AMERICAN PUBLIC WORKS ASSOCIATION • SEPTEMBER 2012 • www.apwa.net Elizabeth Treadway takes the helm of APWA The All-New APWA Members’ Library More than 350 recorded Public Works Education Sessions Hundreds of articles, publications, videos, and more All at your fingertips, 24/7/365 www.apwa.net/memberslibrary September 2012 Vol. 79, No. 9 The APWA Reporter, the official magazine of the American Public Works Association, covers all facets of public works for APWA members including industry news, legislative actions, management issues and emerging technologies. FLEET SERVICES ISSUE INSIDE APWA 2 President’s Message 8 Technical Committee News 9 Recognize Your Leaders 10 The mentors of the APWA Donald C. Stone Center 12 Celebrating National Public Works Week 2012 with Southern Charm 16 City of San Antonio Disability Access Office 18 Employee Recognition 20 Fleet Services Committee announces new replacement planning publication 30 22 CPFP Campbell named Fleet Manager of the Year COLUMNS 6 Washington Insight 24 The Great 8 28 Global Solutions in Public Works 58 Ask Ann FEATURES 34 34 City of Ames, Iowa: Police cars replaced by need, not by time or miles 38 Road map to fleet success 42 How to reach out to the media 44 Fleet consolidation 48 Purchasing and installing publicly-accessible electric vehicle charging stations 52 Tool policies for employees 54 Six purchasing tips for fleet professionals 56 Trucking USA WORKZONE 38 56 WorkZone: Your Connection to Public Works Careers MARKETPLACE 60 Products in the News 65 Professional Directory CALENDARS 5 Education Calendar 68 World of Public Works Calendar 68 49 Index of Advertisers September 2012 APWA Reporter 1 Our profession has stepped up Elizabeth Treadway, PWLF APWA President Editor’s Note: As has become tradition, 2009-11), and most recently co-chaired each new APWA President is interviewed the Certification and Professional by the APWA Reporter at the beginning Development Group. Treadway was of each presidential term. In this manner, named one of APWA’s Top Ten Public Official Magazine of the presidential plans are laid out, hopes Works Leaders of the Year in 1997. American Public Works Association revealed and observations noted. She has been a member of the Board PUBLISHER American Public Works Association of Directors since 2007 as Director 2345 Grand Blvd., Suite #700 First, some background on President of Region III and for the past year as Kansas City, MO 64108-2625 Elizabeth Treadway, PWLF, who serves (800) 848-APWA (Member Services Hotline) President-Elect. (816) 472-6100 (Kansas City metro area) as Principal with AMEC Environment FAX (816) 595-5330 & Infrastructure, Inc., Johnson City, How did you get involved in e-mail: [email protected] Website: www.apwa.net Tenn., and has been with the firm for 13 public works? My first introduction EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR years. Her responsibilities with AMEC to public works as a career was Peter B. King include leading the water resource practice with the City of Greensboro, EDITOR and working with officials from many North Carolina. I came into the R. Kevin Clark locations on solving water resource organization as a Transportation GRAPHIC DESIGNER Abbey Russell issues. Prior to joining AMEC, Treadway Planner and worked principally in the area of multimodal planning ADVERTISING SALES worked for the City of Greensboro, N.C., Kristen Creel R. Kevin Clark for 16 years in public works, joining the and implementation of our public Amanda Daniel Kansas City Liaison department in 1983 as a Transportation transit ride-share programs. From (800) 800-0341 (816) 595-5230 Planner. After being promoted to there, I was introduced to the other APWA WASHINGTON OFFICE elements within public works and was 1275 K Street NW, Suite 750 Environmental Services Director, she Washington, D.C. 20005-4083 was responsible for the delivery of encouraged by a number of mentors (202) 408-9541 FAX (202) 408-9542 solid waste collection and disposal, to expand my knowledge base and Disclaimer: The American Public Works Association recycling, stormwater management, horizons. As a result, I moved up assumes no responsibility for statements and/or opinions advanced by either editorial or advertis- fleet management, hazardous waste through promotion to take over the ing contributors to this issue. APWA reserves the management, and household hazardous Environmental Services Department. right to refuse to publish and to edit manuscripts to conform to the APWA Reporter standards. waste collection and disposal. Publisher’s Notice: The APWA Reporter, September What do you see as the critical 2012, Vol. 79, No. 9 (ISSN 0092-4873; Publications Treadway has been actively involved in issues today for public works Agreement No. 41450540). The APWA Reporter is published monthly by the American Public Works APWA at both the chapter and national professionals? There are several, Association, 2345 Grand Boulevard, Suite 700, levels. In addition to having been North but right at the top is the continuing Kansas City, MO 64108-2625. Subscription rate is $174 for nonmembers and $25 for chapter- Carolina Chapter President, she has challenge of dealing with the sponsored students. Periodicals postage paid at been the chapter’s committee chair economic crisis that started with the Kansas City, MO and additional mailing offices. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to the APWA for the Administrative, Audit, Budget, deep recession of 2008. It stretches Reporter, 2345 Grand Boulevard, #700, Kansas Education and Training, Nominating, not only our financial resources, City, MO 64108-2625. Canada returns to: P.O. Box 2600, Mississauga, ON L4T 0A8. State Government Affairs, and PACE but requires us to be creative, to be Reprints and Permissions: Information is available Committees. At the national level, she adaptive, and to be able to continue at www.apwa.net/Publications/Reporter/guidelines. has served on many committees and to provide top-quality service to our asp. task force groups including the Water communities. And really, to be able © 2012 by American Public Works Association Resources Management Committee as a profession to take on innovation Address Change? (1995-98; Chair, 1996-97), Government efficiency measures so that our To alert us of a change to your membership record, contact an APWA Membership Specialist at Affairs Committee (1998-2000), citizens don’t see a difference in their (800) 848-APWA or [email protected]. Congress Planning Committee (2000- level of service. Truly, our profession The APWA Reporter is printed by Royle Printing, 01), Membership Committee (Chair, has stepped up and needs to continue Sun Prairie, Wisconsin. 2 APWA Reporter September 2012 to step up to ensure that our role is several. First of all, to ensure that we We want to absolutely be sure that supported and that our communities continue to invest in the professional our chapters remain financially and are receiving what they need from us. development of our members and technically healthy, and that we’re member agencies. The strides that delivering good value to our members It’s also a challenge to our we made over the past several years through them. professionals to recognize that we in education of our public works are not simply one community or professionals will continue to offer The third is that I want to be sure I one state or one nation dealing with us opportunities to build on new and represent the body of membership of these issues, and that we have a lot expanded initiatives in professional APWA and our profession effectively to learn and gain from others across development. I want to make sure that as an advocate on their behalf. the globe. We must continue to be we continue to mature that effort. open to new ideas and practices that What are some of the highlights come out of other cultures that have And, in concert, my commitment is of your involvement with faced significant hardships and unique to ensure that our chapters remain APWA? My journey with APWA situations and faced those effectively. strong and capable of serving their began immediately upon my We’re a continuous learning group and members. Chapters are the strength employment with the City. We I really hope that we will always be. of the Association and the point of were an agency member and I was delivery of support and services to our immediately added to the agency What will be your priorities membership. Our members recognize roster. I was encouraged very as APWA President? There are and relate to their own chapters. strongly to get involved in the North “The road to sustainability runs through the world’s towns and cities. By building sustainable towns and cities, you will build global sustainability.” – United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon appealing to mayors to further intensify their work beyond the 2012 Rio+20 Earth Summit AMERICAN PUBLIC WORKS ASSOCIATION Mission Statement: The American Public Works Association serves its members by promoting professional excellence and public awareness through education, advocacy and the exchange of knowledge. BOARD OF DIRECTORS ADVISORY COUNCIL PRESIDENT DIRECTOR, REGION IV DIRECTOR-AT-LARGE, ENGI- Elizabeth Treadway, PWLF Tommy J. Brown NEERING & TECHNOLOGY (Past APWA Presidents) Principal, Water Resources Superintendent of Fleet Services David L. Lawry, P.E. Robert Albee Robert Miller Executive Director AMEC Environment & City of La Grange, GA Director of Village Operations Roger K. Brown Judith M. Mueller Peter B. King Village of Wauconda, IL Infrastructure, Inc. George Crombie Ronald L. Norris Johnson City, TN DIRECTOR, REGION V Linda Petelka, B.Sc., PWLF DIRECTOR-AT-LARGE, Nick W. Diakiw Michael R. Pender Executive Director ENVIRONMENTAL Emeritus PRESIDENT-ELECT Manager, Wastewater Program Robert C. Esterbrooks Richard L. Ridings Edward A. (Ed) Gottko, P.E. (ret.), Planning MANAGEMENT Robert D. Bugher Jerry M. Fay John J. Roark PWLF The Regional Municipality of William E.