Council hears Pavement Manual update as staff urges more data and sustained funding

An engineering and Public Works presenter reviewed the city’s Pavement Manual, summarizing accomplishments, maintenance techniques and funding needs. "Our roadway network ... is our most valuable asset, at over $430 million," the presenter said, and described the city’s inventory (3,536 street segments; roughly 84% concrete, 16% asphalt) and annual programs.

The presentation listed 2025 highlights: $3.5 million total program funding, 90 street segments addressed (about 5.5 lane miles), $1 million in targeted joint repair, approximately $600,000 spent on mill and overlay work (about three miles), and $200,000 on micro‑surfacing. The presenter said the city budgets $300,000 annually for crackseal on a five‑year rotation and reported 529 tons of asphalt patching used for potholes in 2025.

Staff emphasized that the 2025 Transmap data were not yet available and the city’s internal model relies on 2019 data. The presenter recommended pursuing more frequent condition surveys or vendor software using video/AI to model degradation curves and prioritize work across funding scenarios.

Councilmembers probed technical thresholds and costs. In response to a question about repair thresholds, staff explained the usual approach: crackseal for shallow damage, a Tech‑Crete hot‑applied material for certain joint repairs up to about 12 inches, and asphalt or full replacement for larger failures. The presenter also credited the Use Tax with boosting concrete repairs: "Use Tax has been great for us. We would be lost without it," the presenter said.

On funding scale, Mr. Snowden reminded the council an earlier exercise had estimated roughly $13 million per year to reach a more fully funded program (a figure from several years ago) but cautioned that evolving materials, standards and technology make a new analysis necessary. Staff noted slab replacement by in‑house crews in a residential setting can be roughly $1,900–$2,000 per slab, while joint repairs vary by width and are costed by pounds of material when contracted.

Council asked about work‑order response times: staff said pothole response during worst season could be ~30 days, currently often within a week, while slab‑repair backlogs for street department work can be about six months. The presentation closed with an offer to return with refined cost scenarios once updated pavement‑condition data or vendor analyses are available.