Agenda - Public Works Committee - 08/20/2024

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The annual asphalt trail surface work described occurs by contractors, with routine patching performed by Public Works staff. As part of the course of travel around the park and trail system and providing work direction and inspections, supervisory staff are in and around trail corridors on a regular basis. This builds an awareness of the need and locations for patching, as well as more intensive annualized maintenance by contractors. This same familiarity with conditions guides other trail maintenance activity—for instance, after windstorms, staff are dispatched to areas known to have high probability for downed limbs or trees in wooded trail corridors. Other reoccurring work includes sweeping, mowing and brush management, as well as litter and refuse control, which are highlighted as follows: Sweeping Trails are swept as needed, which is most often associated with aforementioned storm and wind events. Fall sweeping is performed if leaves and acorns accumulate on trail surfaces—however,in some years,and early snowfall can be beneficial in that trails can be plowed, and the wet snow `lifts' leaves from the trail as part of the snow plowing process. In addition to a PTO driven rotary broom, the city can use a turbine debris blower, also operated by PTO as an attachment to a multi-use maintenance machine. The debris blower can also be employed for light, dry snowfalls which would be useful for situations where there are mostly dry leaves on the trail at the same time. Mowing Trailside mowing is performed as needed, which is often every few weeks during the Spring and early Summer, for a total of 7 to 10 times per year. Generally, a three-foot or more swath is cut alongside the trail to minimize long grass and brush hanging over the trail. This practice also provides for improved airflow over a bituminous trail, which reduces periods of standing water, which can lead to premature payment deterioration. Sweeping after mowing is not necessary, as mowers are dispatched to mow one side, then the other—then usually run down the center of the path with mower deck engaged to blow clippings off the trail surface. Brushing and tree trimming `Brushing' refers to the practice of cutting weeds, woody plants and small trees that encroach into the 2'+ foot clear zone referenced above. Some work is done by hand, but most is performed with specialized brush mowers, mounted to light equipment. Due to the size and velocity of debris thrown from the machine,'Trail Closed' and other signage is deployed to separate trail users from this maintenance activity. Another related activity that occurs at least twice per year, is pruning and trimming trees along and over trailways. Branches are cleared to a minimum of 9' feet overhead and limbs projecting out into the trailside 'clear zone' are also removed. Trees that are demonstrably in jeopardy of falling onto the trail may be identified and removed at this same time. Dead and downed trees that are away from the trail are considered valuable wildlife habitat and are not removed. Litter and refuse management 5