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Capitola to Buy New Street Sweeper
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Capitola to Buy New Street Sweeper
By Michael Thomas
Over the past year, Capitola’s seven-year-old street sweeper has begun to show its age. “It’s blowing valves and hydraulic leaks and has quite a few hours on it,” explained Public Works Director Steve Jesberg.
And when the sweeper breaks down, roadways stay dirty.
“It has probably broken down three or four times in the past year and then is out for about a week or so while we wait for a part,” he added.
On Feb. 8, the City Council approved buying a new sweeper at an estimated cost of $130,000 to $140,000. The city uses three-wheeled street sweepers that can navigate the Village’s narrow avenues, and the machine collects debris as it sweeps.
“We get a sweeper instead of a vacuum because they are quieter and they do a better job,” said Mayor Michael Termini.
The machine is operated every day that weather permits, for an annual total of over 1,700 hours. Street sweeping is important for more reasons than just aesthetics, since it helps to keep runoff into the ocean cleaner during rain storms. In fact, regular sweeping is a recommended practice under the city’s storm water management plan, which is currently undergoing a periodic review by the Regional Water Quality Control Board.
The current sweeper was purchased in 2000. The previous sweeper was purchased in 1995 and the city has kept it on hand as a backup and for parts. The city plans to trade in the 1995 machine and keep the existing sweeper as a backup.
Gas tax revenue would be used for the purchase, but the city doesn’t have enough saved up, so money from the Equipment Replacement fund will be used. It will then be paid back with gas tax over about five years time.
Capitola could save about 10 percent of the cost of operating the sweeper by using an outside contractor. However, city officials decided against doing so, citing potential loss of control, service flexibility and responsiveness.
Bids for the new sweeper are due Mar. 1, and once the Council approves a bid, it will take a couple months before the machine appears at the city’s maintenance yard.
“I don’t think they keep these in stock. … They are made to order,” Jesberg said.
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