RSS Feeds

Get your real-time updates here...
feed image
feed image
feed image
feed image
feed image
feed image
 

Search

Poll

Give your 2008 a grade

(237 votes)

  • 38.4%
  • 24.9%
  • 16%
  • 13.1%
  • 7.6%
Please wait...

News Ticker

Battle over local surf logo continues

Monday, January 5

Ryan Rittenhouse, founder of Santa Cruz Surf Apparel Co., held a press conference today, Jan. 5, to dispel the Santa Cruz Surfing Club Preservation Society’s current allegations against him...

more...

Watsonville is Closed

Monday, December 22

The facilities run by the city of Watsonville will be closed completely until Jan. 5, 2009, as the city attempts to save money in a slumping economy. The move...

more...

Vandalism strikes at UCSC

Thursday, December 18

University police had a busy morning on Wednesday, Dec. 17, as they took stock of the previous night’s vandalisms on the campus. The crimes were scattered across the large...

more...

More in: The Ticker

100%
-
+
3
Show options

Sudoku

Operation Clean Sweep | Print |  E-mail
Written by Elizabeth Limbach   
Thursday, 13 November 2008

Pacific Avenue gets swept away by the city’s new sidewalk cleaner

A small, excited crowd gathered on the corner of Pacific Avenue and Church Street on Nov. 13 to witness Santa Cruz unveil its latest toy—an environmentally sustainable sidewalk sweeper/scrubber. City leaders, business owners and passers-by watched as the city’s new street sweep made its debut, scooting along the sidewalk and causing unsuspecting pedestrians to amusedly dodge out of the way.

ImageAfter thorough investigation into the latest and greatest in street sweeping, the city decided on this model, which sweeps, scrubs and then vacuums the water back up so that the dirty water doesn’t enter the storm drain system. The machine also uses less water overall than other street cleaning methods.

Cathlin Atchison, the project manager, says the investment was a way of addressing public concern over a dirty downtown. “People want a cleaner downtown,” she says. “We are making sure to pay attention to our downtown and make it an attractive destination for visitors.”

Standing by with a smile on his face, Mayor Ryan Coonerty recalls joining the city council at a time when the streets hadn’t been cleaned at all in five years. The city tested out many different strategies over the years, but he believes this green machine is the most promising. Still, he reports that it’s just the beginning of the city’s efforts to clean-up downtown. “This is one small piece,” he says. “We want to address issues downtown from all angles.” The other pieces include increased trash pick up, more police and better, more environmentally conscious lighting.

ImageOf course, these efforts come with costs—or, in the case of the sweeper/scrubber, a $75,000 price tag. The purchase was a collaborative effort between the city, Redevelopment Agency, Parking District, and refuse funds. The city’s refuse, parking and general funds will share the operating costs, which are not accounted for in the $75,000 figure.

Last week’s gathering was only a demonstration of the integrated sidewalk sweeper/scrubber. Operator training is now underway, and the equipment will be put into regular use soon after Thanksgiving for a six-month pilot period.  According to Atchison, the sweeper/scrubber will spend between 15 and 18 hours a week polishing the downtown area, including Pacific Avenue, the parking garages and parts of Front and Cedar Streets. The equipment will also be shared with the Municipal Wharf. After six months, the city will evaluate the effectiveness of the project and decide on whether to make it a permanent fixture on Santa Cruz’s streets.

The machine’s success at cleaning up downtown might be pending, but, judging by the intrigue at its introduction, the sweeper/scrubber has already won the affection of the patrons. Watching as the curious crowd prods and pokes at the new vehicle, city councilmember Lynn Robinson jokes, “I think we should be charging five dollars a ride!”

 

Trackback(0)

TrackBack URI for this entry

Comments (1)

Subscribe to this comment's feed
It's About Time....
0
Maybe the corner near Borders won't smell like piss and vomit all the time. I wonder if this thing can just sweep up the vagrants as well. Downtown used to be a nice placeto browse, shop and eat. Now I feel like I'm walking through a gypsy camp whenever I visit. Take back our streets and sidewalks from those that don't appreciate what we have.
Is It Just Me? , November 21, 2008

Write comment

smaller | bigger
security image
Write the displayed characters

busy


Add this page to your favorite Social Bookmarking websites
 

Most Recent Comments

What's different about California's budget?
Look at how we got where we are, to see the solution. Any money the state gets they will use to raise tghe pay and benefits of state employees. They now retire on 70 to 90 percent of their pay, and a...

Say a Little Prayer
Diane Wiscombe, I unfortunately wrote my comment while you were posting yours, and oh how I wish I had seen it prior to my spouting off. I admit I was rather angered by the resoundingly critical resp...

Say a Little Prayer
I've had many similar experiences as you growing up in a devoutly LDS family in the 90's, though I must admit that I was blessed growing up in the liberal San Francisco Bay Area. I think our wards wer...

Say a Little Prayer
I am 52 years old, was born into the Latter Day Saint faith, was baptized at age 8, have been married 28 years, have 4 children, and consider myself an active member of the LDS faith. I read Amy's art...

Say a Little Prayer
Isaiah 26.2

Powered By PageCache
Generated in 2.47247 Seconds