Street Sweeping Plan: City of Greeley Department of Public Works
Street Sweeping Plan: City of Greeley Department of Public Works
Street Sweeping Plan: City of Greeley Department of Public Works
Greeley, Colorado
Prepared By:
Street sweeping is one of the most visible aspects of the Public Works Department, for the
citizens and the traveling public. Clean streets and gutters not only give the City an overall clean
appearance, but aids in helping reduce traffic accidents and air pollution caused by fine dust
particles and sand put down during snowstorms. Street sweeping is an important part in the
Street Division, along with snow and ice control, weed control, street resurfacing and street
drainage maintenance functions.
Keeping debris off the street and out of the gutters prevents the debris from entering and plugging
the storm drainage system which can add to the cost the City faces for cleaning drainage lines.
There are four budgeted full-time team members in the Street Sweeping Plan. The team is
responsible for the daily maintenance and seeing that service is done on the equipment. The
Sweeping Team is responsible for sweeping over 284 miles, or 552 curb miles (a curb mile is from
the centerline to the edge of roadway).
Street sweeping has seasonal demands, as well (refer to Section III). A maintenance schedule was
developed for sweeping from a list of priorities. The analysis of street sweeping contained in this
plan is based on the most cost effective and efficient delivery of service. There are other factors
which the City considers in the street sweeping area. The City first considers the level of service
which would be acceptable (seasonal only, year-round sweeping, whether to sweep or not sweep
residential streets, etc.) There are also environmental issues which the City must consider.
CONTENT
SECTION I OBJECTIVES
SECTION II POLICIES & ORDINANCES
SECTION III OPERATIONS
SECTION IV LOCATIONS
SECTION V PERSONNEL AND EQUIPMENT LISTINGS
SECTION VI PREPARING FOR THE SEASON
SECTION VII MISCELLANEOUS
OBJECTIVES
One of the primary objectives of the City of Greeley, Department of Public Works, Street
Division is to provide a plan for the safe and orderly movement of emergency equipment, vehicle
traffic and pedestrians through the City.
The Street Sweeping Plan was developed to facilitate this objective as it relates to the Street
Division. This objective provides for an attractive City, as well as, arterial entry ways. In
addition there is a cleaner flowing drainage system.
The procedures presented in this Plan serve to outline the manner in which the Sweeping Team
performs sweeping provided to the citizens.
It is the policy of the City of Greeley, Department of Public Works, Street Division, Sweeping
Team to have a plan in writing for sweeping the ever growing infrastructure utilizing a
preventative maintenance schedule.
• Main arterials are first priority and are swept a minimum of twice a month (18 to 24 times
per year)
• Priority 2, 3 and residential streets are swept a minimum of five times per year.
• Downtown streets weekly (early morning on Fridays parking restrictions)
• Downtown alleys monthly
• Other paved alleys -- five times per year
• City owned parking lots -- monthly (early morning to avoid parked cars)
• Specials -- anytime (examples are traffic accidents, crack seal program, requests from
citizens, broken glass, debris, etc.) A special is anytime the sweeper stops routine
sweeping to take care of the request. A one hour minimum charge is added to any one
special.
• Over holidays, school vacations, etc. sweeper teams will make it a priority to sweep
around schools.
• The first and third Friday of the month the City shop, Street Division shop, service center
and inside Bus Garage will be swept.
• All team members will carry 2-way radios or have 2-way radios in their sweepers so they
can be reached at all times for emergencies and special requests.
Weather conditions can have a major impact on the Sweeping Plan. All sweeping listed above
shall be minimum. Additional sweeping may be required.
PARKING AND DISABLED VEHICLE POLICY
The Street Division Sweeping Team, with the help from the Greeley Police Department, follow up
on cars, trucks, trailers and boats left parked or abandoned in the public street for longer than 24
hours.
It is not our intent to anger the public by notifying the Police of these vehicles, but rather getting
these vehicles moved off the street. At times the Sweeping Team has found many vehicles,
campers, etc. parked or abandoned for such long periods of time that dirt and debris built up
causing storm water to back into the street.
(PARKING ORDINANCES)
(2) The permissible time for leaving a vehicle unattended within a street or highway right-of-
way shall be extended with respect to a disabled motor vehicle if, within the twenty-four hour
period, the owner or operator of the vehicle places a written notice conspicuously on or within the
vehicle indicating his or her intention to remove the vehicle from that location and if the vehicle,
in fact, is removed from that location to some location not within a street or highway right-of-way
within twenty-four (24) hours after the placing of the notice.
(3) Disabled motor vehicle, for the purposes of this section, means any motor vehicle which
is stopped or parked, either attended or unattended, upon a public right-of-way and which, due to
any mechanical failure or any inoperability because of a collision, a fire or any other such damage,
is temporarily inoperable under its own power.
(4) Nothing in this section shall limit the authority of a Police officer to move a damaged
vehicle.
(2) No summons and complaint shall be issued to any person alleged to have violated any of
the sections of this Chapter specified in paragraph (3) of the section until fifteen (15) or more
days have elapsed beginning with the date of the alleged violation. The foregoing limitation shall
not apply if the alleged driver, wishing to immediately controvert the charge, signs a written
request with the clerk of the municipal court for the issuance of a summons and complaint. In any
case where a parking violation notice exceeds the fifteen-day time limit, the parking violation
notice will be declared delinquent as authorized by Section 1222 and a summons and complaint
for a delinquent parking citation shall state the assessment value for delinquency as provided for in
paragraph (3) of this section. In those cases where a person makes payment of the original
parking citation, after the fifteen day time limit, that person shall be notified that the parking
citation is now delinquent and that an additional fine has been added. The notice will inform the
person that a summons and complaint will be issued for the delinquent citation and that the
amount already paid will be considered as a partial payment.
OPERATIONS
A. YEARLY SCHEDULE
The Street Division objective is to sweep main arterial and selected collectors 18-24 times per
year (twice a month). Some selected arterials are swept weekly. Residential streets, from 23rd
Avenue west are swept a minimum of five times a year and residential streets east of 23rd Avenue
are swept a minimum of six times a year. The reason for sweeping a minimum of six times a year
east of 23rd Avenue is the amount of mature trees, graveled alleys, and driveways which cause
more debris on the streets. The downtown area, downtown alleys and parking lots are swept
once every month.
During the winter, team members, (on a priority basis) concentrate on sweeping all snow routes.
The team members, after a storm ends and weather permitting, start sweeping immediately. The
Street Division’s objective is to have all snow routes swept within two weeks after a major snow
storm. This policy will cut down on air pollution (dust caused by sand) and also reduce accidents
caused from vehicles sliding at intersections because of high volume sanding. After a snow storm,
priority sweeping is performed on main arterial and collectors first, bus routes second and around
school areas third. During winter street sweeping, a double shift will be utilized, if necessary, to
speed clean-up operations of sand and salt on all snow routes.
Two new products are now being used that will reduce the need to sweep after some snow
storms. These new products are Magnesium Chloride and Ice Slicer. These new products
dissolve and evaporate, leaving the streets cleaner than with the use of sand and salt, or the
heavier squeegee product.
During spring street sweeping, the team members, when necessary, will work two eight hour
shifts cleaning all main arterial and collector streets. When finished with main arterial and
collector streets, they return to normal hour shifts to finish all residential streets. Every street in
Greeley is swept thoroughly a minimum of one time during spring. The amount of passes needed
in the summer will be lessened and curb miles swept increased by sweeping thoroughly in the
spring.
During the fall, the sweepers and chase trucks are used for the City Leaf Pick-up Program. Every
street in the City is swept an additional one to two times. Besides the obvious benefit of cleaner
streets, the benefits to the City are money saved on equipment and manpower and a reduction in
drainage problems.
Sweeper debris is stockpiled in various locations (dump sites) throughout the City of Greeley to
reduce travel time for the sweepers. The debris is then hauled from these dump sites to the City’s
landfill. This is accomplished with a front end loader and dump trucks and usually occurs once a
month. Approximately 3% of the Street Sweeping budget is dedicated to hauling the debris to the
City’s landfill. Our sweepings are tested one time per year for hazardous material to make sure it
is safe to dump the debris at the landfill. The Division operates one to two chase trucks with the
Mobil high dump sweepers when justified to cut down travel time of the sweepers going to and
from the dump sites, which in turn increases the miles of streets swept.
The charge for this service is a minimum of $50.00 per hour. Street sweeper team members
spend a very small portion of their time responding to special requests, such as traffic accidents,
emergency spill clean-ups, water breaks, etc. Operators also sweep after the contractors for the
City’s Crack Seal Program. Sweeping for the Crack Seal Program is very costly because of
overtime on weekends and causes more wear on the sweepers because of the heavy material.
H. SPECIAL EVENTS
During the 4th of July, it has been requested that the City of Greeley Street Sweeping Team
sweep all parade routes and the extended area around UNC College. The Sweeping Team starts
its preparade clean-up at 4:00 a.m., starting in the downtown area and working south to 23rd
street, cleaning all gutters, side streets and intersections. It is common that all street sweepers,
working in pairs, will make 3 to 4 passes through the parade following behind horses, and staying
after the parade is finished to clean up all trash and debris left behind.
I. EQUIPMENT UTILIZATION
The City of Greeley uses three (3) mechanical high dump sweepers and one (1) vacuum sweeper.
A combination of quality sweeper operators and quality equipment enable us to perform the job of
street sweeping very efficiently and cost effectively. The repair and maintenance cost for the
vacuum machine is approximately 10% lower than the mechanical sweepers in past years. On the
other hand, the mechanical sweepers sweep approximately 20% faster than the vacuum sweeper.
The purpose for using high dump sweepers is to save road time driving back and forth to dump
sites. With high dumps, the sweeper can utilize chase trucks at key times of the year, allowing
more time spent for the street sweepers to concentrate on cleaning and less time driving to dump
sites.
The City first started using an air type sweeper in 1988. The air, or vacuum sweeper, cleans at
90% dust free, picking up more of the finer particulate that adds to air pollution and Colorado’s
brown cloud.
By utilizing the vacuum in combination with the mechanical sweeper, efficiency and cleanliness
increases.
J. MAINTENANCE
Approximately 14% of the team member’s time is dedicated to daily and weekly equipment
maintenance. This maintenance insures the sweepers are kept in quality operating condition.
The team members wash and clean, grease all the moving parts and make minor adjustments,
broom down pressure, measurements of broom patterns, center deflectors and rear curtain along
with drag shoe alignments. Gutter brooms are changed approximately every 40 to 50 hours, and
rear brooms every 90 to 100 hours (on an average).
During the seasonal slow down, team members do more of the heavy and time consuming work.
Elevator chains, drive chains and sprockets (etc). It was proven that by rotating the elevator
chains during the replacing of the rubber flights will lengthen the life of the elevator chains, a
proven savings to the budget. The fleet maintenance (TECOM) performs all engine service,
breaks and major repairs.
3. Climb in right seat, turn key to the "on" position, "Engine Preheat" light will come on,
wait until light goes off, start engine.
4. Check 2-speed gear lever, make sure it is in the "travel" position, raise any brooms
not in the up position, using broom levers.
5. Engage transmission and travel to work site, turn on any needed beacons, arrow boards,
etc.
6. Stop sweeper, put transmission in park, move 2-speed lever to "sweep" position.
9. When finished, raise brooms, turn off water, turn off broom switches. NOTE: On
418, be careful not to throw switches on brooms directly into reverse position as
damage may occur.
10. Stop sweeper, put transmission in park, put 2-speed lever in travel position, put
transmission into drive and travel to dump site.
3. Never exit cab of sweeper while brooms are turning, as you can be caught
on moving parts.
1. Travel to designated dump site, position sweeper with right side next to dump pile.
3. Engage "Hopper Lift" lever and raise entire hopper above the level of the cab.
*NOTE*
If dirt or traffic accident debris is swept up, it must be dumped, but washing out is not
mandatory.
If animal remains, slaughter house debris, or any other objectionable material is swept up,
the sweeper must be washed out.
If washing out is necessary, travel to hydrant at 9th Avenue and "D" Street, SW corner.
2. Uncoil water hose, connect hydrant valve to hydrant, then connect water hose to hydrant
valve.
3. Turn on hydrant, allowing water to fill tank and then overflow into elevator/chain area.
(On #417/#418, after water tanks fill up, turn valve at top of fill hose 90 Degree)
5. Connect wash out hose, raise hopper and open hopper to dump position.
6. Turn on water and spray out hopper, lift area, and accessible chassis area. Also wash off
any dirt/debris on outside of sweeper. Close and lower hopper.
7. Turn off hydrant, disconnect hose and valve, and put away.
8. Travel to shop area and take extra precaution when parking sweeper.
REVISED 2-20-98
1st Avenue 13th Street South to the City Limits 2.33 4.66
9.30
13th Street 35th Avenue to 1st Avenue 2.99 5.98
15.67
4th & 5th 83rd Avenue to River Bridge 6.18 12.36
Streets 19.57
79.34 158.68
TOTALS 346.33
DISTRICT 47TH AVE. WEST TO 59TH AVE. MILES CURB LANE MILES
6 MILES
Depot
East side 7th Avenue between 8th and 10th Streets
Downtown
East side 8th Avenue between 8th and 9th Streets
West side 8th Avenue between 9th and 10th Streets
9th Avenue between 7th and 10th Streets
9th Street between 9th and 10th Avenues
1) Two alleys, between 6th Street & 7th Street, 7th & 8th Avenue.
2) One alley, between 8th & 9th Avenue, 7th & 8th Street.
3) Two alleys, between 9th & 7th Avenue, 9th & 10th Street.
4) Four alleys between 11th & 7th Avenue, 10th & 11th Street.
5) One alley between 7th and 8th Avenue, 11th & 12th Street.
6) Two alleys, between 7th & 9th Avenue, 12th & 13th Street.
7) Two alleys, between 7th & 9th Avenue, 13th & 14th Street.
8) One alley between 11th & 9th Avenue, 12th & 11th Street.
9) Two alleys, between 11th & 9th Avenue, 12th & 11th Street.
10) Two alleys, between 10th & 9th Street, & 10th & 12th Avenue.
PRIMARY STREET SWEEPING TEAM
The Street Division has four budgeted full-time team members in the Street Sweeping Program
and four street sweepers, three that are mechanical type used for pulling heavy material and one
vacuum used for leaves and to follow behind the mechanical, picking up more of the fine
particulates.
All full-time team members are cross-trained in proper procedures used in the Street Sweeping
Program and fill in when needed.
Personnel Listing
STREETS DIVISION
EXT. 9336
Position Name 350 ext. Home Phone Cell Phone Radio No.
*Street Superintendent 9335 381-3715 303
*Crew Supervisor 9337 302-5103 397
*Crew Supervisor 9338 302-4563 317
Division Secretary 9336 BASE
Equipment Operator II 9336 402
Equipment Operator II 9336 395
Equipment Operator II 9336 313
Equipment Operator II 9336 316
Equipment Operator II 9336 310
Equipment Operator II 9336 394
Maintenance Technician 9336 314
Equipment Operator II 9336 393
Equipment Operator II 9336 318
Equipment Operator I 9336 391
Maintenance Technician 9336 403
Equipment Operator II 9336 319
Equipment Operator I 9336 404
Equipment Operator II 9336 381-0822 315
Equipment Operator II 9336 399
Equipment Operator II 9336 396
Equipment Operator II 9336 398
Maintenance Locator 9336 400
Equipment Operator II 9336 392
Equipment Operator II 9336 401
Equipment Operator II 9336 311
Maintenance Technician 9336 405
The Street Division has set aside time to train team members within the Division on the proper
use and operations of street sweepers, and other equipment in high volume traffic. It was also
proven by cross training other team members from outside the Sweeping Program, youcan keep
all sweepers operating and still accommodate for vacations and the unexpected sick leave.
The trainer will ride with the trainee to help them with the operations and geography, or until the
trainee feels they are comfortable with the operations.
PREPARING EQUIPMENT
All Street Division equipment go through a pre-trip checklist at the start of every shift and a post-
trip at the end of the shift to identify any problems that might occur such as worn parts, burned-
out lights, flashers, etc.
Pre and post-trip books are a great tool to use to really identify any part thatmight need prompt
attention. Major repairs are done during the slower seasons. Of course, the unexpected can
happen, but with the pre-trip many items will be identified.
PARTS INVENTORY
It is vital for any Public Works Department to inventory and properly stock parts. Without a
good inventory system, hours or days of downtime can occur and drive up cost and decrease
productivity.
On a daily routine, the Sweeper Operators check for wearing parts while doing their daily
maintenance, and any parts found are noted and added to an ordering list. Brooms and regular
wearing parts are always kept stocked.
3. Due to parking one sweeper and not utilizing it, the cost for curb miles went up by 10%,
however, by sweeping problematic areas in advance, the calls for special request
dropped by 16.5%.
The Street Division has established performance standards and goals for street sweeping. The
accomplishments are measured for street sweeping by curb miles swept per hour, total curb miles
swept per year, and cost per curb mile swept. Some major changes were made by the
Street/Drainage Division to improve the effectiveness and efficiencies of the Street Sweeping
Program. The City was divided into six districts and 52 sections. This breakdown makes record
keeping a lot simpler and the City easier to sweep. By having three high dump sweepers and
utilizing chase trucks when justified, and by using one street flush truck when necessary, and
change to double shifts during key time operations. These are thekey elements in having an
excellent program. The Division still looks for new and innovative ways to increase the sweeping
services provided for the citizens of Greeley, and the ever growing infrastructure. Despite all of
the improvements made to the Street Sweeping Program, there stillremains challenges.
VENDORS
Mobil Sweepers
Power Motive Corporation, 5000 Vasquez Blvd, Denver, CO
Phone: (303) 355-5900; Fax: (303) 388-9328