TO:
Honorable Mayor and Members of the City Council
THROUGH:
David N. Carmany, City Manager
FROM:
Tony Olmos, Director of Public Works
Juan Price, Maintenance Superintendent
SUBJECT:Title
Report On Current Maintenance Practices In Downtown Streetscape.
RECEIVE AND FILE
Line
_________________________________________________________
Recommended Action
RECOMMENDATION:
Receive and File
Body
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:
No Fiscal Implications at This Time
BACKGROUND:
The Downtown Streetscape is the City's original downtown. Streetscape lies almost entirely within Lighting and Landscape Assessment District 1. Streetscape includes matching traffic signals, sidewalks, crosswalks, street improvements and landscaping.
A primary design element unique to Streetscape includes the use of specialty tile on sidewalks and crosswalks. The specialty tile is made primarily of reconstituted granitic materials. The material was chosen in part for its high density and high compressive strength.
To maintain a high level of maintenance for the Downtown Streetscape area, powerwashing and street sweeping were programmed at enhanced frequencies.
DISCUSSION:
Due to the desire to maintain the Downtown Streetscape at a high level, the original method employed to clean the tiled sidewalks was a self-propelled scrubber. The scrubber employed a spray device, rotary brushes, squeegee and a water recovery vacuum. The device was effective, however, the complex mechanisms and resultant breakdowns coupled with the weight of the machine and subsequent tile damage proved problematic. A decision was made to employ standard high pressure powerwashing equipment in the early 1990's and continues to be the method of choice.
Beginning in January 2013, powerwashing duties were shifted to Cleanstreet, Inc. due to the proximity of the Downtown Streetscape and availability of contract staff and equipment. Cleanstreet has been performing powerwashing, landscaping and cust...
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