Funk's Front Porch

Metal Plates Press COnference

Watch video of yesterday's press event about the new ordinance to cut down on the number of metal plates on city streets.

Metal Plates in Other Cities

Yesterday, the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee began deliberations on an ordinance that would reduce the number of metal plates on city streets. The Mayor's argument for this is pretty simple: Other cities don't have metal plates all over their streets, why should ours?

To see for yourself how other cities keep their metal plates under control, click the link below.

Download matrix_platesfeb26.doc

Metal Plates Ordinance

Last week, the Director of Public Works introduced an ordinance that would reduce the number of metal plates on city streets. This ordinance would:

• Reduce the amount of time plates are allowed on the streets from 90 days to 30 days, and charge a daily fee beginning on the first day the plates are installed;
• Disallow use of metal plates between December 1 and March 1, except in emergency situations, so as to not interfere with snow removal;
• Require plates on asphalt streets to be imbedded such that the tops of the plates are even with the street surface
• Require rubber ramps to be installed around the edge of metal plates on concrete surfaces;
• Restrict the use of plates only for the repair of existing utilities, and encourage other methods such as boring under streets;
• Require use of flowable backfill material on all excavations, to improve the integrity of the repair.

This ordinance is currently scheduled for hearing at the March 5 meeting of the Council's Transportation and Infrastructure Committee.