1	Department of Public Works 2005 Annual Report Terry Hagen Director of Public Works City Engineer
2	Introduction Two major indicators of El Centro’s growth during 2005 were the opening of the Imperial Valley Mall and the permitting of an additional 473 single family dwellings. At the Mall, Public Works staff inspected construction of off-site improvements and roadways, completed the traffic management plan, and predicted the necessary traffic controls for opening day. The Department will continue working with Police on interim traffic controls to improve access to the Mall on specific holidays, relieve congestion, and encourage traffic safety. Obviously, the City’s growth will continue. Two premises guided Public Works projects in 2005 to support that development: (1) Laying the foundation through planning for future expansion and service within the City and (2) building utilities and supporting facilities to provide services for existing and future residents with available funding. To accommodate residents who are making minor improvements to their homes, the Building and Safety Division implemented a “Fast Track” Permitting process. In planning for future expansion, Retention Basin Standards were developed to eliminate the barren dust bowls that occurred within past housing developments. These minimum acceptable standards for the design and construction of retention basins define the responsibility of the developer in the layout, construction and maintenance financing (LLMD) of these public improvements. These standards also established design procedures for review and approval of retention basin plans. Public Works staff also prepared the RFP for the Parks Master Plan, which included new comprehensive requirements for Quimby Fees and the Land Use Element (related to parks) within the General Plan. The RFP was presented to Council on October 4, 2005; then turned over to Planning. Staff prepared the RFP for the comprehensive update to the City’s Subdivision Ordinance, which is currently in process. A Special Events Policy was developed to provide a uniform procedure for processing requests for public and private events, which include Community Events, Private Block Parties and Promotional Events. Ordinances were written to authorize the City Engineer to determine the placement of crosswalks and to prevent large trucks on Danenberg Drive.
3	Introduction Expansion of City facilities and services was marked with the selection of Seventh and State Streets as the future site of the Transfer Terminal which will provide transit services throughout the City to major in-demand locations such as the IV Medical Center and Social Security. Steps were begun to close the Firing Range and Equestrian Center so that the property will be available for the expansion of other City services. The additional Senior Engineer and two engineering technicians hired in 2005, in conjunction with existing staff, completed in-house designs for improvements at Stark Field, Debbie Pittman, Orange Ave. Dogwood Ave. & Main St., CDBG and Article 3 sidewalk repairs. Analysis of the City Streets in 2004 pointed out that the annual budget necessary to properly maintain all of the City streets would be $4 million. Since this level of funding could not be met, Public Works proposed cost effective maintenance projects such as the Asphalt Rubberized Aggregate Membrane (ARAM), project to maintain streets with failed pavement sections, which would typically be reconstructed at double the cost. The Streets Division also purchased a Dura Patcher for improved pothole repairs. This new equipment cleans and blow dries the hole, dispenses a tack coat of hot asphalt emulsion, then dispenses a hot pot hole filler material (pea gravel and asphalt emulsion mix that sets-up-hard upon cooling) that out lasts cold mix twice as long. The automated equipment eliminates shoveling cold mix which reduces staff fatigue. Additionally, the award of the contract to develop a Pavement Management System will assist the City in making informed and timely decisions about pavement maintenance activities. Ultimately, the Pavement Management System will improve the efficiency of the decision-making process, facilitate coordination of pavement maintenance activities and provide feedback on the consequences of decisions. The Centinela Prison contract for a Community Service Work Crew provided additional manpower on road projects and alley cleanups.
4	Introduction Engineering staff completed stop sign / traffic signal warrant studies at 8th & Wensley, and 12th & El Dorado. Another traffic study on Barbara Worth between La Brucherie and Imperial provided intersection improvements at both ends of this street segment. Additional traffic counts were completed for the Circulation element. The design and award of the contract for the rebuilding and improvement of the Water Plant Filters was completed. The increased plant flow capacity will meet future development demands until the new plant, which is currently being designed, is built and comes on line in 2008. A Water and Wastewater Rate analysis was performed, then rates and connection fees were updated to allow for bond funding of future maintenance and expansion of these utility systems. Next year will be challenging to the Public Work’s staff due to the number of Capital Improvement Projects (Street, Water, and Wastewater) that are starting, along with the processing of numerous development projects. This is an exciting time for everyone within the PW Department.
5	Public Works Department Supervisors Bob Williams, Building Official Building and Safety Alfredo Guzman, Maintenance Supervisor Facility Maintenance Carl Fowler, Maintenance Supervisor Vehicle Maintenance Street Maintenance Underground Utilties John Gay, Senior Engineer Engineering Randy Hines, Supervisor Wastewater Treatment Plant Paul Steward, Supervisor Water Treatment Plant Danny Brammer, Contract Senior Engineer Engineering Support Staff JB West, Analyst Administration Debra Benavidez, Staff Assistant Administration Patsy Robinson, Staff Assistant Building and Safety Lisa Drye, Staff Assistant Engineering Lupe Gonzalez, Secretarial Assistant Waste Water Treatment Plant Delilah Hawk, Secretarial Assistant Building and Safety Norma Wyles, Secretarial Assistant Water Treatment Plant Priscilla Padilla, Clerical Assistant Vehicle Maintenance Street Maintenance Underground Utilities Dean Davidson, Contract Inspector Building and Safety
6	Administration Division Completed Projects Developed standards for retention basins Selected site for the Transfer Terminal for the Circulator Shuttle Service Prepared RFP for Parks Master Plan for Planning Prepared Special Events Policy Participated in County Solid Waste Feasibility Study Adjusted the cost of sewer and water connection fee deposit to reflect actual costs Relocated Imperial Valley Waste Management Task Force to the Valley Plaza The Administration Division provides support and technical services to all divisions, capital improvement projects and the transportation program.
7	Building and Safety Division During 2005 a total of 1,600 permits were issued 473 Permits – Single family dwellings 34 Permits – Multifamily dwellings 61 Permits – Commercial 1,032 Permits – Miscellaneous $6,004,967.56, total valuation of all permits issued Completed Projects “Fast track” permitting process Acella software New business license program Re-roof permit requirements Grading permits Code enforcement services on 47 cases Purchase of 2 new vehicles for the division New Businesses Opened or Remodeled El Pollo Loco Lowes Imperial Valley Mall Robinsons-May Dillards JC Penney Ultra Star Cinema Chili’s Bar & Grill Starbucks Sears and Auto Center Jack in the Box Chuck E Cheese Arby’s
8	Engineering Division Completed Projects Hired Senior Engineer and an additional Engineering Technician Updated AutoCad software which allowed staff to complete multiple projects in-house. Designs completed in-house include Stark Field Improvements 2005 Overlay Project Total Funds - $2,100,000 Debbie Pittman Improvements Total Funds - $347,600 Orange Avenue Improvements Total Funds - $190,624 Dogwood (State to Commercial) Road Improvements Total Funds - $309,073 CDBG Sidewalk Improvements Total Funds - $400,000 Article 3 Sidewalk Repair Improvements Total Funds - $80,000 Started Paperless Encroachment Permits with Accella Software. Imperial Valley Mall Signalized intersections Completed traffic management plan Acquired ROW and constructed off site improvements along Dogwood Ave. and Danenberg Dr. Fees Collected Water Capacity $1,055,096 Sewer Capacity $1,234,041 Street Impact Fees $1,068,197 Plan check/ Inspection Fees $ 248,616 Issued 124 Encroach. Permits $ 23,312
9	Facility Maintenance The Facility Maintenance Division is responsible for the maintenance and service of 18 City owned buildings and public facilities. They also service 78 air conditioning units. They responded to 314 service calls throughout the City, 149 of which classified as emergencies. 314 Completed Service Calls City Hall 50 City Hall Administration 5 Old Post Office Pavilion 23 Police Department 21 Library 21 Youth Center 30 Plunge 16 Community Center 50 Parks 12 RDA 21 Public Works 9 WWTP 13 Incubator 5 City Manager 1 City Shop 15 City Clerk 5 Fire Department #1 2 Fire Department #2 4 Town Square 3 Council Chambers 3 Water Meter Shop 1 City Attorney 3 Maintenance Shop 1
10	Street Maintenance Completed Projects Prisoner Program implemented Alley clean up implemented Traffic signal warrant studies completed for 8^th & Wensley and 12^th & El Dorado Traffic study resulted in 30 additional feet of red curb and designation of right turn and left turn lanes onto Imperial Avenue at Barbara Worth Performed additional traffic counts for the circulation element Prepared RFP for pavement management system Awarded contract for asphalt overlay which repaired 728,512 square feet of City streets
11	Vehicle Maintenance In 2004, the division completed 1,093 work orders and 418 of which were on Police Department vehicles. In 2005, the division completed 610 work orders on vehicles. The decrease in number of service orders from 2004 to 2005 was because both Mechanic 1 positions became vacant and required recruitment.
12	Underground Utilities There are approximately 120 miles of water distribution and 125 miles of sewer collection lines. Along with the construction, operation and maintenance of all underground lines they also repair or replace valves, hydrants and install new water and sewer services within the City of El Centro. During 2005, the Underground Utilities Division received 651 work orders and 558 of these were completed in the same year. The remaining 93 work orders were carried over into 2006 for completion.
13	Wastewater Treatment Plant Performed State required laboratory analysis of wastewater and submitted the results each month to the California Regional Water Quality Control Board Performed routine maintenance on fourteen sewage pump stations and six storm water pump stations Transported 600 tons of biosolids to Arizona Performed 146,000 internal process control and laboratory analysis to help improve the operation of the WWTP The Alder Sewer Line project was completed The Wastewater Treatment Plant disinfects an average of 115 million gallons of raw sewage per month. The highest peak day in 2005 occurred on March 7^th and the plant treated 4 million gallons. This was 50% of the plant’s capacity which currently is 8 million gallons. Renewed Environmental Laboratory Accreditation Program (ELAP) Certification for the laboratory
14	Water Treatment Plant Removed, rebuilt and replaced raw water pumps #1, #3 and #4 to increase capacity and restore original efficiency Installed polymer injection system to improve contaminant removal and enhance taste of treated water Replaced chlorine manifold and feed components to increase performance and provide additional reliability of safety systems Developed and awarded project to rehabilitate filters and increase treatment capacity to 18 MGD Replaced obsolete pneumatic valve operators on #1 and #2 accelators with motor operated valve operators to improve control and reliability Replaced main breaker on distribution service pump electrical panel Began design for new 21 MGD treatment plant to be constructed by summer of 2008 Developed an Urban Water Management Plan to provide guidance for future development