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Have you wanted to start a snow plow operator training (SPOT) course for your employees? Where do you start? What do you need to do? Come learn how Minnesota and…
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Arapahoe County recognized that the true value and strength of the public works department was its employees and their commitment to the community. To support employees, they embarked on a multi-prong approach to further empower employees, improve employee engagement, brand the public works image, embrace new technologies, and advance leadership and employee growth through training.Learning Objectives: Demonstrate various methods for creating strong employee engagement and performance.Discuss the types of soft skill development needed by management and supervisors to better interact with and motivate employees.Explore how challenges can, in the end, make their organizations excel and incorporate changes.
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FEMA's Hazard Mitigation Assistance (HMA) program is focused on funding projects that support risk reduction due to natural and man-made disasters. HMA has been expanded to meet the goals of long-term climate resilience, and funding now supports cost-effective project grants that incorporate flood risk reduction and drought mitigation. This presentation will summarize the FEMA Hazard Mitigation Grant program, review the Climate Resilient Mitigation Actions (CRMA) now eligible for funding, list the benefit-cost analysis for CRMA projects, and provide tips for preparing a grant application.Learning Objectives: Prepare hazard mitigation grant applications that focus on resiliency.Incorporate climate resilience into hazard mitigation planning.Obtain information about FEMA's grant programs.
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Speaker: Bob Allen, Founder and Chief Storytelling Officer, IDEAS; former Disney ImagineerIn Tuesday morning's General Session, Bob Allen explained the components of a powerful story and the mechanisms of good storytelling. Now, let's practice with some of your public works stories! Public works needs to know how to better tell its story – whether it is to gain community support for capital improvement projects, communicate with residents during times of emergency, report on successes and future needs to the city council, or advocate for increased investment in infrastructure and public works services.People respond to good storytelling. This workshop is your opportunity to practice creating the kind of story that you want told about public works.
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Put this session on your schedule! Join us for a completely interactive, compelling, and relevant exploration of the challenges and solutions public works directors encounter every day. Who will pick the topics to be discussed? YOU! Who will be the speakers? YOU! Be inspired to share your story and learn from the mastery achieved by some of North America's best and brightest public works leaders. You are going to be so enthused about what you are learning-you'll be tweeting out your insights to your colleagues who can't join us!Learning Objectives:Advocate for the public works profession and public infrastructure and services.Collaborate with fellow public works directors from across North America in pursuit of solutions to public works challenges.Realize the huge impact your leadership and creativity can have on your departments and communities.
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RISE (Reentry Initiative through Structured Employment) – The City of Fishers, Indiana, has created an inspiring program designed to both recruit highly motivated employees into public works positions and, more importantly, help in the rehabilitation process of citizens who made bad choices, paid their debt to society, and are now faced with the challenge of finding meaningful employment. Feeling that just providing employment is not enough, they established a monthly training regimen that includes basic personal financial management skills. Participants are also given the option of going through the agency's in-house CDL class. If there are positions available when participants complete the program, an opportunity is offered for them to apply for full-time employment. If no positions are open and they were model employees, they can receive a letter of reference from the Mayor. Will this solution work in your community?Learning Objectives: Provide a unique solution to workforce recruitment and engagement.Attract applicants that are motivated and eager to perform.Develop a life-changing program that affects the well-being of potential employees and their families.
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Facilitated
by Thom Singer, the Conference Catalyst and Emcee
Join Thom for a fun conversation about what you’ve learned so far at PWX,
the best take-aways you’ll be sharing upon your return home, and your
thoughts for topics and formats for the 2018 PWX.
We usually think of asset management as involving city buildings and structures, and public infrastructure. Learn how the City of Florissant, Missouri, enforces building codes, zoning codes, and local ordinances to help maintain the property values of residences and businesses throughout the city.Learning Objectives:Identify where to begin and how to apply a property maintenance program to city assets.Educate and inform city leaders (elected officials, business community, etc.) on how better to maintain and improve property values and quality of life.Prepare and present new codes and/or ordinances that will better serve residents, businesses, and the general public.
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What happens to a plow truck when the snow season is over? Do you unhook the plows and sanders in the spring and hope all is well for next winter?…
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The Province of Alberta produces 69% of Canada's annual fed-cattle output. Alberta is often called feedlot alley. With these types of intensive operations, getting products to market has an overwhelming impact on Lethbridge County's road and bridge infrastructure. The county identified that it required an additional $3.5 million per year for the next 35 years to upgrade and maintain its infrastructure. Using an extensive public consultation process, the county developed a ""funding our future"" program that adapted level of service standards to prioritize the market access network and develop risk mitigation strategies. This session will provide a good example of how an asset management plan can assist in communicating to residents the public works and infrastructure priorities needed for continuing economic success.Learning Objectives: Examine how level of service data can assist public works directors with their infrastructure deficit planning.Engage elected officials in the asset management process.Expand awareness of public consultation solutions to help plan for funding priorities.
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