2014-06-24_PWETC_Minutes - Laserfiche WebLink

Home

• Frozen water pipes: how to solve the problem before the coming winter; and Best Practices ideas from other communities or sources. • Alternative salt/ice control materials and cost impacts. At the request of Member Seigler, staff provided additional information on why the City was moving away from using salt and toward other materials to address stormwater runoff and negative impacts on water bodies, locally and in the broader area. Mr. Culver suggested part of that discussion and research could be how to use sodium chloride more effectively to provide safe driving situations for the public, especially at intersections, but how to use less of the material, or whether other chlorides would prove just as effective but have less of an environmental impact. Mr. Culver noted that there were other mixes to be researched that may have lower melting temperatures allowing less material to be used, along with beet juice and cheese brine as some of the materials being studied and experimented with. Mr. Culver advised that staff would research other items and report back to the PWETC to facilitate their discussion and subsequent recommendation to the City Council. In response to discussion among commissioners, staff noted that use of sand, while effective, also provided its own pollution concerns, requiring its eventual removal from bodies of water. It was the consensus of commissioners that public safety was a vital part of this discussion, in addition to cost, water quality and pollution issues; with staff noting that there also a limited amount of material available and also that they were permitted to use. Mr. Schwartz noted that some heating technology elements were currently being used in Europe to some extent and had proven effective. • Pavement Condition Index/Pavement Management Program (PMP) Goals. Chair Stenlund stated that he had been personally shocked at the joint meeting that any consideration was being given to reduce the current goals and funding, opining that it would only make it more difficult and take more money to get back to an acceptable level of service. Chair Stenlund suggested a more prudent approach would be to hold the current level of service by continuing a small investment now to avoid a major investment later. However, Chair Stenlund stated that his take away from the meeting was a charge by the City Council for the PWETC to research and make a recommendation on the impact and potential cost savings if the Index goals were dropped by 5%. At the request of Member Seigler, Mr. Schwartz reviewed the City Council's rationale in requesting that study based on the current reserves (e.g. interest earnings) in the PMP reducing annual projects and future planning needs as roads come up for reconstruction beyond normal maintenance. Page 6 of 18