public works commission regular meeting city of berkeley ......nisha patel, public works - manager...

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Public Works Commission Regular Meeting City of Berkeley PUBLIC WORKS COMMISSION Thursday, October 3, 2019 at 7:00 p.m. Corporation Yard, 1326 Allston Way, Berkeley, CA Willow Room MEETING AGENDA 7:00 pm CALL TO ORDER: Chair will call the meeting to order; Secretary will call roll. 7:05 pm PUBLIC COMMENT: Each speaker is limited to three (3) minutes. 7:15 pm APPROVAL OF MINUTES: Regular Meeting of September 5, 2019 * 7:20 pm CHAIR REPORT: 7:25 pm STAFF REPORT: 7:30 pm ACTION ITEMS: (Matters for discussion and possible action) 1. Measure T1 planning for the Phase 2 outreach, criteria and phasing ** 2. Nominations and vote for Commission vice chairperson 3. Review assignments for Commission sub-committees * 4. Updates on Adopt-a-Spot referral * 5. Updates on 50/50 sidewalk program * 8:30 pm INFORMATION ITEMS: (Action may be taken on any information item at this meeting if a majority of Commissioners votes to move it to an action item. This vote may take place at or before the time the item is scheduled to come up). 1. Standing Information Item: Subcommittee Reports ** Street paving, Ray Yep, John Hitchen T1 implementation, Jim McGrath Utility undergrounding, Ray Yep, Sachu Constantine Watershed management and sanitary sewers, John Hitchen Street lighting, Matt Freiberg 2. Upcoming City Community Meetings 8:50 pm FUTURE AGENDAS: 9:00 pm ADJOURNMENT

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Page 1: Public Works Commission Regular Meeting City of Berkeley ......Nisha Patel, Public Works - Manager of Engineering Public Works Department/Engineering Division, 1947 Center Street,

Public Works Commission

Regular Meeting City of Berkeley

PUBLIC WORKS COMMISSION

Thursday, October 3, 2019 at 7:00 p.m. Corporation Yard, 1326 Allston Way, Berkeley, CA

Willow Room

MEETING AGENDA

7:00 pm CALL TO ORDER: Chair will call the meeting to order; Secretary will call roll.

7:05 pm PUBLIC COMMENT: Each speaker is limited to three (3) minutes.

7:15 pm APPROVAL OF MINUTES: Regular Meeting of September 5, 2019 *

7:20 pm CHAIR REPORT:

7:25 pm STAFF REPORT:

7:30 pm ACTION ITEMS: (Matters for discussion and possible action)

1. Measure T1 planning for the Phase 2 outreach, criteria and phasing **

2. Nominations and vote for Commission vice chairperson

3. Review assignments for Commission sub-committees *

4. Updates on Adopt-a-Spot referral *

5. Updates on 50/50 sidewalk program *

8:30 pm INFORMATION ITEMS: (Action may be taken on any information item at this

meeting if a majority of Commissioners votes to move it to an action item. This vote

may take place at or before the time the item is scheduled to come up).

1. Standing Information Item: Subcommittee Reports **

Street paving, Ray Yep, John Hitchen

T1 implementation, Jim McGrath

Utility undergrounding, Ray Yep, Sachu Constantine

Watershed management and sanitary sewers, John Hitchen

Street lighting, Matt Freiberg

2. Upcoming City Community Meetings

8:50 pm FUTURE AGENDAS:

9:00 pm ADJOURNMENT

Page 2: Public Works Commission Regular Meeting City of Berkeley ......Nisha Patel, Public Works - Manager of Engineering Public Works Department/Engineering Division, 1947 Center Street,

* Indicates written material included in packet. ** Indicates material to be delivered at meeting.

A complete agenda packet is available for public review at the Engineering Division front desk.

ADA Disclaimer: This meeting is being held in a wheelchair accessible location. To request a disability-related accommodation(s) to participate in the meeting, including auxiliary aids or services, please contact the Disability Services specialist at 981-6418 (V) or 981-6347 (TDD) at least three business days before the meeting date. Please refrain from wearing scented products to this meeting.

SB 343 Disclaimer: Any writings or documents provided to a majority of the Commission regarding any item on this agenda will be made

available for public inspection at the Public Works Department located at the address below.

Communications Disclaimer: Communications to Berkeley boards, commissions or committees are public record and will become part of the City’s

website. Please note: e-mail addresses, names, addresses, and other contact information are not required, but if included

in any communication to a City board, commission or committee, will become part of the public record. If you do not

want your e-mail address or any other contact information to be made public, you may deliver communications via U.S.

Postal Service or in person to the Secretary of the relevant board, commission or committee. If you do not want your

contact information included in the public record, please do not include that information in your communication. Please

the contact the Secretary of the relevant board, commission or committee for further information.

Commission Secretary:

Nisha Patel, Public Works - Manager of Engineering

Public Works Department/Engineering Division, 1947 Center Street, 4th Floor, Berkeley, CA, 94704

Telephone (510) 981-6406

TDD: (510) 981-6347, Email: [email protected]

Page 3: Public Works Commission Regular Meeting City of Berkeley ......Nisha Patel, Public Works - Manager of Engineering Public Works Department/Engineering Division, 1947 Center Street,

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DRAFT

Public Works Commission

Regular Meeting

PUBLIC WORKS COMMISSION Action Minutes

Thursday, September 5, 2019 Willow Room, Corporation Yard, 1326 Allston Way, Berkeley, CA

CALL TO ORDER: 7:01 PM Present: Ray Yep, Nic Dominguez, Shane Krpata, Margo Schueler, John Hitchen, Sachu Constantine, Jim

McGrath, and Jackie Erbe. Absent: Matt Freiberg, excused Staff: Nisha Patel, Joe Enke PUBLIC COMMENT:

1. James Chang – James provided a list of streets in South Berkeley that needs repaving. 2. Susan Schwartz – Susan said that lower Codornices Creek is in good condition. Maintenance is being

done and lots of volunteers are helping. Fish and Wildlife are checking the amount of fish in the creek.

3. Bryce Nesbitt – Bryce suggested placing extra empty conduits with street construction projects. APPROVAL OF MINUTES: Margo Schueler requested that “diversity” be changed to “equity” on page 2, item C, first bullet. Minutes for the July 11, 2019 meeting were approved as amended (McGrath/Constantine 8/0/0/ 1, abstain: none, absent: Freiberg) CHAIR REPORT: Ray Yep reported on the following:

1. The commissioners enjoyed our social get together in August. 2. Nic Dominguez is moving to Sacramento. This is his last commission meeting and we thanked him

for his service. 3. On Tuesday, September 10, the Council will have agenda items on paving revenue and the GI plan.

STAFF REPORT:

1. Nisha Patel added comments on the Council agenda items on September 10th.

ACTION ITEMS: 1. Audit on streets – Jenny Wong, Claudette Biemeret, and Erin Mullin described an audit of the

streets program that they are starting. Erin said they are in the scoping phase and have talked with many people. They know that it is a complex issue. Comments from the commissioners included:

Sachu – consider street materials.

Jackie – don’t use bond funding for short lived materials, such as asphalt.

Jim – the commission has highlighted the need for additional street paving funding. There should be reporting on actual expenditures.

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Shane – we should comply with ADA requirements.

John – more funding is need for streets.

Nic – the auditors should review the commission’s reports on the 5-year paving plan, the prioritization process, and the fluctuation of construction costs.

Margo – need to define equity.

Ray – Berkeley needs comprehensive planning for our streets. The auditors should read the commission’s 2017, 2018, and 2019 paving reports to Council.

2. Adopt a Spot program – Nic Dominguez reported that the watershed sub-committee met and

discussed the potential Adopt a Spot program. Berkeley has an Adopt a Drain program and Oakland has a Adopt a Spot program. Berkeley citizens have volunteered to work on city parks, traffic circles, etc. It was generally concluded that a program would need a leader and some level of coordination. Jim said this referral needs quite a bit of further discussion before a recommendation can be made to the Council.

3. Nomination of vice-chair – Ray Yep nominated Matt Freiberg to be the next vice chair of the Public Works Commission. There were no other nominations. We will hold over the nominations and will vote at the October commission meeting.

4. Sidewalk program – Nisha Patel handed out a memo from Ryan Murray that answered questions from John Hitchen about our sidewalk program. John will meet with Ryan for further clarifications.

INFORMATION ITEMS:

1. The commission reviewed and discussed the letter from Ben Gerhardstein. 2. Standing Information Item: Subcommittee Reports

Street paving – Ray Yep provided a handout on activities with street paving. He mentioned that staff is preparing a companion report to the commission’s report to Council.

T1 implementation – Jim McGrath reported that the program is working on developing a public input process for Phase 2. A sub-committee meeting will be held on September 16.

Utility undergrounding – Ray Yep provided a handout of activities on undergrounding. He mentioned that the sub-committee is preparing a progress report to Council.

Watershed management – Covered in earlier agenda item.

Street lighting – No report. FUTURE AGENDAS: Items for the September commission meeting.

1. Continue nominations and vote on a vice chair. 2. Adopt a Spot program 3. Measure T1 phase 2 progress 4. Sidewalk program

Motion to ADJOURN - (Dominguez/Krpata 6/0/0/0 abstain: none; absent: Freiberg; Constantine and Schueler left early) 9:45 pm.

Commission Secretary:

Nisha Patel, Public Works - Manager of Engineering/ City Engineer

Public Works Department/Engineering Division, 1947 Center Street, 4th Floor,

Berkeley, CA, 94704, Telephone (510) 981-6406, Fax: (510) 981-7060

TDD: (510) 981-6400, Email: [email protected]

Page 5: Public Works Commission Regular Meeting City of Berkeley ......Nisha Patel, Public Works - Manager of Engineering Public Works Department/Engineering Division, 1947 Center Street,

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Berkeley Public Works Commission – FY 2020 Work Plan Mission: The PWC advises the Council on maintenance, repair, and capital improvements of streets, sidewalks, sanitary sewers, storm drains, City buildings, communications systems, vehicles, and undergrounding of utilities.

Activity Resources Outputs Outcome objective Goals Schedule Subcommittee Street Paving Staff time to update

5-year paving plan, prepare final Measure M report, work on LCCA, and support long term paving plan development.

1. Updated 5 year paving plan 2. Consult with the Transportation

Commission on the Plan 3. Provide lifecycle analysis and the Bike

Plan overlay analysis 4. Consider two-year bid process 5. Annual report to Council on Measure

M projects 6. Report to Council on the funding

sources for scheduled and completed paving projects

7. Criteria for selecting permeable pavement demo project(s)

8. Approach to preparing a long term paving plan

9. Update paving policy

Better understanding of long lasting technologies, the applicability of LCCA to select technologies, and the funding needed to bring Berkeley’s street to an average “good” level (PCI 70 – 79).

Bring Berkeley’s streets to an average “good” level

Prepare an annual schedule with staff to prepare the outputs. Target to present the 5-year paving plan to Council in the fall.

Co-chairs – Ray Yep, John Hitchen Matt Freiberg, Jackie Erbe, Alt. - Sachu Constantine

T-1 Bond Program Implementation

Hold quarterly meetings with the T1 team.

1. Review semi-annual reports to Council 2. Provide Phase 1 oversight 3. Plan the approach to Phase 2 project

identification

Transparency and accountability of the Phase 1 work and build community support for Phase 2.

Improved city infrastructure

12 months Chair – Jim McGrath Ray Yep, Shane Krpata, Matt Freiberg, Alt – Margo Schueler

Utility Undergrounding

$200k for consultant services for Phase 3 work.

1. Delivery of Phase 3 recommendations Selection of major streets to be undergrounded and development of a financing plan.

Improved public safety and power reliability; building a more resilient city.

12 months Co-chairs – Ray Yep, Sachu Constantine Nic Dominguez, Shane Krpata

Page 6: Public Works Commission Regular Meeting City of Berkeley ......Nisha Patel, Public Works - Manager of Engineering Public Works Department/Engineering Division, 1947 Center Street,

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Activity Resources Outputs Outcome objective Goals Schedule Subcommittee Watershed Management and Sanitary Sewers

Staff updates 1. Provide oversight to sanitary sewer progress

2. Provide comments on the maintenance of Codornices Creek

3. Provide comments on the use of foam near creeks, and the protection of fish in City creeks

Provide oversight of the progress of sanitary sewer projects and programs required under the EPA Consent Decree.

Improved water quality to the Bay and condition of the City sanitary sewer system.

12 months Chair – Nic Dominguez Jim McGrath, John Hitchen, Margo Schueler

Sidewalks, Street Lighting, and Street Sweeping

Staff updates 1. Review Staff’s update of the sidewalk program

2. Monitor street lighting needs 3. Develop a process for neighborhoods

to opt in/out of street sweeping

Coordinate and update the programs on sidewalks, street lighting, and street sweeping.

Improved public engagement

TBD Chair- Matt Freiberg Margo Schueler, and Shane Krpata

Page 7: Public Works Commission Regular Meeting City of Berkeley ......Nisha Patel, Public Works - Manager of Engineering Public Works Department/Engineering Division, 1947 Center Street,

Lori DrosteCouncilmember, District 8

Consent CalendarApril 2, 2019

To: Honorable Mayor and Members of City Council

From: Councilmember Lori Droste and Councilmember Rashi Kesarwani

Subject: Adopt a Spot Initiative

RecommendationRefer to the Public Works Commission and Parks and Waterfront Commission to develop an Adopt A Spot initiative; specifically outlining potential environmental benefits, program costs, staffing.

Rationale:● Adopt a Spot programs enable a network of volunteer residents to assist in city

maintenance and clean up efforts which have great impact using minimal City staff/funding.

● Vision 2050 will include stormwater and watershed management goals, both of which this program would support.

BackgroundThe City of Berkeley currently maintains an Adopt A Drain program. An Adopt A Spot program would utilize volunteers to assist with activities including, but not limited to, storm drain maintenance, street beautification, trash cleanup, gardening initiatives, etc.

The City of Oakland Adopt a Spot Program

The City of Oakland coordinates hundreds of volunteers to clean, green, maintain, and beautify public spaces (such as parks, libraries, creeks) and infrastructure (such as signs, storm drains, litter containers, utility boxes and poles, street tree wells, and

Page 1 of 3

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Page 8: Public Works Commission Regular Meeting City of Berkeley ......Nisha Patel, Public Works - Manager of Engineering Public Works Department/Engineering Division, 1947 Center Street,

trees). Managed by the Environmental Stewardship Team within the Oakland Public Works Department, this volunteer program has been active throughout the city for over thirty years. The volunteer program supports community cleanups throughout the year, annual city-wide cleanups for Earth Day, Creek to Bay Day, MLK Day of Service, and “Adopt a Spot,” an ongoing volunteer stewardship program that includes a growing list of over 2,000 Oakland “spots.”

Volunteers contribute over 100,000 hours each year, contributing to a wide range of environmental sustainability impacts such as pollution cleanup and prevention; wildlife habitat protection, enhancement, and restoration; and stormwater management. Volunteerism also strengthens communities by connecting people to each other, to their neighborhoods, and to their environment. These benefits enhance Oakland’s economy, safety, and livability, The City of Oakland Public Works’ Adopt a Drain program supports volunteer efforts to keep storm drain inlets clean and clear of trash and debris. Clear and clean inlets keep water flowing and ensure “only rain down the drain,” which is especially helpful during storm events when blocked storm drains can back up and cause flooding. Year-round storm drain maintenance helps intercept trash before it enters the storm drains and connecting creeks and water bodies.

The City of Oakland provides support for Adopt a Drain volunteers through instruction, tools and supplies, assistance with debris pickups, and notification of impending storm events.

Over 1,000 of Oakland’s approximately 12,000 storm drains have been adopted. The more than 800 Adopt a Drain volunteers greatly supplement the capacity of the twenty City staff servicing the storm drain system, with its more than 1,200 storm drains, 370 miles of drain pipe, seven pump stations and 40 miles of creeks. Volunteers can quickly and preemptively provide basic maintenance on drains and can have a far more extensive and immediate reach across the city than staff during storm and flooding emergencies.

Oakland uses a map interface at www.AdoptaDrainOakland.com for depicting the City’s storm drain inlets to the public for possible adoption. This easy to use interface has helped spur new volunteer registrations. Social media, word-of-mouth, and timely news coverage prior to and during storm events has also contributed to volunteer registrations. More information is available at www.oaklandadoptaspot.org.

Environmental Sustainability

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Page 9: Public Works Commission Regular Meeting City of Berkeley ......Nisha Patel, Public Works - Manager of Engineering Public Works Department/Engineering Division, 1947 Center Street,

Helps Berkeley fulfill Watershed and Stormwater Management Plan goals.

Financial ImplicationsStaff time to coordinate volunteers and provide technical assistance.

ContactCouncilmember Lori Droste 510-981-7180

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Page 10: Public Works Commission Regular Meeting City of Berkeley ......Nisha Patel, Public Works - Manager of Engineering Public Works Department/Engineering Division, 1947 Center Street,

Department of Public Works

Adopt-a-Drain Program

Why Clean Storm Drains?

Clean Storm Drains prevent flooding, improve traffic flow, and maintain pedestrian access,

especially for children and the elderly.

Clean Storm Drains improve the water quality of the Bay.

The City relies on Volunteers to help keep our Storm Drains clear.

Berkeley Students Partner with the City to Clean Storm Drains

To Adopt a Drain Please: Sign and submit a Liability Release form, (see below,) and

submit your signed form to:

Jaime Valencia

Public Works Streets & Utilities

1326 Allston Way, Building C

Berkeley, CA 94702

Ph: 510-981-6669 Email: [email protected]

You may submit your signed Release Form in person or by mail to the address above or by

email to: [email protected].

City staff will contact you regarding orientation and training, and to provide you with an

Adopt-a-Drain "Start Up Kit."

Download release form (.pdf format) .

Documents in .pdf format require Acrobat Reader for viewing. Download a free copy from Adobe's website

OR call (510) 981-6620 to have a copy mailed to you.

Page 1 of 3Adopt-a-Drain Program - City of Berkeley, CA

8/29/2019https://www.cityofberkeley.info/Public_Works/Sewers_-_Storm/Adopt-a-Drain_Program....

Page 11: Public Works Commission Regular Meeting City of Berkeley ......Nisha Patel, Public Works - Manager of Engineering Public Works Department/Engineering Division, 1947 Center Street,

.

Recommended Materials for Maintaining Storm Drains:

• Gloves

• Rake and/or Scoop

• Trash Bags

• Safety Vest

Please follow these instructions and safety tips before cleaning your

drain 

DO Check and clear the Drain periodically and especially before a storm.

DO NOT remove the grate from the storm drain opening as this does not unclog the

system and will instead create a hazard for everyone.

DO Use a rake to remove leaves, trash, and debris from the storm drain opening and

gutter.

DO Place the material removed into the Trash Bags provided- DO NOT leave it piled up

near the drain.

DO Place the filled Trash Bags at the curb for Pick Up taking care not to block wheelchair

ramps, crosswalks, driveways, or sidewalk passage. Use caution when lifting heavy bags.

DO Call (510) 981-6620 for Trash Bag Pickup or to request more Bags.

DO Wear your the Safety Vest provided or brightly colored clothing so that you are visible

to vehicle traffic. Work from the curb or sidewalk if possible.

DO NOT Touch or attempt to remove hazardous materials such as syringes.

TO Report hazardous materials Call: (510) 981-6620.

TO Report a dead animal in the drain Call: (510) 981-6600.

FOR Questions, Problems, or More Information about the Adopt-a-Drain Program Call:

(510) 981-6620 Monday - Friday 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

Page 2 of 3Adopt-a-Drain Program - City of Berkeley, CA

8/29/2019https://www.cityofberkeley.info/Public_Works/Sewers_-_Storm/Adopt-a-Drain_Program....

Page 12: Public Works Commission Regular Meeting City of Berkeley ......Nisha Patel, Public Works - Manager of Engineering Public Works Department/Engineering Division, 1947 Center Street,

Home | Web Policy | Text-Only Site Map | Contact Us

Department of Public Works, 2180 Milvia Street, Berkeley, CA 94704

Questions or comments? Email: [email protected] Phone: (510) 981-6300

(510) 981-CITY/2489 or 311 from any landline in Berkeley

TTY: (510) 981-6903

Page 3 of 3Adopt-a-Drain Program - City of Berkeley, CA

8/29/2019https://www.cityofberkeley.info/Public_Works/Sewers_-_Storm/Adopt-a-Drain_Program....

Page 13: Public Works Commission Regular Meeting City of Berkeley ......Nisha Patel, Public Works - Manager of Engineering Public Works Department/Engineering Division, 1947 Center Street,

PROPOSED RESPONSE TO INQUIRIES FROM COMMISSIONER JOHN HITCHENS AND SIDEWALK

PROGRAM STATUS UPDATE TO THE PUBLIC WORKS COMMISSION

August 15, 2019

TO: Nisha Patel, Engineering Manager

FROM: Ryan P. Murray, Sidewalk Program Coordinator

SUBJECT: Response to Commissioners Regarding the Overall Status of the City of Berkeley’s 50/50

Sidewalk Program

Specific concern from John Hitchens regarding the 700-800 block of San Luis:

o The 700-800 block of San Luis Rd lies a very complex set of challenges. First and

foremost, would be the order in which these sidewalk complaints arrived. The City is

attempting to address the damaged sidewalks based on when the call for repairs came

in. While the City takes every hazardous sidewalk condition seriously, the low pedestrian

volume nature of this block with the propensity for cars to park on the sidewalk, as well

as attempting to address the backlog in chronological order for the sake of equity, are

among some of the reasons why this block has yet to be addressed. Another reality, is

that the condition of many of these uplifts (predominantly due to the Camphor trees),

will require much more staff time and labor from Forestry. In many of the cases, these

trees may need to be removed. It has been recommended that this block be addressed

through a more comprehensive approach, such as in the inclusion of an upcoming

Capital Project that will have more of the necessary resources to address the multitude

of needs this particular block requires.

John Hitchens’s General Request for Status Update on Program:

o Commission report bullets (from Tracy Clay’s 2017 report) and Sidewalk Program

Coordinator italicized responses follow:

Commission Recommendation - Coordination with Pedestrian Plan, Bike Plan and Street Repair

Programs: As the sidewalk program is implemented, sidewalk repairs should be coordinated

with pedestrian improvements recommended in the pedestrian plan, street improvements

recommended in the bicycle plan, and on-going street repairs where such coordination will

accelerate and optimize repairs.

o All Capital Projects occurring in the Calendar Year of 2019 have included comprehensive

sidewalk improvements as a part of their scope, design, and construction. Not only do

these projects address tripping hazards in the sidewalk, but also ADA curb ramps,

driveways aprons (in specific cases), curbs, and gutters. Operating the 50/50 program in

conjunction with Capital Projects occurring in CY2019, will yield at least 498 individual

properties that have received a sidewalk repair, many of which have more than one area

of repair. This figure does not include the concrete infrastructure improvements that are

conducted that fall outside of the 50/50 program, but are still addressed as part of a

more comprehensive approach to these projects.

Page 14: Public Works Commission Regular Meeting City of Berkeley ......Nisha Patel, Public Works - Manager of Engineering Public Works Department/Engineering Division, 1947 Center Street,

50/50 Sidewalk Program Status Update August 15, 2019 Page | 2

Commission Recommendation - Street Trees: The city should retain responsibility for street

trees, and by extension, their damage to the sidewalks and associated costs for street tree

removal. Note that the city should not be responsible for damages caused by trees originating

on private property. If property owners were required to assume the maintenance of street

trees, many would not support a robust street trees program so as to limit their costs. If

necessary, the City should create a list or brief design guidelines that provide property owners

and developers a guide for which trees will cause the least damage to sidewalks and meet the

design principles for that location.

o Per the guidelines for the 50/50 program adopted in 2011, Property Owners (PO) are still

50% responsible for sidewalk uplifts that are caused by street trees. Under those

guidelines, if the same street tree causes another uplift within 10 years of the original

repair, then the City is responsible for 100% of the cost of repairs. If the uplift occurs

again a third time, the City must repair it again (at no cost to the PO) and the PO can

then request the street tree be removed. As of August 2019, we have launched a GIS

layer that will interface directly with field inspections, so that the City may more

effectively track and respond to the repeated claims of street tree damage to the

sidewalk within the 10 year window. We are also working on possible policy changes

that will embolden the Forestry Division to take more ownership of much of the root

cause of the sidewalk uplift issue, in an attempt to mitigate the future cost to the City

when returning to make these repairs every 5-10 years. To my knowledge, the Forestry

division does have a list of “acceptable” trees that meet the design needs of a more

urban environment and actively works with residents on tree care maintenance.

Commission Recommendation - Additional Dedicated Funding: The city uses a mix of funding

sources, including some general fund sources and additional funds dedicated to street repair,

for sidewalk repair. With the passage of Measure BB and the new additional state gas tax

funding, the city should increase its funding allocation of sidewalk repair. The city should

establish a firm policy that dedicates a percentage of the street repair funds to the city’s share

of sidewalk maintenance.

o The City has recognized the need to address this backlog of repairs and has allocated

dedicated staff and has secured an additional $500K in funding for FY20 and FY21

(totaling $1M) and has identified other potential funding sources over the course of the

5-Year CIP 50/50 Sidewalk Program. This includes future T1 funding, along with a host of

other funding sources to help make this program more effective. The Public Works Dept.

has also raised the unit rate pricing to current market rate to match actual costs involved

with repairs-- a necessary change that hadn’t occurred since program adoption in 2011. .

o These unit rates are now scheduled to be updated yearly. This will help the City strive

towards its adopted goal of providing “…an efficient and financially-healthy City

government.” This enables the City to stay at par with rising construction and labor costs

and enables a sustainable and fiscally responsible Sidewalk Program.

o

Commission Recommendation - Proactive Approach: The City should proactively inspect and

program sidewalk repairs before the sidewalk becomes unsafe. The city should develop and

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50/50 Sidewalk Program Status Update August 15, 2019 Page | 3

then execute a pro-active 15-year Sidewalk Inspection and Response Program (see the City of

San Mateo’s program details below). Every year, at least 7% of the City sidewalks should be

inspected and then bundled and contracted for repairs as necessary. If sidewalk damage is so

great that the sidewalk impassable then repair will be prioritized and conducted by the Public

Works Department.

o The City is actively taking many steps in this regard. Firstly, the Engineering Division is

issuing and RFP for a concrete shaving contractor. This is a highly cost and time effective

approach to reducing the City’s overall liability. The shaving contractor, as a part of its

scope, will be inspecting and assessing the backlog of 50/50 repairs, shaving what can

be shaved, and quantifying the remainder of what cannot be addressed through shaving.

The quantified remainder, can then be bundled and competitively bid as the FY19/20

Sidewalk Repair Project (and the years following). So far, this will prove to be the best

mechanism the City has in reducing prior Supervising Civil Engineer Don Irby’s proposed

wait list of “10 years” for the existing 50/50 Program’s backlog.

o Secondly, the City in the coming weeks will be implementing the beginning stages of its

ADA Transition Plan, through the Disability Access Consultants (DAC). These consultants

will be inspecting ALL 300 miles of sidewalk in the City, and will be collecting

comprehensive datasets regarding the “as-is” condition of all sidewalks, curb ramps,

pedestrian crossings, and other infrastructure that constitutes a tripping hazard or

accessibility issue. There will be many benefits to the DAC’s efforts, but in relation to the

Commission’s recommendation specifically, is that the City will then have a

comprehensive database that will enable Staff to prioritize repairs in the most efficient

and effective manner.

o Finally, City Staff has just launched an internal GIS layer that will aid inspectors in field

data collection. This proactive approach will allow inspectors to update in real-time

actual field conditions. This greatly helps PW Operations/Construction crews prioritize

repairs that are not being addressed through larger Capital Projects. This technology

makes navigating the backlog more streamlined and effective, maximizing the amount

of jobs the City’s crews are able to address.

o All of these proactive approaches are being coordinated together, so that all collected

datasets can be shared across all platforms, and will allow Staff to address needed

repairs in the most cost effective and priority driven manner.

Commission Recommendation - Immediate “Sidewalk Repair Blitz” to Address Repair Backlog:

The City would then contract for a “sidewalk repair blitz” through a competitive-bidding process

and hire a qualified contractor to bundle all pending repairs together to obtain economies of

scale and a lower cost per repair.

o This is currently being conducted through all of the City’s Streets Capital Projects, but

most specifically the FY17/18 Sidewalk Repair Project, which addresses the pending

concrete repairs exclusively. This project recurs each fiscal year.

Commission Recommendation - Sidewalk Obstruction: Obstruction of sidewalks should be

assessed during the proactive inspection of sidewalk condition and addressed through

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50/50 Sidewalk Program Status Update August 15, 2019 Page | 4

notification to the property owner as outlined in the law. Horizontal and vertical clearances

based on ADA requirements should be the basis for determining the level of obstruction.

o Correct. This is being addressed through the DAC’s ADA Transition report and will create

the foundation of this dataset for all proactive inspections moving forward.

Commission Recommendation - Public Education of Policy: If substantial changes to the

sidewalk maintenance policy shifts responsibility of maintenance then a proper public noticing

process should take place to inform the public of such a change.

o Most Certainly.