Agenda Report
Fullerton City Council
MEETING DATE: APRIL 16, 2024
TO: CITY COUNCIL / SUCCESSOR AGENCY
SUBMITTED BY: STEPHEN BISE, P.E. PUBLIC WORKS DIRECTOR PREPARED BY: JEROME JOAQUIN, ADMINISTRATIVE MANAGER
SUBJECT: STREET SWEEPING OPERATIONS ALTERNATIVES AND ENFORCEMENT UPDATE
SUMMARY
Update on street sweeping enforcement and street sweeping operation alternatives.
PROPOSED MOTION
Maintain current street sweeping operations level with enforcement.
ALTERNATIVE OPTIONS
Approve Proposed Motion
Maintain current street sweeping operation level without street sweeping parking enforcement Implement alternating street sweeping operation which would necessitate replacing street sweeping signs Other options brought by City Council.
STAFF RECOMMENDATION
Staff recommends the Proposed Motion.
CITY MANAGER REMARKS
If the City Council considers implementing an alternating sides of the street option. The City Manager recommends that the City Council additionally consider moving the street sweeping to every other week. The every other week could also be considered if decide to stay with current option.
PRIORITY POLICY STATEMENT
This item matches the following Priority Policy Statements:
Fiscal and Organization Stability
Infrastructure and City Assets.
FISCAL IMPACT
The City receives an average $46,000 monthly gross revenue through street sweeping citations which offsets costs for citation services provided by SP+ and fee processing services by Turbo Data. The average monthly net revenue comes to approximately $33,000. The City anticipated an increase in citations and corresponding citation revenue with street sweeping parking signage project completion and citywide enforcement implementation. Staff finds it premature to determine the consistent flow of revenue from street-sweeping citations, however, staff has observed a downward trend in revenue projections due to effective enforcement and compliance.
The following outlines the fiscal impact of each alternative option. Staff notes many variables could influence the cost implications from street sweeping citations, the operational costs associated with street sweeping and compliance with the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit regulations.
BACKGROUND AND DISCUSSION
The City’s street sweeping contractor, Sweeping Corporations of America (SCA), provides citywide weekly street sweeping services. The City Storm Water Management Program (SWMP) requires regular street sweeping as an effective and best management practice for stormwater compliance. The City relies heavily on street sweeping to remove trash, plant material, sediment and other unsightly debris that can clog storm drain systems and prevent pollutants and contaminants from entering the stormwater system.
Vehicles parked in the street sweeper path make cleaning much less effective and can potentially result in NPDES Municipal Separate Storm Sewer System (MS4) permit noncompliance. The City adopted street-sweeping ordinances years ago but has had limited enforcement over the past several years due to reduced staffing levels and inadequate street-sweeping signage. The City contracted with SP+ to provide increased citation services and address this issue. The City is in the last term year of the contract with SP+. The City installed “No Parking - Street Sweeping” signage in 2023 to aid enforcement. The City provided ample warning to residents and resumed enforcement in August 2023.
Street Sweeping Enforcement Update
The City collected an average $33,000 net revenue per month for citation issuance prior to completing citywide street sweeping parking signage. Staff observed a notable increase in citation issuance and revenue generation since installing citywide street sweeping parking signage August 2023. Staff anticipated this increase due to expanded enforcement areas and efforts to improve the street sweeping operation.
This surge peaked in October 2023 when net revenue from street sweeping parking citations totaled $128,500. Monthly net revenue has steadily declined since that time with $101,500 average monthly net revenue from November 2023 to March 2024. This downward trajectory indicates progressive compliance with street-sweeping parking regulations, as evidenced by decreased calls pertaining to street-sweeping enforcement received by City staff.
The increased citation activity has generated additional revenues which have offset the heightened costs for SP+ citation services to implement street-sweeping parking enforcement, establishing a sustainable and effective street-sweeping operation within the City.
Street Sweeping Alternatives
Staff believes that the City has the most effective street-sweeping operation in place. However, staff received direction to explore various alternatives to the street sweeping operation. Staff notes the following alternatives have various cost implications and operational effectiveness impacts:
Alternative No. 1: Maintain current street sweeping operation level without enforcement.
This alternative would permit vehicles to park on streets during street sweeping operations, resulting in incomplete street cleaning which could lead to debris, litter and pollutants accumulation, detracting from the cleanliness and visual appeal of the streets and surrounding areas. The buildup of debris and pollutants poses a threat to water runoff quality, potentially contaminating nearby water bodies, harming local ecosystems and increasing the flood risk during heavy rainfall events. This noncompliance could jeopardize City adherence to its MS4 permit regulations.
The elimination of street-sweeping parking citations would result in loss of citation revenue. Additionally, the inability to complete street sweeping operations due to parked vehicles obstructing the sweeping process would warrant manual cleaning of catch basins and curbs and gutters, necessitating a full-time and ongoing maintenance program to manually clean curbs and gutters, catch basins and inlet baskets. The Department currently lacks that capacity. The City would need to hire an additional field crew and procure vehicles to perform this citywide operation, incurring costs that run counterproductive to the efficiency achieved through contracting a street sweeping service provider.
Alternative No. 2: Alternating sides of the street sweeping operation. This alternative requires replacing street sweeping signs.
This alternative would require revising the street sweeping contract to reflect the expanded scope of work and associated expenses such as increased drive time and fuel usage. SCA indicated this alternative would also necessitate an extra sweeper to maintain the current level of sweeping service. Staff projects this adjustment could increase the contract cost by approximately 15%, raising the current $800,000 annual street sweeping contract with SCA to an estimated $938,000.
Implementing alternating sides of the street sweeping operations would require replacing signage and installing new signage citywide to inform residents and visitors of the new schedule. Staff estimates replacing signage would $350,000 and take approximately 11 months to complete.
The City would need to coordinate sweeping with solid waste hauler routes but does not know the cost implications of coordination at this time.
Conclusion:
The street sweeping program has operated since 1980 and provides an effective method for complying with stormwater regulations, a practice widely adopted by many cities in California. The City should maintain current parking enforcement measures to ensure program effectiveness. Sanitation Funds (Fund 23) support street sweeping expenses. Sanitation Fund allocation is limited to existing street and landscape maintenance needs.
If City Council proceeds with one of the proposed alternatives, staff recommends funding any additional costs through the General Fund (Fund 10). This approach would ensure continued effectiveness of the street-sweeping program while allowing the necessary financial support to implement alternative operations.
Attachments:
Attachment 1 – PowerPoint Presentation
cc: City Manager Eric J. Levitt
Street Sweeping Enforcement Updates and Alternatives
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