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In August of 2014, Washtenaw County Water Resources (WCWRC) adopted new rules requiring infiltration of the 90th percentile design storm for all new site plans. The rules permit an alternative of traditional detention storage at 120% of calculated 100-year storm capacity only if WCWRC determines that soils testing was adequate and found inadequate infiltration capacity. In 7 years, nearly 250 sites have been reviewed, and this presentation will describe the review requirements, stakeholder engagement process, outcomes, and win-win benefits to water resources AND the development community. Nearly 25% of sites have been able to eliminate detention and infiltrate the entire 100-year storm. By definition, using the 90th percentile storm (1″ in the study area) returns 90% of annual rainfall into the groundwater, a tremendous benefit to urban and suburban rivers, lakes and streams. Third party information will be provided to demonstrate that using the 90th percentile storm also provides more reliable TSS treatment than detention or mechanical separators. In most urbanized areas, communities require stormwater management with one major goal being reduction of impacts due to development. It is well known that detention basins can simulate pre-development runoff rates but they do not simulate pre-development conditions in five (5) areas. First, detention does not address added volume and thus contribute to downstream water quantity issues. Second, reduced infiltration from natural conditions is beneficial to water quality through groundwater recharge for cooler, stream inputs, steadier base flow, and TSS removal. Third, detention basins have fixed capacity and therefore very limited resiliency. Fourth, detention basins sized for 100-year storms tend to require 5-10% of the contributing land area. Fifth, think about every basin you have seen at an apartment complex and how many geese and ‘tootsie rolls’ you see surrounding them. Ewww.
Read MoreOn October 10, 2018, Bay County was struck by the third-most intense Atlantic hurricane to make landfall in the United States. It was the first Category 5 hurricane on record to impact the Florida Panhandle and produced the nation’s largest debris disaster. The storm was attributed to at least 74 deaths and caused an estimated $25.1 billion in damages. Bay County, Florida, received the eye of the storm and the Public Works Department learned many important lessons both pre- and post-storm. Some of the lessons discussed in this presentation include: pre disaster staging; post-disaster staging; communications; FEMA paperwork and FEMA consultants; Disaster Management Sites (DMS); feeding and lodging staff and their families; emergency contracts; post-disaster traffic flow; FLAWARN; post-storm equipment needs; long-term recovery. Two years after Hurricane Michael, Bay County is still recovering, but plans are being put in place to help.
Read MoreTo meet the demand for 5G telecommunications, companies will be erecting hundreds of thousands of small cell towers–often TWO towers per streetlight in most communities. Most public Works agencies will do nothing, others have learned how to make MILLIONS from the opportunity and transform their agencies using smart technologies. Now, post-COVID-19, teleworking and the demand for 5G/broadband is skyrocketing. Installing hundreds of new towers in each city will create both incredible opportunities and unprecedented problems for public works officials. Many agencies are adopting innovative strategies to not only manage this “tsunami”, but are even partnering with the telecommunications companies, municipalizing, and re-purposing their street lights and traffic signal systems and charging for each of the hundreds, or thousands, of new towers, creating millions in new sources of revenue. Other cities have been even more visionary. They are “flipping” their annual streetlight systems from “must pays” (liabilities) to “cash cows”, or revenue streams. This session addresses these competing priorities: accelerating 5G: post-pandemic; creating resilient, critical “intelligent infrastructure”; ensuring healthy RF radiation levels; generating millions in new revenue; installing/leasing excess city fiber optics for cash; leasing streetlights as transmitter sites; improving traffic signal coordination; setting aesthetic standards; and futureproofing and Smart City strategic planning
Read MoreThis session details the experience of a large, full-service municipal public works department, the City of Olathe, Kansas, going through the Department of Homeland Security’s Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (DHS CISA) Protective Services and Cybersecurity Assessment processes. It features a roundtable including both public works and emergency management professionals as well as members of DHS CISA Protective Services and Cybersecurity groups. The discussion will have two areas of focus. First, participants will discuss specific critical areas of risk assessment, cyber security, employee safety, and continuity of operations. Specific attention will be paid to basic risk assessment principles, SCADA vulnerabilities, physical security and active shooter training, and second and third order threats to service delivery. Second, participants will have an open discussion on the DHS CISA assessment process as it pertains to the unique needs of public works, both areas of strength and opportunities for improvement. Finally, the presentation will provide attendees the opportunity to hear from all three stakeholder groups involved in this process and gain an awareness of how this free program may be of benefit to their agency.
Read MoreRapid digital adoption driven by the pandemic has altered the traditional methods for engaging landowners and completing projects. This presentation addresses the challenges and benefits affecting real estate and land departments that formerly relied on in-person transactions. It includes suggestions for working with virtual open houses, electronic notary, online title work and virtual negotiation.
Read MoreMunicipal rights of way serve many public interests, A place for utilities is one of those interests. That ROW is becoming more crowded, filled with a mixture of scrap, abandoned…
Read MoreWinter weather forecasts can be exhausting, confusing and frustrating. There is always weather that you have to deal with or pay attention to in the extended forecast. Forecasts range from heavy snow, light snow, frost, freezing rain, ice, rain. Chances for weather are 20%, 50%, 75%. Forecasters are not always right but our industry still has to rely on weather forecasts to effectively do our jobs. In this session, we will discuss what to look for in a winter weather forecast, tools to easily get quality forecasts, methods to increase your winter weather forecast confidence, and ways to organize and easily communicate forecasts to your staff and leaders.
Read MoreWhen approaching the delivery of local services, collaborating with an outside partner can be extremely helpful for local governments. Collaboration occurs when two or more organizations work together, sharing the costs and benefits of a project to address a need in a way that achieves efficiency and effectiveness that would not be realized by one organization operating alone. It can be difficult to determine when a project is ripe for collaboration. This session highlights a decision tool that is designed to fill this need. Working through this decision matrix will assist local leaders in determining whether the conditions are right for collaboration on a project and if so, what form of collaboration will help local governments best achieve their goals. The tool is in two parts. The first part helps communities determine whether or not a collaborative arrangement is a good idea for the delivery of a specific service. The second part helps those that want to pursue a collaborative arrangement (as determined by part one) choose among the types of collaborative arrangements.
Read MoreDelivering improvements to our communities through projects and maintaining the assets of our communities are at the core of what public works agencies do. Both represent the most significant long-term financial investment for any community. In this session experts will examine the relationships between projects and assets. The evolution of public works demands that both be forecasted and managed well. But what are the best, and most affordable, practices to explaining, managing, and modeling these? Does one drive the other? Is one more important? Are the necessary tools and skills the same? In small ways and big ways, public works agencies throughout the nation are answering these questions and more. This session dives into responses from five different high-performing agencies. Participants will hear from each and then discuss the best ways to learn, expand, and adapt from their approaches.
Read MorePeople love clarity. If you confuse, you lose. It’s all about surviving and thriving… and conserving calories. If you’re like most agencies and firms, you’re fed up with spending time and money on communications that don’t work. If you knew what to do differently, you would—but you don’t, and so you feel stuck. Meanwhile, your sales are lagging. Colleagues are confused. Your bottom line isn’t budging. And worst of all, you feel discouraged. Here’s the good news: It doesn’t have to be that way. In this talk, Everest Marketing Services President, Barbara Shuck—a StoryBrand Certified Guide—will share seven simple marketing principles proven to engage clients and prospects. Participants will walk away knowing how to capture their audience’s attention and compel them to respond. The presenter has spent her career developing communications that help clients stand out. Imagine submitting a proposal with a clear client-focused story about how your firm is the right fit for a project. Imagine a conversation where the other person leans into what you’re saying. Imagine a presentation that reflects your professionalism and expertise, where the audience or decision-makers are intrigued by your story… and your evaluation score reflects their interest! Imagine having something clever to say when someone asks you about your agency or business. With 25+ years working for design and construction firms, the presenter understands the frustration of not clearly communicating your differentiators and creating “why us” and “why not them” themes from the consultant’s side of the table. She regularly speaks with clients and understands how they, too, struggle with memos and meetings. And, because of almost four decades of experience in business, you can count on her to help you communicate clearly, both in writing and verbally. Attend this must-see session so you can learn 7 Steps to Communicate Clearly. Stop worrying about your communications, and get back to winning when you communicate.
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