ENGINEERING & TECHNOLOGY COMMITTEE
Conference Call Meeting Summary
November 19, 2007
Participants: Larry Woodlan, Chair
Laura Cabiness, Member
Neil Grigg, Member
Gordon Daring, Member
Gary Stockhoff, Member
Paul Klope, Education Liaison
Absent: Dean Lehman, Member
Staff: Carol Estes, Staff Liaison
1 . Call to order – Larry Woodlan called the meeting to order at 1:00pm Central time.
2 . Review of meeting Summary 10 / 15 /2007 – The meeting summary was approved as amended.
3 . At-large Director Report –Patty Hilderbrand was not available for the call.
4. NLTAPA member comments – No NLTAPA member was available for the call.
Action item: Staff will check with Marie Walsh on status of NLTAPA committee liaison
5. Education committee member – Paul advised that the Education committee is asking for input from the technical committees. They will be brainstorming topics for Educational offerings on January 7th and then paring them down to a manageable level. Please prioritize any suggestions for the committee. A list will be sent back to the committee for information and comment. The time line includes a February deadline for budget requests, an April deadline for marketing copy, a May deadline for final program titles and dates and a July deadline for marketing the upcoming programs.
6. Workshop, web based training, and Click, Listen, and Learn brainstorming – The committee discussed possible topics for training. Topics included:
· Alternative project delivery systems
· New uses of cell phones, GPS technology, personal digital assistants
· How to improve effectiveness of work force using technical databases, training, etc.
· Special report on public accessibility – Jerry Markesino, Janet Barlow
· Sustainability practices in Public Works
· Making smaller communities aware of FEMA directives and other topics larger communities are already aware of
· Bridge maintenance and inspection, on-system, off-system, putting a program together with funds available
· Perpetual pavement – asphalt that lasts 50 years or more
· How to manage with the price of gas going up and the energy crisis
Action item: Continue on the agenda for the next call (staff)
Action item: Prioritize for next call
7 . E & T Books to be reviewed – The committee discussed the publication of “Management of Public Works Construction”. The comments submitted by Gary Stockhoff were agreed to be on target. It is a great document, very much needed and in need of minor updates only. Staff will pass the comments on to publications and advise the committee if they would like to pursue an update at this time. If the publication is offered in digital format, it is suggested that an electronic index should be added to facilitate moving through the document
ACTION ITEM: Staff will send comments to publications to determine if an update will take place at this time.
8. Spring meeting dates – The committee affirmed that the spring committee meeting will be held February 29, 2008 in Kansas City.
9 . Review of revised Business Plan – Several topics were discussed for addition to the business plan. Items discussed included:
· Engineers to have 30 hours or Masters degree for the PE exam
· Look into operator certification of water and waste water
· Something in public works security
ACTION ITEM: Continue on next agenda
1 0 . Business Plan Assignments – The committee discussed the responsibilities of individual business plan assignments. It was explained that each member would oversee assigned activities and asked for items to be put on the agenda at appropriate times.
1 1 . Meeting Proposal for 2010 – The committee discussed having a two day spring meeting as in the past in 2010 and asked the idea to be brought forward for inclusion in the budget process.
Action item: Staff will forward the request to the department director for discussion with other committees
1 2 . Position Statement Reviews – Current committee sponsored position statements were discussed. Committee members will review and list those statements which they feel need work and those that they feel are good as written. Please send comments to staff before the next call. Staff will provide a list to committee members.
Action item: Staff will provide a comprehensive list of position statements and PDF copies to the committee
Action item: Committee members will comment on each position statement as to whether it is good as written or needs changes
13. Survey – Staff will put the E & T survey in survey monkey and forward to the committee for review before sending it to the membership
14. New Business – The committee asked staff to find out which APWA
chapters have an engineering & technology committee and report at the next call
Topics for the June edition of the Reporter will be on the December call. Editorial deadline is April 15
Next conference call is December 10th , at 11:00 pm Pacific, 12:00 pm Mountain , 1:00 pm Central, and 2:00 pm Eastern Time
The meeting adjourned at 2: 07 pm Central time.