OWNER EXPECTATIONS: Dear Members: When it comes to the quality and timeliness of design review submittals, I have seen that there is quite a range of effort that doesn’t always match owner expectations. This problem seems to get worse as the economy improves as I’m sure it is related to time management in general. Over the years, I have seen many design firms create and execute both internal and external quality control (QA/QC) programs to help ensure the quality of each submittal they present to their clients. I know these programs are well intended, but from my years receiving submittals at Public Agencies, it seems clear that there is some compromising that happens once a project milestone has been missed. In looking back in our files of why some of our projects did not stay on schedule, it wasn’t usually during the construction phase, but during the design phase where important milestones were missed. Substandard submittals not only prove to be very frustrating for agency review staff, but significantly add to project delivery delays overall. For these reasons and others, a series of “Submittal Guidelines” was developed and is bound into Mesa’s design contracts and are available on the internet at http://mesaaz.gov/business/engineering/submittal-process-guidelines. Separate guidelines have been developed for Building Projects, Mechanical Projects, P&R Projects, Roadway Projects, and Water/Wastewater Projects. Although each agency is a little different in their expectations of what is to be included in each submittal, I think our published guidelines roughly align with what is generally accepted in the industry for the various stages (30/60/90) of typical project development. Hopefully, as time goes on, with published guidelines, and closer adherence to QA/QC programs, the quality and timeliness of designer review submittals will improve, and the project delivery schedules will more closely align with public expectations. Sincerely,
Rob Kidder, P.E.
APWA AZ - CHAPTER PRESIDENT
Stormwater and Public Works Workshop
February 5, 2020
APWA Northern Branch Mixer
February 6, 2020
APWA Northern Branch Prescott Valley Luncheon
February 18, 2020
Topic: CYMPO
Speaker: Chris Bridges
http://arizona.apwa.net/EventDetails/21139
APWA Luncheon
February 19, 2020
Topic: 2020 Legislative Session
Speaker: Rusty Bowers, Speaker of the House
http://arizona.apwa.net/EventDetails/21062 Engineers Week Reception
February 20, 2020
Statewide Conference
July 29-31, 2020
Special thanks to those firms that have already registered as sponsors and exhibitors: - Opening Reception Sponsor
 - Key Card Sponsor
- Wi-Fi Sponsor
 - Lanyard Sponsor
  - Fun Night Sponsor
 - Platinum Sponsors
        
  - Coffee Sleeve Sponsor
- Thursday Breakfast & Beak Sponsor
Speedie & Associates
- Friday Beakfast & Vendor Drawing Sponsor
- Public Agency Sponsors
Achen-Gardner Construction
- Golf Sponsor
Neenah Foundry
- Prize Drawing Sponsors
Achen-Gardner Construction
Wilson & Company
Exhibitors | Achen-Gardner Construction | | AZTEC Engineering | | Burgess & Niple | | Civiltec Engineering | | CVL Consultants | | DCS Contracting | | Dibble Engineering | | EPS Group | | HILGARTWILSON | | InEight | | Lithified Technologies | | Neenah Foundry | | PACE | | Pavement Restoration | | Rinker Materials | | Ritoch-Powell & Associates | | SealMaster | | Shephard Wesnitzer | | Speedie & Associates | | Sport Surfaces | | Sunland Asphalt | | Superior Supply | | T2 Utility Engineers | | Tap Master | | Wilson & Company | | Western Technologies | | Wood |
New Members
| Name | Title | Company | | James Boehnlein | Field Operations Sup | City of Tolleson | | Israel Diaz | Facility Maintenance | City of Tolleson | | Gabriel X. Elias, Sr | Field Operations Superintendent | City of Tolleson, Arizona | | Monica Farrell | | | | Armando Garza | Facility Maintenance | City of Tolleson | | Gustavo Jones | Streets Maintenance | City Of Tolleson | | Garrett Andrew Knoll | | SealMaster Arizona | | Reyes Lara, Sr | Streets Maintenance | City of Tolleson | | Mike Marquez | Traffic Operations Coord | City of Tolleson | | Jamie R. McCracken | Field Operations Director | City of Tolleson | | Frederick Miller | Mechanic | City of Tolleson | | Gaylord Moore | Streets Maintenance | City of Tolleson | | An Nguyen | Grounds Maintenance | City of Tolleson | | Xavier Orona | Facility Maintenance | City of Tolleson | | Thomas Revious | Facility Maintenance | City of Tolleson | | Juan Reyes | Preventive Maintenance | City of Tolleson | | Ruben Rincon | Grounds Crew Leader | City of Tolleson | | Colleen Ruiz, PE | Principal | Stantec | | Mayra Ruvalcaba | Crew Leader Streets | City of Tolleson | | Pamela Salazar | Administrative Assistant | City of Tolleson | | Rick Saucedo | Streets Maintenance | City Of Tolleson | | Antonio Solorio | Sr Mechanic | City of Tolleson | | Michael Stopher | Grounds Lead | City of Tolleson | | Kim A. Tanner, PE | Principal-in-Charge | Arcadis | | John Tercero | Grounds Maintenance | City of Tolleson | | Francisco Torres | Streets Maintenance | City Of Tolleson | | Norman Umberger | Environmental Dude | AzDEMA |
New Member Spotlight
 Name and Title:Michael MacDonald - Civil Designer
Agency:HilgartWilson
With APWA Since: Student member since spring 2018 and professional member since December 2019.
Describe your job responsibilities:Water Infrastructure. Water and sewer design as well as reports.
What was your favorite project to work on in the last 10 years? Working on any project that is within the vicinity of where I live. I am able to see my work become implemented into the community.
Who's Who In Public Works 
Name: Steve Orosz
Agency: ADOT Northern Region
Title: Assistant Regional Traffic Engineer
What are you responsible for in your new role?
I am responsible for the traffic operations and engineering for the northern region of the State. This area spans the area between Quartzite to the western border of the state, through Parker, Lake Havasu City, Bullhead, Kingman, north to Littlefield, Page, to the New Mexico Border, then south to Show Low, Payson, Sunset Point, the Verde Valley, Prescott, Sedona, Flagstaff, and Winslow. Sounds like a song, eh? We review citizen concerns regarding speeding, traffic signalization, crash countermeasures, traffic control during construction and regulatory, warning and construction signs. We also assist the ADOT Districts with various construction and other projects.
How long have you been in this position?
I have been in this position for about a year.
Where did you work previously?
I worked at the City of Prescott for five years as the CIP Program Development Manager and as the City Engineer. Prior to that, I was in California working in my own company, for small public agencies and for various engineering companies for over 30 years.
What Challenges do you experience in your role?
The biggest challenge is meeting the expectations of the public. Many times we get requests to install a stop light or similar request. The public wonders why we just can’t install a traffic signal or a Stop sign to control speeds. We need to balance the expectation of the public with engineering judgement, national and state requirements, and policies regarding traffic engineering devices.
How long have you been an APWA member?
I have been an APWA member for 28 years.
Have you served on the Board or any committees?
Currently, I am serving on the Arizona Chapter Board. Thank you for your support. I am also a member of the Northern Arizona Branch. Prior to that, I have held various positions in California Chapters, including the creation of two new chapters in the state. I was the chapter Awards Committee Chairman for about 10 years highlighting and celebrating the best public works projects in the Branch.
What benefits do you get out of being a member?
Professionally, I have benefited through the development of personal relationships with other Public Works Professionals. These relationships have helped me with understanding more about public works and how we are all connected. The Leadership development programs that APWA has online, the Public Works Academy, National opportunities, and PWX are all fantastic and are highly recommended to participate in. Personally, I have grown to be a better person taking the lessons learned from the professional ethics side of APWA into my own life.
What would you like to share with APWA Members?
GET INVOLVED! You get so much more out of APWA when you participate. Join a committee, participate in a work event, attend a special event, and participate in National Public Works Week.
Tell us about your family and hobbies:
I have been married to my wife for over 38 years. We have two grown sons 24 and 29. We both love to hike, bike (mountain or road), cook and explore. One of our favorite places to visit and explore is Sedona.
APWA 2020 Annual Sponsorship
We have some great sponsorship opportunities to highlight your firm including in the Southern and Northern branches of APWA. Check out the link for further information.
http://arizona.apwa.net/Content/Chapters/arizona.apwa.net/Documents/2020%20Sponsorship%20Flier.pdf
Professional Development
PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT CALENDAR
Comparing Approaches to Inflow & Infiltration Mitigation February 6, 2020 https://www.apwa.net/MyApwa/Events/Event_Display.aspx?EventKey=CLL020620&utm_source=Informz&utm_medium=Email&utm_campaign=Informz%
20Emails&_zs=t9auH1&_zl=VOWU5
Compressed Natural Gas (CNG). Making it work for your Agency Marketing 12, 2020 https://www.apwa.net/MyApwa/Events/Event_Display.aspx?EventKey=CLL031220A&utm_source=Informz&utm_medium=Email&utm_campaign=
Informz%20Emails&_zs=xE0tL1&_zl=XBDW5
Government Facility Security Programs & Technology April 16, 2020 http://apwa.informz.net/z/cjUucD9taT03NzQ1NjczJnA9MSZ1PTg1OTM4ODE5OSZsaT02MjU0NDkxMw/
index.html
TALKING TOP TECH WEBINARS
Starting an AV/CM Pilot Edition March 26, 2020 https://www.apwa.net/MyApwa/Events/Event_Display.aspx?EventKey=TTT032620&utm_source=Informz&utm_medium=Email&utm_campaign
=Informz%20Emails&_zs=xE0tL1&_zl=eBDW5
Cybersecurity for Critical Infrastructure May 7, 2020 https://www.apwa.net/MyApwa/Events/Event_Display.aspx?EventKey=TTT050720&utm_source=Informz&utm_medium=Email&utm_campaign
=Informz%20Emails&_zs=xE0tL1&_zl=fBDW5
Waste to Resource Technology Edition June 11, 2020 https://www.apwa.net/MyApwa/Events/Event_Display.aspx?EventKey=TTT061120&utm_source=Informz&utm_medium=Email&utm_campaign
=Informz%20Emails&_zs=xE0tL1&_zl=gBDW5
Public Works Job Opportunities
This section allows agencies to advertise their open positions. Please provide your advertisement and/or link to sniebel@woodpatel.com.
City of Avondale Engineering Project Manager (water/wastewater) Planner Senior Budget Analyst Senior Planner https://www.governmentjobs.com/careers/avondale City of Chandler Development Project Coordinator https://www.governmentjobs.com/careers/chandleraz City of Douglas Deputy Public Works Director Equipment Mechanic II Grants Coordinator Public Works Director / City Engineer Waste Water Plant Operator https://www.douglasaz.gov/Jobs.aspx Town of Florence Building Inspector Wastewater Treatment Plant Operator Senior Wastewater Treatment Plan Operator http://www.florenceaz.gov/jobs Town of Gilbert Recreation Leader Facilities Utility Work - Distribution
https://www.governmentjobs.com/careers/gilbert City of Globe Right-Of-Way Technician Water/Wastewater Administrator http://www.globeaz.gov/departments/job-opportunities Lake Havasu City Maintenance Specialist https://www.governmentjobs.com/careers/lhcaz Maricopa County Air Quality Planner Senior –Rule Writer https://www.governmentjobs.com/careers/maricopa?page=3 City of Mesa Building Plans Examiner/Senior Building Plans Examiner Deputy Director - Electric Electrical Controls Specialist Equipment Mechanic I Facilities Equipment Technician II – HVAC Intelligent Transportation Systems Operations Foreman Lineman Parks, Recreation & Community Facilities Project Manager Real Estate Services Supervisor Recreation Coordinator Recreation Programmer Solid Waste Equipment Operator II Streetlight Technician I Water Plant Maintenance Specialist I/II – Water Supply Water Resources Maintenance Specialist III https://www.governmentjobs.com/careers/mesaaz?page=1 City of Peoria Civil Engineer – Site Development Solid Waste Equipment Operator Building Inspector I – Fixed Term Development Technician I https://www.peoriaaz.gov/government/departments/human-resources/employment City of Phoenix Building Code Examiner Facilities Projects Planner Fiscal Manager – Parks & Rec Traffic Maintenance Foreman II Traffic Signal Technician Civil Engineer II Civil Inspector II Water Resource Specialist Economic Development Program Manager Project Manager Equipment Operator Equipment Service Worker II Solid Waste Equipment Operator Heavy Diesel Truck and Equipment Mechanic https://hcmprod.phoenix.gov/psc/hcmprodtam/EMPLOYEE/HRMS/c/HRS_HRAM_FL.HRS_CG_SEARCH_FL.GBL?FOCUS=Applicant& Pima County Procurement Officer Facilities Management Trade Specialist (Commercial Electrician) Facilities Management Trade Specialist (Central Plant Systems Technician/Operator) Facilities Management Trade Specialist (Refrigeration/HVAC) Public Works Supervisor Hydrologist Principal Public Works Construction Inspector Wastewater Mechanical Maintenance Technician Wastewater Instrumentation & Process Control Specialist Program Coordinator Unclassified (Systems Engineering) https://www.governmentjobs.com/careers/pima?page=1 Pinal County Code Compliance Supervisor Grants Administrator Heavy Equipment Technician Management and Budget Analyst https://www.governmentjobs.com/careers/pinalcounty City of Prescott Deputy City Clerk https://cityofprescott.applicantpro.com/jobs/ City of Prescott Valley Recreation Coordinator Seasonal Public Works Laborer https://www.pvaz.net/229/Employment City of Scottsdale Economic Development Specialist Fleet Technician II SCADA Systems Specialist Water Resources Administrator https://workzone.apwa.net/career/40931/Solid-Waste-Equipment-Operator-Ii-Arizona-Az-Scottsdale?_zs=t9auH1&_zl=PQWU5 Town of Sierra Vista Civil Engineer/Senior Civil Engineer Engineering Technician Fleet Supervisor Maintenance Worker - Wastewater Wastewater Supervisor Wastewater Treatment Plant Level IV Operator https://workzone.apwa.net/career/40073/Wastewater-Supervisor-Arizona-Az-Sierra-Vista City of Surprise Civil Engineer Project Manager - CIP https://www.governmentjobs.com/careers/surprise City of Tempe Deputy Internal Services Director – Human Resources https://www.tempe.gov/government/internal-services/human-resources/careers
City of Tucson
Director of Business Services Department
Engineering Manager - Transportation
Water Systems Operator (Water Quality & Operations Division)
https://www.jobapscloud.com//tucson/Default.asp?#EmpDiv1
City of Yuma
Assistant Director of Engineering
Assistant Director of Utilities
https://www.governmentjobs.com/careers/yuma
The Town of Queen Creek is Building 4th Fire Station in Response to Growth… The area at Queen Creek and Signal Butte Roads is experiencing immense growth with Fulton Homes Corporation building a new 111-acre housing development and Queen Creek Unified School District developing a new school. To respond to this growth, and the growth throughout the community, the Town of Queen Creek is strategically placing its 4th Fire Station just north of the Queen Creek Road and Signal Butte intersection at 20155 S. Signal Butte Road.
The three-bay station will provide firefighting and emergency medical response to Queen Creek’s rapidly growing northeastern area. The station will also have office space for assigned law enforcement to facilitate service and outreach. Like the Town’s other stations, Fire Station 4 will be a state-of-the-art facility to minimize response times through a well thought-out design and proven floor plan. One important element to the design is a conscious approach to promote the health and well-being of the Town’s first responders that will operate out of this facility.
The building will utilize efficient, low maintenance materials and will blend with the surrounding community, by utilizing some of the same building elements as the adjacent neighborhood projects, while still remaining visually identifiable as a fire station.
Slated to open later this year, Fire Station 4 is being constructed by FCI Constructors, Inc., who also built Fire Station 3 in 2018. 
 Long-Term Maintenance of Infrastructure Systems
So much thought, work, and attention go into the contracting for and building of public works infrastructure systems that their long-term maintenance seems to be overshadowed. Yet the operation and maintenance responsibilities are crucial and in a growing community offer unlimited opportunities for the public works industry and their professionals. Nearly all of the infrastructure that comes along with growth will ultimately be the responsibility for the public agency to operate and maintain. With the help from several of our public agencies, we took a look at what the long-term maintenance of public infrastructure systems looks like as we begin 2020.
Deferred Maintenance vs. growth…
Many agencies have found themselves in a balancing act between maintenance and growth of their systems. Deferred maintenance that happened in the last decade has increased needed maintenance all the while growth is occurring. Kevin Burke, Peoria Director of Public Works, sees it as two drivers – “taking care of what you’ve got and incorporating what is being added.” Still feeling the after effects of the Great Recession, many agencies have learned to do a lot with a little, making sure that public infrastructure are not only up to standard, but made to last.
Pima County continues to see a higher need for deferred maintenance programs than capacity increases at this time. They are budgeting more funds for facilities, parks, roads, wastewater structures and waterways maintenance programs than ever before. Some of these needs are approached as a yearly program – such as re-plastering an entire public pool each year on a rotating basis; or as a one-time significant event – such as replacing aging building facades in their downtown administrative offices. “These programs represent significant funds spent on maintaining service levels,” stated Nancy Cole, Pima County Project Management Office.
“Growth is traditionally seen as good: good for tax base, good for marketing, good for the overall economy,” states Chris Ewell, Phoenix Deputy Street Transportation Department Director. “What is not factored in is how you are going to pay for growth while scheduling the ongoing maintenance needs of existing, older infrastructure. We cannot continue with the mindset of that will be someone else’s problem to solve.” This careful balance and mindfulness of both old and new is what will provide a productive and prosperous public works initiative for agencies across the state.
Funding associated with the growing maintenance responsibilities is not always a perfect 1:1 ratio, but careful planning and partnerships is key in maintaining sustainable growth. The need to continue to fund asset management and the growing need for capital projects has pushed staff to seek alternate funding sources such as grants, bonds, and public private-partnerships. “Establishing growth metrics to sustain levels of service are critical in anticipating and planning for growth”, states Michael Boule, Surprise Assistant Director of Public Works, “These metrics might include roadway lane miles per full time staff member, fleet vehicle equivalencies, construction document pages per plan reviewer, etc. With this data, we can identify the thresholds for when additional resources will be necessary to maintain new and aging infrastructure.”
Maintenance Facilities…
To handle the expansive growth of the last decade, many agencies have been expanding and/or building new facilities to house their resources. The City of Surprise is currently under construction with a new Public Works Operations Facility. This 45,000 square foot facility will centralize the Solid Waste, Fleet Maintenance, and Streets divisions of Public Works. The facility, which will open spring of 2020, is sized for staff and equipment growth and will offer many business practice efficiencies.
The City of Peoria is looking at a new Fleet Maintenance Facility to accommodate the growth in fleet across the entire municipal corporation. With significant technology leaps with vehicles going to more driver assist or electric or autonomous features, different maintenance tools and space is required to maintain facilities.
The City of Phoenix has made some updates to maintenance facilities to accommodate their growth.
Opportunities…
Increased maintenance responsibilities are not only due to the acceptance of new infrastructure but also due to how our residences and businesses engage with the Agency. For example, the City of Surprise now has a smart phone application that allows any user to submit work orders for pot holes, trip hazards, missing signs, graffiti, etc. Prior to the application, the public works crews would have addressed these issues over time but the application has provided many more eyes out-and-about finding the issues with timely expectations.
Between resource availability, smart technology, and end-of-life issues, the longevity of new and existing infrastructure is always at the forefront. Simultaneously, Arizona continues to be a growth state and requires new infrastructure to be consistently added.
Some agencies have become more aggressive with their pavement preservation and road rehabilitation programs and are spending more time educating leadership on the lifecycle maintenance costs of roads, bridges, and storm water infrastructure. In return, many one-time funding opportunities are being found to address these issues.
Managing these opportunities will always be resolved with funding, but through better planning and creativity the scales are staying balanced.
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