Live Events
Spotlight On Facilities and Grounds
PWX@Home works around your busy lifestyle. You can choose one afternoon per month to set aside and embrace an all-new virtual learning experience. The second Tuesday of each month from August through July, APWA will unveil education in 12 key public works focus areas. The series features sessions on relevant topics—most of which were selected for PWX 2020 in varying formats to maximize learning and engagement.
View all 2020-2021 Spotlight On... Series sessions >
April 13, 2021
1:00–4:30 p.m. CT
Attend three sessions related to Facilities and Grounds for one low price! Registration is $50 for Members and $75 for Non-Members. Registration discounts are available when registering groups and for the entire annual series. Participants are eligible for up to 0.3 CEUs for this program.
Register for April
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Urban Forest Master Plans: Partnering to Develop a Plan that Costs Your City Less, Engages More Stakeholders, and Ultimately Helps to Manage Your Urban Forest Effectively
Speakers: Dana Karcher, Matt Grubisich
Everything is Bigger in Texas, even urban forest master plans! With more partners, more input, more meetings, and more surveys, the urban forest master plan for the City of Dallas is thorough, engaging, and demands accountability. How did this happen and what did it take to get to this point? This talk will share the unique relationship among the Texas Trees Foundation, the City of Dallas, and their local citizens in the development of an UFMP. Presenters will share how this plan is funded, (here’s a hint, the majority of the funds are from a donor), new ways to engage citizens in meetings (not at city hall), and how not to allow the plan to sit on the shelf in the urban forester’s office. With sustainability, healthy communities, cleaner air, stormwater management, pest eradication, and walkable neighborhoods on every city’s list of wants, learn how Dallas’ urban forest master plan goes beyond tree management and addresses the needs of the City and the region.
Proficiency Level: Applied
Learning Objectives:
1. Collaborate and coordinate with stakeholders to obtain and drive what the city and the citizens need in an urban forest master plan.
2. Negotiate the prosperity and pitfalls of working on a project that is not fully funded by the city, but that will influence the city’s urban forest for years to come.
3. Improve community engagement across the city through unique tools, meetings, and marketing.
The ADA and Local Government Facilities – Winning Compliance Strategies
Speakers: Heidi Lapin, John McGovern
The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) has applied to units of state and local government since January 26, 1992. In the 1990s, many governmental agencies were confused by the requirements. In the 2000s, the ADA was more warmly embraced. In the 2010s, the ADA mandates became much clearer, with many court decisions and the amendment of the design standards. This session provides strategies for applying the ADA to facilities, including City Hall, police station, cemetery, public works facility, parks, pools, sport fields, community centers, and beaches. Access is a function of design, construction and installation, and maintenance, and presenters will discuss common errors in each and offer easy remedies to ensure compliance. The session will use case studies from other jurisdictions, asking attendees to consider what side of the decision their agency would be on…the right side or the wrong side. The presenters bring unique local government perspective to the session. One speaker earned a law degree while working in local government. That education, with his local government experience, rule-making experience, and familiarity with the ADA, gives him a unique perspective on compliance with the ADA. The other speaker worked for local governments in Parks and Recreation and Facilities for more than 20 years. She brings firsthand knowledge of facility operations and construction projects, and has managed the teams that must ensure compliance.
Proficiency Level: Applied
Learning Objectives:
1. Determine the resources where they can find the ADA standard and better define the requirements.
2. Integrate their knowledge of the ADA standards in planning, designing, building, and maintaining City and County facilities.
3. Recognize common ADA facility maintenance mistakes and implement smart practices.
Facilities and Grounds Concurrent Jam Sessions
Sponsored by:
Grounds Jam Session: Heritage Park – It Takes a Village
Speakers: Rey Rodriguez, Lisa Au
The City of Mountain View is challenged with meeting its park space requirements for residents within its build out city limits. In this case study of Heritage Park, the project involved the efforts of the city, a county grant, Friends of Immigrant House, master gardeners, and a private property owner with a windmill. The 1.22 acre park includes a historical Immigrant House, circa 1888 and restored to the 1920s, a donated Star Steel windmill from the 1930s, 150 trees, a demonstration garden, and bee hives. The design reflects a peaceful sanctuary for visitors away from their busy suburban lives, but the project completion required the dedication from diverse community groups to create this neighborhood gem.
Proficiency Level: Introductory
Learning Objectives:
1. Develop strategies for collaboration with multi-objective community groups to develop a successful project.
2. Navigate the challenges for restoring a historical building and transporting it across town.
3. Plan and execute various strategies for a multi-phase project to transform a neglected parcel into a neighborhood park.
Facilities Jam Session: A Year Later: What We Know Now About Re-opening Facilities Safely
Speaker: Jeff Nichols
Facilities & Grounds Certificate Program
SOLD OUT! To be notified of future program dates, email education@apwa.net.
This unique course combines the benefits of an in-person workshop with the convenience of online learning. This workshop will be held over two weeks, for four days, with two-hour sessions, allowing for instructor interactions, peer networking, and online discussions. Live instruction sessions will be recorded and can be watched by participants who have a conflict with the live class time or revisited by participants. The Certificate Program for Facility and Grounds professionals will cover the basic need-to-know topics that professionals in the facilities and grounds disciplines need to understand to perform their jobs effectively and proficiently. The program provides training and real-life experiences in the areas of ADA compliance, grounds maintenance, preventative maintenance, capital improvement planning, and more. This program will be worth .80 CEU credits.
After completing this course, participants will be better able to:
1. List the topics about which facilities and grounds professionals should possess a basic mastery and proficiency.
2. Discuss what facilities and grounds professionals should consider in their day-to-day planning and in forming both long- and short-range objectives.
3. Identify the information that should be considered by facilities and grounds professionals when they develop program initiatives and budgets.
Small Cities/Rural Communities Perspective On Facilities and Grounds
The responsibilities of facilities and grounds management staff in small cities and rural areas is never uniform. Unique duties often include managing cemeteries, harmful insects, and ADA compliance in aging or historic buildings, but the most challenging responsibility is finding resources and staff to accomplish the unique challenges. Join this panel as they discuss how small city/rural community staff must wear different hats to serve their communities.
Third Thursday Advocacy Jam: April
April 15, 2021
2:30–3:30 p.m. CT
Infrastructure, including the operation and maintenance of public facilities, will likely be a key focus of federal officials in both the U.S. and Canada in 2021, with President Biden’s administration consideration a broad infrastructure package, surface transportation reauthorization on the horizon, and the Government of Canada’s mandate to conduct a National Infrastructure Assessment. Please join APWA’s US and Canadian Government Affairs staff for an update and open-ended discussion on the state of infrastructure policy. Additionally, with National Water Week taking place April 25th-May 1st there will be a discussion of APWA’s efforts as an active sponsor and participant to promote the value of clean water and the key role public works professionals play in delivering this service. We look forward to hearing your thoughts - join the conversation!
Registration is FREE for Members and Non-Members. You can register for the entire year of programming or by each individual program.
Register for April
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