Video

PWX 2019 Opening General Session: “Facing Homelessness” with Rex Hohlbein

Rex Hohlbein Founder and Creative Director, Facing Homelessness Facing Homelessness At the 2019 PWX, homelessness and its impact on public works services will be given special focus. To begin framing the discussion, Seattle native, Founder and Creative Director of Facing Homelessness, Rex Hohlbein, has accepted APWA’s invitation to bring his unique perspective and insight to PWX by putting a face on the homeless issue. Rex believes that “the power of humanizing homelessness is that it allows us to see the beauty of each person living on our streets, rather than being overwhelmed by the complexity of the issue.” This realization became evident when he began inviting folks living homeless into his architectural office for conversation. He shares that, “The negative stereotype against the homeless was not matching up to the beauty of those I was meeting.”  From those encounters Rex began the Facing Homelessness Facebook page, sharing black and white photos with the stories of the people he was meeting. What began as a photo-journal project on Facebook, Facing Homelessness now has more than 50,000 social media followers and has become a non-profit organization, powered by five staff and the compassion of community. In 2017, Rex and his daughter, Jenn LaFreniere, started the social justice architecture firm BLOCK Architects. They have designed the ‘Block Project’ which is managed by Facing Homelessness as a community building solution though which homeowners agree to put off-grid 125 square foot homes into residential backyards for those experiencing homelessness. Please join us for this inspiring keynote presentation that will you will remember for a long time.
 
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C4S Round Table: Establishing Circular Cities through the Evaluation of Technology, Planning for Sustainability, and a Solution Driven Society.

The APWA Center for Sustainability (C4S) presents a roundtable discussion on “Circular Cities,” a concept which is gathering momentum around the world. C4S will bring a panel of international partners…

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From Pump Station to City Resolution: Envision® Assists the City of Coral Gables Deliver Sustainable Water Infrastructure

The City of Coral Gables has embraced principles of sustainability at all levels of its government, including its many operational departments. While the City had enacted multiple successful initiatives, there…

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The Truth About Government Communication

The truth about communication is, it’s hard! However, with time, attention, and strategy, your public works department can excel in this area. Chattanooga Public Works will share their communication strategies…

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#ReddingStrong – City of Redding Water Utility’s Outstanding Response to the 2018 Carr Fire

The Carr Fire was a large wildfire that burned in the Shasta Trinity Counties in California from July 23, 2018 to August 30, 2018. In the City of Redding, eight…

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How Golf Course Hazards Can Reduce Neighborhood Flooding

An increase in frequency and intensity of storms since 2013 caused hundreds of north Everett homes to flood, resulting in millions in damage claims. To eliminate chronic basement flooding and…

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Robotic Remote Sensing – Capturing Reality & Delivering Solutions

Drones or Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) are having positive effects on the design and maintenance of public facilities and infrastructure. However, this is not the only robotic platform that can…

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How is a Weather Forecast Generated and Why is that Important to Me?

Winter operations decision-makers have to rely on weather data. When should the crews be called out? Which chemicals should be used for the type of expected snow and/or ice event?  What impacts the accuracy of a weather forecast? Not every weather model is created in the same way and each has strengths and weaknesses. Discover how a weather forecast is generated and what new technologies have been introduced in the last five years that will help in your decision-making.

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Safe and Sustainable Snowfighting: How Well Are You Doing?

Safe and sustainable winter operations is an excellent operational goal for any winter maintenance agency to pursue. But the problem is determining how far along the road to sustainability has come and where you can get the most bang for your sustainability buck. Join us to explore how you can measure the sustainability of your operations and what you can do to determine the best areas to focus on for the best outcomes.

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Three Case Studies for Highlighting the Benefits of GPS and Route Optimization

3:30 – 3:55 p.m. (20 minute presentation, 5 minutes for questions) GPS – Making a Difference in Local Government Franklin County, Ohio will discuss the value they’ve found in being able to obtain accurate, real-time data for all snow and ice vehicles, achieved cost savings by tracking materials, and have been “snow-cessful” in their move to a GPS solution. 3:55 – 4:20 p.m. (20 minute presentation, 5 minutes for questions) Dynamic Routing – Best Practices for Severe Weather Operations Enjoy this discussion of what new technology is available for white-out conditions and consider whether the reduction in costs is worth the capital investment for you snow fleet operation. 4:20 – 4:45 p.m. (20 minute presentation, 5 minutes for questions) Implementation of a Successful Snow Route Pilot Program In 2017/2018, the City of Regina, Saskatchewan, adopted a snow route pilot project for sections the roads that provided the most challenges to crews. They found that crews plowed 20 per cent faster, snow ridges were more consistent, and road width and travel lanes were less impacted. Find out how they did it and their plans for the future. 

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