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Finding and keeping qualified and motivated public works employees requires attention and dedicated resources. The cost to replace skilled and talented personnel is substantial. Without the next generation (the millennials) in the wings ready to take on the responsibilities and leadership roles of the retiring generation, there will be a void in valuable knowledge, and experience will be lost. This presentation will offer strategies and resources for how to attract the millennial generation to public works careers. We'll discuss what motivates the millennial generation and how we can steer them toward public works careers and, then, keep them as productive and valuable resources to your public works department and the community as a whole.Learning Objectives:Measure the cost of replacing qualified personnel.Discover what motivates the millennial generation and how they are eager to contribute.Identify resources to recruit and train the next generation of public works employees.
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The East Manawa neighborhood in Council Bluffs, Iowa, has a long history of infrastructure problems. The original sanitary sewers were constructed with very flat grades using cast iron pipes. The pipes have developed scaling and require heavy jetting on a regular basis to maintain proper operation and flow. The streets are located within a narrow right of way, without storm sewers. The area has extremely poor drainage and the streets are in terrible condition. The neighborhood is located adjacent to a lake, a tributary creek and the Missouri River. High groundwater and poor soil conditions are a large factor when addressing infrastructure improvements within this area. Also, there were numerous other utilities within the right of way adding to the challenge of reconstruction. Discover how vacuum sewers and porous asphalt became the answers to solving these many challenges effectively and efficiently.Learning Objectives: Evaluate various sanitary sewer collection system optionsDesign a vacuum sanitary sewer collection systemImplement green infrastructure in limited right of way with challenging site conditions
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Building Resilient SystemsResiliency is the key concept for current and future infrastructure planning. Discover how public works agencies are meeting the challenge for building resilient systems to withstand flooding and extreme weather events.Collaborative Urban Infrastructure Renewal while Meeting Multi-faceted Stormwater ObjectivesThe City of Winston-Salem, North Carolina, has identified the 28th Street area for a multitude of stormwater improvements. The City's master plan identified deficiencies in meeting service level goals, including structural flooding, roadway overtopping, and road closures. Two railroad overpasses also contribute to flooding issues. A concerted effort to address the structural and operational needs for all public infrastructure in the area includes a $6 million stormwater/water/wastewater park project.Coastal Adaptation Planning – St. Augustine Pilot StudyThe City of St. Augustine is a pilot study area for the Florida Department of Economic Opportunity's (DEO) five-year ""Community Resiliency: Planning for Sea Rise"" project. The study team is comprised of Dewberry, the Columbia Law School's Sabin Center for Climate Change Law, and St. Thomas University. As a city rich with historic cultural resources and low-lying critical infrastructure, sea rise is of primary concern. Examine the city's progress throughout the project and their efforts in conducting a vulnerability assessment and creating a strategic adaptation plan.Lessons Learned from the 2014 North Vancouver Debris FloodAn intense rain event in 2014 caused debris floods that originated in the mountain slopes above North Vancouver, British Columbia. This presentation will discuss the lessons learned for future emergency response and for adjusting community planning and engineering practices to include the consideration of climate change impacts on creeks and streams in a mountainous setting.Using Super-Sized Green Infrastructure to Mitigate Urban FloodingThe Chicago area is former swamp land with predominantly poor draining clay soils and little topographical relief. To combat historic flooding in the region, the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago is evaluating the use of green infrastructure to mitigate flooding from wet weather events. A stormwater master plan is being developed to feature super-sized green infrastructure to mitigate drainage issues and build resiliency into the system.Learning Objectives: Examine various tactics used to mitigate extreme weather events.Evaluate strategies to build resiliency into water and wastewater treatment facilities and other public infrastructure.Take advantage of the lessons learned by other communities in responding to extreme weather events and in conducting vulnerability assessments and developing strategic adaptation plans.
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As cities get ready to invest in public works facilities, many don't know where to start. Some begin by assessing facility condition, but quickly become overwhelmed by their maintenance backlog. Others respond with band aid type fixes, but wonder if they are dumping good money after bad. Some focus on one aspect of an operation, only to discover that it negatively impacts other business lines. If they only had a plan! Case studies drawn from a range of communities will illustrate the different types of facilities plans, best practices and lessons learned, and tips for building support for funding public works and utility department facilities plans.Learning Objectives: Identify whether your organization could benefit from a facilities plan.Compare types of plans and understand which best type best fits your situation.Develop clear, achievable objectives and a compelling argument to fund a planning process.
Read MoreThis Click Listen and Learn will address the challenges and opportunities of bicycle infrastructure, including:
– The economic benefits of cycling
– Ways to retrofit existing infrastructure – Integrating maintenance and operations
– Serving both commuter and recreational users
– Innovative designs such as buffered bike lanes and painted bicycle boxes
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Over the past three years, the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) has been building a platform to collect, review, approve, and distribute construction contract documents. Examine why they moved to a paperless environment and the various components they chose for the platform, which included document management, mobile devices, digital signatures, and electronic ""as-built"" plants. They'll also discuss the costs associated with these choices and the challenges associated with this cultural business shift.Learning Objectives: List the components of FDOT's e-construction platform.Review the initial and annual costs for e-construction.Prepare for the implementation of an e-construction system.
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Emergencies and disasters can occur at any time. Public works departments are critical members of the emergency response team. As a public works leader, you and members of your team could be asked to step up and provide leadership at a moment's notice to unplanned disasters such as hurricanes, tornados, floods, wild fires, blizzards, ice storms, etc. Are you prepared to handle this type of situation? Attend this workshop and hear from public works leaders who have dealt with various unplanned emergencies. They'll share how having a mutual aid structure is extremely beneficial to response and recovery efforts. They'll also help prepare you for what to expect in this kind of unplanned challenge.Learning Objectives:Provide strong leadership during an unplanned emergency event.Leverage community and agency resources for timely and effective response.Examine how to develop and implement a mutual aid structure to provide support during emergencies.
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The Excellence in Ice & Snow Control award recognizes agencies that demonstrate excellence in the management and administration of public works snow and Ice operations. This year's winners from the…
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The City of Fishers, Indiana Department of Public Works has developed an AVL (Automatic Vehicle Locating) system that utilizes the ESRI GIS platform. This cutting edge system allows the city…
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Palm Beach County, Florida, recently completed the design and construction of a renewable energy facility. This presentation will focus on the technological, as well as financial, considerations of this project. Discussion will include these factors: how to compare waste-to-energy technology to other popular waste management options including landfilling, aerobic digestion and others; how the county was able to overcome the typical obstacles for this type of facility, including site selection, financing, and permitting; and how design elements were incorporated into the project to allow it to better co-exist with the natural environment and meet stringent water resources and air pollution limits.Learning Objectives: Evaluate solid waste disposal options.Manage the site selection, permitting and financing associated with development of a new waste to energy facility.Design a waste to energy facility to coexist with nature and the community.
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