’re realizing much more public engagement with the Zoom and YouTube meetings. People are able to see their city government first-hand,” said Mayor Steve Noble. “It’s really more convenient for people. They can make dinner, watch their children and still take in the meeting.”

Sometimes there’s one item on an agenda that matters to a citizen.

He added that being able to fast-forward through a recorded meeting means getting to that item without having to sit through perhaps hours of other business.

Kingston has noticed an uptick in public engagement with the Zoom and YouTube meetings. Its goal is to install new technology, enabling interactive “hybrid” meetings. (Photo provided by City of Kingston)

Aspen’s new city hall will use a geothermal heating and cooling system that will earn the new building a LEED - Gold rating. (Photo provided by the city of Aspen)

According to Noble, the municipality of about 24,000 in Ulster County — about 90 miles north of New York City — had been “dabbling” in technology before the pandemic. The pandemic lockdown challenged Kingston to do more.

The state of New York, which at one point was the epicenter of the COVID-19 pandemic in the United States, allowed municipalities to return to in-person meetings earlier this year.

However, in September, New York Governor Kathy Hochul signed legislation extending virtual access to public meetings under the state’s open meetings law until Jan. 15, 2022.

Shortly after that, Noble announced that despite an 80% vaccination rate, city board and commission meetings would be held virtually until the January deadline to be safe amid a growing number of new The nearly complete Aspen City Hall is being constructed adjacent cases. to a parking garage that was built in the early 1980s. ConstrucThe city’s goal is to have new technology in place and ready to tion began in January 2019 and proceeded slowly because of the broadcast and record interactive “hybrid” meetings by the January COVID-19 pandemic. (Photo provided by the city of Aspen) deadline.

“We’ve had to order special equipment because we can’t just start In addition to doing full virtual meetings, he said, the new technolattaching things to the walls in our city hall,” he said.

Kingston’s city hall was built in 1872. Twenty-first century equip- ogy will allow for “more seamless hybrid meetings.” Being able to do ment requires special handling in the historic building, Noble said. that means hearing and seeing all that happens in a meeting, along In addition to the technology, new furniture to house the equipment with the ability to show graphics and printed materials clearly to all participants. is on order.

Schober admitted while the plan for the $37 million city hall had Noble said the city is fortunate to have committed about $100,000 to the project as well as employing three full-time information tech- been in the works for several years and construction began in February 2019 — well before the pandemic — COVID-19 changed some of nology people. the ways the building has developed.

“We’re very lucky to have that kind of commitment.”

Two thousand miles west of Kingston is Aspen, Colo., where up-to“It for sure accelerated our technology plan when we realized an date technology is going into a modern new city hall. increased need for connectivity.”

According to Schober, the former silver mining town turned resort Like Kingston, though, the participation in virtual meetings has boomed during the pandemic. “Yes, people are finding they can sit with about 7,000 residents, located 200 miles southwest of Denver, at the dining room table and attend a meeting,” said Robert Schober, should have its new 37,500-square-foot city hall ready by the end of capital asset director for the city of Aspen. the year.

NOVEMBER 2021 | THE MUNICIPAL 21

continued from page 21

He described the new seat of city government as “built adjacent to and on top of a parking garage that was built in the late 1970s or early 1980s.”

When completed, the city hall will be state of the art both in infrastructure and technology, with top ratings for its geothermal heating-ventilation-air conditioning system and energy-efficient lighting plan. During the initial investigation of the building site, engineers discovered a river flowing beneath the parking garage that was monitored for several years. Schober said the water temperature is a steady 60 degrees all year, allowing for a high-tech air handling system that will keep city employees warm in winter and cool in summer, changing the building temperature based on the outside temperature and the number of people in the building.

The audio-visual technology was upgraded because of the pandemic. What is described as a full connectivity plan will include council chambers, a civic lobby, a multipurpose room and three conference rooms.

Schober said the changes will allow council members to fully participate in voting remotely, presenting remotely and taking public comment if the council or commission wishes to use that feature.

The technology will also allow the city to remotely interview job candidates, receive consultants and training presentations remotely as well as potentially allowing community use of the multipurpose room.

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M Focus on: Technology

How AI technology is helping to keep Tuscaloosa beautiful

24 THE MUNICIPAL | NOVEMBER 2021

Brendan Moore, executive director of urban development for the city of Tuscaloosa, holds one of the cameras used to detect blight. (Photo provided by the University of Alabama)

By LAUREN CAGGIANO | The Municipal

Blight is a relative term. For some, they “know it when they see it.” However, newly embraced technology in Tuscaloosa, Ala., provides a more objective way to identify blight.

The University of Alabama and the city of Tuscaloosa collaborated to Framing this conversation, Moore acknowledged blight is an issue in create a system that can automatically detect blighted areas in a com- most communities but was more time and resource-intensive in theirs.

“You have to have the human capital and also the equipment,” he said. munity, helping prevent issues before they escalate into costly repairs for property owners. This patent-pending technology will reduce personnel “So even when you start (surveying) tens of thousands of violations, and time devoted to inspection, limit potentially harmful interaction on prop- you only have a handful of either code enforcement officers or property maintenance inspectors, it makes it a little bit more intensive.” erties and uniformly expand detection to all parts of the city.

The city frequently receives calls about overgrown grass, abandoned The inventors of the technology are Dr. Erik Johnson, assistant professor of economics in the Culverhouse College of Business, and Brendan vehicles, litter, illegal parking and appliances or furniture left outside. The Moore, executive director of urban development for the city of Tuscaloosa. new technology can analyze images of properties and highlight issues According to Moore, the two men first met in the spring of 2020, and using a scoring system. a conversation sparked interest in this project.

That’s why this new solution has so much potential — it is objective.

“We discussed the idea of how we could identify potentially negative This system helps prevent neighborhood decline in an affordable way issues associated with properties or code violations, to identify those using a unique method to collect and analyze relevant data. The ability of the model to determine exactly what part of the property is driving the more quickly and easily,” he said.

Fast-forward to today, and the technoogy has been implemented with blight score can help inform property owners and lead to what Moore some successful outcomes that could be translated to future wins in other refers to as “low-cost interventions.” cities and towns.

That’s exactly why Johnson said its implementation can be a game “So, the way the technology works is that we, in Tuscaloosa, have really changer. That’s because the more data deep-learning models are given been able to leverage the fact that the city has a great municipal-owned to analyze, the more effective they become. He noted the city has been waste management fleet here,” said Johnson. “So, we were able to put responsive in putting together data from across departments to inform cameras on their garbage trucks, basically (with privacy and confiden- the model. They’re also looking to share this scoring model with other municipalities. tiality in mind).”

NOVEMBER 2021 | THE MUNICIPAL 25

continued from page 25

But it’s still a work in progress, according to Moore.

“We’re still kind of in a testing phase,” he said. “And we’re implementing and kind of going by more of a block-by-block-type approach, which is mirroring what we’re doing in West Tuscaloosa. Obviously, while coming out of COVID, there’s a little bit more sensitivity, and (we’re) trying to be mindful of making sure we’re not putting any undue burdens on property owners who are already in a difficult situation. So that’s been a delicate balance.”

In hindsight, Moore said he’s proud of the project’s momentum and that they’ve expanded beyond what he refers to as “the why.” In his words, “it’s more of what we’ll call kind of a code violation or defect detector. So that could be anything from tall grass to junk cars, to blight, to pieces of property — really just anything that might be a defect in the built environment.”

And when issues are identified, or the homeowner or renter can’t afford the repairs, there are measures in place to address that.

“Recently, our Community Development Office got (some funding) for these kinds of refreshes or repairs,” he said. “So, we’re optimistic that hopefully, we can connect some of those data points with that office as well to help and kind of inform their decision-making on the best places to spend less dollars.”

Dr. Erik Johnson shows off one of the blight-detecting cameras affixed to the fleet. (Photo provided by the University of Alabama)

26 THE MUNICIPAL | NOVEMBER 2021

M Focus on: Technology Jack-o’-lanterns are displayed in Keene during the New Hampshire Pumpkin Festival in 2011.

(Photo by bwats2 via Flickr; https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0/)

Keene unrolls needed infrastructure for electric vehicles

By JUDE STRIEBY | The Municipal

When it comes to unique happenings, the citizens of Keene, N.H., could mention their feat of breaking the world record for most jack-o’-lanterns on display, which happened several times during the state’s annual pumpkin festival from 1991 to 2014. The town could also point out that the movie “Jumanji,” starring Robin Williams, was shot in its very own Parrish Mansion. But a more recent and substantially more important event was when it became the first in the state of New Hampshire to take the final step toward local implementation of a goal for renewable energy.

28 THE MUNICIPAL | NOVEMBER 2021

A statement by the town explains this further: “It is the goal of the City of Keene that all electricity consumed in the City will come from renewable energy sources by the year 2030 and that 100% of all thermal energy and energy used for transportation come from renewable energy sources by the year 2050. This goal will apply to the entire Keene community, not just municipal government operations.”

Clean energy is a topic the United States has talked about for decades in both the public and private sectors. From the Energy Policy Act of 2005, which mandated that U.S. gasoline contain greater amounts of renewable fuel, to the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, which called for 27.2 billion in funding toward investment into research of renewable energy, it has been one of the most important discussions and frustrating dilemmas of our modern age.

Though many have understood the importance of developing ways People visit downtown Keene, N.H. The city plans to use 100% to power society without harming the Earth and ourselves, not all renewable energy by 2050. (Photo by Jon Platek via Wikimedia Comattempts at an agreement on legislation have been successful. But mons; https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/deed.en) according to “Renewables on the Rise 2020,” a report by the Environment America Research and Policy Center and the Frontier Group, the past 11 years have seen the U.S. begin to rapidly rise in both its dedication to and application of moving toward renewable energy sources, on both the federal and state level.

New Hampshire’s 10-year data from that report was encouraging: the state had a 65-fold gain in solar energy production, a five-fold growth in wind energy production, and 3,927 electric vehicles were sold through June 2019.

Keene did its part to continue this upward swing by unanimously adopting the Keene Community Power Plan in May 2021. The plan’s details cover alternative choices for electricity, control of electricity bills and increased local renewable energy. Since studies have shown the transportation sector is the highest contributor to greenhouse gas emissions, one part of its dedication to renewable energy is to create an environment in which it is easy to switch from gasoline cars to electric vehicles. Since electric vehicle purchases can only increase if there are charging stations, Keene is actively working toward forwarding the changes needed to help its vehicular landscape be one Before 2021, Keene, N.H. didn’t have charging stations for electric in which it isn’t a hassle to use an electric vehicle. vehicles but has since added several this summer. Pictured is All change can experience a backlash. During the initial planning, downtown Keene. (Photo by Doug Kerr via Flickr; https://creativecouncil members explored many strategies to lessen this, including commons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0/) all property owners and local utility companies in the discussions.

There were also several programs initiated. These were aimed at bringing electronic vehicles more prevalently into the community’s eyes as superior choices for sustainable transportation. This entailed The installation of charging stations is also being done in response community outreach, such as social media campaigns across several to several automotive manufacturers announcing plans to be solely electric by 2025-2035. There were no charging stations available in platforms and collaboration between various local groups.

Finding initial funding sources for such a complicated project is Keene before 2021; however, preparation for a potential wave of elecalways a concern, but Keene committee members discussed sev- tronic vehicles seems to be the right path forward. It supports aims eral different directions to be explored. For individuals, rebates as in advancing Keene as an attractive place to reside. Several charging incentives were significant. Also, recently, the federal tax credit for EV stations were installed in the summer of 2021, and the city is currently infrastructure was reinstated at 30%, which is a substantial incentive. looking at ways and other locations to install more.

Several car dealers within Keene expressed interest in having chargAll in all, Keene seems to be following the overall example of ing stations available for customers. One source of funds is potentially “Jumanji.” In the game of sustainable energy, it is the city’s turn, and the Volkswagen Environmental Mitigation Trust Funds. Part of the it seems city leaders have thrown the dice. If Keene succeeds with settlement required Volkswagen to invest $2 billion into actions that its goal of 100% renewable energy by 2050, it will begin the process of winning the game. support increased use of zero-emission vehicles technology.

NOVEMBER 2021 | THE MUNICIPAL 29

M Focus on: Technology

Arizona installs dust detection warning system for drivers

A dangerous dust and rain storm hovers above Interstate-10 in Arizona.

(Shutterstock.com)

30 THE MUNICIPAL | NOVEMBER 2021

By DANI MESSICK | The Municipal

Between the two largest metropolitan areas in Arizona, near a town named Eloy, lies a dangerous stretch of I-10 where the Arizona Department of Transportation is taking action to protect drivers.

“We looked at the whole stretch between Phoenix and Tucson, and it was within this 10-mile section that there was a concentration of crashes, and this is an area that we have, over time, found is especially prone to dust storms,” explained Garin Groff, public information officer for ADOT. “This area, in particular, does have some loose soils and very fine dust. Storms are of particular concern during the monsoon season, which is our summer rain and storm season, primarily active in July, August and September. When these storms are generated, typically in the afternoon and evening, they create this huge outflow of wind that can easily pick up and carry a lot of dust.”

The dust walls reach up to a mile high and tens of miles long, reducing visibility to almost zero.

“For people who haven’t been in one of these storms, it can be difficult to imagine,” Groff said. “It looks like a photo of something from the Dust Bowl era, with this gigantic almost endless wall of billowing dust on the march. Once you’re in it, there are times when you can barely see anything. It can be almost like the sun has instantly set. It’s pretty intense just to be at your house and watch it roll over you, and it’s certainly more intense if you’re on the highway.”

ADOT has maintained a campaign for several years — “Pull Aside, Stay Alive” — with tips for drivers on how to manage dust storms while driving. As the name suggests, the agency urges drivers to delay travel if they see a dust storm coming or get off the highway and wait it out.

The worst of the storm usually passes in 15 minutes, Groff said.

Still, there are situations where dust storms come and drivers can’t pull aside, for whatever reason. Crashes still occur, and ADOT has developed a technology it hopes will create additional protection for drivers.

“To our knowledge, it is the first of its kind anywhere, but one of the advantages is all of the technology is existing off the shelf — but we’ve put it together in a way no one ever has before.”

As drivers are on this section of highway, they’ll see a large sign as they approach that says, “Variable Speed Limit Corridor.” After that, there are a series of electronic speed signs 1,000 feet apart. They are typically set to 75 mph, which is the existing speed limit. When blowing dust is detected, speed limits are dropped to as low as 35 mph, with each sign reducing limits by 10 mph at a time incrementally.

“We want drivers to have extra breaking time because they can see such a limited distance (during dust storms) that if there is a crash or an object on the road, the slower speed gives them the reaction time to avoid another crash that they might not have been able to react to if they were going 75 miles per hour,” Groff said.

Thirteen visibility detectors along the corridor are constantly checking visibility, and when needed, they automatically trigger activation of the system. Every 2 miles within the corridor, speed limit signs allow

Dust detection sensors guard the I-10 corridor. (Photo provided

by ADOT)

Dry, loose sand in the area creates hazardous conditions for drivers in Arizona along I-10. (Photo provided by ADOT)

NOVEMBER 2021 | THE MUNICIPAL 31

continued from page 31

A variable speed limit sign indicates the upcoming traffic mitigation system. (Photo provided by ADOT) for the gradual change in speed limit. Sensors in the pavement indicate that drivers are slowing down.

The system was funded in part by a $52 million federal fast lane grant received by ADOT to widen a section of I-10 in the area from two to three lanes in each direction. As widening was taking place, the dust detection warning system was added. The system cost $6.5 million of the total cost.

The dust detection warning system has been in place since June 2020, but last year’s monsoon season was “a dud,” Groff said. This year, the monsoon season has been more active, but there’s been more rain and less dust.

“It is working as designed. It is detecting dust in the area and activating when it’s there, and we are seeing that drivers are reducing their speed,

Workers prepare the system for use. (Photo provided by ADOT) and that’s the whole objective — to get people to slow down when there is limited visibility so they can stop if they need to.”

The variable speed limits are also enforceable. Drivers can get a citation if they do not reduce speed when the signs are activated.

“One of the messages that we share with the public is that the technology does not replace common sense,” Groff said. “Drivers do need to reduce their speed limit when visibility is reduced by dust storms.”

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City Profile

With scenic beauty, Estes Park prides itself on quality of life Estes Park, Colo., may be a suburb of Denver, but it holds its own when it comes to livability and other factors.

Estes Park is situated in the Front Range of the Rocky Mountains at an elevation of 7,522 feet on the Big Thompson River. It’s the eastern entrance and headquarters of Rocky Mountain National Park, while Roosevelt National Forest adjoins the town on the north, east and south. (Photo by Eric Rose)

38 THE MUNICIPAL | NOVEMBER 2021

By LAUREN CAGGIANO | The Municipal The mountain community — located about 70 miles northwest of Denver — boasts a population of about 6,000 and about 12,000 people total in the Estes Valley. This is a contiguous area surrounded by mountains and federal lands.

Natural beauty is one appeal, and no doubt it has contributed to its popularity. According to Town Administrator Travis Machalek, stability abounds here, while some cities and towns across the nation have lost population. “(The population) hasn’t changed much in the last 10 years,” he said.

“We were pretty stable from our 2010 census to our 2020 census.”

And when people do come, they tend to stay awhile. He said 37% of the town is composed of people who are 65 years of age and older. He noted, “Once they’ve finished their high-powered job somewhere else, they want to retire to someplace with natural beauty. So we do have a large retirement community.”

Speaking of natural resources, he said nearby Rocky Mountain National Park is a draw for residents and tourists alike. The same goes for a wealth of open spaces that have trails and are great for activities like mountain biking. Hermit Park, located southeast of Estes Park, is just as stunning as it is functional. This beautiful property is known for its abundant habitat and an impressive variety of mountain wildlife.

Features include cabins, RV and tent camping, a group campground, a reservable group pavilion, and trails for hiking, horseback riding and mountain biking.

But there’s more to Estes Park than breathtaking vistas.

“Rocky Mountain National Park is probably one of the primary attractions, but I would say equally important in terms of our visitation and quality of life is our historic downtown core and the vibrant local businesses that compose the historic downtown,” he said. “We’ve got a great number and a great quality of local businesses, including some distilleries, breweries, a lot of restaurants and a pretty unique retail landscape, especially in our downtown core.”

In other words, Estes Park depends heavily on the service economy.

“It’s been a visitor-based economy,” he said. “There’s been lodges, summer homes. So really, that’s our bread and butter, and it’s part of the identity of our town.”

With that in mind, he said the town’s leadership is concerned with making sure people have a high quality of life, or when they’re visiting, they have a high quality of experience. To that end, he said the city is building out high-speed municipal broadband right now.

“So, in the next two and a half years, we will have fiber to the home broadband system built out to all of our electric service areas, which goes beyond the town,” he said. “But that’s really important for us in terms of the long-term sustainability of our community.”

For example, he said that investment means residents will be able to do things like taking advantage of telehealth. It will also serve to lower the barrier for people who want to relocate to Estes Park for remote work.

“We’ve certainly seen a growth in that type of migration across the country and the world with COVID-19, as they realized they could do their job from anywhere in the country or the world,” he said.

For these reasons, Machalek is bullish on the future of Estes Park and offers words of advice to other municipalities looking to replicate their success. For one, he acknowledges the historical investment from private industry has been a boon to their community. Beyond that, he said

Estes Park’s bustling downtown is filled with shops, boutiques and galleries, offering something for everyone. (Photo provided

by Estes Park)

The town of Estes Park’s parks division installed a new sensory garden at George Hix Riverside Plaza. A sensory garden is designed to stimulate the senses through plants and materials that engage sight, smell, touch, taste and sound. (Photo provided

by Estes Park) amenities like broadcast internet are more than a basic utility — people just expect it in 2021.

“Especially if you’re a smaller, more rural community, (it’s smart to) take a look at what the incumbents have provided (and talk to them about) their plans for modernization and expansion and growth. And if those don’t line up with your community needs, it’s important to talk to your community about that. Because I really do think that’s one of the most critical infrastructure challenges facing especially small- and medium-sized, more rural towns.”

NOVEMBER 2021 | THE MUNICIPAL 39

M

Public Safety Category

Training and preparation key to firefighting with new technologies

By DENISE FEDOROW | The Municipal

As solar roofs become more popular and the technology within the industry evolves, it creates some challenges for firefighters.

According to an article published by the International Association of Fire Fighters, photovoltaic systems, commonly known as solar systems, were reportedly being installed every four minutes in the U.S. eight years ago. That number was expected to increase to one every minute or less.

The IAFF article stated, “Solar panels can pose a significant risk to firefighter’s safety with electrocution a real threat. In an emergency, every second counts, and PV systems are a challenge to how fast a fire can be put out.”

40 THE MUNICIPAL | NOVEMBER 2021

While the fire officials The Municipal spoke to separately acknowledge the challenge, they said training and preparation is the solution.

Sean Doran, fire captain and public information officer for California’s Orange County Fire Authority, explained a newer type of solar roof is a Tesla roof, which has integrated PV roof tiles, unlike traditional solar panels that extend from the roof and are pretty visible. “This becomes your roof,” he said.

According to Doran, the OCFA services 23 cities and some unincorporated areas,

ABOVE: In Arizona, Glendale Fire Department members fight a fire. Fire Captain Anthony Valverde said firefighters on any roof is a dangerous act as roofs are prone to collapse in a fire. (Photo provided by Glendale Fire Department) including the cities of Mission Viejo, San Clemente and San Juan Capistrano. Within that service area, there are currently 35 Tesla roofs, but there are work orders for 300 more this year.

“It’s just a different system, but it’s (solar) here to stay. It’s just another new technology we deal with,” he said.

Meanwhile, in Arizona, Captain Anthony Valverde, public information officer of the Glendale Fire Department, didn’t know the number of solar energy systems in his

Captain Anthony Valverde of the Glendale, Ariz., Fire Department said the department has to do its homework and keep up with training on any new technologies it may encounter. (Photo provided by Glendale Fire Department)

area. However, he said, “The more we’re out responding to calls and doing training, we’re seeing a lot more people are putting up solar.”

Valverde noted the new systems with solar built into the roof tiles while “more aesthetically pleasing are harder to spot from the ground.”

As far as whether a system exists that could alert firefighters to which homes have solar energy, both captains said there isn’t — it was up to the firefighters to keep up with what is going on in their communities.

Doran said in their area that kind of information “traditionally goes through the building departments, but there’s no checkbox system. Currently, we rely on firefighters in the field being familiar with the area.”

If an OFCA firefighter sees a new building under construction, “that’s the best opportunity to talk to the contractors,” according to Doran. He added that was the best time to determine how the building is being constructed and what type of technology is being installed.

Valverde noted commercial structures in Glendale don’t always put solar panels on the building but over the parking structure instead. The firefighters discovered this when responding to a car fire under the structure — not necessarily caused by the solar panels.

“We gather that information and input it into dispatch and create a tactical premise alert,” he said.

Glendale firefighters respond to a call. (Photo provided by Glendale Fire Department) Doran also spoke of the importance of premise history notes, saying they record anything of consequence — lockboxes, dogs and solar systems among them.

On-scene procedure Both captains related very similar procedures when arriving on scene, with first responders doing a 360-degree walk around the building to help identify potential issues — bars on windows, power lines that might be down, etc.

Valverde said when they arrive on scene and do the walk-around, “if there are more electrical boxes than there should be, the house has solar to it. More electrical panels on the side of the house is a clue.”

Even when firefighters cut the power to the solar panels, they are still a danger, especially in daylight but under other circumstances as well.

“The panels are still generating energy — studies show even scene lighting or the fire itself generates enough light (to produce energy),” said Doran.

Valverde noted, “Even on stormy or cloudy days, they still have energy.” He suggested

putting tarps over the solar panels, but that creates different challenges. “Our operation needs to be quick — we do things as swiftly as we can so as not to add more danger to the operation. Roof operations are the most dangerous.”

He said of the way electricity travels through the panels, inverters and the house, “Once power hits the first inverter, it’s live throughout the whole event.”

In most fires, firefighters get on the roof and cut a hole in it to let the smoke and heat out. Valverde explained doing so allows “super-heated gas to escape and gives anyone trapped inside a better chance of survival. It allows the firefighters in the company going inside better ability to see to rescue and give the all-clear.”

When ladder companies go to the roof, the first thing they look for is if there is solar.

Besides the risk of electrocution for firefighters, panels present other dangers as well.

“Solar adds a lot of extra weight to a roof, and a roof collapse is more likely under fire conditions,” Valverde said. “With these solar panels secured to the roof, we see a lot of roof failures and slide-offs, potentially NOVEMBER 2021 | THE MUNICIPAL 41

continued from page 41

The Orange County Fire Authority’s Regional Fire Operations and Training Center is shown. Fire Captain/Public Information Officer Sean Doran spoke of the importance of training to keep firefighters safe whether they’re dealing with solar panels or any challenge. (Photo provided by Orange County Fire Authority) harming firefighters on the ground. So we secure the area where we think it might slide down and try to avoid it.”

Doran said, “We know the dangers when we step on the roof.”

If OCFA feels it’s too dangerous to get on the roof, he said, “There are multiple ways to ventilate — we can go horizontally — through windows or use fans (for example). We have a lot of tools in our toolbox. Every scenario is different, and that’s part of our sizing the scene up.”

OFCA doesn’t really take any extra steps if responding to a fire with solar panels. Doran said, “Every fire is unique for these situations — it’s more about awareness, then making the announcement that solar energy is available, understanding that any light source generates energy, turning off the main power source and don’t make contact with the panels.”

Evolving technology and cooperating with companies Both captains said the technology is changing. Doran specifically mentioned the Tesla brand, and Valverde mentioned newer systems with individual shut-offs on the solar panels.

When asked about communication between fire departments and solar energy companies, they said there have been efforts.

42 THE MUNICIPAL | NOVEMBER 2021

Doran said some changes he’s seen include an allowance for walkway access on roofs, plus setbacks that allow some space for firefighters to walk and cut a hole to vent the roof. Additionally, labeling has changed. Doran has seen more labeling and stickers in bright colors, often with contact numbers, that are visible from the ground. Though, Valverde said he’s not seen signage or labels in his area.

That discrepancy is explained by Eleanor Cummins and Nicole Wetsman in a Wired article from May 30, 2017, titled “Rooftop Solar Panels Are Great for the Planet—But Terrible for Firefighters.” They write that in 2012 “the National Fire Protection and the International Code Council started to incorporate language about photovoltaic panel installation into their fire codes. Modern fire and electric codes require enough space between panels for firefighters to walk and rapid shutdown systems that can quickly de-electrify panels.

The latest versions, released this year, also call for clear signage on all photovoltaic panels and wires, so firefighters know what and where everything is. But not every state and county in the country is operating on the newest version of the codes — or any at all.”

Doran appreciates that Tesla has given his agency a roof to train on at its training grounds recently so firefighters can walk on it and test it out.

Valverde said, “Some companies reach out to go over training with us.”

He related that a couple of commercial solar farms approached the department, walked members through their operations and pointed out some things, telling them “if any of that catches fire, let it burn” because of the toxicity, according to Valverde.

In addition to actual solar panels, the captains mentioned other related items that also create challenges — battery storage systems and solar pool heaters.

“We’re starting to see more of the battery storage systems,” Valverde said. “They want to store the energy as well so they have battery storage systems in their garage to store power and use at night or whenever needed. We tend to have a lot of garage fires — not necessarily caused by the battery storage, but it adds to the hazard.”

Doran said they’re seeing more solar pool heaters. He explained that water goes up to the panels on the roof, and heated water goes down. He said, “It looks like solar panels, but it has PVC pipe leading to it.”

Situational awareness is key “Knowledge of the systems is how we stay safe,” Doran said.

Both captains said their departments take responsibility for knowing their service areas and training on the different scenarios they might encounter when responding to a call.

“Any opportunities we have to train and walk our firefighters through different scenarios — we have to do our own homework and come up with our own training,” Valverde said.

The protective gear firefighters wear is pretty safe, and Valverde said, “Situational awareness of what’s going on — whether it’s solar or more electrical lines to watch out for — there’s a safety officer watching whatever is going on and keeps everyone informed.”

Doran offered this advice when dealing with solar: “Know your area, get out in the community, take the opportunity to see buildings being built and reach out to the solar companies and form relationships.”

Valverde concurred. “The biggest advice is training. Reach out to solar companies — they usually have experts in the subject matter who’d love to come and train you on what to do and what not to do.”

The Glendale Fire Department has witnessed more solar panels being installed within its city. (Photo provided by Glendale Fire Department) He added, just like with local gas and electric companies, if a department doesn’t already have a relationship with solar energy companies in the area, they should create one.

Doran concluded, “These tenets apply to any situation. We train to survive. Situational awareness is always at the forefront of everything we do.”

Remember the basics In an Aug. 31, 2019, article published by the Los Angeles Firemen’s Relief Association online, Dan Fink, who lives off the grid in northern Colorado and worked in the solar industry while also having been a firefighter for the Rist Canyon Volunteer Fire Department, offered some basic tips: • Perform a 360-degree walk around by experienced personnel to identify and communicate possible hazards.

• Always assume that any electrical equipment and conduit is live. Don’t cut into it for any reason.

• Hosing down a burning PV array is most likely harmless. See the IAFF class for distance and voltages. Hosing down an electrical box (gray, sometimes with a red switch handle) can be deadly. The outdoor rating does not cover fire hose streams.

• Your hot stick does not detect DC voltage, only AC. You can’t rely on it for most PV installations.

• Remember that legacy solar equipment may be in place, with faded or non-existent labeling and outdated protection systems.

• Locate, open and secure any grid and solar disconnects you can find.

• Be aware of possible changing conditions at all times. A nighttime attic fire underneath a PV array could change drastically when the sun comes up.

Source: http://www.lafra.org/solar-safety-for-firefighters-the-myths-and-the-facts

NOVEMBER 2021 | THE MUNICIPAL 43

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Municipal Management

By JULIE YOUNG | The Municipal

Located at the confluence of the Ohio and Tennessee rivers, Paducah, Ky., is one of the best places to live in the Bluegrass State. Not only does the city offer its existing residents a suburban lifestyle with easy access to several major Midwestern cities, but it is eager to welcome remote workers looking for a place to call home.

“Paducah has a great story to share,” said Pamela Spencer, communications manager for the city of Paducah. “We are a city that wants to grow in population, and our Remote Worker Incentive Program is a great way to do it.”

Making the move: Paducah attracts residents with new incentive program

A growing trend According to Statista, only 17% of full-time employees in the U.S. worked from home prior to the coronavirus pandemic. However, once stay-at-home mandates disrupted business as usual, the number of remote workers increased to 27%. There is no sign of things going back to “normal” any time soon. Thanks to improved productivity and employee health surveys, today’s employers continue to embrace hybrid work schedules. Experts suggest that by the end of the year, one in four American workers will be remote employees.

For cities that have been experiencing a population decline thanks to the departure of a major employer in recent years, this shift is an opportunity they can’t afford to miss out on.

To capitalize on this growing trend and court workers looking for a community that boasts a great quality of life, low cost of living as well as plenty to see and do, the Paducah City Commission created the Remote Workers Incentive Program earlier this year. The program is designed to offer things that will financially entice new residents while helping immerse them into the city’s cultural and educational experiences. The city benefits from the increase in its tax base, which then has a ripple effect on more areas of community life, economic development and other ongoing returns.

In June, business development specialist Kathryn Byers presented the Paducah City Commission with a three-tiered “Do What You Do From Paducah” program that would keep the city competitive with other similar-sized communities, offering incentive packages to recruit more remote workers. It included not only the financial benefits and other perks but also a marketing plan that targeted six major cities from which they plan to lure talent.

ABOVE LEFT: A bakery’s cookie shows its love for the city of Paducah, Ky. (Photo provided by the city of Paducah, Ky.) BELOW LEFT: Paducah is one of the best places to live in the Bluegrass State, and those who choose to live there find it a great place to raise a family. (Photo provided by the city of Paducah, Ky.)

46 THE MUNICIPAL | NOVEMBER 2021

The gazebo in the center of town is one of the most popular spots in Paducah. (Photo provided by the city of Paducah, Ky.)

“We know there is some interest from these tech banking, tech industry and marketing hubs in these regional cities, but we also wanted to make sure that we had ties to our own state as well,” Spencer said. “We have a lot of young people who go off to college in bigger cities and do not return, and so through this program, we hope to welcome that talent home.”

The program includes a mixture of items, such as $2,500 in moving expenses, free high-speed internet for a year, no payroll tax for a year and $1,000 in tickets to local events so remote workers can get involved in their new community.

“Some of the institutions that have participated in the program include The Carson Center, Murray State University, Maiden Alley Cinema, Paducah Symphony Orchestra, River Discovery Center and more,” Spencer said.

Eager to apply To participate in the program, applicants must be 21 years of age or older, be a United States citizen, a permanent resident or have the proper credentials for working in the U.S. They must live at least 100 miles outside of the Paducah city limits, work full-time for a company in which all offices are located at least 100 miles outside of the Paducah city limits and be able to perform most of their job-related duties from a home office or cooperative working space; the latter requires written documentation by the individual’s employer. They must acquire primary residency in the city of Paducah within three months of acceptance into the Remote Workers Incentive Program and present evidence of this residence through a leased with physical address or a deed of conveyance of real estate. They must agree in writing to retain a primary residency for at least one year after the initial 12-month program, and they must not be a participant in any other publicly funded program or initiative.

After a few tweaks to the eligibility criteria and overall goals, the Paducah City Commission approved the ordinance establishing the remote workers incentive program on Aug. 10. The program was launched the following day, and according to Spencer, the response has been good.

Paducah’s charming downtown offers ambiance as well as a variety of activities for residents. (Photos provided by the city of Paducah, Ky.)

Love the outdoors? Recreation opportunities abound in Paducah thanks to its location at the confluence of the Ohio and Tennessee rivers. (Photo provided by the city of Paducah, Ky.)

“We’ve received six applications so far, and we’ve been able to approve two. Our goal is to get 25 new residents with this initial launch and then reevaluate it to see if we need to make any changes to the program,” she said. “The COVID situation has been horrible, but it’s also been a learning opportunity for businesses and communities to adapt to change. In the end, it wasn’t a question of whether we should create this program, but how could we not do it?”

NOVEMBER 2021 | THE MUNICIPAL 47

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Parks & Environmental Services

Madison concludes Carts in the Park pilot

By BETH ANNE BRINK-COX | The Municipal

According to travel and lifestyle website Livability, Madison, Wis., is the fifth best city in the nation.

A pilot program that began in the city parks in July — Carts in the Park — shows one very good reason why. The program provided daily food cart vending in 20 parks throughout Madison. But much more than food, this program gave families a choice to enjoy the summer, surely welcome fun and fellowship after last year’s lockdowns.

48 THE MUNICIPAL | NOVEMBER 2021

F

unding arrived in the form of a $50,000 Street for Pandemic Response and Recovery grant, meant to provide short-term assistance to communities disproportionately impacted by COVID-19. Madison is one of only 10 cities across North America to be selected in this second round of grants from the National Association of City Transportation Officials and Bloomberg Philanthropies.

Xochilth Garcia, the outreach director of the Latino Chamber of Commerce, is still marveling with great thanks for the success of this program, which ended Sept. 9.

“It was such a wonderful program, and not only for us. Ten cities only received this grant. It was so profitable for our community. Angela Puerta reached out to us,” she said, referring to the award-winning Colombian singer, songwriter and guitarist, who obtained a master’s degree in urban and regional planning from the University of Wisconsin–Madison in 2015. While music is Puerta’s passion, she is equally passionate about her career as an urban planner for the city of Madison, where she is a neighborhood advocate.

Garcia added, “NASCO had an opportunity to apply for Street for Pandemic, and we wanted to create more micro-businesses for our existing community. I think it exceeded all expectations, and I want to tell you why. Partnering with the city of Madison, our main goal was to advocate and educate to get the tools we all needed to survive the pandemic. We were able to hire six employees, mostly youths aged 14 to 17. They helped with setting up and then cleaning up afterward. It was so neat to work in an area that had never had such a community market in the past.”

Garcia reflected for a moment, thinking about the pandemic and its wide-ranging effects everywhere. “So many think that 2021 is a better year now, but I’m not sure that’s true. Even the businesses that survived the shutdown are still struggling with a shortage of labor/ workforce, making it really challenging to meet payroll and pay suppliers and other bills. We are not sure how we’ll close out this year, but we’re determined to make it work. We have 25 vendors! We have invited nonprofit organizations to pass out their information, flyers or brochures or whatever they choose.”

Much thought and planning went into the Carts in the Park program, as expected. Garcia explained, “Sunday was family day; we called it ‘Community and Family Sunday.’ We invited artists and artisans and musicians because for so long we were unable to celebrate or have any kind of gatherings.” This lent itself to a festive party feel for everyone tending, all ages and generations.

Garcia added, “Thursdays were reserved for ‘Fitness and Wellness.’ We offered classes such as Zumba, yoga and karaoke. It was important because in addition to the COVID pandemic, there is a silent pandemic, and that is mental health. Suicides have been higher than normal. Debts, higher costs for materials and supplies as well as lack of income — such as deferred rents — have added extreme stress, especially to the microbusiness owners. We need a strong community to support each other — we actually need that anywhere and everywhere on the planet. It’s not just about survival; it’s also about hope.”

Garcia shared what had been her biggest fear. “We were all worried about COVID. Safety was our priority, not only for our workers but for those who came to the carts. It meant a lot to us that no one got sick, that we finished with no illness for anyone. It was risky, and we knew it, but we accomplished our goals. The neighborhood welcomed this project and made everyone proud, putting money back in and finding new clients.”

Caracas Arepas’ owner Luis de Dompablo is interviewed at Tenney Park. (Photo provide by city of Madison)

Jason’s Jerk was set up at James Madison Park as part of the Carts in the Park pilot program. (Photo by Jason Beilke)

NOVEMBER 2021 | THE MUNICIPAL 49

continued from page 49

Garcia was very humbled, learning things she felt she should have known. “In my 40 years, if you are working indoors, you don’t think about the people who are working outside in the fields — planting, weeding, watering and harvesting. You’re sitting in the comfortable air conditioning or heated room, whatever you need, and you don’t think — at least I didn’t think — about how hard so many have been working. Whole families working together, knowing what it takes to survive and make a living. I need to be more grateful for what I’ve got and not complain because I have so much.”

The hoped-for coverage came through, too. “We got local coverage.

We have 560 members in our Latino Chamber of Commerce, and people were wondering why are the Latinos making so much noise?

Because it is different, and not everyone is ready to see that. We have a very diverse membership, and we support you no matter who you are or where you’re from. So everyone was intrigued, and we got a lot of attention. Not every newspaper, at least I don’t think so, but maybe so. And to understand all this, you need to be ‘in,’ make it a nationwide project. We had such wonderful volunteers and helpers, parents and their children. Such a sense of security and community. So much hope and pride. And God was so wonderful. We hope that the shortterm lessons the youth learned this summer will be long term and permanent, that they will make a commitment to their community.

I mean, the vendors donated their leftover product, good fresh food, at the end of the day, right back to the community! And that was just so neat.”

When asked about plans to repeat this wonderful program for the summer of 2022, Garcia said, “Actually, we’ve had a plan in mind for the last four years. We wanted a signature name — LCC Plaza Carts in the Park — and we wanted, still want, to create a facility where we can teach classes and have a space all year for microbusinesses. If God touches someone’s heart to send the capital, this will be a blessing for our business and our community.”

Meghan Blake-Horst also brought a wealth of experience, energy and enthusiasm to the Carts in the Park. She’s been Madison’s street vending coordinator since 2016, coming from a background of starting or co-founding businesses such as pop-up markets.

“Street vending,” she said, “is a huge part of our Madison culture.

Madison is the only city in the country that has staff dedicated to all things street vending; I oversee food carts, sidewalk cafes, merchant vending, game day vending, late-night vending and arts and craft vending.”

Horst-Blake said the city of Madison has a very robust street vending program, with over 80 licensed food carts and trucks regularly operating, making the most of the warm weather but continuing on through the winter as well.

“When COVID hit, that changed everything for our vendors; it was important that as we moved from the crisis into economic recovery, we needed to look at where people were now spending time and provide new vending opportunities. Traffic and business are picking back up, with students back to school and businesses and government working from their offices again. It will be important in the long term to continue to support this business sector, being responsive in our policies. They provide such an amazing taste and insight into the cultures that make Madison what it is.”

Blake-Horst echoed Gracia’s thoughts. “The program was very successful. It provided opportunities for vendors to operate in new 50 THE MUNICIPAL | NOVEMBER 2021

Cultura Cali owners Gerardo and Brooke Hernandez stand outside their food cart on the first day of vending. (Photo provided by city of Madison)

locations, providing added value to our parks and opportunities for our community to gather. It was an honor to work with the Latino Chamber of Commerce for their LCC Plaza Markets and support a number of other community-led programs. We learned a lot from this program. We were able to grow partnerships.”

As far as the most successful part of the pilot, Blake-Horst said, “Providing new vending locations and support for community events, as well as the opportunity to build and rebuild relationships and partnerships. The city was able to waive fees for participation and direct financial support to vendors through the Guaranteed Sales Plan program. This was part of the city’s economic recovery plan for businesses and the community impacted by COVID-19. And street vending fees have already been waived, and licenses extended through April 14, 2022.

“This program was overwhelmingly supported by the community.

There was coverage by all local media outlets: newspapers, all three local channels of the TV ran live interviews and there was also radio and national publication support. This was a #TeamCity approach to the project, and it required multiple city agencies to implement. We were also able to design the program to continue adding community partners throughout the run. As neighbors and community groups learned about the plan, they reached out to us, and we were able to assist them based on their needs and requests. Each week, vendors would have increased sales, resulting, as Officer Ann Shea said, ‘I sent an e-news about an hour ago and checked on the number of clicks — Food Carts is link No. 1, by a lot.’”

This was a clear indication of public support for the project and their interest in more vending in city parks in the future. Over the winter, staff will review the program data and begin updating ordinances in response to feedback. The goal is to grow these opportunities for years to come. Madison has over 250 parks in its 77 square miles, making it essential to find ways to link these amazing resources to community requests.

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Streets, Highways & Bridges

Anderson Transit Center honors past, creates gateway to future

By MARY JANE BOGLE | The Municipal

The Anderson Transit Center project uses timeless design principles but employs them with modern materials and details. (Photo provided by krM) 52 THE MUNICIPAL | NOVEMBER 2021

Like most mid-sized cities in the heart of the country, the city of Anderson, Ind., is in the process of reimagining itself. Transitioning from its manufacturing past into a new and vibrant future, the city of Anderson is poised for community growth, and its new transit center is paving the way.

ABOVE: In balance with both the material and scale of the surrounding downtown buildings, the transit center is constructed with large-scale limestone paneling on the first floor and red clay terra cotta facade on the upper floors. (Photo provided by krM)

Years in the making, the new transit center will do more than relocate the hub of Anderson’s public transportation system — a service utilized by some 200,000-plus travelers. Slated for completion at the end of 2021 or the beginning of 2022, the Anderson Transit Center also stands as a physical reminder of the way the city is committed to investing in future downtown growth.

According to Mayor Thomas Broderick, a lifelong Anderson resident, “The new transit center is not just a bus station. It’s a statement about our commitment to rebuilding our community. Through this large investment from both federal and local government funds, we’re telling the community that we’re committed to improving the quality of life and quality of place for our citizens.”

It’s a process that has garnered considerable buy-in from local architecture firm krM, which designed and managed the project.

Sally Meyer, a director of marketing and business development at krM Architecture, explained, “Investing in public transportation contributes to both the economic and physical health of a population.

It brings financial benefits to communities and is a key component

of a healthy business ecosystem by increasing mobility options for working commuters, students and consumers.”

Everything about the project, from its strategic location and intentional design to its proposed LEED Gold status, positions it as a key structure, not just for downtown Anderson but for regional growth as well.

Project history First discussed in 2008, the new transit center was originally slated for possible construction at another downtown location, one near the railroad tracks. A feasibility study four years later considered four other possible sites for the project, but a lack of funding curtailed any further development. Finally, with a new mayor and new resolve to make the project a priority, the transit center really took off in 2016, this time with a broader scope and purpose than originally considered.

“Mayor Broderick wanted the project to have a larger community and civic impact,” said Kevin Montgomery, lead designer for the transit center and partner at krM. “He saw the transit center as an NOVEMBER 2021 | THE MUNICIPAL 53

continued from page 53

The center’s interiors will offer tall volumes of well-day-lit space, similar to other civic transit centers found in historic urban centers across the country. (Photo provided by krM)

opportunity to be a spark for downtown development and proposed a mixed-use building, with half of the first floor dedicated to transit function and the other half reserved for retail and restaurant spaces.”

Incorporating office space for the upper two floors of the project further expanded the mixed-use concept.

Project design The selection of materials and architectural forms also played a crucial role in the project. “Our design concept focused on a balance between our historic roots and projected future. The project is located on the edge of our historic downtown,” said Montgomery. Into that rich context, krM incorporated large-scale limestone paneling on the first floor, tying in to the materials of the surrounding historic buildings.

For the second and third floors, the design team introduced terra cotta elements. “Terra cotta is made from the same material as brick,” said Montgomery, “but it’s much more modern.” Finally, exposed steel components reflect the city’s long history in the auto industry.

“The project uses timeless design principles but employs them with modern materials and details,” said Meyer. “In balance with both the material and scale of the surrounding downtown buildings, the transit center sets the tone for the city’s bright future of innovation.”

Primary location The first visible building on the drive into downtown Anderson from the Interstate, the new transit center maintains current transportation routes within the city but also creates connections between the surrounding rural communities and downtown Indianapolis, the state capital.

“We selected this particular build site because it’s a gateway location,” said Montgomery. “The hope is that the transit center can connect with transit lines to Indianapolis and potentially even Chicago, making it a true intermodal transit center.”

Connecting with regional transportation lines is nothing new for the city of Anderson. As Mayor Broderick explained, “Anderson has had 54 THE MUNICIPAL | NOVEMBER 2021

Striving for LEED Gold, the center will utilize sun-shading techniques and maximize interior daylighting to create a highperformance building. The transit center also uses solar energy.

(Photo provided by krM)

connections to regional transportation in the past. We wanted to make sure that commercial transportation companies could continue to come into town and provide a service to our community, using the new transit center as a hub for those connections.”

LEED Gold Not only is the project providing a physical and symbolic gateway to the future; it also preserves that future by making responsible design and material selections. Everything from building on a brownfield and developing in a dense community center to serving the transportation purpose itself contributed to the decision to pursue LEED Gold certification.

“The whole building is on a closed-loop geothermal system,” said Montgomery. “We also make use of solar panels, recycled content and air quality control.”

The narrow design and overhangs help the building avoid heat gain, while window placement takes advantage of natural daylight, creating warm, inviting spaces within.

Project funding Funded through an 80/20 federal grant, the transit center makes full use of local funds, including the local Metropolitan Planning Organization and city block grants.

“Once we created buy-in for the location,” said Broderick, “we were able to promote this reinvestment in our downtown.”

And while a required archeology study and an abandoned sewer line — discovered in the same location as one of the footings — slowed the transit center’s progress, city contingency money helped cover these additional expenses.

Overall, the new transit center, complete with larger walkways, streetscaping and glass box entry, is sure to serve as a welcoming public facility, increasing civic pride and paving the way for a bright and innovative future.

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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.

N OV E M B E R Nov 1 -14 CCFS Campus Fire Forum (Virtual) https://www.myccfs.org/.

Nov. 12, 15-19 National League of Citites’ City Summit (Virtual) https://citysummit.nlc.org/

Nov. 2-4 Indiana Park & Recreation Association Conference and Expo Horizon Convention Center, Muncie, Ind. http://www.inpra.org/ conference

Nov. 14-16 Wildland Urban Interface Conference 2021 Peppermill Resort, Reno, N.V. www.iafc.org/events/wui

Nov. 2-5 SEMA 360 Las Vegas Convention Center, Las Vegas, N.V. https://www.semashow.com/ Nov 3-5 Sweeper Summit & Equipment Expo The Hilton Lake Las Vegas, Henderson, Nevada https://www.sweepersummit. com/ Nov. 8-10 Ammia; Water Resources Conference (Virtual) https://www.awra.org/ Members/ Nov. 10-13 The Summit in Provo Provo, Utah http://emsassociates.com/ Nov. 7-11 CTAA Expo 2021 Greater Richmond Convention Center, Richmond, Va. https://ctaa.org/expo/ Nov. 11-14 VOCS Symposium in the Sun Hilton, Clearwater, Fla. https://www.iafc.org/events/ vcossun/home

J A N UA R Y Nov 29-Dec. 2 IPMI Conference & Expo JW Marriott Water Street, Tampa, Fla. https://www.parkingmobility.org/ipmi-meetingsevents/2021ipmi/

DECEMBER

Nov. 15-17 Government Fleet Expo & Conference (GFX) Orange County Convention Center, Orlando, Fla. www.governmentfleetexpo.com

Dec. 6-8 Safety & Health Conference B Resort & Spa, Lake Buena Vista, Fla. https://www.ffca.org/

Nov. 15-18 ISSA Show North America 2021 Las Vegas Convention Center, Las Vegas, N.V. www.issa.com

Dec. 7-8 Clean Power 2021 Trade Show & Business Development Salt Palace Convention Center, Salt Lake City, Utah cleanpower.org

Nov. 16-18 New Jersey State League of Municipalities 106th Annual League Conference Atlantic City, New Jersey https://conference.njlm.org/ Nov. 16-19 Florida Parking & Transportation Association Annual Conference Orlando Omi Resort, Four Corners, Fla. https://www.flapta.org/ Nov. 17-19 New Hampshire Municipal Association 80th Annual Conference & Expo Double Tree by Hilton Downtown, Manchester, New Hampshire https://www.nhmunicipal.org

58 THE MUNICIPAL | NOVEMBER 2021

Dec. 14-16 Groundwater Week Nashville, Tenn. https://groundwaterweek.com/

J A N UA R Y Jan. 19-21 U.S. Conference of Mayors 90th Winter Meeting Washington, D.C. https://www.usmayors.org/ Jan. 18-20 World of Concrete Las Vegas Convention Center, Las Vegas, Nev. www.worldofconcrete.com Jan. 18-21 Fire-Rescue East 2022 Ocean Center, Daytona Beach, Fla. Some Virtual Sessions Ffca.org

Jan. 23-25 NAPO’s 33rd Annual PFM Pension & Benefits Seminar Caesar’s Palace, Las Vegas, Nev. https://www.napo.org/events/ upcoming-events/ Jan. 26-27 City Action Days Olympia, Wash. https://www.wacities.org Jan. 26-28 PowerGen International Kay Bailey Hutchison Convention Center, Dallas, Texas www.powergen.com Jan. 31-Feb. 3 CADCA 32nd Annual National Leadership Forum Gaylord National, National Harbor, Md. www.cadca.org/events

MARCH March 10-12 Wisconsin State Firefighters Convention Green Bay, Wis. https://www.wi-statefirefighters.org/convention-info. html Mar. 24-25 Florida Ass’n of Governmental Fleet Administrators Spring Event Shores Resort & Spa, Daytona Beach, Fla. https://www.flagfa.org/ March 24-26 50 Years MidAmerica Trucking Show Louisville, Ky. Rescheduled from Sept 2021 www.truckingshow.com

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News & Notes Work Truck Week 2022 returns to Indianapolis with expanded content FARMINGTON HILLS, MICH. — North America’s largest work truck event returns in person March 8-11, 2022, to the Indiana Convention Center in Indianapolis, Ind., with an expanded format, new branding and a familiar keynote speaker.

Building on the success of the 2021 virtual event, NTEA — The Association for the Work Truck Industry is adding a more robust online component and officially rebranding its annual industry gathering as Work Truck Week. During the 2022 event, The Work Truck Show exhibit hall, Green Truck Summit, and a myriad of other offerings will be featured throughout the week, including NTEA Annual Meeting with keynote speaker Mike Rowe.

Educational sessions and Green Truck Summit begin March 8, and the exhibit hall is open March 9-11. Registration opens in October at worktruckweek.com.

“The last 18 months have demonstrated how resilient the work truck industry is and the critical role it plays in keeping the world running, even in the most challenging circumstances,” said NTEA Board Chair Jon Sievert, president — work truck solutions at Douglas Dynamics Inc. “Throughout the pandemic, the hard-working women and men in our industry have continued to step up, demonstrating their unwavering commitment. I can’t overstate how grateful we are for their efforts and how much we all are looking forward to getting together face-to-face again to share our experiences and plan for the future.”

The 2022 Annual Meeting keynote speaker has devoted his career to promoting hard work and the people who do it. Best known as the “dirtiest man on TV,” a title he earned hosting the hit TV series “Dirty Jobs,” Mike Rowe is one of Work Truck Week’s most popular speakers, having first addressed a sold-out crowd in 2009.

Rowe returns to the stage on Thursday, March 10, to share the surprising lessons he learned while working as an apprentice and talk about opportunities that exist in the most unlikely professions.

Rowe is also the founder and CEO of the mikeroweWORKS Foundation, a 501(c)(3) public charity that debunks myths and misperceptions about the trades and helps close the skills gap in today’s workforce. He currently stars in the discovery+ series “Six Degrees,” hosts “Somebody’s Got to Do It” on TBN and won an Emmy for his work on Facebook’s groundbreaking series “Returning the Favor.”

Tickets for annual meeting, sponsored by Ford Commercial Vehicles, will be available for purchase when registration opens in October.

Work Truck Week includes product displays, education and multiple networking opportunities to help bring the industry together. The large exhibit hall encompasses offerings from all commercial vehicle industry segments, including chassis, bodies, aerial devices, snow and ice control equipment, accessories and components. Green Truck Summit features intensive programs led by industry experts and fleet managers covering clean energy trends for commercial vehicles and operational insights for vocational truck fleets. As part of the 2022 educational program, thought leaders and industry experts will share strategies 64 THE MUNICIPAL | NOVEMBER 2021

to help attendees improve efficiency, implement best practices and grow their operations. A full event schedule will be released in the weeks ahead.

For more information, visit worktruckweek.com or call (800) 441-6832. Join the conversation at worktruckweek.com/getsocial.

Carolyn McKnight-Fredd named chair-elect of NRPA ASHBURN, VA. — The National Recreation and Park Association, the nation’s leading advocate for parks and recreation, announced the election of Carolyn McKnight-Fredd, CPRP, as chair-elect of its board of directors.

“On behalf of our entire board and staff, we are thrilled for Carolyn to take on this role,” said NRPA President and CEO Kristine Stratton. “During her more than three decades in parks and recreation, Carolyn has earned multiple awards for her work, leadership and service to the profession. She has the skills, passion and experience to strengthen NRPA and show that parks are essential to creating a better life for everyone.”

McKnight-Fredd retired from her role as superintendent of the East Baton Rouge Recreation and Park Commission in 2019 and has since founded Eagle Methods Management Consulting in Dallas. She brings civilian and military experience to bear, having served with distinction for over 27 years, retiring from the Air National Guard at the rank of Colonel (O6), the first African American woman ever to achieve the rank in the history of the state of Texas.

“I am honored and excited to take on the duties of the chair of the NRPA Board of Directors,” said McKnight-Fredd. “I look forward to leading NRPA into a future where the full power of parks and recreation is widely recognized for creating a better life for everyone by building strong, healthy and resilient communities. I want to express appreciation to the extraordinary leadership provided by current chair Mike Kelly and the amazing NRPA staff.”

McKnight-Fredd previously served as an at-large member and secretary of the NRPA Board of Directors, as well as a number of roles for NRPA, including as accreditation commissioner for the Commission for Accreditation of Park and Recreation Agencies; committee chair for the NRPA Baltimore Maryland Conference Education Program; NRPA/North Carolina State University Board Supervisors’ Management School instructor and chair of that board; Directors School instructor; chair of the Ethnic Minority Society; Mentoring Program Leader; and part of the National Gold Medal Committee.

She received the Exemplary Service Citation from the NRPA Board of Trustees in 2008 and also has been an American Academy of Park and Recreation Administrators Fellow since then.

McKnight-Fredd will begin her term as chair of the NRPA Board of Directors in September 2022.

The NRPA Board of Directors is responsible for policies that govern and direct the affairs of the association. Officers of the board are elected annually. Currently, Michael P. Kelly serves as chair of the NRPA Board of Directors.

U.S. adults value time spent outside, survey finds ASHBURN, VA. — Whether sitting on a park bench or walking local trails, spending 20 to 30 minutes outside can help reduce stress levels. According to a newly released National Recreation and Park Association poll, 96% of U.S. adults spend time outdoors daily, with more than half spending more than 30 minutes and one-third spending more than one hour outdoors daily.

Gen Xers are more likely than adults overall to spend more than an hour outdoors daily, at 39% and 33%, respectively. Gen Zers are more likely than adults overall to not spend time outside during the day, at 9 percent and 4 percent, respectively.

“For more than a year, people have been experiencing increased levels of stress, largely due to the coronavirus pandemic,” said Kevin Roth, NRPA vice president of research, evaluation and technology. “Park and recreation professionals and their agencies are primary providers of public outdoor spaces and programming that have served as a vital respite.”

A recent survey from NRPA finds that over the past year, 260 million people in the United States visited a local park or recreation facility at least once. In addition, the report finds that 87% of people agree that parks and recreation is an important service provided by their local government.

To learn more, read NRPA’s “2021 Engagement with Parks Report” at https://www.nrpa.org/publications-research/ research-papers/engagement/

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News releases regarding personnel changes, other nonproduct-related 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.

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Guest Column

Purchasing technology calls for ever-changing strategies Tammy Rimes, MPA | Guest columnist Executive Director of National Cooperative Procurement Partners

T

echnology creeps into every aspect of our personnel lives — inside cars, appliances, furniture and plumbing fixtures — it’s not just laptops and phones anymore! Transitioning to the municipal office, the same would be true. The use of technology, or the way it’s embedded into everyday products, has made procurement offices rethink past strategies.

Sergio Paneque, former CPO for the state of New York and Michigan, said, “We need to redefine procurement’s objectives and set reasonable expectations on what can be planned and promised in delivery of complex IT modernization efforts. By adopting more agile procurement methods and shifting away from fixed-price, low-bid solutioning brings better value and more qualifications-based selections.”

Fleet technology increases efficiency and safety Using systems that communicate fleet vehicle locations, safety metrics and engine diagnostics in real time allow municipal managers better manage their fleets. Known as telematics, this technology can also play a major role in improving driver safety. Providing greater visibility into driver behavior assists supervisors in enforcing policies and identifying opportunities for targeted driver risk profiling and safety training.

A 2020 policy survey of Element Fleet Management Corporation, a fleet management company, demonstrated that 49% of its clients had changed their vehicle selector (model or trim level) to include

66 THE MUNICIPAL | NOVEMBER 2021

desired advanced-safety features for their drivers.

One client in the pharmaceutical industry wanted to leverage specific vehicle safety features to make their fleet safer for drivers while also reducing total fleet spend. Implementing a program focused on three specific safety features — lane departure, automatic braking and blind-spot warning — resulted in a 50% reduction in their accident rates upon a full-roll out. Another electric utility customer implemented a telematics pilot focused on enforcing speeding policies, decreasing idle time, ensuring seatbelt usage and reducing erratic driver behavior. The successful program helped achieve the goals, as evidenced in the pictured chart.

A pharmaceutical industry client leveraged specific vehicle safety features to make its fleet safer for drivers while also reducing total fleet spend. (Chart provided)

Playgrounds — not child’s play anymore The typical municipal playground with slides and swings is beginning to incorporate technology as well. BCI Burke, a leader in play, playgrounds, outdoor fitness and recreation products, and Biba Ventures, a leader in the smartphone gaming world, joined forces to keep kids moving, imagining, engaging and playing at the playground longer.

“Kids develop important social, emotional, communication, cognitive, physical and creative skills through play,” said Brian Johnson,

COO at BCI Burke. “Time spent playing is crucial to developing these skills that transcend the playground and take them into adulthood.”

When entering a Burke playground featuring Biba, a parent or caregiver turns on their phone’s app, so the child can play the games. The Biba games are free to download and provide clear directions for kids to help explore different ways to use the play space and interact with each other. Focused on elementary school children, the added value is that it requires no electricity, magnets, Wi-Fi, or any additional infrastructure and can be set up in minutes.

The app goes one step further by helping park managers better understand their park usage, compare playground facility usage and provide quantitative data to support future budget requests.

Michael Phelan, president and CEO of BCI Burke, stated, “I played Biba games with my children and saw them moving more, imagining more, and I was able to really play with them. Our customers are also seeking information to help plan for playground maintenance or prepare budget requests for new playground equipment.”

Furniture built around technology With the modern digital age, technological gadgets are increasingly more common in our everyday lives, resulting in smarter, high-tech furniture becoming the norm. Whether it is lobby seating equipped with USB charging ports, built-in tablets into tabletops or cubicle walls, or special lighting that adjusts upon touch or verbal command, new options are being developed all the time.

According to Anna McClelland, vice president of Specialty Markets at OFS, “Most of our clients tend to think of furniture as a commodity. While that’s certainly true, technology creeps in as well.”

In the past, government procurement teams primarily searched for cost-effective, practical and visually appealing furnishings. The ultimate purchase was usually completed by looking through a paper or online catalog, making a selection, issuing a purchase order, and then waiting for the delivery.

McClelland continued, “While there are increasing technology options within product lines, one of the biggest transitions are in tools that help customers visualize and ultimately purchase these products.”

Rather than visit a showroom, clients now visualize the space and placement of the furniture from their laptops. Seeing the product image evolve as the finishes materialize on the chosen chair or desk is fast becoming a well-sought after purchasing methodology.

McClelland added, “In another feature, our engineers and designers can create custom product solutions that come to life through renderings. For a recent middle school, our representative created a ‘360 view’ of the classroom with the furniture in it. Having that sense of scale and materiality context brought greater comfort to that decision-making process. Realizing that you can have a curated experience is a great value and one that shouldn’t be overlooked.”

Supporting local businesses while purchasing online Government procurement professionals, particularly when working remotely, desire the same convenience they enjoy as consumers.

Amazon Business, through an OMNIA Partners cooperative agreement, now enables public agencies to acquire needed supplies through a dedicated business portal. Especially during COVID, many public sector organizations turned to Amazon Business to

A sign encourages children and their parents to check out Biba for new fun games. (Photo provided)

Biba games sparks new ways for children to interact with playgrounds. (Photo provided)

meet demands in personal protective equipment supplies, including surgical masks, face shields, medical transport ventilators, hand sanitizers and wipes.

In an effort to include local businesses through this same portal, the city of Miami, Fla., is one of several major municipalities partnering with Amazon Business to offer the ability to search and purchase goods from local suppliers.

According to Annie Perez, director of procurement, “more than 230 attendees participated in the webinars, and as a result, several are in the process of being on-boarded by Amazon Business as sellers. To distinguish local vendors and encourage city purchasers to buy local, Miami-based businesses appear in search results with a green checkmark next to their listing and are tagged as ‘approved’

by Amazon Business.”

Emphasizing air quality is an increasing challenge Due to concerns about COVID-19, there is more awareness around indoor air quality than ever before. According to Jeremy Lee NOVEMBER 2021 | THE MUNICIPAL 67

continued from page 67

from Trane Commercial Systems, “I’ve worked with commercial and government facilities teams for over 18 years and have never seen a time like this. It is literally unprecedented.”

IAQ solutions can seem complex, and the results are difficult to measure. However, Lee stated, “If we take a holistic view and a methodical approach, we can evaluate and prioritize all viable options.”

Often the first step is to analyze the current state of a building’s function, which is accomplished by analyzing data of the building’s indoor air quality. Aligning to the latest guidelines the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention for operating HVAC systems is key. A final step is mitigation with the development of occupant-centric strategies, with the four key pillars of IAQ: dilute, Miami, Fla., is one of several major municipalities partnering with Amazon Business to exhaust, contain and clean. offer the ability to search and purchase goods from local suppliers. (Shutterstock.com) Taking advantage of all the available technologies has been a challenge for facilities maintenance teams in recent months.

Trane’s Lee continued, “Municipalities should consider all technical by over 30% month over month. Public entities expect to be able to options. Managing both quality with cost is always a challenge, and find more types of goods and services available through cooperaprioritizing good, better and best can help with budgeting.” tive contracts.

“We’re seeing a new phase of growth around cooperative procureLeveraging a cooperative strategy ment, enabled by technology and accelerated by COVID-19,” said Cooperatives play a big role in enabling new strategic contracting CoProcure CEO and cofounder Mariel Reed. “It’s a really exciting efforts in technology. Robb Reid, director of Enterprise Solutions moment for collaboration in procurement!” at Sourcewell, a government entity with cooperative contracting services, stated, “Cooperative organizations are uniquely positioned Tammy Rimes, MPA, is a keynote speaker, procurement consultant to help create IT solutions that can be leveraged across jurisdictions and executive director of the National Cooperative Procurement to improve functionality, cost efficiencies and seamless data flow Partners, or NCPP. She served as former purchasing agent for for residents and employees. National contracts allow members the city of San Diego and implemented its first environmentally to employ agile procurement methods without making the invest- preferred purchasing program. She served during one of Southment in time and talent to develop these methods in their home ern California’s largest emergencies — the 2007 Witch Creek Fires, which raged for 17 days and destroyed over 2,000 homes jurisdictions.”

According to data from CoProcure, the country’s largest free and structures. Free educational materials on emergency presearch engine for cooperative contracts, local entity demand to uti- paredness, cooperative contracts and a free webinar series are lize cooperative contracts is growing. Over the last year, CoProcure available at www.NCPPAssociation.org. has seen the total number of searches on their platform increase

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68 THE MUNICIPAL | NOVEMBER 2021

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Best places to raise a family Moving is a daunting task but also filled with opportunities if the right location is selected. WalletHub notes in its “Best & Worst Places to Raise a Family” list, the average American “can expect to move an estimated 11.4 times in a lifetime.”

When moving as a family, it is essential to pick a location that is affordable and offers quality schools and health care. WalletHub compared more than 180 U.S. cities based on 48 key metrics, such as the cost of housing, the quality of local school and health-care systems, and the opportunities for fun and recreation. Each metric fits under five key dimensions: family fun; health and safety; education and child care; affordability; and socio-economics.

Overland Park, Kan., headed the best places. It ranked No. 1 in affordability, No. 4 socio-economics; No. 7 in education and child care; No. 26 in health and safety; and No. 100 in family fun. Its overall score was 72.48.

1.Overland Park, Kan. 72.48 2.Fremont, Calif.

71.37

3.Irvine, Calif.

69.19

4.Plano, Texas

68.80

5.Columbia, Md.

67.75

6.South Burlington, Vt. 66.11 7.Seattle, Wash.

65.45

8.Scottsdale, Ariz.

65.42

9.Gilbert, Ariz.

64.98

10.Madison, Wis.

64.79

70 THE MUNICIPAL | NOVEMBER 2021

Source: https://wallethub.com/edu/best-cities-for-families/4435

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Advertiser Index A

I

Air Burners, Incorporated . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23

ICOM America Incorporated . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3

Air Netix LLC . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 45 All Access Equipment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5 Alumitank . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 60

K KM International . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7

AMCS Group . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 71

L

American Safety & Supply . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22

Land Pride . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 57

American Shoring Incorporated . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 65

M

Andy Mohr Ford . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 59

Mel Northey Company . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35

B BendPak Incorporated . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 69 Bonnell Industries . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 61

Midwest Sandbags LLC . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 44 Midwest Tractor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 63 Monroe Truck Equipment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 51

Britespan Building Systems . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9, 57

N

Buyers Products Company . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 75

National Construction Rentals . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15

C

NTEA Work Truck . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 62

CBI Systems . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27

O

CleanFix North America . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 56

Omega Industrial Products . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 45

Clearspan Fabric Structures . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15

Optimus Technologies . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Cover, 10-11

E

P

Ebac Industrial Products . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 65

Precision Concrete Cutting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 68

Everblades Incorporated . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 72

R

F

Rapid View LLC . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . BACK

FCAR Tech USA, LLC . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34

T

Fluid Control Services . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 44

T2 Systems . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17

G

Tech Products Incorporated . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 59

GI Industries . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22 Global Environmental . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 36-37

Track Star Internatinal Incorporated . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 Transoft Solutions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 74

Greystone Construction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26

U

GVM Incorporated . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 33

Uline . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 57

H

Utility Truck Equipment Incorporated . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 56

Henderson Products . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 55

V

Hercules Industries Incorporated . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32

Versalift East, LLC . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 63

This index is provided courtesy of the publisher, who assumes no liability for errors or omissions.

NOVEMBER 2021 | THE MUNICIPAL 73

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