Comprehensive Building & Site Management Directive

Comprehensive Building & Site Management Directive

Landscape Management

Maintenance Equipment:

With nearly 1,000 cultivated acres on the main campus, the equipment shop maintains and repairs all of the tools and machinery used to landscape the campus. We are responsible for tools as small as weedeaters to equipment as large as the Gradall. Our shop also fabricates handrails and other safety items that are used on campus. It is vitally important, with a department as large as ours, to keep all of our equipment running safely and efficiently. We are able to accomplish this with a staff of three full-time mechanics and a full parts inventory.

The Heavy Equipment team has 12 full time employees, three of whom are on an on-call rotation. This means heavy equipment is always available to support other University departments, or handle after hour emergencies 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. The team has at their disposal all of the necessary equipment to accomplish the many tasks that they encounter. Currently, there are two backhoes, a front-end loader, a Gradall excavator, trencher, roller compactor, utility tractor, skid steer loader and five dump body trucks. Digging footers for brick wall projects, taking out broken concrete sidewalk for replacement, trenching to install piping, or digging for broken water lines are some of the many uses of the equipment. We also use rocks to enhance the landscape and build hills to provide elevation in design solutions. The Heavy Equipment team is also responsible for maintenance of roads and parking areas, as well as mowing main campus and outer areas. This includes street sweeping, which is scheduled weekly for 11pm to 7:30am Sunday thru Thursday. The sweeper runs on bio-diesel.

We currently have 15 John Deere riding mowerscomprising of 10 – F 1145 and 5 – 997 Z Tracks. The mowers run on bio diesel and an average of 310 gallons per month. One third (5) of our mowers have mulching blades, but all 15 actually mulch and leave the grass clippings on the lawn areas. We mow on an as needed basis with June through November being our busiest months. Mowing and trimming is done between 7:30am and 2:30pm. To ensure our operators are safe, we provide them with training, maintain factory installed safety shields, ROPS (roll over protection system) and mandate the wearing of eye and ear protection. To protect the general public, operators stop mowing when pedestrians are present and use safety shields. To minimize disturbance from noise, mowing around housingareas is done after 9am. Additionally, we limit our mowing around classrooms during testing times. Also we make sure that all mowers have good mufflers systems in place. Our newer mowers (Zero Track) are much more efficient and quieter than the older models.

Plantings:

The Urban Forester is responsible for the health and safety of all trees on more than two thousand acres campus. A diverse and healthy tree canopy is the goal of our Urban Forestry Program. Trees are a significant feature of the University of Florida campus, they define the exterior of our buildings, they reduce our energy consumption through cooling, they provide food and shelter for wildlife, the list goes on. Every tree on campus is important, regular maintenance by the Physical Plant Department Grounds Tree Crew, which includes pruning as well as removal of hazardous trees, is an integral part of the Urban Forestry Program here at The University of Florida.

When a tree is removed because of new construction, injury, or disease, it is unfortunate, but we also see an opportunity. We replace them with a two for one policy, young trees are planted throughout the year to renew and refresh our dynamic tree canopy. The selection of replacement trees is impacted by our goal to use native species whenever possible. These new trees are evidence of our commitment to future generations.

We have made a conscious decision to use native plants or xeri-scape plants in almost all of our landscaped beds. "Florida's Best Native Landscape Plants" by Gil Nelson is one of our best sources for native plants. Xeri-scape is a comprehensive approach that utilizes plants that are drought tolerant, non-invasive, pest resistant plants. This approach also emphasizes water conservation through landscaping techniques. The main principles of xeri-scape are soil analysis, appropriate planning and design, efficient irrigation, practical turf areas, plant selection, mulching and maintenance. Considerations for wildlife habitat and storm water runoff are also a very important component of xeri-scape.

Our use of invasive exotics is almost non-existent. Some of theexotic plants on campus are Air Potato, Cats claw vine, Ardisia, Tradescathania (wandering jew) and Mexican petunia. We currently have some small contracts in place for removal of exotics in our natural areas. Where possible and appropriate, we limit the installation and size of lawns on campus. When grass is the right alternative, we try to use drought tolerant grasses which include Bahia, Centipede and Bermuda.

It is our mission to maintain the urban forest within our campus. Safety is always our number one concern. Tree work is inherently dangerous and with, and countless trees to maintain, it is a daunting task. We are able to accomplish our goal with a three-man crew, which is supported by other crews as well.

Landscape waste:

With the addition of new buildings and the renovation of older and historic buildings, the Grounds Department strives to enhance these structures through landscaping with the use of native plants and non-native species when appropriate. As established landscapes become out-grown or damaged, the Grounds Department repairs and replaces plants as necessary. The Grounds Department also provides seasonal color with the use of annual flowers appropriate to the season in designated beds throughout the campus.

The Grounds Department has three acres of Nursery located at the corner of Radio Road and Museum Road. Our operation consists of three greenhouses, a shade house, and numerous outdoor beds. We propagate annuals for campus beds, plugs for cut flowers and cuttings for woody ornamentals, trees, and groundcovers that are used in our campus beds. We also propagate and grow plants that are used in our interiorscapes. The nursery also schedules distribution of plant materials (cut flowers, interior plants, etc.) for special events on campus.

All (100 %) of our organic waste goes to Wood Resource Recovery (WRR), a business that specializes in composting and utilizing organic materials for reuse. Since 1986, WRR has operated a wood yard in Gainesville, and led the industry in vegetative recycling, composting, and site management. The Gainesville WRR site was designated the statewide Compost Demonstration Project in cooperation with the University of Florida. Last year, the University of Florida sent on averaged 245.59 tons of organic waste per month Wood Resource Recoveryinstead of to the landfills. (http://www.woodresourcerecovery.com/index.php)

Irrigation management:

There are currently over 235 acres of active irrigation on the main campus. The University of Florida currently irrigates approximately 90% of the irrigated areas on campus using reclaimed water (a high quality non-potable water supply that is not meant for potable [drinking] purposes) from the Water reclamation Facility located on North/South Drive. The remaining 10% are supplied from wells on campus or from domestic (drinking) water. We are continually striving to increase the amount of reclaimed water used for irrigation by eliminating use of wells and domestic water where possible.

Fertilizer use:

We put out an average of60 tons per year campus wide. Of the 60 tons, approximately 4 tons is 100 % organic for use on our fruit trees. The other 56 tons is a good, poly-coated fertilizer that is time released and does not leach out of the soil very rapidly.

For additional information regarding landscape management, please contact:

Martin L. Werts

University of Florida Grounds Department
(352) 392-1148 Ext 304

Pest Management

1. General Household Pest Services (GHP): The Integrated Pest Management (IPM) approach is embraced by UF EH&S Pest Management. IPM, simply defined, is “common sense” techniques employed in a systematic fashion to prevent or minimize entry, introduction and survival of indoor and structural pests, which include insects, rodents and nuisance wildlife. Techniques employed to achieve this goal are provided on scheduled routine visits to all UF structures in Alachua County except those owned by the Division of Housing, which are serviced by Housing staff. GHP service is provided to Shands at UF, Shands at Vista Rehab and Shands Clinics, and IFAS facilities in and around Alachua County. GHP service includes monthly, bi-monthly or quarterly (as required) inspecting, monitoring (sticky trap placement and checking,) applying baits, servicing and maintaining insect light traps, physical removal, (including specialized vacuuming as required,) applying residuals to exterior perimeter, around doors and windows, reporting entry points and structural deficiencies for repair orders and emphasizing sanitation. Rodent control measures utilize exclusion and mechanical trapping whenever possible to minimize the use of poisons. All “food areas” and other pest-prone areas serviced at least monthly. Records of services provided are kept electronically on EH&S Microsoft Access database and on paper reports are stored in Bldg 683.

Service Requests (trouble calls:) Service requests are placed by calling 392-1904, giving pest type, location, name and phone number of caller. All non-hospital service requests are to be answered within 48 hours, whenever possible. Hospital trouble calls answered the same day or within 24 hours on UF work days. Technician is paged, a copy of the request is sent to and monitored by the manager and technician adds comments to the note when completed. Completed calls are archived in a public folder on the EH&S file server.

2. Termite Prevention and Control: Soil pre-construction preventive termiticide applications containing Termidor (active ingredient, fipronyl) are provided on all new UF projects and renovations when slab is disrupted and re-poured. Corrective subterranean termite treatments are provided to UF structures when infestations are discovered or reported. Materials and methods vary according to nature of infestation, but include sub-slab termiticide foam injection, direct wood injection, surface application of liquid borates, and trench and treat application of liquids. Yearly inspections of each building are performed for subterranean termites and other Wood Destroying Organisms (WDO’s.)

3. Turf and Ornamental Pest Management: Comprehensive campus-wide fire ant broadcast baiting occurs each spring and fall. Mound treatments are provided during summer as required. Chinch bug control is provided for St. Augustine grass. Shrubbery and indoor tropical plants are treated for mealybug and scale insect control, greenhouse pest control is provided as requested. Sports Turf Pest Management to include weed insect and disease as required to maintain vigor. Sidewalk, fenceline and bare-ground weed control is applied around cooling towers and electrical substations with non-selective herbicides.

4. Nuisance Wildlife: Capture, relocation and exclusion for birds, squirrels, raccoons, opossums, snakes, bats as required. For nuisance alligators, contact UPD 392-1111.

5. Mosquito Control: Surveillance, larvacide application, source reduction, adulticide fogging coordination with Gainesville Mosquito Control and public relations services are provided.

6. Fumigation services: Administration and coordination of commercial structural fumigation contracts, in-house operation of fumigation chamber for museum artifacts and specimens, occasional commodity, warehouse and specialty general fumigation for structural and stored product pests are provided for UF clients.

7. Aquatic Weed Management: at Lake Alice, Lake Wauburg.

8. Rabies Prevention: (feral cat trapping,) Animal Control enforcement, interface with Alachua County Animal Control Services.

9. Oversight of UF Bat House Project- public interface, research project coordination, guano distribution.

10. Miscellaneous Services: Bee, wasp, hornet and yellow jacket nest treatment/removal in buildings and grounds. Dead animal removal inside and under UF buildings. Pigeon control project coordination.

11. Circumstances requiring emergency application of pesticides: Given alternative, non-chemical means, such as vacuum cleaners, sticky traps, damp cloths, duct tape as the primary strategy for emergency pest removal or exclusion indoors, virtually no circumstance can be envisioned requiring immediate application of liquid or aerosol pesticides without first notifying and evacuating building occupants prior to any treatment indoors. Applications of baits, sticky traps and use/maintenance of other monitoring devices are allowed in occupied rooms.

12: Advance notification procedures for pesticide application: Personal, verbal communication to building occupants potentially affected is the primary means of notification. UF maintains a chemically sensitive registry of staff and faculty that request a 24 hr. advance notification of pesticide application in or near their workplace. Communication with Deans, Directors, building managers or principal investigators is also achieved using email distribution lists, if required. Printed treatment notices are posted at all entrances to buildings or affected portions thereof. Prior to any aerosol or liquid pesticide treatment, all occupants are to be evacuated from treated areas until specified, posted time after treatment. Treated outdoor locations are posted with a notice of treatment sign advising people to remain and keep animals off treated areas until dry.

For additional information regarding pest management, contact:

Kenneth V. Glover, Coordinator

EH&S Pest Management Services

UF Bldg. 683 Box 112205

Gainesville, Fl. 32611-2205

(352) 392-3410 (fax) 392-0303

Stormwater Management, Erosion & Sedimentation Control

Incorporate Low Impact Development

In order to improve water quality and prevent additional erosion in the University’s streams, all projects which impact soil must incorporate the use of Low Impact Development (LID) stormwater techniques where physically, economically, and practically possible. Projects shall include in their presentation before the Lakes, Vegetation and Landscaping Committee or Landscaping Subcommittee a discussion of how LID techniques were/were not incorporated.

These techniques include, but are not limited to:

·  Mini-retention / detention,

·  Bio-retention / rain gardens.

·  Porous soil amendments,

·  Lowered landscaping beds,

·  Pervious pavement –hardscape storage,

·  Curb openings (i.e. brick and other hardscape removal in edging and sweat wall footings) that allow water to enter vegetated areas,

·  Use of lawn areas for incorporating slight depressions that retain rainfall,

·  And elevating storm drains where water detention is acceptable so that they are not at the lowest elevation in the landscape.