Woodland's Public Works staff has been busy this year, according to a Semi-Annual Status report prepared by the city's Public Works Department.
The department is responsible for numerous projects that range from repairing potholes to upgrading traffic signals and busted water lines. The report covers the period from January to June.
Craig Locke, Public Works director, reported the department has accomplished a variety of new endeavors over the last six months. The report will be presented to the City Council when it meets at 6 p.m., Tuesday in City Hall, 300 First St.
On the first of January, for example, Locke reports Public Works went live with an "innovative new backflow testing program" to better serve the business community in Woodland.
"Where previously annual backflow testing was performed by contractors working for customers, backflow devices are now tested by city staff," he states. "This results in a more efficient and streamlined process, and less expense for the customer."
Responding to the storms in February required "numerous work hours and teamwork," he continued. "Every division in PW pitched in on storm response and made an antiquated collection system function to the best of its abilities.
"Following the rains, the collections division took on replacing some of the city's covered gutters," Locke continued. "This is the first time these have been overhauled since their initial installation over 70 years ago."
Staff also undertook the task of relocating one of the portable generators' staging area to a more accessible location at the Municipal Service Center. Moving the generator staging area to a more accessible location in front of the MSC frees up a double space in the yard and allows for more rapid deployment. To accomplish this in-house required the efforts of all divisions in Public Works and the assistance of Urban Forestry.
"Crews had a break from their usual duties in May for Public Works Week, which is historically celebrated by a lunch for all staff," Locke noted. "This year the administrative staff spent some time assembling bags of goodies with candy, electrolyte drinks, sunscreen, can coolers and other helpful items donated by local businesses."
Another innovation is the new vehicle telemetry system, installed by Fleet Maintenance this Spring, Locke states in his report. Samsara units were installed in most city vehicles, and they provide information directly from the vehicle's computer. As a result, maintenance is performed based on run time and error codes rather than mileage, a somewhat faulty barometer for Public Works and Public Safety vehicles.
"One project that required the efforts of all of Public Works and Urban Forestry and Parks was reorganizing the Municipal Service yard to accommodate a new electric vehicle charging location," Locke stated. "California law requires that municipalities begin transitioning toward an electric fleet. Woodland has been ahead of the State mandates and anticipates purchasing four additional electric Ford Lightning pickups this year. The first phase to be completed by year's end will see the installation of six chargers dedicated for fleet use, with expansion available to accommodate up to 20 chargers."
City crews also installed the infrastructure for a charging site at the Woodland Hotel parking lot. By doing this work in-house, the city was able to save thousands of dollars on the installation, Locke states. The charging site is scheduled to be completed this Fall, pending PG&E's final installation and power connection.
Other highlights from the report include:
- Staff received 2,306 requests for service from the public for things such as storm drains, sewer line issues and electrical issues, and created 3,669 work orders. With 130 working days in the first six months of the year, that averages out to 18 requests per day.
- Public Works staff began replacing 96 traffic signals with 8-inch heads through the city with new 12-inch signal heads and is expected to complete the remaining 85 signals by the end of 2027.
- City staff repaired or replaced 21 knocked-down signs in the past six months and removed 21 "No Cruising" signs citywide as required by a change in state law.
- Replaced 21 Stop Signs, 55 No Parking signs, eight School signs, four Yield signs, 28 Street Name signs and nine "Advance" Street
Name signs. - Streets crews started a sidewalk replacement project in early July and completed the work in mid-August. That resulted in the removal and replacement of 11 sidewalk panels on East Gibson Road by Pioneer High School and seven residential sidewalks, totaling 5,414 square feet of sidewalks being replaced.
- Streets crews also filled 910 potholes using 44.54 tons of asphalt.
- Streets crews also cleaned up 44 homeless campsites working with city police and took 38.5 tons of trash to the Yolo Landfill.
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