10-08-08 Council Agenda - Laserfiche WebLink

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ATTACHMENT 6 ~~ E . s s__ ~~~~ Z°ana~a 515 i.tttle Canada Road, Little Canada, MN 55 1 17-1600 (651) 766-4029 / CAX: (651) 766-4048 www. ct.little-Canada, inn. us MCMO1tANDUM TO: Mayor Blesener & Members of City Council FROM: Sill Dircks, Public Works Superintendent DAT7/: October 2, 2008 R>;: Street Sweeper /Pre-wetting Technology Mnrorz not nlo~s<encr COUNCrr, Rlcl< Montois 6°rbm~a Alla^ John Keis Micharl McGraw ADMWfS1'12ATOR Jocl R, Plansou As part of the Savage Lake study a couple of public works improvements were discussed to aid in improving water qua]ity around the lake as well as city-wide. Those two improvements were adding a stl'eet sweeper and improving our de-icing practices through the use ofpre-wetting technologies. I will discuss what staff has ]earned through initial research on both of these topics. Street Sweeper: The current city practice for sweeping streets is to sweep the entire city as soon as possible after the snow melts from the curb lines. This is a crucial time to sweep in order to pick up as much dirt, sand, and other debris as possible before the heavy spring rains can wash it into the storm sewer system. The cost of this full city sweep has decreased from $10,051 in 2006 to $7920 over the last three years due in large part to the city's decision to gradually switch to 100% salt in de-icing operations. The increased attention to water quality has shown that the City should be sweeping more than just once a year. Over the summer, the curb lines continue to build up with debris and leaves. Then in the fall the streets are packed with leaves in some mature areas. The issue of a fall sweep has been discussed in the past but timing it has always been the sticking point. If you get quotes and authorize the sweep to early you will not get good value for the money spent, but if you try to wait as long as possib]e and it snows you are stuck with not having swept. In these situations the City is at the mercy of the contractor hired, to some extent, due to the contractor's schedule. Another issue is what is being picked up when the City is swept in the spring. The dirt and debris that can be seen by the naked eye is definitely being picked up but the mechanical sweepers that the contractors typically use are not necessarily picking up the fine material. The Watershed District and other agencies have shown that the fine material carries many of the pollutants that have a negative impact on water quality. 25