City of Anderson

City of Anderson

Retreat Issues and Major Projects

Quarterly Report – January-March2018

Retreat Issues

Economic Development

Entrepreneurial Programs

Continued 1 Million Cups

147 attendees (total 300+ attendees since program began in October)
9 presenters:

-Northern Suga

-Pretty Parties Events

-Fork Plantation

-Bar Crawlogy

-Direct Access MD

-Chimera Collective

-Contractors Edge

-DCEC

-Kristy Yates Photography

-Juce

Dough on the Rise: Panel Discussion featuring local experts offering advice on bakery start- ups.

20 attendees

Launched first of 2 part series: Business Plan Writing 101

18 attendees

Hosted first of 3 part series with speaker Geno Church, word of mouth marketing guru @ Brains on Fire out of Greenville, SC

49 attendees

Business Recruitment

Business Assistance Program Awards: 8 (Whitner Grocery, Belle Beauty, the Junkyard, the Growth Company, Fig’s Café and Farmacy, The Electric City News, City Seed @the Station, Dream Café and Lounge Restaurant)
Economic Development Incentive: 400 Block S. Main Street- $250,000
New businesses in the City- 15
New businesses in Central business district- 3 (Taco Loco, The Lula Loft, Zirkelbach Construction)

Prospects Citywide:

Retail/Restaurant
Commercial/Industrial
Recreation/Entertainment

Updated Promotional Business Packets and Created Collateral Print for Advocacy

Development Projects

Under Construction:

Project Federal – (Federal Street)
Anderson Hotel (mixed-use development) 400 Block of South Main Street
Whitner & Company Co-work space on McDuffie Street
300 Block N. Main-The Electric City News
109 N. Main - Belle Beauty Lounge
210 S. Main - The Growth Company
143 E. Orr Street - Canela’s Smoothies
143E. Orr Street- The Junkyard (Fitness, Gym)
143 N. Main- Dream Café & Lounge Restaurant
200 N. Main Street- Figs Cafe’ and Farmacy (Expansion)
300 North Main Street- Carolina Alliance Bank
520 Murray Street City Seed @ the Station- Boutique Gardening/ Artisan Center
Zaxby’s on Clemson Boulevard (Annexation Project)

Downtown Projects

Underway:

Under the Bridge Beautification Project

Collaborated with TBA and Rotary Club to launch Public Art

Component/ Textile Heritage Gateway/Clock

Downtown Development Master Plan

Began Process of reviewing RFQ’s from Applicant Firms

Sale of City Owned Property: E. Market/S. Main Streets

Business Retention

Continued partnership with Clemson Area SBDC to offer free and confidential consulting to businesses citywide

Hospitality Program

Continued to distribute promotional materials to area hotels

Events

Continued to facilitate special events in Carolina Wren Park & Downtown

March Sounds in the Park Rhythm City Band- 90 attendees

Helped promote

Bark in the Park
First Fridays
Race the Rainbow

Community Development

Continued gathering, assessing and reviewing data to enhance a comprehensive approach to neighborhood revitalization (to supplement the adopted 2009 Neighborhood Revitalization Implementation Plan)

Recreation

Master Plan Plan Update
Completed initialdesign draft of the restroom facilities at the complex; construction cost analysis pending

Major Projects

Courts

CompletedVictims Services Providers training for all courtroom personnel as prescribed by South Carolina Court Administration.

Implemented plan to relocate Bond Court to the court room for enhanced access.

Receiving bid proposal for installation of audio equipment in the court room and a proposal to complete video bonding installation.

Fire

Partneredwith Clemson Extension Services to provide child car seat inspections and installation

Initiated plan with new Anderson County Emergency Management to update the Emergency Action Plan for the City and County. A part of this plan is storm response with the street department, public works, and the police department

Received $46,000100% grant award through Homeland Security for the Incident Management Team

Deployed the Incident Management Team to Garland Texas for twenty days to assist in recovery efforts

Accepted donation of pickup truck from SLED through Homeland Security for the Incident Management Team

Planning and Development

Re- evaluated state and non-state street conditions in order to develop paving priority lists
Staff utilized a ranking criteria to determine roads in most need of resurfacing
Resolution approved by Council on September 14, 2015
Submitted to the Anderson County Transportation Committee (ACTC) for their review on September 15, 2015
ACTC funding for resurfacing several state secondary roads approved on October 26, 2015
Resurfacing began in June 2016 and followed a 2 year contract to pave 20+ streets; paving is complete

Comprehensive Plan Update

Staff finalizing draft language for the standard elements of the plan
Appalachian Council of Governments will facilitate public input sessions and delivery of a final plan for consideration by Council
Public input sessions beginning in 2018 and final product to be completed in late2018

Community Development

Coordinated with the Building and Codes Department to obtain Consent Forms for the demolition of substandard units using CDBG funds; Mailed packets to SC Historic Preservation Office and completed environmental statutory checklist for eight (8) properties. Council approved Phillips Recoveries’ $56,800 bid to demolish eight (8) units under Phase 1 that include: 312 W. River Street, 1403 Newell Street, 214 B. Street, 205 C Street, 309 E. Street, 304 Benjamin Street, 418 Johnson Street, and 805 Beechwood Avenue. A contract in the amount of $3,680 was executed with Summit Engineering, Laboratory and Testing to conduct lead and asbestos testing on the units.

Continued coordination with the Building and Codes Department to obtain Consent Forms for the demolition of substandard units using CDBG funds; Mailed packets to SC Historic Preservation Office and completed environmental statutory checklist for identified properties. Council approved Miller Construction’s $101,880 bid to demolish eighteen (18) units under Phase II that include: 615 W. Reed Street, 211 L Street, 1114 White Street, 406 Dickens Avenue, 427 Gray Street, 604 A & B S. Fant Street, 1603 S. Fant Street, 1410 W. Whitner Street, 850 Dora Drive, 112 Norris Street, 1314 South Towers Street, 302 Morris Lane, 116 Bailey Street (2 structures), 602 E. Market Street, 1403 Watson Street, and 806 S. Fant Street (2 structures). Bids were solicited for lead and asbestos testing on the units. Michael Baker International submitted the lowest bid in the amount of $7,600.

Implementing Neighborhood Initiative Program (NIP) - a grant of $ $424,504 for the acquisition and demolition of an estimated sixteen (16) substandard, vacant houses; working in coordination with Nehemiah Community Revitalization Corporation (CRC) and Anderson Community Development Corporation (ACDC).

Phillips Recoveries demolished the following Anderson Community Development Corporation (ACDC) properties under Phase 2: 1002 E. Whitner Street, 1508 Mitchell Street, 908 E. Whitner Street, 220 Wardlaw Street, and 1406 W. Whitner Street.
Phillips Recoveries also demolished one (1) unit, 1409 Watson Street, that belongs to Nehemiah Community Revitalization Corporation.
Final inspections requests were submitted for 316 W. River Street and 1406 W. Whitner Street.

Public Works

Hurricane Irma Response/Recovery – September 11, 2017
Staff met with FEMA representatives in early 2018 to begin completing the Request for Public Assistance for reimbursement.
Reimbursement for Category B – Emergency Protective Measures was completed in March 2018 and is under review by FEMA.
Reimbursement for Category A – Vegetative Debris Removal was completed in March 2018 and is pending review by FEMA.

Stormwater Projects
SNS4 Compliance and TMDL Implementation Plan – Approved by City Council on September 25, 2017.
Project involves the continued collection and analysis of grab samples Collected from the Rocky River and Big Generostee Creek watersheds, and the develop of TMDL Implementation Plans.
Project was awarded to Woolpert for $29,000 on September 27, 2017.
TMDL Implementation Plans for the two watersheds were submitted to DHEC in December 2017. Water quality monitoring continues in both watersheds.
Anderson City, County and Clemson University staff were recently awarded an EPA grant for a water quality monitoring station. The station will be installed in the Big Generostee Creek watershed, and collects data for water temperature,

dissolved oxygen and ph., and checks for conductivity

Stormwater staff installed a chain-linked fence enclosure in March 2018 in preparation of installing the monitoring station in April 2018.

Transit Department

CNG Maintenance Facility IFB will be on the street in April 2018 with bids due back in May 2018. This facility will allow for minor and major CNG maintenance to be performed.
Continued monitoring and evaluating the Purple route which began in September 2017 for 1 year ending in September 2018. This was a $100,000 grant from the SC Department of Employment and Workforce (DEW).

Recreation

Recreation Projects

Initiated St. Francis playground upgrade. Public Works grading ADA access drive, Pickens Construction will be doing asphalt paving. Playground installation should take place by the end of April.
The LandPlan Group is developing construction estimates for the restroom/concession building at the Rec Complex.
Steps are under way to repave one basketball court at D.B. Walker Park & Greely Park. This project should have a completion date by the end of May.

Utilities

EPA CMOM Program – Consent Agreement with goal of eliminating Sanitary Sewer Overflows (ongoing since July 2014)

Submitted14th Quarter progress report to EPA in January 2018
Submitted and received EPA approval of all 10 CMOM programs
Mapping, Overflow Response, Emergency Response, Fats, Oils, and Grease (FOG), Gravity Line, Pump Station, Training, Sewer Assessment Capacity Assurance, and the Infrastructure Rehabilitation Plan

Continued implementation of all programs
Pump Station O&M Program Details
Completed 378 daily, 78 weekly, and 18 monthly, 6 semi-annual inspections at 6 pump stations
Fats, Oils, and Grease Program Details
Completed 80 FSE compliance visits

Continuing Sewer Assessment Program (CSAP)
Assessment of approximately 27 miles of gravity sewer and 600 manholes per year to meet the 10% assessment goal
Awarded Project to Hydrostructures in May 2017 for $391,682.50
Began assessment in July 2017
Completed assessment of 19.7 miles of pipe (72.64% success) and 567 manholes (88.59% success)
Learned that 6” pipe does not have a great success rate with regards to CCTV (52.48%)
First year project completed in March 2018.
Began prioritizing Second Year project

Sewer Capacity Assurance Program (SCAP)
Flow monitoring to determine the current flow patterns during normal and wet weather operations
Awarded a 3 year contract to ADS Environmental in May 2017 for $169,669.00
Installed 8 flow meters and 3 weather stations in July 2017
Continue to review data and assess areas for future repair and rehabilitation to eliminate inflow and infiltration

Pump Station Replacement Project
Replacement of the city’s two major pump stations and consolidation of the King’s Road Pump Station serving 4000 people
Awarded to McClam & Associates in the construction amount of $4,610,647.71 and funded under SRF loan not to exceed $6,300,000
Continued construction of the Wedgewood Pump Station
Continued installation of roadway, railroad and creek bores
Began construction of the Civic Center Pump Station wetwell
Continue construction and obtain substantial completion in July 2018

Police

Continuation and partnership with the Law Enforcement & Community Task Force; goal is enhanced community partnerships and information/education within the law enforcement community, faith community, and community at-large.
Continued partnership with Anderson University with employees enrolled in the Command College – Anderson University Master Criminal Justice program.
Continued partnership with Forest College with employees enrolled in the College.
Continued partnership with Tri-County Technical College with employees enrolled in the College.
Continued partnership with Anderson School District 5 with students involved in the law enforcement program at the Career Campus.
Completion of (9) new patrol vehicles, (1) SUV for the Criminal Investigative Division, and (1) Dodge Ram quad cab pickup and equipment from the FY18 Capital Replacement Plan – approved by Council on September 25, 2017.
Implementation in process regarding the January 1, 2018 state mandate for compliance in e-ticketing.
Application in process $4,000.00 utilizing MASC/SCMIRF grants for replacement of tasers and vests.
Completion of (10) SCDPS awarded Watchguard dash cameras into marked patrol cars (estimated value $60,000).
Court training occurred in March for all uniformed personnel.
Grant application for Victim’s Advocate with South Carolina Department of Public Safety Victim of Crimes Grant – 20% match to be taken from current Victim Advocate fee collection.

Continuedimplementing long range hardware replacement plan for all pc’s, servers, and network equipment (This is an ongoing project)

Continued installation of our latest lease shipment of 65 new pc’s
Began process of choosing a replacement for our existing telephone system
Began process of choosing a vendor for an agenda management software package
Began process of choosing a vendor for a work order management software package

Continued working with provider for service of video cameras located in parks, downtown and recreation areas

Continued working with AT&T and other vendors, developing plans, processes, etc. to ultimately bring all camera maintenance in house
Continued to standardize our equipment with AT&T wireless, Cradlepoint SIM routers, and Vicon cameras
Installed new cameras at Linley Park, Watson Park and Caters Lake
This will be a long term project whose completion will coordinate with available funding and new installations.

Continued security awareness training for all City employees. Three sections have been completed that consisted of interactive online videos and simulated phishing attacks. Topics covered include strong passwords, phishing, and mobile security.

Finance

Annual budget preparation for July 1 – June 30, 2019 is underway

Capital planning module tool is being developed to utilize with this year’s budget to ensure the City is planning and budgeting with five-year projections and capital needs of the City

Banking RFPs

Awarded TD Bank – Five Year Contract
Completed the implementation to TD Bank from First Citizen’s bank

Electric City Utilities Administration

Continued Revenue and Expense Analysis

Finance 101 Presentation

Presented a refresher course on the City’s finance policies and procedures for the Divisions administrative staff

Business License Renewal

Renewals due by March 31

General – Communications Program

Law Enforcement and Community Task Force

Planned and facilitated monthly meeting series with 15-20 regular members including pastors, APD and City officials
Chief Stewart presentation on APD: updates, statistics
Alternative School visit: 14 students on panel along with 3 school administrators
Patrol officers discussion and canine unit presentation

Church Street Heritage Plaza

Implementing NEA Grant Award with Arts Center Partner
Plans for fourth box
Community outreach

Economic Development

MASC Hometown Dev. Grant - $25,000 for limited scope master plan
Implementing steps to comply with grant; RFQ in progress
Prepared presentation on “Shock this Block”

Downtown Business meeting

Convene service providers for fact finding to address homelessness/vagrancy issues
Research best practices

Division Support

Outreach, press releases and interview preparation
Promotion and advertising support
Strategic planning

Social Media Team

Convene work group of social media key players including IT and Economic Development
Inventory current sites
Put initial policies in place
Building “playbook” based on best practices
Improve cross-team communications

Videos

Mayor’s MLK breakfast
Interview with Police Chief and Paul Brown
Film and produce training video for Court/Police

Community Outreach

Sister Cities Board
Little Wren Lost book presentation and downtown activities
Church Street Heritage Plaza Tours
Presentation to “Anderson by Choice” group
Downtown Tour for Bosch key executives from 7 countries