As agency reps updated the City Council on its clean streets initiative, the buzzwords were proactive vs. reactive, agency transformation and the use of high-tech software.

But council members were mostly interested in the basics: getting trash out of alleyways and vacant lots, dealing with rats now and why mechanical street-sweeping is not hitting its benchmarks.

At yesterday’s hearing, Rudy Chow, director of the Public Works Department, lauded the goals of the program – to clean 90% of neighborhood streets with mechanical sweepers once a month – but Helen L. Holton, who represents the Westside’s 8th district, was skeptical.

“My constituents think that the streets are not as clean as they used to be. I hear constantly that more often than not Forest Park Avenue looks atrocious.”

“Maybe street cleaning is a good idea in theory,” she continued, “but in reality, it isn’t reaching the goal you anticipated.”

Lost Drivers

Chow conceded that the year-old program has had to overcome bugs that has limited its coverage to about 70% of streets outside of the central business district, which for years has received weekly street cleanings.

Among those problems, he said, were “consistency” and “personnel” issues, including operators not familiar with their routes and missing turns that left some streets unswept for weeks.

“Now they can basically use GPS,” he said, explaining that the crews would soon be using tablet computers and AVL (automated vehicle locating) software, which would help drivers find street locations and improve accountability.

The tablets and new software are scheduled to be installed in the next three months, Chow said, and sweeping routes would also be “streamlined.”

The past failure of some operators to complete their routes meant that the city’s older sweepers (a fleet of 35 vehicles) were in use all month, “which resulted in frequent breakdowns,” Chow told the Judiciary and Legislative Investigations Committee.

That fleet has been supplemented by 11 Elgin street sweepers (purchased for $2.28 million) that have improved efficiency. The new sweepers receive bi-weekly scheduled maintenance to keep them in good order, Chow said.

In its first six months of operation, DPW reported that the clean streets program removed 1,600 tons of debris, grime and pollutants that would otherwise have entered the storm drain system or caused backups during heavy storms.

Neighborhood streets without curbs and those that cannot be accessed by sweepers, either because they are too narrow or are dead ends, aren’t swept under the current program.

Chow said that an RFP (Request For Proposals) for new signage regarding parking restrictions for the central sweeping district would soon go out, and new signs would be complete and posted by early next year.

“Another delay?” Holton asked. “This program has been in place for a year now.”

“I ask for citizens’ patience,” Chow answered.

Bulk Trash and Reproducing Rats

After Chow talked about clean streets, he was asked to address two other perennial sanitation issues – keeping bulk trash from cluttering vacant lots and alleys and keeping the rat population at bay.

First District Councilman James B. Kraft queried him about the agency’s plan to eliminate one bulk trash crew – a plan which came to light during last month’s budget hearing.

Chow previously had said that DPW removes bulk trash from about 4,000 addresses a month. “You’re still losing one crew, and you’re still going to about 4,000 addresses a month with one less crew?” Kraft asked Chow.

Chow said that was still the plan. The agency would “monitor” the situation and, perhaps, bring in other workers if necessary, he added.

The DPW director also briefed the Council on the agency’s plan to ramp-up its rat abatement program.

The agency currently baits traps and inspects rat-infested alleys every 40 days.

The goal, however, is to bait and inspect every infested alley every 20 days, which better corresponds with rats’ constant reproductive cycle.

Chow said the ramp-up was making slower progress than he had hoped because the agency has had a hard time finding rat abatement workers.

It recently posted jobs for eight workers and made eight job offers, but only three applicants accepted. Chow said they would re-post the positions.

According to DPW spokesman Jeff Raymond, the job requires passing a drug test and pays between $29,000-$31,000 a year.