City Manager's Annual Report Annual Report 2018 | A Year In Review | Page 33

STEWARDSHIP
Keeping PSL Beautiful
The City Council challenged all residents to plant
a tree in 2018. The Port St. Lucie Tree Challenge
resulted in the planting of over
13,500 trees
in the City from January to November 2018 by
residents, businesses and from City projects.
KPSLB Hazardous Household Waste Collection
Days have diverted over
28,400 pounds
of hazardous materials from the waste stream
ensuring proper disposal.
21 centerline miles
of roadway resurfaced.
33 community events
13 school partnerships
held throughout the year.
114
active Adopt-A-Street
groups
with local districts, teaching students
the importance of litter prevention,
the Tree Challenge and more!
19 new groups were formed in 2018.
RADIO-READ METERS IMPROVE EFFICIENCY
Manually reading water customers’ meters was
time-consuming and sometimes dangerous for
staff. A meter reader could manually read, at best,
about 500 meters a day. It took meter readers
several days to get through the four billing cycles.
They had to use caution when lifting the meter lid,
as insects like to nest in the dark, secluded spaces.
The meters were sometimes located on private
property, making it difficult to access.
A pilot program began in early 2006, and grew,
phase by phase, to convert the manual read meters
to radio-read meters. This allows employees to
remain in their vehicle and read meters using a
laptop computer. At the time, there were 54,000
water customers and 18-meter readers.
Since completing the upgrade in 2018, a meter
reader has the capability of radio-reading an
average of 4,000 meters a day. There are currently
four to five employees assigned to read meters for
more than 73,000 water customers. Radio-reading
meters are beneficial in many ways, including
increased efficiency and accuracy, controlled
operating costs, and reduction in meter reader
safety issues.
CITY OF PORT ST. LUCIE 2018 ANNUAL REPORT
33