FALL 2011 APWA Fall Conference October 11-14, 2011 Yakima Convention Center INSIDE: Projects of the Year | Profile: Buncombe Hollow Road Stabilization Project 2601 Fourth Avenue, Suite 800 Seattle, WA 98121-1280 2601 Fourth Avenue, Suite 800 Seattle, WA 98121-1280 www.apwa-wa.org Federal tax #36-2202880 2011 OFFICERS President Jill M. Marilley, PE Vice President Mike Terrell, PE Secretary Peter S. Capell 18 38 Treasurer Toby D. Rickman Past President Jay Burney Board of Directors Term 2011-12 Tara Olsen, PE Ruta L. Jones Features: Don Vondran, PE Nik Stroup Every Day Counts ...................................................................... 10 A review of the FHWA peer-exchange for the Every Day Counts initiative. Board of Directors Term 2010-11 Peter DeBoldt, PE North American Snow Conference ........................................... 13 William L. Pugh A review of the Spokane conference. Robert Desgrosellier Kirk Holmes Plain Language Writing ............................................................. 16 Chapter Liaison Why plain language is more effective, and is now the rule for state agencies. John W. Carpita, PE 206-625-1300, [email protected] Project Profile: Buncombe Hollow Road ................................... 18 Heavy snowfall and rains in 2008 required Buncombe Hollow Road to undergo landslide stabilization. Chapter Delegate Richard McKinley 253-591-5525 APWA Fall Conference .............................................................. 22 [email protected] Everything you need to know about the fall conference is here, including schedule, sessions, events, and exhibitors. Published by: Projects of the Year ................................................................... 38 A look at the APWA Project of the Year winners. Tel: (866) 985-9780 Departments: Fax: (866) 985-9799 E-mail: [email protected] www.kelman.ca President’s Message .................................................................... 5 Managing Editor: Association News ........................................................................ 7 Cheryl Parisien, [email protected] Design/Layout: Theresa Kurjewicz History ...................................................................................... 12 Advertising Sales: Committee Reports .................................................................. 41 Darrell Harris, [email protected] Ask MRSC ................................................................................ 46 All rights reserved. The contents of this publication may not be reproduced in Contract Corner ....................................................................... 48 whole or in part without the express consent of the publisher. Ostrowski’s Outlook .................................................................. 51 COVER PHOTO: Courtesy of Yakima Valley Visitors & Convention Bureau PROFESSIONAL TRAINING Expert environmental training for Northwest Environmental Training Center offers training in: professionals Policy & Regulations Leadership & Management • Water Remediation/Toxicology • Biology Chemistry • Technical/Software Contact us to design a customized course! To request a private training or to learn more about NWETC and our course offerings go to nwetc.org Northwest Environmental Training Center | nwetc.org | 425.270.3274 4 FALL 2011 CLICK HERE TO RETURN TO INDEX CLICK HERE TO RETURN TO INDEX PRESIDENt’S MESSAGE Volunteering Jill Marilley, PE 2011 Chapter President I trust this issue names of the board members that are the much of the Strategic Plan implementation liaisons: is task-oriented work, so the time limit is of our Chapter • Grow and strengthen membership truly set by you. We need all opinions and newsmagazine finds you healthy and (Ruta Jones and Kirk Holmes) ideas and are happy to receive whatever successful in your endeavors. I have been • Expand partnerships with other time you can offer. But do feel free to let enjoying the summer with family and organizations (Tara Olsen and Nik me know if you want to be a committee friends and keep reminding myself that Stroup) head or serve on the board of directors. I summer is more a state of mind than a • Advocate for public works (Peter am always happy to help a member further temperature on the outside thermometer. DeBoldt and Bob Degrosselier) their personal goals. And just as the seasons come and go, our • Improve marketing and public works Please contact the board members extraordinary efforts and work in public outreach (Jay Burney) listed above and they will direct you to works continue. • Increase partnerships with higher the committee chair for the schedule of education (Don Vondran and Bill Pugh) meetings and/or conference calls for the Strategic Plan progress Strategic Plan. And look online for a listing Your chapter officers and volunteers Volunteering by phone of the committees and their chairs – I am have been hard at work implementing As always, we ask for you to get involved confident they’d love to hear from you. the Strategic Plan and extraordinary in the issue that you are interested in. progress has been made in only seven But what does getting involved look like? New website short months. Accomplishments include Some people are reticent to speak up and One new update is that our newly a new public relations package that has volunteer because they fear the “vortex designed chapter website is soon to be been distributed and was widely used of volunteerism,” where one day they are launched. Watch for emails announcing for this year’s National Public Works just listening in on meeting and the next this exciting development for our chapter Week. Through our membership efforts day they are chairing a committee or in the fall. The committee has been hard we are now the third-largest chapter (gasp!) being asked to sit on the board of at work for almost a year developing a in the organization (and closing fast on directors. site that is more interactive with timely #2, the Chicago Metro Section!), and For me, asking you to get involved information for our membership. initial contacts have been made with is just asking you to listen to goals and I continue to gratefully serve as your the universities to develop our outreach participating in conversations. It’s sharing president to assist us all in accomplishing program. your opinions or even just agreeing with our vision to be “The organization of The Strategic Plan committee key the direction of the committee. And it is choice providing public works education, members met on August 5, 2011 to not just about our Strategic Plan – we advocacy, expertise and public awareness update the plan progress and no change have many other technical and standing for its diverse community of members.” to the structure was suggested at this committees. After all, it is up to you time, even though many of the committees to decide your level of commitment. See you in Yakima are working jointly on tasks and issues. The vortex isn’t real. Many of these Go raibh maith agat, As a reminder here are the Strategic Plan committees meet by conference call, so (“Thank you” in Gaelic) areas that were identified originally and the your participation time is optimized. And so Jill “For me, asking you to get involved is just asking you to listen to goals and participating in conversations. It’s sharing your opinions or even just agreeing with the direction of the committee.” CLICK HERE TO RETURN TO INDEX CLICK HERE TO RETURN TO INDEX FALL 2011 5 MEASURE 100 50 0 At Master Meter, we’re creating the future of water management. Our Octave® ultrasonic meter uses the Sound of Science™ to accurately measure use of this precious resource. Our approach is a reflection of the way we work closely with clients to develop customized technology products and revenue solutions for measuring, collecting, and managing water. Highly flexible and innovative, Master Meter is defining the science of Precise Measurement to make every drop of North America’s water measure up. iPad Giveaway • ENTER TO WIN! • No Purchase Necessary • Only one entry per person • www.mastermeterpromo.com Promo Code: WASPW09 PLEASE CONTACT WARREN KANNARR • MASTER METER PRODUCT SPECIALIST • FRANK J. MARTIN COMPANY • TEL:C 206-660-8642LICK HERE TO • W RETARRENURNK@ TOFJM INARTIN.CODEX M CLICK HERE TO RETURN TO INDEX ASSOCIATION NEWS Calendar of Events BOARD MEETINGS APWA CONGRESS (Contact Jill Marilley at 425-450-6236 or [email protected]) The Best Show in Public Works www.apwa.net October 12, 2011 Sep 18-21, 2011 Yakima Convention Center, 7:00 a.m. Colorado Convention Center, Denver, CO MEASURE December 9, 2011 Aug 26-29, 2012 Bear Creek Country Club, Woodinville, 9:00 a.m. Anaheim Convention Center, Anaheim, CA 100 January 6, 2012 August 25-28, 2013 Issaquah City Hall North, 9:00 a.m. McCormick Place, Chicago, IL April 4, 2012 August 17-20, 2014 Tulalip Resort, Marysville, 7:00 a.m. Canada Metro Toronto Convention June 8, 2012 August 30-September 2, 2015 Cave B Inn at SageCliff, Quincy, 9:00 a.m. Phoenix Convention Center, Phoenix, AZ October 2, 2012 Davenport Hotel, Spokane, 7:00 a.m. CHAPTER CONFERENCES December 7, 2012 Fall 2011 Conference Bear Creek Country Club, Woodinville, 9:00 a.m. October 11-14, 2011 Yakima Convention Center (Contact Jill Marilley 425-450-6236 or [email protected]) AREA MEETING WEST Spring Conference 2012 (Contact Courtney McFadden 425-739-4211) * April 3-6 * Tulalip Resort, Marysville, Snohomish County December 9, 2011 (Contact Jeannie Balducci 425-388-6475 or Bear Creek Country Club, Woodinville, 11:30 a.m. [email protected])