13 Staff Report - Cleaning Downtown Sidewalks49
COUNCIL AGENDA REPORT
DATE: DECEMBER 14, 1995
TO: MAYOR AND TOWN COUNCIL
FROM: TOWN MANAGER
SUBJECT:
MEETING DATE: 12/18/95
ITEM NO.
CONSIDER REPORT AND PROVIDE GUIDANCE TO STAFF ON OPTIONS FOR
CLEANING DOWNTOWN SIDEWALKS
RECOMMENDATION:
Accept report and provide guidance to staff on options providing for cleaning downtown sidewalks.
DISCUSSION:
Council has expressed concern about the appearance of our downtown. As you will recall, we have done a lot to
improve things.
Lighting Improvement
Seventy-one (71) street lamps and ballasts were retrofitted with 150 watt, high pressure sodium
fixtures. This has produced a noticeable increase in night visibility.
Sidewalk. Curb. and Gutter Replacement
We have replaced 1,657 square feet of sidewalk and 397 lineal feet of curb and gutter, reducing our
liability and improving downtown aesthetics.
Planter Boxes
Missing and broken irrigation heads have been replaced and repaired. Volunteers and Beautification
Committee Members replanted bedding materials and ground cover in the boxes.
Parking -and Landscaping Improvement
As part of GTE building upgrade, five additional parking spaces and new landscaping were added on
Montebello Way.
Storm Drainage Improvement
Drainage facilities on N. Santa Cruz Avenue, north of Highway 9 were installed to remove
aesthetically undesirable surface water run-off.
PREPARED BY:
MICHAEL LAROCCA
Director of Parks, Forestry and Maintenance Services
Reviewed by:
Attorney finance
Revised: 12/14/95 5:26 pm
PAGE 2
MAYOR AND TOWN COUNCIL
SUBJECT: SIDEWALK CLEANING
December 14, 1995
General Maintenance
Trees were pruned as part of the holiday lighting project. Town Plaza park benches were refinished
prior to the tree lighting ceremony. Undesirable bike racks were removed. Frequencies for trash and
debris removal have been increased.
Although keeping sidewalks clean is the responsibility of adjacent property owners, they have not all been diligent.
While some business owners do an excellent job, others deny responsibility or argue that take-out food businesses create
the problem and that they should clean the sidewalks. The Town has two options. It can create ordinances which
impose penalties or collect revenue for non-compliance or it can take on the cost and responsibility itself. Following
are options for sidewalk cleaning:
1. Purchase pressure washer attachment for use with existing equipment
The attachment costs $4,000. Using the catch basin sewer cleaner with a 3 person crew (12
days @ four hours/day) would cost $5,790 per cleaning
Maint. Worker III
Maint. Worker II
CB/Sewer Cleaner
48 hrs. @ $27.00/hr. $1,300.00
96 hrs. @ 23.00/hr. 2,200.00
48 hrs. @ 30.00/hr. 1.440.00
4,940.00
Overhead @ 17.3% 850.00
$5,790.00
2. Purchase pressure washer/steam cleaner
It would cost $14,000 for a pressure washer/steam cleaner with accessories. Using new
equipment with 1 person and a flatbed truck would cost $6,600 per cleaning
Maint. Assist
Pressure Washer
Flatbed Truck
210 hrs. @ $15.00/hr. $3,150.00
210 hrs. @ 2.00/hr. 420.00
210 hrs. @ 10.00/hr. 2.100.00
5,670.00
Overhead @17.3% 980.00
$6,650.00
3. Contract with private contractor
An informal bid indicates that a private contractor would charge around $7,000 per cleaning.
Possible funding sources include:
1. Landscape and Lightening District
An annual fee could be assessed based on square footage of sidewalk in front of business.
Equipment purchased by the District could be rented to other funds. Labor charges could
be paid directly by the District.
PAGE 3
MAYOR AND TOWN COUNCIL
SUBJECT: SIDEWALK CLEANING
December 14, 1995
2. Non -Point Source Program (NPS)
Retail/office /manufacturing already pay a higher NPS rate than residential. Establishing a
Town wide sidewalk cleaning frequency based on need is consistent with Best Management
Practices of the "Program" and meets the Town NPS requirements to met this objective to
the maximum extent practicable. The operating budget for 1995-96 has a fund balance of
$21,910 that could be dedicated towards this program. If program funding is not sufficient
to cover actual cost, the fee schedule could be increased once a year to adjust for on -going
costs.
3. Gas Tax Fund
Sidewalk maintenance (4846) is currently a Parks Forestry and Maintenance program in the
Gas Tax Fund as part of the Capital Improvement Program Budget. Any gas tax funds
dedicated to the sidewalk cleaning project would require that current funded projects in the
Gas Tax Fund be reduced.
4. General Fund
1995-96 reserves could be used to get this project underway. The on -going costs of a
sidewalk cleaning program could be included in the 1996-97 budget process. There are no
projected excess revenues in the General Fund, so budgeting for this project would require
reduction of other currently budgeted expenses.
CONCLUSION:
The appearance of the Downtown area is important to the citizens of Los Gatos, and it is a crucial element in
maintaining a strong local economy. The cleaning of sidewalks should have a positive impact for the community.
Programmed sidewalk cleaning will address the short-term need to maintain the appearance and reputation of Downtown
Los Gatos while the long-term improvement plan is being finalized and implemented.
ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENTS:
Is a project as defined under CEQA but is statutorily exempt under Section 15301. A Notice of Exemption /will not
be filed.
FISCAL IMPACT:
A separate staff report will be prepared and submitted to the Council for consideration based on the option that are to
be pursued.
pfm005,a:\cnclrpts\si dewalk. cl n
DATE:
TO:
FROM:
SUBJECT:
DISCUSSION:
AREA:
COUNCIL AGENDA RE -
DECEMBER 18, 1995
MAYOR AND TOWN COUNCIL
TOWN MANAGER
CONSIDER REPORT AND PROVID w
CLEANING DOWNTOWN SIDEWAL
The sidewalks discussed for cleaning cover an area including Sa
Saratoga Road, and East Main Street from the Civic Center west t= _
per cleaning basis. One cleaning per year may be adequate; hove.
costs can be multiplied by the frequency.
Staff identified three options for consideration should the Town C
1. Purchase pressure washer attachment for use vv---
The attachment costs $4,000. Using the catch b.
days @ four hours/day) would cost $5,790 per —�
This option was developed as an alternative to thr
# 2). Staff was able to identify a cheaper, rry
equipment (catch basin sewer cleaner), requires
cleaner be purchased, does a better job by remote — —
area cleaned, and allows for better environment —
is less expensive both from a capital and operat j R
Air
2. Purchase pressure washer/steam cleaner
It would cost $14,000 for a pressure washer/st. s?•
equipment with 1 person (temporary) and an exi x
cleaning.
This option was originally discussed with the Doi.— -or
would be purchased with RDA (Redevelopme 9
operate the equipment. The drawback to this of
it is not as effective in protecting the environmen rr
this unit is more portable and could be used to cle 9'
barrier walls.
PREPARED BY: NYICHAEL LAROCCA
Director of Parks, Forestry and Maints ats
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Reviewed by: �/'} Attorney Finance