Agenda Report
Fullerton City Council
MEETING DATE: AUGUST 6, 2024
TO: CITY COUNCIL / SUCCESSOR AGENCY
SUBMITTED BY: STEPHEN BISE, P.E., PUBLIC WORKS DIRECTOR PREPARED BY: JEROME JOAQUIN, ADMINISTRATIVE MANAGER
SUBJECT: STREET SWEEPING OPERATION AND ENFORCEMENT ALTERNATIVES
SUMMARY
City Council considered this item on May 7, 2024 and directed staff to develop additional recommendations. This item presents a new alternative for citywide street sweeping operations, in addition to previously presented options, for City Council consideration.
PROPOSED MOTION
Maintain current street sweeping operations with enforcement.
ALTERNATIVE OPTIONS
Approve the Proposed Motion
Maintain current street sweeping operation level without street sweeping parking enforcement Implement biweekly street sweeping operation with or without street sweeping parking enforcement Implement alternating street sweeping operation with or without street sweeping parking enforcement Implement biweekly, alternating street sweeping operation with or without street sweeping parking enforcement Other options brought by City Council.
STAFF RECOMMENDATION
Staff recommends the Proposed Motion.
CITY MANAGER REMARKS
Based on the last discussion at the City Council meeting, the Public Works Director and City Manager are bringing back an additional option, which I believe may meet the balance that the City Council is seeking. The option will alternate sides of the street so that each side of the street will have street sweeping twice per month. This option likely comes closest to meeting the balance that the City Council is seeking.
If this option is taken it may take time for the implementation due to signage changes and routing changes that need to occur. Once it is implemented, the City Manager recommends that for the first month, the City only do warnings and not do citations to provide adjustment time for residents and businesses.
PRIORITY POLICY STATEMENT
This item matches the following Priority Policy Statements:
Fiscal and Organization Stability
Infrastructure and City Assets.
FISCAL IMPACT
This report discusses the fiscal impact of each street sweeping and enforcement alternative. Many variables could influence cost implications from street sweeping citations such as the street sweeping and compliance with the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit regulations operational costs.
Additional costs could impact the General Fund (Fund 10) if City Council proceeds with one of the alternatives.
BACKGROUND AND DISCUSSION
Staff presented alternatives to current street sweeping operations to City Council on May 7, 2024. The discussion included a Street Sweeping Program overview, federal and state requirements review and a street sweeping parking enforcement activities update.
The City street sweeping contractor, Sweeping Corporations of America (SCA), provides weekly street sweeping services citywide. The City and SCA are in the sixth year of a seven-year contract. The City Storm Water Management Program (SWMP) needs street sweeping to prevent pollutants and contaminants from entering the stormwater system. Vehicles parked in the street sweeper path hinder cleaning and can lead to noncompliance with the NPDES Municipal Separate Storm Sewer System (MS4) permit. The City installed “No Parking - Street Sweeping” signage in 2023 and contracted with SP+ to assist with parking enforcement to address this issue.
Street sweeping parking citation data shows a notable citation increase due to expanded enforcement, particularly in the south side of the City which has a higher multifamily housing concentration.
However, citation frequencies have steadily declined indicating progressive compliance with street sweeping parking regulations, as shown in the following illustration:
Street Sweeping Alternatives
Staff believes the City operates the most effective street sweeping program. Staff explored various alternatives to existing operations at City Council direction and presented these alternative recommendations at the April 16, 2024 City Council meeting. City Council continued the discussion to the May 7, 2024 City Council meeting due to an insufficient number of Council Members present and discussed the following alternatives:
ALTERNATIVE OPTIONS & IMPACTS
Options
Operational
Cost
Regulation
Current Operation:
Weekly Sweeping with Parking Enforcement
Weekly Street Sweeping by SCA
Parking Citation by SP+
$800,000 current annual sweeping contract
$165,296 SP+ annual cost on sweeping citation
Compliance w/ NPDES MS4 Permit
Alt No. 1:
Weekly Sweeping without Parking Enforcement
No Parking Enforcement
No change in weekly sweeping
Manual cleaning of storm drains due to lack of enforcement $800,000 annual sweeping contract
Cost of manual cleaning of storm drains due to lack of enforcement NPDES potential violation
Alt No. 2:
Biweekly Street Sweeping Operation
Sweeping every other week
Parking Citation by SP+
32% decrease from current cost of annual sweeping contract - $545,000 1-time cost for sign replacement - $350,000
$165,296 SP+ annual cost on sweeping citation
Compliance w/ NPDES MS4 Permit
Alt No. 3:
Alternating Street Sweeping Operation
Alternating Street Sweeping Operation
Parking Citation by SP+
One-time Sign Replacement
Coordination with Solid Waste Hauler’s Routes
15% increase from current cost of annual sweeping contract - $938,000 1-time cost for sign replacement - $350,000
$165,296 SP+ annual cost on sweeping citation
Compliance w/ NPDES MS4 Permit
Council Members discussed the alternatives and continued the item to develop additional recommendations. Staff created a fourth option in response to City Council direction.
Alternative Option No. 4 proposes a biweekly, alternating street sweeping operation. This hybrid of Alternative Options No. 2 and No. 3 would adjust current operations to a biweekly, alternating schedule. Transitioning to this schedule offers cost reduction benefits that could potentially save the City approximately 23% in annual sweeping contract costs, reducing expenses from $800,000 to $615,000.
Implementing this biweekly, alternating street sweeping schedule requires updating signage to inform residents and visitors. The estimated cost for replacing signage totals $350,000, with a projected approximately 11 months completion time.
Current street sweeping regulations require vacating both sides of a street. Staff believes alternating street sweeping operations on a biweekly schedule would ease the burden on residents and businesses without alternative parking. However, this option could also create confusion among residents and businesses regarding the new schedule.
Conclusion:
The street sweeping program has operated since 1980, providing an effective method for complying with stormwater regulations, a practice widely adopted by many cities in California. Staff recommends maintaining current parking enforcement measures to ensure program effectiveness. Sanitation Funds (Fund 23) support street sweeping expenses. The City may only expend sanitation fund allocation on 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
Attachment 2 – Agenda Report, April 16, 2024
Attachment 3 – Agenda Report, May 7, 2024
cc: City Manager Eric J. Levitt
Street Sweeping Operation and Enforcement Alternatives
August 6, 2024 - Page PAGE \* MERGEFORMAT 2