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Green stormwater infrastructures (GSIs) are typically built for multi-purposes: stormwater treatment and green space. Established vegetation is used to achieve the designed functions. However, plants often fail before they are established as they undergo constant stresses: either too wet or too dry. By design, GSIs flood during storms. Also by design, the growth media drain and dries out quickly between rain events to make room for the next storm. For that to happen, very porous growth media are used. The extreme variations in soil moisture make it very hard for any plant to survive. Other stresses such as road salt also make it hard to keep plants alive. This presentation will review novel technologies that can address the problems by using some of the abundant stormwater in GSIs. Capturing the stormwater also enhances the stormwater reduction and retention feature of GSIs. This stored stormwater can be used to irrigate the plants to ensure their survival.
Read MoreCompleting Shawnee, Kansas’ Nieman Now program ($37 million of public improvements in five projects, with four design consultants and three contractors, within a two-year window) involved a lot more than a willingness to implement a “road diet,” move power lines underground and reduce local flooding. Staff realized that there were enough complicating factors that project coordination had to be taken to a whole new level. The City’s challenges for design and construction will be described, and examples shared of how they were dealt with and resolved. The presenters will review the design and construction timeline, key happenings, complications, extensive utility coordination, and hard choices that had to be made while sharing illustrative content and anecdotes. The session will also highlight lessons “reinforced” about making field changes during construction and the types of documentation that are most helpful when it is time to close out the project.
Read MoreIn WarGames, a 1983 American Cold War science-fiction techno-thriller, David Lightman (Matthew Broderick) unwittingly accesses a U.S. military supercomputer (WOPR) programmed to execute nuclear war with the Soviet Union. Important lessons are learned in a simple game of tic-tac-toe, and nuclear war is averted. This session will be a highly competitive group activity, as participants are divided into teams and told to win as much as they can. A series of decisions will influence outcomes for individual and collective groups combined. With a win in mind, teams will reach a consensus to strategically choose among provided options, while in alternating rounds they are tasked with negotiating strategy with other groups. Collaborative concepts are tested against the individual charge to win as much as you can. Play along, and in the end, you may suggest that we play a “nice game of chess.”
Read MoreEmbarking on the renovation or reconstruction of a new public works garage requires the integration of many planning factors that most public works professionals do not typically encounter. Determining what functions should be incorporated, calculating their sizing, arranging the layout, and specifying major equipment needs should be based on best industry practices. This session provides public works professionals with a robust methodology for rationalizing and justifying the design criteria for their garage projects, allowing them to move forward with a compelling rationale for budget approval. Created by both a fleet manager and an industry-experienced architect, this seminar will focus on seven design principles: robust definition of your building program, workflow efficiency, staff productivity, asset control and security, supervision and communications, building performance and sustainability, and integration of future trends.
Read MoreThe Emergency Management Technical Committee members will facilitate discussions about pertinent emergency management topics with each of the technical committee members. Each facilitated discussion will be shared with all attendees to share knowledge and ideas on how multiple agencies handle emergency management tasks.
Read MoreA local agency’s most challenging obstacle to creating an asset management program often is convincing its administrators and elected officials of its importance. However, agencies that have implemented an asset management program and overcame this obstacle and those with mature programs have a lot to share. In addition, they can provide insight into their programs’ success for their community. This session will assist communities struggling with their asset management program development by providing effective and economic programs to engage their community successfully.Dan Kaup, Dave Lawry, Kyle Johnson, and Dan Randolph, all from the Chicago Metro Chapter’s Asset Management Committee, will present examples from various communities regarding implementing their local asset management programs. The committee received survey responses from 54 member communities indicating the need to share best practices, software examples, and how to engage elected officials. This session directly addresses those member suggestions.The speakers will show how they use their programs to benefit their communities through efficient operations and well-coordinated capital programs, all developed from data generated through their asset management efforts. They will feature two different software applications, not as endorsements, but as examples of the effectiveness of asset management software to the success of a local agency’s program.
Read MoreThis session will guide the manager through the different aspects of knowing their cost and how to apply those to promote their ability to provide cost-effective services.
Read MoreLevels of Service (LOS) is a component of asset management planning that is significant and has a great deal of impact. Municipalities' core purpose is to provide public services to the…
Read MoreManagers of public spaces need to share best practices and network to stay current with trends and technological updates for continuous improvement in operational efficiencies and sustainability efforts. Designed to…
Read MoreAre you aware that the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) has specific requirements related to managing snow on public property? Did you know that you have always been required to maintain your accessible routes, even during the snow periods? Further, are you aware that you cannot just plow the streets and shovel the sidewalks without clearing off the curb ramps too? Also, did you know you cannot place the plowed snow where it will obstruct accessible parking or the route to the accessible parking? In this presentation you will learn from an expert how to keep your citizens with disabilities safe while protecting your agency from completely avoidable access-related litigation arising from ADA non-compliance in your winter maintenance practices.
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