Sustainable Park Renovations Bring Nature to a Neighborhood
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AMERICAN PUBLIC WORKS ASSOCIATION | April 2016 | www.apwa.net Sustainable park renovations bring nature to a neighborhood See page 36 THE EASIEST WAY TO BUILD PRECAST CONCRETE: VERSATILE • DURABLE • FAST • ECONOMICAL • SECURE SPECIFIED ACROSS NORTH AMERICA • A Proven Solution for PUBLIC WORKS projects • Pre-Engineered Designs or Custom Applications • We install in just hours, minimal site preparation • Standard and Custom Outfi tting available • Resistant to rot, wear, abuse, blast & disasters • EASI-SPAN clear-span roofs, 10'x12' to 50'x250' EASISETBUILDINGS.COM 866.252.8210 APWA416 Easi-Set Buildings APWA full page inside cover April 2016.indd 1 3/8/2016 1:06:09 PM The APWA Reporter, the official magazine of the American Public Works Association, covers all facets of public works for APWA members April 2016 Vol. 83, No. 4 including industry news, legislative actions, / management issues and emerging technologies. FACILITIES & GROUNDS ISSUE INSIDE APWA 2 President’s Message 6 Technical Committee News 7 APWA hires new Executive Director 10 Speak words that empower you 12 APWA turns a new page in its distinguished history 18 Knock knock…Who’s there? 12 20 Recognize Your Leaders COLUMNS 4 Washington Insight 22 Imagination to Innovation 24 Open Your Winter Toolbox 28 Leadership by Discipline 30 International Idea Exchange 96 Ask Ann 18 FEATURES 36 Sustainable park renovations bring nature to a neighborhood 42 The Energy Revolution 44 Investigation of a building gone bad 46 Lawn conversions that save money, labor and resources 50 Keeping employees and citizens safe and secure in public buildings 52 Right-of-way mowing and maintenance 58 Developing an ADA Transition Plan ANNUAL BUYER’S GUIDE 62 Alphabetical listing 30 75 Categorical listing MARKETPLACE 98 Products in the News 102 Professional Directory CALENDARS 21 Education Calendar 104 World of Public Works Calendar 42 104 Index of Advertisers www.apwa.net / April 2016 / APWA Reporter 1 PRESIDENT‘S MESSAGE How did we get here and where do we go from here? Brian R. Usher, PWLF APWA President ave you ever found yourself Is the answer to the question of how driving and wondered how you did we get here becoming clearer? If Harrived at a particular location? not, it should be. New infrastructure More importantly did you ask yourself, is constructed every single day Official Magazine of the “Where do I go from here?” If so, with no long-term plan focused on American Public Works Association PUBLISHER you are not alone. These are two very maintaining the asset over the next 30 American Public Works Association similar questions that public works years. This same scenario is occurring One Kansas City Place 1200 Main Street, Suite 1400 officials across the nation as well as across our nation every single day with Kansas City, MO 64105 other countries are asking as well. all aspects of infrastructure. (800) 848-APWA (Member Services Hotline) (816) 472-6100 (Kansas City metro area) FAX (816) 595-5330 e-mail: [email protected] Let’s start with the first question, The next question then tends to be, Website: www.apwa.net “How did we get here?” Citizens get “Where do we go from here?” This INTERIM EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR excited to see new infrastructure being question is the more difficult of the Larry W. Frevert, P.E., PWLF constructed within their communities. two to answer. It’s no secret that every EDITOR GRAPHIC DESIGNER R. Kevin Clark Michiko Shinohara Politicians like to reflect back over their town, city, county, and state across ADVERTISING SALES: FOX ASSOCIATES term(s) in office and point out the North America is facing the same Chicago (312) 644-3888 New York (212) 725-2106 new facility, the community pool or issue. There is not sufficient funding Los Angeles (805) 522-0501 brand new neighborhood park that was to repair/replace the amount of failing Detroit (248) 626-0511 Phoenix (480) 538-5021 constructed while in office. New things infrastructure. Organizations have to create excitement, as they should. take a multi-pronged approach to get APWA WASHINGTON OFFICE 1275 K Street NW, Suite 750 Take, for instance, a new residential on the right path. First and foremost, Washington, D.C. 20005-4083 development is being planned for the when new infrastructure is constructed (202) 408-9541 FAX (202) 408-9542 Disclaimer: The American Public Works Association northern portion of a city that doesn’t and brought online, a long-term assumes no responsibility for statements and/or have a public park. Not a problem. The maintenance plan with identified opinions advanced by either editorial or advertising contributors to this issue. APWA reserves the right to developer has agreed to construct a funding for maintenance should be refuse to publish and to edit manuscripts to conform to small park and give it to the City as part developed in conjunction with the the APWA Reporter standards. construction of the infrastructure. Publisher’s Notice: The APWA Reporter, April of the overall development plan. It’s a 2016, Vol. 83, No. 4 (ISSN 0092-4873; Publications win-win situation in the eyes of many. Obviously this will not correct the lack Agreement No. 41450540). The APWA Reporter is published monthly by the American Public Works With all the excitement over this new of funding for existing infrastructure, Association, One Kansas City Place, 1200 Main Street, neighborhood amenity, nobody stops but it will certainly prevent the Suite 1400, Kansas City, MO 64105. Subscription rate is $213 for nonmembers and $25 for chapter- and asks the question of how the City problem from worsening in the years sponsored students. Periodicals postage paid at Kansas City, MO and additional mailing offices. POSTMASTER: will maintain this public space moving to come. What’s the point in having Send address changes to the APWA Reporter, One forward. Some might think that it’s new infrastructure if you can’t afford to Kansas City Place, 1200 Main Street, Suite 1400, Kansas City, MO 64105. Canada returns to: P.O. Box such a small space, the existing staff maintain it once constructed? 2600, Mississauga, ON L4T 0A8. can handle the upkeep and tend to any Reprints and Permissions: Information is available at maintenance needs/costs. Others will Has your organization completed an www.apwa.net/Publications/Reporter/guidelines.asp. say the park is new and there won’t be inventory of assets which includes with © 2016 by American Public Works Association any maintenance costs for years down it the current condition of the asset Address Change? To alert us of a change to your membership record, the road. A similar mindset is taken and what repairs/replacements need contact an APWA Membership Specialist at (800) 848- APWA or [email protected]. with the construction of a new facility to be made in the upcoming years? The APWA Reporter is printed by Royle Printing, Sun planned to house several departments. If not, how do you know how much Prairie, Wisconsin. 2 APWA Reporter / April 2016 / www.apwa.net funding is required to maintain the of their communities the current state challenge that we have is identifying infrastructure? The answer is, you don’t of their infrastructure and the amount a sustainable funding source to if you don’t have this information. of funding required for maintaining make the necessary improvements. APWA appointed members to an it. This task is impossible to complete There is no magic wand to waive to Asset Management Task Force that without the detailed knowledge of solve this problem. It is going to take will be looking to develop steps your assets. Public works departments collaboration and willingness of us for organizations to take in getting are competing with fire and police all to step outside the box we tend to started with asset management. Some for funding needs year in and year place ourselves in and think creatively individuals or organizations may feel out. With each tragic incident that to move our organizations and that they can’t afford to take on the takes place, this becomes increasingly communities forward. Will it be easy? task of asset management, yet in reality more difficult as more attention is No, it will not. However, I’m confident they can’t afford not to. given to public safety. We as public that the hard-working and dedicated works officials have to become professionals of this association can Public works officials have to effectively better at telling our story to get the collectively work together to get us communicate to the governing bodies attention of the decision makers. The back on the right path. “We are such spendthrifts with our lives. The trick of living is to slip on and off the planet with the least fuss you can muster. I’m not running for sainthood. I just happen to think that in life we need to be a little like the farmer, who puts back into the soil what he takes out.” – Paul Newman (1925-2008), Academy Award-winning actor AMERICAN PUBLIC WORKS ASSOCIATION Mission Statement: The American Public Works Association serves its members by promoting professional excellence and public awareness through Your Comprehensive Public Works Resource education, advocacy and the exchange of knowledge. BOARD OF DIRECTORS ADVISORY COUNCIL PRESIDENT DIRECTOR, REGION IV DIRECTOR-AT-LARGE, (Past APWA Presidents) Robert Miller Interim Executive Director Brian R. Usher, PWLF Tommy J. Brown, PWLF ENGINEERING & TECHNOLOGY Robert Albee Judith M. Mueller Larry W. Frevert Director of Public Works Superintendent of Fleet Services David L. Lawry, P.E. Roger K. Brown Ronald L. Norris City of Largo, FL City of La Grange, GA Director of Engineering and Public Nick W. Diakiw Richard L.