TITLE
Recommendation to receive and file document regarding the results from the second year of citywide residential street maintenance.
DISCUSSION
On May 3, 2011, the City Council passed a new street maintenance policy for our residential streets. After years of neglecting maintenance, and allowing our streets to deteriorate to the point where repair costs exceeded maintenance by 700% to 1300%, we implemented a citywide policy that incorporates maintenance (specifically, slurry seals) into our Capital Improvement Program. This more efficient, effective plan will save millions of dollars while improving our streets.
In the second year of implementation preventative maintenance, over 8.0 miles of residential streets will be slurry sealed in District 7 and over 24.7 miles will be slurry sealed citywide. According to a 2008 study by the City Auditor's Office, "the cost of deferring maintenance at critical junctures in a street's life cycle can mean the difference between applying a slurry seal treatment at a cost of $0.30 per square foot for a street still in good condition and applying an overlay treatment at a cost of $2.34 per square foot for a street in deteriorating condition-an expense almost seven times as great" (see attached excerpt). We spent approximately $766,050 for slurry sealing in the yth District and $2,743,808 citywide. Thus, using the City Auditor's numbers, this preventive maintenance in FY 13 saved $5,975,190 for the yth District and $21,401,702 citywide by avoiding the cost of the more expensive treatment.
FISCAL IMPACT
Implementation of the new street maintenance policy in FY 13 saved the City $5,975,190 for the yth District and $21,401,702 citywide over the long run. Continued maintenance in FY14, along with the implementation of the new pavement management system, will result in further long-term savings.
SUGGESTED ACTION
Approve recommendation.
Respectfully Submitted,
JAMES JOHNSON
COUNCILMEMBER, SEVENTH DISTRICT