APWA Technical Session Program

The sessions in BLUE have been approved for CEU and PDH credits
1 Hour Session = 1 CEU
1 Hour Session = 1 PDH

Tuesday, April 2nd

12:15 pm - 1:15 pm

T1 From Roads to Rooftops: Enterprise Asset Management in Florida

From the sun-drenched roads of the Keys to the hurricane-resistant rooftops of the Panhandle, Florida's distinct infrastructure reflects its unique geography and challenges. As we navigate the diverse terrains and climates of the Sunshine State, the strategic embrace of Enterprise Asset Management (EAM) stands out as a beacon of innovation and efficiency.

In this exploration, we'll delve into the synergies between OpenGov's asset management capabilities and Esri's renowned GIS technologies. Drawing from rich experience in geospatial consulting, we aim to shed light on the powerful alliance between these platforms—an alliance that elevates local governmental operations and paves the way for informed, community-driven decisions.

Participants will gain:

• In-depth Exploration: An understanding of how OpenGov's Cartograph software harmonizes with Esri's GIS capabilities.

• Practical Application: Case studies showcasing the transformative effects of this collaboration on Florida's infrastructure planning, budgeting, and community outreach.

• Trends and Projections: Insight into what the future holds for EAM in Florida, focusing on its evolving adaptability, scalability, and tech-driven promise. Additionally, we'll share the hurdles, learnings, and triumphs experienced when fusing geospatial intelligence with asset management. These stories will highlight EAM's potential, equipping attendees with valuable insights for their domains. Join us as we traverse the Enterprise Asset Management landscape in Florida, where technology intersects with our state's unique demands and aspirations.

T2 Case Study: Proven Success with the Construction Management Delivery Method with Gainesville Regional Utilities

This case study features speakers from Gainesville Regional Utilities and Oelrich Construction on their experiences with Construction Management at Risk (CMAR).  Learn how this delivery method of selecting a construction firm based on qualifications provides advantages to the Owner in terms of hiring a construction partner.  A partner provides valuable input into the entire process and is an advocate for the owner to ensure a project that is on budget and meets the owner's needs. When the Construction Manager (CM) is brought on early in the project it is possible to guide and assist the owner through all phases of delivering the project. Project discussion will include experience with the Operations Center at the Kanapaha Wastewater Reclamation Facility, a phased approach to the Head Works, and the 6th Street Gravity Sewer Replacement project.

Join us to learn how this delivery method has benefited Gainesville Regional Utilities.

T3 Temporary Traffic Control - 2023/2024

Temporary Traffic Control, also known as Maintenance of Traffic, is an important component of many construction and maintenance projects. This presentation intends to provide general information regarding Temporary Traffic Control, introduces the Approved Projects List, and FDOT Standard Plans.  The Florida Department has five levels of training: Flagger Operations, Intermediate, Intermediate-Refresher, Advanced and Advanced-Refresher.  The general requirements of each class will be presented to the presentation's attendees. We will briefly provide information on training options available statewide to improve the knowledge of our employees and their professional knowledge.  We will address Public Works Employees responsibility to provide a reasonably save environment for our workers, motorists, bicyclists and pedestrians.  As with all public works projects, we will discuss liability issues, safety issues and effects on the reputations of ourselves as professionals, local government and the profession of public works as a whole.

T4 Newer Isn't Always Better: A Holistic Approach to Headworks Rehabilitation

The City of St. Augustine (COSA) owns and operates Wastewater Treatment Plant No.1, a complete mix activated sludge process with a permitted capacity of 4.95 MGD constructed in 1984. The existing headworks structure is equipped with a mechanically-cleaned step-screen, a bypass channel with a bar rack, and a Pista-grit vortex chamber. Operations has recently experience poor screening and grit removal, resulting in temporary bypass measures, grit accumulation in downstream basins and clarifiers, and wear on equipment, all of which have strained plant resources. Additionally, the structure has significant structural deterioration from the high hydrogen sulfide environment, exposure to salt air, and failure of the PVC lining system in the channels. To address the worsening issues at the headworks, COSA explored ways to rehabilitate the existing structure rather than replacing it with a new structure. Project constraints included a stringent hydraulic grade line, a new building code, existing footprint limitations, raw water quality, operational preferences, and a fixed capital budget. COSA conducted a study that evaluated the screenings, grit removal, and structural rehabilitation options resulting in the successful design and construction of a rehabilitated headworks, saving the City $4M compared to a new facility. With improved grit removal as a critical project driver, a grit characterization study was performed to determine the size, behavior, and concentration of influent grit. Results revealed that almost all grit entering the plant is considered fine or very fine, behaving more like a powder than sand. These results provided insight as to why the current grit separation and processing equipment was ineffective, and allowed COSA to select appropriate technologies capable of being retrofitted within the existing structure. The study concluded that 95% removal of grit between 105-74 um in size would be required, with a total head loss of 10 inches or less.  Next, a screening evaluation study was conducted to evaluate suitability of various screening processing technologies that increase capture rate, are easily retrofitted, minimize carryover, meet the stringent hydraulic grade line and meet operational and maintenance needs. In addition to improving treatment, the Project evaluated the structural integrity of the headworks. To better understand the composition, integrity, and level of delamination of the concrete, a cost-effective petrographic analysis was conducted, revealing the existing concrete (though aesthetically deteriorated) could be rehabilitated with surface coatings. This project enabled COSA to reuse their existing headworks by selecting a technology that is specifically sized to influent characteristics, can function with a limited hydraulic grade line, representing a savings of more than $4M versus installation of a new headworks. This project provides municipalities with a unique approach of utilizing research studies available from manufacturers to make design and capital decisions that drive more cost-effective, rehabilitation-based methods for addressing aging infrastructure. 

1:30 pm - 2:30 pm

T5 Using Modern Dash Cams for Fleet Tracking and Asset Management

Modern Dash Cams may be used for Vehicle Tracking, Vehicle Maintenance, Insurance Claims, Driver Monitoring, Theft, Accident prevention as well as 'event documentation' when things go wrong.  Now, video collected from your fleet of vehicles may also be utilized to document, create, and maintain your Network of Street Conditions, Street Signs, Sidewalks, Curb and Gutters, Street Striping, and more.  The ability to collect data with your own fleet of vehicles can provide you with a crystal ball of all your maintained assets.  Many modern dashcams are easy to install, turn themselves on/off (bumped while parked will trigger the video camera), and automatically store their information in the cloud, so time-consuming data transfers are avoided.  

Let's review some of the benefits of this exciting new technology!

T6 Florida Funding Opportunities: Think outside the Box - Take 2

Florida offers many grant and funding opportunities; you just need to know where to look! We will help to navigate some of the well-known and lesser-known State, Federal and Private funding opportunities. Let us show you some tips and tricks we have learned on getting the funding you want and need to accomplish your goals.

T7 Glimpse of the Dark Side: Understanding Public vs Private

Have you ever worked on a project and thought “why would they do that?” about your consultant or your client? This interactive presentation will give valuable insight to the innerworkings of public agencies and private consultants and shed light on why each side does what they do. The presentation will explore the public and private organizational structures, review company and agency priorities, and discuss real-life applications and scenarios. 

T8 Economic and treatment benefits of stormwater “pond” optimization with CFDML tools compared to presumptive guidance

As a design, analysis and retrofit tool, computational fluid dynamics (CFD) and machine learning (ML) are combined as a modeling tool (CFD-ML) {DeepXtorm}, developed from physical model monitoring data and CFD simulations over a wide range of “pond” configurations, loadings, hydrodynamics, nutrient partitioning, and particulate matter (PM) across Florida. For a stormwater pond as the presumptive Florida best management practice (BMP), or any Florida BMP loaded by stormwater, this novel tool facilitate (1) analysis, (2) design optimization, or (3) optimization with retrofits for existing but impaired pond systems. Results with CFD-ML benchmarking indicate that: (a) historical models based on residence time (RT), current Florida presumptive guidance, are not accurate or generalizable for pond nutrient and PM load management, (b) such RT guidance/regulation do not and cannot account for geometrics, hydrodynamics, nutrient partitioning, PM granulometry (particle size distribution and PM density) and do not reproduce pond performance, while (c) this novel tool provides trained ML models with high predictive capability.  With common presumptive guidance, e.g., 80%, a Pareto frontier analysis of the CFD-ML model demonstrates significant economic benefit (10 to 100x lower cost) for pond planning/design/retrofits in comparison to current RT presumptive guidance. CFD-ML demonstrate that enlarging pond dimensions (increasing RT) to address impaired performance can result in exponential cost increases without performance benefits, irrespective of infrastructure adjacency conflicts.  This Florida-validated tool provides significant cost reductions while maximizing pond performance, achieving the need to improve pond (or other BMP) performance as promulgated in the Clean Waterways Act while directly addressing stakeholder concerns regarding potential costs for the needed performance increases.   One example illustrates the results of the CFD-ML tool for a single rectangular pond (6:1 length to width) with a depth of 3 m and 1.3 hectares (approximately 3.3 acres) of surface area at normal pool elevation.  The pond receives direct and unsteady wet weather flows from a 50-hectare urban drainage area in southwest Florida.  The optimized performance result of this pond with internal permeable baffles without increasing the pond size is based on CFD-ML and this result was benchmarked with monitoring data, a constructed retrofit of the pond, and land costs.  At a presumptive guidance level of 80% for this pond there is a 15.8 million USD reduction in land and construction costs through CFD-ML optimization to retrofit this pond as compared to the Harper Method RT requirements.  Given that there are thousands of existing impaired ponds in Florida, the economic benefits for retrofit of impaired ponds, alone, are in the billions of USDs with the commensurate load (nutrients, TSS, chemicals) reductions with implementation of this CFD-ML tool, " deepxtorm"

2:45 pm - 3:45 pm

T9 Hillsborough County's New Context-Based Transportation Design Manual: Connecting Land Use Planning and Safety into Design

Hillsborough County, Florida has historically been one of the most dangerous metropolitan areas for roadway fatalities and serious injuries. The County's road policies were developed to move vehicles and without an emphasis on land use, safety or other modes of travel. To address this problem, the County embarked on an initiative to redevelop their planning and design policies and standards to reflect a context-based transportation system that incorporates the surrounding future land uses and improved safety strategies. This was done through revisioning their Comprehensive Plan goals, and creating a new Context Classification System, a new Complete Streets Guide and a new Transportation Design Manual.  Through these new policies and standards, the County will provide a better place for all road users, reduce fatalities and serious injuries, connect people and communities, and make Hillsborough County a national municipal transportation leader in advancing safety and context-based design practices. 

T10 To Mill and Overlay or Reconstruct...that is the Question! AI may help in deciding

This session provides an introduction of pavement structural testing using a Fast-Falling Weight Deflectometer (FastFWD) and describes how FastFWD data may be used to determine the appropriate rehabilitation activity for pavements in good and poor condition. Pavement structural testing using FastFWD is a truly proactive approach to pavement management.  Understanding the structural condition of a pavement is critical in determining the appropriate level of rehabilitation.  A deep learning platform that evaluates the structural performance of road networks using FastFWD data has been developed for municipal agencies. The advantage of this platform is that thickness information for the pavement structure is not required. This is important for network-level evaluations as the information about layer thicknesses is rarely available for agencies. The deep learning platform developed has been validated on real-world data collected for five municipal agencies. This approach provides a more cost-effective pavement structural evaluation method for municipal agencies with limited pavement structural data and historical construction records.

T11 Diamond Quality Management: The 4 C’s of Implementing a Successful Transportation Program

In November 2020, City of Pflugerville (City) voters approved a Bond referendum that included Proposition ‘A’ for the issuance of over $100 million in General Obligation Bonds to advance key transportation projects.  Ten roadway improvement projects are considered a priority within the Transportation Bond Program (Program). The City intends to construct all fully funded projects within 5 years of voter authorization. Freese and Nichols (FNI) was retained by the City through a Request for Qualifications solicitation to assist City staff in the delivery of the Program with a hybrid staff augmentation and turn-key style approach. FNI has entered the third year of implementing the Program for the City. To accomplish this, FNI has a Program Manager, five (5) Project Managers, and over ten (10) engineers that serve with City staff to manage projects, review designs, and provide utility coordination. FNI’s approach to Program Management Services focuses on many areas, but 4 areas stood out as key to the project delivery successes to date.  Communication is the backbone of Program Management. While working with the City, FNI recognized that without the regular exchange of information and ideas among team members, stakeholders, and project managers, program goals and timelines would not be clearly defined. FNI assisted the City with developing a Communications Plan for the Program, including monthly reporting and public outreach. Commitment is the dedication and determination of all Program team members to achieve Program goals and accomplishing its milestones. To meet these milestones, FNI developed a Master Program Schedule which is monitored and updated on a bi-weekly basis. Collaboration entails the active engagement of Program team members working together, sharing ideas, and leveraging collective skills and expertise. FNI understood at the onset of the Program that there would be many different stakeholders involved with each project. FNI created one central collaborative resource via a Program-wide Project Management Information System (PMIS). Using a PMIS has increased efficiency of all Program activities and allowed instant access and the most current information on each project.  Cooperation is the willingness of Program team members to work harmoniously with one another, supporting each other’s efforts, and contributing to a positive team dynamic. In other words, lead as a team. FNI and the City of Pflugerville have a long history of working together, which allowed FNI to easily integrate as an extension of City staff to seamlessly move the program forward. 

Key take aways for the audience will include:

1. How this Program approach facilitated and builds trust with the client.

2. How effective Program communication was achieved.

3. How organizing and running a Program requires more than just data and designs. 

T12 Is Leachate Evaporation a Viable Alternative For Your Landfill?

As more wastewater treatment facilities are restricting the amount of leachate that can be accepted, landfill owners and operators are searching for viable alternatives for their leachate. The City of Jacksonville (City) commissioned a study to investigate alternative leachate disposal options including surface water discharge, deep well injection, third party treatment, and leachate evaporation. Based on a cost per gallon analysis, and the ability to control their own disposal operations, the City determined to move forward with permitting and installation of a leachate evaporator at the Trail Ridge Landfill (TRLF). The landfill serves all of Duval County, including the City of Jacksonville, Town of Baldwin, and three Beaches communities. Accepting up to 3,000 tons per day, the Trail Ridge Landfill produces more than 45,000 gal/day of leachate daily during the wet season. While leachate evaporators are attractive because they provide an on-site solution, beneficially use collected landfill gas (LFG), and eliminate hauling costs, existing emission sources at the landfill can severely limit their viability.  The TRLF is classified as a major source of air pollutants due to the existing third-party LFG to energy generation plant at the site. As a major source making a major modification, the landfill was required to complete New Source Review (NSR) permitting, including very involved Prevention of Significant Deterioration (PSD) analyses. Included in the PSD analyses were a review of Best Available Control Technology (BACT) and an air quality analysis to demonstrate that emissions emitted from the proposed major modification would not cause or contribute to a violation of air quality standards or PSD increments. The NSR/PSD permitting requirements greatly affected the scale of the emission controls that needed to be installed in order to operate a leachate evaporator at TRLF. Landfills that are not classified as a major source have vastly different air permitting requirements, making leachate evaporators more attractive solutions on these sites. This presentation will summarize the alternative leachate treatment methods evaluated by the City which led to selection of leachate evaporation as a viable option and will review the existing conditions, constraints, and permitting requirements that have guided project implementation. At the conclusion of the presentation, audience members will be better able to understand whether their landfill would be a good candidate for leachate evaporation and the permitting approaches appropriate for each type of site.  

4:00 pm - 5:00 pm

T13 High Performance Rejuvenated Cold Recycle (RCR) Mix for Low Volume Road Surfaces

Cold recycle (CR) mix produced using only reclaimed asphalt pavement (RAP) and no virgin aggregates has been used for decades for non-surface layers in asphalt pavement structures.  Numerous CR mixes have shown excellent performance at the National Center for Asphalt Technology (NCAT) on the NCAT Pavement Test Track as well as in off-Track pavement preservation sections near both NCAT (in southern hot, wet test sections) and the Minnesota Road Research Project (MnROAD) (in northern wet freeze test sections).  Prior to 2021, all CR test sections were produced using either foamed asphalt or emulsified asphalt binders; however, test sections on the off-ramp of the 2021 NCAT Pavement Test Track were built using rejuvenated cold recycle (RCR) mixes.  Some of these new mixes were produced using only rejuvenators and some were produced using combinations of rejuvenators and emulsified asphalt binders.  An overview of materials, mix designs, construction effort, and inspection will be provided in this presentation, as well as an update on performance experiences to date.  It will be demonstrated that RCR mixes can be used to cost effectively provide a good riding surface on lower volume roadways within a reasonable haul distance from urban areas where RAP is available in abundance. 

T14 sUAS-based Aerial Lidar: Advancements and Applications in Land Surveying

This presentation will explore the recent advancements in sUAS-based aerial lidar technology and its growing significance in modern land surveying. The focus is on the unique capabilities, efficiencies, and challenges presented by this approach compared to traditional surveying techniques. Since March 2021, ETM Survey has employed sUAS-based lidar systems in various terrains and compared the data acquisition rates, precision, and costs against traditional ground-based surveying methods. Our results indicate that sUAS-based lidar offers faster data acquisition with comparable, if not superior, accuracy.

T15 The DPW Garage of the Future: Upgrading your Current Garage for Greater Efficiency

Many future trends affecting Public Work's operations are becoming the new reality and finding most buildings woefully behind the times.  These trends include; electric vehicles and charging infrastructure, hazard event resiliency, broader DPW roles in emergency preparedness, workforce attraction, and increased sustainability goals. Upgrading or expanding your Public Works and Fleet Garage is a unique opportunity to improve operators' and techs' direct labor, extend asset longevity, secure and control Yard traffic, fortify for emergency events, and lay the groundwork for Electric Vehicles. Provided by an architect specializing in the design of  Operations and Maintenance facilities, this seminar will identify key principals and approaches for upgrading your Garage facilities for greater future efficiency.  Key seminar topics will include: 

1. Current design standards for modern garages and their associated shops 

2. Proper selection of maintenance equipment and their layouts

3. Creating interior work environments that support tech/operator movements and ergonomics

4. Logical circulation of vehicle movement throughout the complex

5. EV repair and charging infrastructure readiness

6. Resiliency and fortified designs for major hazard events. 

7. Sustainable design approaches applicable to DPW Buildings and Yards. 

The seminar will present case study building plans, models and photos to illustrate these principals, approaches, and design standards in actual practice.

T16 Jax Beach Sustainable Water Plan 

In 2018, the Florida Potable Reuse Commission (PRC) undertook a stakeholder led effort to highlight the need to expand the State’s alternative water supply opportunities and provide recommendations to the Florida Legislature to increase the sustainability of Florida’s potable water supply. In 2019, the Florida Blue-Green Algae Task Force was established to provide science-based input into Florida’s environmental decision-making process. Governor’s Executive Order 19-12 recognized sufficient water supply is imperative to the state of Florida’s future and then in June 2021, Governor DeSantis signed CS/SB 64 that required domestic wastewater facilities to submit a ten-year plan to the Florida Department of Environmental Protection (FDEP) to eliminate nonbeneficial surface water discharges. This bill includes language from the PRC Framework that reuse water is a safe source of potable supply that may assist with increasing the resiliency and sustainability of water supply to meet the future potable water demands and balance the needs of our natural systems. In Jax Beach, the potable water operational challenges such as saltwater intrusion into freshwater supplies and regulatory challenges due to groundwater over pumping and climate change. These drivers, in companion with wastewater effluent discharge limitations outlined in SB 64 provide opportunity to develop a long-term capital improvement plan for Jax Beach wastewater effluent identify opportunities for sustainable and resilient local water supply. Jax Beach intends to redirect wastewater discharges from surface water to beneficial reuse by June 2032.  Currently 25% of its influent flow provides reuse water for irrigation, while the remaining reuse treated quality effluent is discharged through a shared effluent discharge pipe. This shared outfall traverses north through the cities of Neptune Beach and Atlantic Beach into the Lower St. Johns River near the Mayport jetties. This presentation presents alternatives Jax Beach evaluated to increase its beneficial reuse to 90% of its existing permitted capacity of 4.5 million gallons per day (MGD) that lead to the development of long-term sustainable water supply.

Wednesday, April 3, 2024

8:00 am - 8:30 am

1st Timers' Session

A time for all of our new members to meet and greet one another and network with the senior members and leadership of the Florida Chapter to learn about the myriad of opportunities and benefits that are available to us. 

8:45 am - 9:45 am

W1 Innovative/Resilient Bridge Rehabilitation Project 

This prestation describes a bridge rehabilitation project that incorporated an innovative and resilient design approach using Fiber Reinforced Polymer (FRP) composite tub girders for the replacement of deteriorated prestressed concrete slab beams. The speaker served as the lead engineer for this project providing bridge inspection, evaluation, rehabilitation design and construction inspection and administration services related to the Sun Island Association community's exit bridge. The objectives of this presentation include providing the attendees with an understanding of the inspection and evaluation approach to the rehabilitation of the Sun Island Bridge in Pasadena, FL. It also describes the innovative and resilient fiber reinforced polymer (FRP) tub girders used to replace deteriorated prestressed slab beams in a saltwater environment. The Sun Island Bridge was originally constructed in 1969 and provides egress for the condominium residents on Sun Island. We understand that the developer for the condominiums on Sun Island constructed this bridge to provide access for construction vehicles/equipment on the island. After the completion of the construction of the condos, it was retrofitted to serve as a one-way bridge for egress off the island only. The bridge carries Huffman Way over Boca Ciega Bay and the reputed owner of the bridge is the Sun Island Association, Inc. The single lane, 8 span bridge was originally constructed using adjacent, voided, prestressed concrete slab beams with an asphalt wearing surface supported on prestressed concrete pile bents. The exit only bridge has one (1) 12’-6” wide lane. The superstructure consists of five (5) adjacent, prestressed concrete slab beams that are 3’-0” wide and 15” deep with a 6” concrete topping for a 21” total depth. The wearing surface consisted of 2” of asphalt concrete.  The openings under Spans 4 and 5 span provide a navigational channel for recreational boats in the bay.  

W2 Tools and Techniques for Effective Management of Your CIP and Budget Planning Process

A capital improvement program is crucial in any city in order to achieve its goals, be it for the quality of life and safety for their citizens, or efficiency of operations. Creating the CIP, and establishing a process for management, gathering public input, and finding funding sources are keys to success for your program. This presentation will highlight the effectiveness of new tools, such as web-based surveys and digital CIP project sheets for streamlining CIP and bond programs. With over 100 CIP projects and $140M to work with, the 2023 New Braunfels Bond Program provides a case study to examine the benefits of including these tools and program management techniques.

W3 A Fireside Chat: Enhancing Purpose-Driven Communication with City/County Managers, for Public Works

Join us for an engaging and enlightening fireside chat featuring distinguished Public Works expert—George Recktenwald, who is the current County Manager and former Public Works Director of Volusia County and Chris Evers the Executive Coordinator for the Florida Pavement Preservation Council. This discussion is centered around the fundamental concept of purpose-driven public works, underscoring the critical role that effective communication and collaboration play between Public Works Directors, Staff, even industry professionals and City/County Managers. The primary objective of this session is to empower public works professionals by providing them with invaluable strategies and communication frameworks that cultivate productive relationships with executive leadership. Drawing from substantial experiences and achievements within Volusia County and beyond, our speakers will share practical advice, actionable insights, and best practices to navigate the complex landscape of local government. Key discussion topics include comprehending the distinctive dynamics of the public-private interface, aligning organizational objectives within the Public Works Department, and strategically optimizing resource allocation through efficient budgeting. Additionally, the session will delve into effective conflict resolution strategies, critical for maintaining harmonious relationships within the organization. A notable focus will be on fostering a culture of innovation using Pavement Preservation as a case study within public works and garnering support from Managers to embrace progressive solutions. An important aspect of this dialogue will be tailoring the message to align with the Manager's unique leadership style, ensuring effective communication and resonating with their priorities. Understanding the signs that indicate a troubled relationship between Public Works Directors and County Managers is vital. Subtle indicators such as communication breakdowns, lack of alignment on key initiatives, and persistent misunderstandings regarding priorities may signify potential issues. Recognizing these signs early allows for proactive intervention and resolution, vital for maintaining a productive and collaborative working relationship. Participants will gain crucial tools and knowledge to enhance collaboration, maximize efficiency, and navigate challenges related to budgeting, conflict resolution, and innovation advocacy. Through this dynamic fireside chat, attendees will be equipped to champion purpose-driven public works initiatives, even in the face of adversity. 

W4 Unlocking the Potential of Your POTW: Generating Renewable Energy and Maximizing Its Value

With state and federal programs in place to assist with project financials, the time has never been better to generate clean energy from waste. New financial incentives and the desire to improve sustainability have changed the landscape of wastewater and biosolids treatment. Many federal and state policies have incentivized the conversion of waste to energy. A POTW is in the perfect position to leverage these incentives because they have the potential to convert their municipal biosolids (waste) into biogas and then convert this biogas into renewable energy. This presentation explores the various ways a brewery can utilize the biogas produced from solids/wastewater and the corresponding federal and state initiatives that will have an impact on the project's economics. Federal financial incentives available for municipalities and POTWs to implement renewable energy generation and then profit off energy produced include the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) and its corresponding tax credits, the Rural Energy for America Program (REAP) grants, the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) and Renewable Identification Numbers (RINs), the Low Carbon Fuel Standard (LCFS) with Carbon Intensity (CI) benchmarks, and electricity Renewable Identification Numbers (eRINs) credits. State financial incentives and energy profitability opportunities include the Renewable Portfolio Standard (RPS) and its corresponding Renewable Energy Credits (RECs) credits. This presentation will help POTWs assess how they can make the best use of their biogas resources, along with an examination of the relevant and primary market drivers that can influence the economic aspects of the project. The market drivers in this presentation include federal funding opportunities and key aspects of the voluntary and compliance carbon markets. These factors collectively influence the gas's valuation, the return on investment for your project, and the potential for generating additional revenue streams for your organization. In summary, by harnessing its biogas resources in conjunction with existing market incentives, a POTW can achieve decarbonization of its operations and promote sustainability for both its facility and the surrounding community.

10:00 am - 11:00 am

W5 Asset Management and Capital Funding

Budgetary pressures often impede capital program expenditures or investments for maintenance and replacement - especially if a multi-year capital plan is not prepared or the impacts of capital projects on the operating budget are not considered. This lack of investment makes it increasingly difficult to sustain assets in a condition necessary to provide expected service levels. Deferring essential maintenance or asset replacement can reduce ability to provide services and may threaten public health, safety, and overall quality of life. Also, as the physical condition of assets decline, deferring maintenance and/or replacement may increase long-term costs and liabilities. Establishing capital planning, budgeting, and reporting practices to encourage adequate capital spending levels ameliorates this problem. The capital plan should address the continuing investment necessary to properly maintain capital assets including proactive steps to promote adequate investment in capital renewal and replacement and necessary expenditure levels for maintenance. Good capital planning begins with asset management planning. Asset management is the bedrock for good capital improvement plans. A Capital Improvement Plan (CIP) contains all the individual capital projects, equipment purchases, and major studies for a local government, in conjunction with construction and completion schedules, and in consort with financing plans. Good capital improvement planning will use the asset management plan to identify and prioritize capital projects, as well as set timelines for projects to begin. It will also determine financial policies that identify and dedicate revenue sources to help maintain the expected service levels of capital assets. Florida has available funding for an asset management plan and the resulting capital projects identified by it. The Florida Clean Water and Drinking Water State Revolving Fund (CWSRF and DWSRF respectively) programs include incentives for asset management plans as well as capital projects. The CWSRF is Florida’s largest financial assistance program for water infrastructure, providing low-interest loans to local governments to plan, design, and build or upgrade wastewater, stormwater, and nonpoint source pollution prevention projects. Additionally, Small Community Wastewater Facility Grants are also available for a financially disadvantaged small community (a county, municipality, or special district that has a population of 10,000 or fewer, and a per capita annual income less than the state per capita annual income). Florida’s DWSRF provides low-interest loans to local governments and certain private utilities to plan, design, and build or upgrade drinking water systems. Discounted assistance for small communities may be available. Asset management is a true asset with capital budgeting and capital improvement plans. It can improve service, minimize costs, minimize down time and provide a road map for funding projects. It can even earn a break on interest rates for loans!

W6 e-Construction Innovations: From Silos to Workflows

The construction phase has historically been the most disconnected phase from the rest of an asset's lifecycle. Due to siloed data and manual processes, construction data rarely flows freely between processes and stakeholders within the phase itself, much less to subsequent phases. This presentation will explore federal, state, and local perspectives on how construction phase systems and technology are evolving to open up construction data to be more accessible and integrated across the full lifecycle. Topics will include e-bidding, mobile inspections and digital as‐builts with GPS rovers, construction administration, GIS mapping of construction progress, digital project delivery, asset lifecycle management, and more. 
 
W7 Strategic Leadership and Planning - Local Government Case Studies
 
Every organization encounters various types of silos, but there is a significant untapped potential when we collaborate effectively. Some struggle to distinguish between the concepts of Operational Excellence and Accountability. While certain leaders address immediate operational challenges, strategic leaders adopt a more expansive outlook, emphasizing the organization’s long-term vision and maximizing the efficient use of talent to attain it. A strategic plan serves as a guiding path, aligning available resources with ambitious goals and fostering a link between local government administrators and the community’s requirements.The metrics identified during the strategic planning process identify areas of improvement and pave the way for progress. Inclusivity, in this context, involves a deliberate effort to engage team members at all organizational levels as an integral aspect of your culture and strategy. The capacity to openly discuss critical topics such as local mental health policy, financial transparency, engagement with multiple stakeholders, community awareness, inclusivity, and outreach fosters trust and cultivates cohesive teams. By establishing strategic management that harmonizes effectively with both internal teams and external stakeholders, organizations can enhance productivity, foster innovation, and cultivate a more engaged workforce. In essence, creating and executing a strategic plan is a dynamic process that requires a combination of visionary thinking, practical feedback, and collaborative effort to drive an organization toward its long-term goals and aspirations. Discover how few Florida agencies are revolutionizing the way they assess performance outcomes. Be sure to come equipped with thoughtful questions and prepare to be inspired by their expertise as you strive to excel as a distinguished strategic leader within your organization. 
 
W8 Data Driven Potable Water Main Replacement - Maintaining Flexibility While Aligning Budget to Needs
 
The leading water utility in northeast Florida recognized it was encountering continually increasing maintenance costs and customer service issues with galvanized pipe in their distribution system which includes over 200 miles of 1.5-inch and 2-inch pipe.  The galvanized pipe distribution system is located in neighborhoods all over the city and dates back to the 1940's.  The utility implemented a program to target the replacement of the aging galvanized pipe on a project area basis.  36 project areas were identified.  As the program moved forward it became apparent that the large project area concept could not be sustained based on budget availability and continually increasing construction costs.  While the need for the program was still an urgent matter, the prioritization and identification of the needed replacements needed to be aligned with the available resources.  These resources that needed to be taken into account included budget availability, design capacity, material availability, contractor availability as well as utility construction crew availability. Utilizing a data driven approach combined with an ESRI/GIS based portal, project areas were defined and prioritized aligning available budget with the end result being a multi-year work plan to meet the clients needs.  The current program work plan includes over 80 defined project areas encompassing over 275,000 LF (52 miles).The presentation will present the history of the program and how it morphed over a 5 year timeframe that has created a sustainable long range work plan that supports the utilities needs. The presentation will also discuss customer impact/outreach, construction contracting methodologies and unique situations encountered to date.

11:15 am - 12:15 pm
 
W9 City of Holmes Beach City Center Improvement Project
 
The City of Holmes Beach’s City Center project includes Marina Drive and Gulf Drive around the signalized intersection of Marina Drive at Gulf Drive, located in the commercial center and geographic center of the City. This approximately $3 million project incorporates roadway improvements including turn lanes, bicycle lanes, sidewalks, and crosswalks at two of the only three roads that access the northern half of Anna Maria Island. Infrastructure improvement includes updating the nearly 70-year-old stormwater infrastructure, as well as improving storm water quality with infiltration trenches and pervious surface treatments. Rectangular Rapid Flashing Beacons (RRFBs) will improve multimodal access through the project. Street lighting, bollard lighting, and landscaping provides safety as well as water quality improvements. INNOVATIVE TREATMENTS Along the southside of Gulf Drive a trench drain was called for in the engineering plans for roadway drainage. During construction the existing stormwater concrete pipe along the south side of the roadway was found to have numerous failing joints and was determined this run needed to be replaced. The solution to replace the pipe to accommodate the trench drain removed any potential conflicts. Since this area was going to be disturbed it was decided that infiltration media could be used to surround the stormwater pipe to provide treatment in the area to enhance the use of the trench drain, stormwater inlets, replaced stormwater pipe, and adjacent parking lot. This area was then topped with pervious pavers to provide combined water quality with the stormwater management system and a pervious paver path for pedestrians to easily access the area, where none existing prior to the project. LEADERSHIP was required to manage the prime contractor and coordinate with sub-contractors, general public, elected officials, and area businesses. City staff also coordinated with the contractors for an ever changing evolving temporary traffic control plan to maximize roadwork improvement with maintaining traffic flow on the only three roads to use the northern part of Anna Maria Island. COMMUNITY IMPACT The long overdue stormwater infrastructure improvements provide increased longevity to the stormwater system and ensure that residents and guests alike can continue to make full use of the roadway including bicycle and pedestrian modes during and after storm events. The addition of walkways provides full pedestrian access around City Center and to the adjacent businesses, trolley stops, and ultimately beach access. The landscaping and lighting provides much needed aesthetics and safety treatments for all modes of travel. The infiltration areas provided water quality to stormwater and helps ensure cleaner water runoff to the adjoining environmentally sensitive waterways of the gulf and the bay for future generations to enjoy. BUDGET The City pursued and obtained the majority of funds for this project from federal and state grants. 
 
W10 Innovative Practices for Eliminating Pedestrian Detours
 
Pedestrian and bicycle safety is a top priority for transportation agencies around the world. With limited Right-of-Way and limited funding, ensuring these vulnerable users are provided an accessible route to reach their destinations, especially during sidewalk maintenance operations and other temporary traffic control conditions, has been one of the greatest challenges. With the US Access Board's final rule on the Public Right-of-Way Accessibility Guidelines (PROWAG) and its pending adoption into law, these challenges demand a solution. The SpanPath modular elevated pathway system provides an innovative solution to help overcome these challenges.
 
W11 Mastering Delegation: Using the 7 Essential Steps to Delegating Effectively
 
As professionals there is a constant pull on our time and resources and as you develop your career your capacity to do everything shrinks.  Effective delegation is a critical skill for professionals at all levels, as it empowers teams, fosters growth, and drives productivity. In this professional development session, we will explore the seven crucial steps of delegation, providing participants with a practical roadmap to delegate with precision and finesse.
1. When and What to Delegate: Learn to identify tasks suitable for delegation and the optimal timing for delegation, ensuring a smooth workflow for yourself and your team.
2. Handling Objections: Discover strategies to overcome common objections and resistance when delegating, allowing for seamless task distribution.
3. Preparation: Understand the importance of adequately preparing for delegation, including selecting the right team members and setting clear expectations.
4. Incentives for Delegation: Explore the motivational aspects of delegation, including recognizing and rewarding your team for their contributions.
5. Planning Delegation: Develop a robust plan for effective delegation, including task breakdown, timelines, and checkpoints to ensure success.
6. Purpose and Method Communication: Learn how to effectively communicate the purpose of the delegated task and provide clear instructions, creating a shared understanding within your team.
7. Follow-up and Feedback: Master the art of post-delegation follow-up and feedback, ensuring that the task is executed according to your vision and offering a platform for growth and learning. 
Professional Application: This workshop will equip participants with the skills and knowledge needed to become adept delegators, ultimately leading to enhanced team collaboration and personal productivity. Join us to unlock the power of delegation and supercharge your professional journey.
How the Session Works: This interactive session will allow you to self-assess your current capabilities around delegation and engage in conversations and application exercises around the 7 steps.  Each participant will work in a provided workbook to provide them an anchoring tool to apply skills when they return to work.    
 
W12 One person's trash is another person's black gold: Hillsborough County Southeast Landfill Biosolids Composting Facility
 
Biosolids management is a task every municipal wastewater treatment facility must tackle. CDM Smith provided engineering services to Hillsborough County for the design of a brand new biosolids composting facility located at Hillsborough County’s Southeast Landfill. The County's Biosolids Composting Facility creates "black gold," also known as compost, from two waste products: mulched yard waste and biosolids. After a successful small-scale pilot program from 2015-19, the biosolids composting program expanded in 2020. The compost facility had to be designed to accommodate both raw materials streams including programming traffic ingress and egress (tanker truck and dump truck deliveries as well as trucked removal of finished compost product), biosolids unloading area, storage areas for yard waste and inoculant, active compost area, compost curing/drying area, screening area, area for storage of screen overs (for use in composting), storage of final compost product, equipment storage, runoff containment, collection/capture, conveyance and storage (sump with submersible pumps and two 25,000 gallon capacity above ground FRP storage tanks), a permanent office trailer with an onsite wastewater treatment and disposal system, site security, etc. Today, the program composts 35,000 wet tons of biosolids and an equivalent amount of yard waste each year. It saves taxpayers up to $900,000 a year in hauling, disposal, and other costs associated with yard waste and biosolids management. The program also keeps waste out of the landfill while generating almost $180,000 in revenue from compost sales. Compost revenue and waste disposal savings will culminate in the operation paying for itself within five years.In a nutshell, the County's Biosolids Composting Facility converts two waste streams into a single revenue source. It's a win-win-win situation for taxpayers, the environment, and Hillsborough County.
 
2:45 pm - 3:45 pm
 
W13 Gulfstream Roundabout
 
The improvements under this project consisted of the replacement of the signalized intersection at SR 45 and Gulfstream Avenue with a dual lane roundabout in Sarasota County, City of Sarasota. This intersection is the main connection to the Lido Key and Longboat Key barrier islands, which represent over 8,000 residents, businesses, and is a popular tourist location. Its location is nestled in the heart of downtown Sarasota, surrounded by several high-rise condominiums and apartments with limited right of way. Pavement restoration, milling and resurfacing, drainage improvements, curb ramp upgrades, signal improvements, ITS improvements, and lighting improvements were included with this project. Water main and force main were constructed under SR 45. During this project, a T-shaped signalized intersection was converted, with connected roadways at 40,500 and 33,000 AADT to a roundabout. To complete this project, a complex temporary traffic control plan was utilized to create two "cross-over" intersections. The cross-over patterns switched the typical United States lane side convention, similar to at a diverging diamond interchange. Vehicles were transitioned to the left side of the roadway for their respective directions. This was done under a 25 MPH speed limit, using the complete 80’ of existing pavement to transition 6 lanes in total. SR 45, a major Sarasota thoroughfare, was severed with the temporary traffic control plan. North-South was no longer a permitted movement for 16-months. This was done to expedite construction with increased work zone. Over 7,250 linear feet of K-wall and low-profile wall was installed and relocated during this project simultaneously with, 3,250 linear feet of storm sewer reinforced pipe, and 490 linear feet of 14" & 18" force main installed with 210 linear feet of this in a 30" steel casing. Additionally, there were 700 linear feet of water main installed ranging from 8" through 16". 52 light poles and 7,500 linear feet of conduit was installed during this time, as well as 4,500 linear feet of new fiber optic cable. The goal of this project was to create a safer multimodal intersection that becomes the gateway to the downtown City of Sarasota area. This roundabout added four High-Intensity Activated Crosswalk Beacons (HAWKs) with high emphasis crosswalk pavement markings, 10’ sidewalks, and RRFBs for pedestrians. Pedestrian safety has been a historical challenge with balancing the movement of vehicles and pedestrians through the corridor. The implementation of the roundabout HAWK system provides safe pedestrian crossing, thereby reducing jaywalking and short-duration vehicles traffic. Pedestrians and cyclists can now better enjoy the downtown area and be connected across 4-lane SR 45, all without reducing vehicular volume.   
 
W14 Roadway Management Technologies: Crowd Source Technology Provides Real-Time Pavement Performance Analytics
 
Roadway Management Technologies is revolutionizing pavement preservation and performance management by providing passively collected, real-time pavement performance analytics to our customers. Using our proprietary RoadRunner technology, a city’s fleet can gather daily pavement quality data for an entire road network. Daily data collection allows our system to analyze not only which roads are failing, but also the rate of degradation for individual roads. RMT can determine the right treatment, at the right time before more expensive reconstructive work is necessary. Our system then monitors the performance of preservation efforts to generate a cost-benefit analysis. We have also built in Work Order and Fleet Management systems so that we can be a one-stop shop for all performance tracking needs. We recognize the crisis states face when it comes to road infrastructure and are here to ensure we stretch road budgets further. Officials in city, county, and state agencies run into both budget and time restraints. Attendees will learn how technology can increase budget efficiency along with the importance of a preservation model versus a worst-first approach for a road network. With technology working behind the scenes, employees can focus their energy on more important matters and utilize the intel from our software to increase budget efficiency. Agencies can also learn how easy it is to provide helpful information to taxpayers and other city officials on where the needs of the community are. An increase in data collection can provide necessary information to prove a need for increased funding and to apply for applicable grant opportunities.  
 
W15 Using Social Media for Effective Public Outreach and Education
 
This technical session will be a panel discussion of communications directors from four Florida municipalities to discuss how social media can be used to effectively communicate to residents for education campaigns, project updates, and general engagement. There are more opportunities than ever to engage with residents, but how can you effectively reach them with the onslaught of information that the average person consumes on a daily basis.  We will speak to Communications Directors at several cities across Florida who have done just that.  Their social media campaigns on topics from solid waste and recycling education, to highlighting key project successes, to staff appreciation, to emergency management storm preparations and alerts of king tide events are a template for how Public Works can effectively engage with the public.  Their tips can be implemented in any community to improve messaging and advance Public Works initiatives.
 
W16 Gentilly Resilience District Implementation- Creating Adaptable and Transferable Approaches to Resilience at the Neighborhood Level 
 
The City of New Orleans (CNO) is 1 of 13 grant recipients of the National Disaster Resilience (NDR) program, sponsored by the U.S Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) receiving over $140 million in funding. In accordance with NDR’s goals of resilience, CNO used these funds to establish and implement projects within the Gentilly Resiliency District (GRD). These GRD projects will reduce flood risk and long-term costs associated with flooding, slow land subsidence, increase property values, spur economic activity, as well as encourage neighborhood revitalization, and adapt the city to a changing environment. The goal is to create a neighborhood approach to resilience that can easily be repeated and applied to other neighborhoods in the city and region. The Dillard Wetland Project is one of the resilience projects being implemented as part of the GRD effort. The Dillard Wetland encompasses 27 acres of low-lying forest and is one of the last remaining parcels of wetland within city limits. This project is designed to provide a retreat from urban life, increase stormwater retention and re-establish healthy wetland vegetation. The evolution of the design elements will be presented, which include:  (1) pump station and piping to route stormwater into the wetlands; (2) grading plans to reduce residential flooding and provide temporary stormwater retention; (3) vegetation management and control plan to remove invasive species trees, restore native plants, manage vector species in the wetlands, and improve the health of the ecosystem; and (4) boardwalks through the forest to provide access to outdoor classroom and recreational space. Community engagement is an important component of the project and the design adaptation influenced by community input will be highlighted. These design elements leverage the triple-bottom-line benefit cost analysis by providing the traditional benefits of reducing flood damage, but also by improving property value, educational benefits, and water quality.