MUNICIPAL MAINTENANCE
MUNICIPAL MAINTENANCE
QUALITATIVE RESULTS
Municipality: City of Martinez Permit Year: (2008/2009)
Introduction:
The Maintenance Division is charged with ensuring that the City’s maintenance activities meet the Goals and Performance Standards listed in the Municipal Maintenance Section of the Stormwater Management Plan. Tasks include activities such as street sweeping and maintenance of storm drain facilities. The goal is to minimize discharges to all watercourses from roads, from parks, and from all other facilities owned or operated by the City of Martinez. To help accomplish these goals, the Maintenance Division tracks and measures the effectiveness of their work.
Approximately 42 Maintenance Staff are involved in performance of the Maintenance Standards. The City’s Public Works Superintendent and Lead Maintenance Worker represented the City as members of the Program’s Municipal Maintenance Workgroup this last fiscal year. City staff members routinely attend training classes and workshops to assure that their level of knowledge is kept current so that they can effectively implement program requirements. The primary contact for Municipal Maintenance compliance is Bob Cellini, phone: 925-372-3581. The Quantitative Results Table at the end of this section lists the classes and workshops that Staff attended in FY 2008/2009.
Implementation & Evaluation:
Street Sweeping (MUNI - 1 through 19 and 37 & 38)
The City of Martinez has operated its own sweeper since 1998 in order to have more control over street sweeping activities. The uses a Temco model BAH600, Regenerative Air street sweeper. The sweeper main and auxiliary engines are tier III compliance. The City has added a low emission package that complies with the AQMD rule 1186 compliant PM10 certified which includes a high capacity dust separator, high output water, pressure transition water nozzle, and hopper baffle curtains. The City maintains the street sweeping equipment in proper working condition and the operator of the sweeper is a City employee who has been trained in proper use of the sweeper. Street sweeping is performed on a monthly basis in the City of Martinez and includes industrial, commercial, and residential areas, as well as some parking lots and islands. The downtown core area is swept weekly. This frequency has been determined sufficient for all areas of the City, however, prior to the rainy season and in the fall certain areas are targeted for more frequent sweeping as necessary. Street sweeping routes and the corresponding schedules have not materially changed from previous years. Quarterly schedules (sample attachment PE-7 in the PEIO section) are published. Street sweeping schedules are available at City Hall, posted on the City’s web site, and mailed out in the City’s water bills.
Street sweeping activities are scheduled when parked cars will have minimal impact on the sweeping efforts. Sweeping is done in residential neighborhoods during the day when the maximum numbers of vehicles are away so as to make street sweeping activities more effective. Street sweeping is conducted in industrial and commercial areas during the early morning hours when relatively few vehicles are in those areas. Street sweeping operators report trees or other obstructions that interfere with street sweeping to the City’s Streets Supervisor, Rich Floyd, for resolution.
The City also uses vacuum equipment to remove residual water and debris, as necessary, where street sweeping equipment is impractical to use.
The City tracks the amount of curbs swept and the volume of material removed. This year, the City swept 135 miles of residential street curbing, 56 miles of industrial street curbing, and 56 miles of the commercial street curbing. Approximately 1,350 cubic yards of material were removed by the City’s street sweeping efforts. An estimate of the amount of pollutants removed by this process is tabulated in the Quantitative Results Table at the end of this section. Street sweeping debris is kept in dumpsters by the City until it is picked up and properly disposed of by Allied Waste on a regular basis.
Regular street sweeping has proven effective in minimizing the amount of debris that could pollute and/or accumulate in the City’s storm drain system.
Storm Drainage Facility Inspection and Maintenance (MUNI - 20 through 36 and 39 through 47)
The City has a “Storm Drainage Facility Inspection and Maintenance Plan”. (Attachment MM-1) Among other directives, this plan indicates which catch basins are more likely to need cleaning more often then once a year. Many catch basins are inspected several times a year while all catch basins are inspected at least once a year.
Catch basin and creek cleaning program was implemented during the months of August through December of 2008. Prior to the rainy season this fiscal year, approximately 25 miles of open drainage channels were also inspected for purposes of targeting areas in need of cleanup. The total number of drain facilities inspected/cleaned this fiscal year; and the amount of material removed and an estimate of the pollutants removed by this cleanup is tabulated in the Quantitative Results Table at the end of this section.
The City also supported the efforts of the yearly coastal cleanup program in September 2008. In addition, the County Clean Water Program has contracted with the Urban Creeks Council to help inform private property owners about what they might do to alleviate various stream related problems.
The City has developed and implemented a plan for the storage, use, and disposal of hazardous materials to insure these materials are not allowed to enter the storm drain
system. This plan includes employee training on proper disposal of hazardous materials and spills management. In the last year, 42 employees on the City’s staff attended 4 training sessions on proper material disposal and management of hazardous material spills.
The City complies with all appropriate regulatory requirements of such agencies as the Department of Fish and Game, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, etc. in conducting its maintenance activities and in its responses to illegal dumping, etc. No illegal dumping hot spots were identified by the City this fiscal year, however, if hot spots are identified in the future, regular inspections, postings, and sweep-up would be performed to discourage additional dumping incidents. The City would conduct appropriate follow up to prevent future illegal dumping and would coordinate with appropriate personnel and agencies to enforce laws in the targeted areas. Additional areas for use of trash racks, oil absorbent booms, outlet protection, etc. are also evaluated by the City to reduce pollution to watercourses, as necessary.
The City’s “Storm Drainage Facility Inspection and Maintenance Plan” (Attachment MM-1) has been effective in identifying potential pollutant sources and preventing pollutant discharges to the City’s watercourses. The Plan has also been effective in maintaining the storm drainage facilities in proper working order.
Litter Control (MUNI - 48 through 52)
Litter receptacles are placed in the downtown commercial areas, in parks and at bus stops. These receptacles are picked up on an as needed basis and are not allowed to overflow. All residents and businesses are required to have garbage pick up service. Under our Illicit Discharge Section of the Clean Water Program, we contact property owners if they have a litter or trash problem and require them to abate the problem. If litter becomes a problem at a particular location, then City staff will abate the problem. Homeless camps are removed and cleaned up when discovered. Homeless camps usually appear along the railroad tracks and are littered by clothes, blankets, bottles, and cans.
The total volume of materials collected from the City’s litter receptacles this fiscal year is recorded in the Quantitative Results Table at the end of this section.
The City’s anti-littering program has been effective in minimizing and/or preventing litter spillage that could enter and pollute the City’s storm drain system.
Graffiti Abatement Practices (MUNI - 53 through 62)
Graffiti abatement is accomplished by the City staffs that are trained in and use these Performance Standards. The abatement of the graffiti is done upon notification of a problem in a manner so that no residues from the process can pollute the storm drains. The graffiti is removed with biodegradable aerosol chemicals. The chemicals are
removed by rags, transported to the Corporation Yard and stored in covered containers until picked up by Pleasant Hill Bayshore Disposal for proper disposal.
The City’s graffiti abatement practices have been effective in preventing pollution of the storm drain facilities by minimizing residues and avoiding the use of toxic chemicals. The City has also started using street signs with graffiti resistant coatings that prevent the adhesion of spray paint.
General Practices for Road Repair and Maintenance (MUNI - 63 through 86)
The City’s general practice for road repair and maintenance is to assure that stormwater quality is not impacted by the work. City employees are trained in techniques to prevent storm water pollution during repair and maintenance activities. City contracts require contractors to prevent storm water pollution and to train their employees in techniques to prevent storm water pollution. Section 30, Storm Water/Non-Stormwater Discharge Requirement is part of the City of Martinez General Requirements and Conditions for contract work (see attachment MM-3). Asphalt work is done in the dry months and is swept up so that it will not cause storm water pollution. The City uses a saw cutting technique whereby the small amount of slurry produced is vacuumed up immediately upon production.
The City also uses a machine which grinds the asphalt in three foot sections making it unnecessary to saw cut as often. All of the concrete and asphalt removed is either recycled or reused as base material. Approximately 8,000 cubic yards of asphalt and concrete were recycled in this fiscal year.
All equipment is properly cleaned up at the end of each day, as appropriate. Paving equipment is parked and maintained at a location away from storm drain inlets and creeks, and the equipment is provided cover so that rainfall will not contact pollutants and be transported to the storm water. On signing and striping vehicles, spill absorbent materials are stored in the event they are needed. Any waste materials that are spilled are disposed of in accordance with the Material Safety Data Sheet.
The performance of these general practices has been effective in preventing pollution of the City’s storm drain facilities by the road repair and maintenance activities.
Water System Distribution Repairs and Maintenance
The City of Martinez operates and maintains its own municipal Water system. Repairs and maintenance are performed by City employees. The maintenance crews employ several methods to prevent treated water from entering the storm water system when responding to water leaks, e.g. water mains, service lines, meters and fire hydrant repairs. Water that is pumped out during excavations is filtered through a silt bag, storm water inlets are protected with straw waddles and/or rock bags and the water is treated with Sodium Sulfite (D-Chlor) tablets to remove chlorine.
General BMPs for Municipal Maintenance Facilities (MUNI - 87 through 122)
The City has a Stormwater Pollution Prevention Plan (SWPPP) for the Corporation Yard and Pipe Yard (storage yard). (A copy of the Corporation and Pipe Yard SWPPP is in attachment MM-4) Prior to the rainy season each year, City staff conducts a walk-through of both of these facilities. The purpose of this walk-through is to verify that the BMP’s in the SWPPP are being properly implemented. The City Engineer and the NPDES Coordinator reviewed both yards this year.
The Maintenance Superintendent, Bob Cellini, phone: 925-372-3581, has primary responsibility for coordinating implementation of the BMPs. Individuals in the Maintenance Services are trained based upon information received by the Maintenance Superintendent at the monthly NPDES staff meetings. This information is passed on at his meetings with the Maintenance staff.
BMP implementation includes:
· molded berms placed across building entrances to contain spilled pollutants and materials containing pollutants,
· double containment of liquid plant chemicals and herbicides,
· placement of absorbent filter material in floor drains that are changed on a regular basis,
· yard areas swept regularly,
· safety equipment inspected regularly and kept in areas where chemicals are used,
· spill containment kits kept readily accessible,
· providing cover for the dumpster in the Pipe Yard which is emptied regularly, and
· placing filter material in on-site drainage inlets to trap pollutants and replacing it at least twice a year.
It is required that the City of Martinez annually review hazardous materials storage. This review is done on a continuing basis as the year progresses. All of the maintenance employees were trained in hazardous materials safety this year. Bob Cellini currently oversees the hazardous materials program for the Maintenance section.
Fleet maintenance includes the weekly inspection of vehicles for any leaks. Spills are cleaned up promptly and the cause of the leak is assessed and corrected. Fleet maintenance activities take place in covered areas and ensure that fluids do not escape into the environment. Waste oils and chemicals are stored under cover and in a safe manner until they are picked up periodically by BC Stock Distributing or by TTS Environmental.
A new corporation yard facility is currently being planned. Covered wash area, covered storage, three chamber stormwater filtering system and other BMPs are being incorporated into the plan. Maintenance and Police vehicles are currently washed offsite at the Martinez Car Wash which is equipped with a water recycle system.
The City’s pollution prevention program for the City’s maintenance facility has been effective in preventing pollution of the storm drain system.
BMPs for Pesticide/Herbicide Use (MUNI - 123 through 152)
The City did not use pesticides this fiscal year in an outdoor environment except for the use of the lethal gas (Fumatoxin) for gophers. This product is in the form of pellets, which turn into gas upon contact with moisture in the ground. There are no residual chemicals left after the pellets are dispersed as gas. The City has also used traps to control gophers. Also, no pesticides/herbicides were used this fiscal year that contained copper, nor was any diazinon used.
A copy of the City of Martinez Organophosphate Pesticide Reduction Work Plan is attachment MM-6. The City of Martinez Pesticides Policy is attachment MM-5. The City Engineer, the Public Works Superintendent, and the Parks and Recreation Director make up a committee charged with ensuring the minimization of pesticide use. This committee meets at least once a year to review the effectiveness and compliance with the City’s Pesticide Policy.