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Committee Chair White transitioned to Public Works' presentation stating that Council <br />hasn't had much time to review the individual department presentations and prepare <br />questions. She mentioned there might be a necessity to schedule another Public Works <br />meeting to follow up with questions. <br />Mr. Eric Horvath, Director of Public Works, thanked Corporation Counsel Cristal Brisco <br />and applauded the work of City Legal stating their services are a huge savings to the City. <br />He then introduced his administrative staff and their function to the Public Work's <br />mission. <br />The mission of Public Works, he went on, is developing sustainable assets and <br />infrastructure, and enhancing the quality of life. Mr. Horvath generally discussed the <br />organizational structure of Public Works and the various funds that finance the <br />department. He displayed a graph detailing staffing levels and showing a decrease over <br />the past few years. Recently, staffing levels have leveled out. The department will soon <br />be in labor negotiations for the bargaining staff within the department, therefore, their <br />salary increases have not been adjusted for in the budget proposal since negotiations have <br />not started yet. <br />The Utilities Division represents the largest division of the department and is split <br />between WaterWorks and Wastewater. Mr. Horvath transitioned to discussing the <br />Sustainability Division aims to design and implement programs that meet the triple <br />bottom line: a social, environmental and a long -term view on economics. Most projects <br />within this division focus on alternative energy and community outreach efforts. Goals of <br />the department include continuing waste reduction projects, and energy savings and <br />conservation projects. The division tracks the energy costs of the City. Eric mentioned <br />that all electricity and natural gas for all City departments are built into the Sustainability <br />$4 million budget. So, most of the budget expenses are between those two (2) line items. <br />The Sustainability Division is committed to reducing that number. The Sustainability <br />Division also manages the recycling pick -up for all City -owned facilities. Another big <br />sustainability project for the year was the Solar Energy project at the Century Center. The <br />department intends to extend alternative energy projects like these. <br />The Public Works department has projected a three percent (3 %) increase in natural gas <br />costs, and has considered a rate increase on the electricity side. Mr. Horvath went on to <br />discuss declining facilities and the need for upfront capital to consider upgrades and <br />maintenance (e.g. HVAC systems) to facilities like the Century Center among others. <br />Mr. Horvath transitioned to the Sewers Division highlighting accomplishments in de- <br />icing, snow - plowing, alley grading, street sweeping and repairs, and lastly the storm <br />debris removal. Mr. Horvath applauded his staff's response along with the cooperation of <br />other City departments to the recent historic flood. <br />The Traffic and Lighting Division has been working on transitioning to more efficient <br />LED lights, and have replaced a significant number of street signs. The department is <br />requesting an additional staff member for Traffic and Lighting. <br />7 <br />