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PCMC Newsletter-December 2011
Community E-Newsletter December, 2011
HAPPY HOLIDAYS, PARK CITY!
A Park City Holiday
Santa is coming to the Park City Ice Arena December 14, 5:30-7:30 p.m. Dress warm and join us for our community event. The following activities are free of charge: visit with Santa, cookies, ice skating, hot chocolate, Christmas tree ornament, face painting, performances by Jeremy Ranch 5th Grade Choir, Figure Skating Club of Park City and Park City Glee. Click for more.
Update on the PC MARC
The opening date of the MARC will be January 12, 2012. With much anticipation, we look forward to opening this great new facility to the public.
We are still open at Iron Horse with a full schedule of group fitness and spinning classes as well as weights & cardio. It’s never too late to start feeling great!
Special Events Department Award
The Park City Special Events Department (Max Paap on the left and Tommy Youndblood on the right) received a Certificate of Recognition from the Recycling Coalition of Utah for Outstanding Achievement to Reduce, Reuse, and Recycle in the State of Utah
Another Recycling Award! . . . this time for Public Works
Public Works Operations staff has been recognized by Recycle Utah as “Recyclers of the Year” for varying the Citywide Cleanup program to a smaller multi weekend event, partnering with Recycle Utah to capture a greater concentration recyclable materials and reduce hazardous waste being introduced into the landfill.
Becoming an increasingly sustainable community has been a focus of City Council particularly over the last several years with a spotlight on recycling, energy conservation and environmental stewardship. By reducing the material which makes it to the landfill, several environmental benefits including extending the life of the landfill and reducing costs to residents.
Quinn’s Junction Water Treatment Plant
Construction of the Quinn’s Junction Water Treatment Plant (QJWTP) began during the summer of 2010 and will continue throughout the summer and fall of 2011. Final completion and startup of the QJWTP will be in early 2012. This project consists of a main treatment building and a separate maintenance building. The main building will contain all of the water treatment process equipment including piping, valves, membrane filters, finish water pumps and a 155,000 gallon reservoir. The maintenance building will be used by the Water Department to store spare parts such as pipes, valves, meters, and other equipment necessary to maintain the water system. Once online, the QJWTP will treat raw water imported from the Weber River at a rate of up to 3 million gallons per day. The QJWTP design includes provisions for future expansion to a capacity of 9 million gallons per day and space for hydropower turbines.
Great Utah Shakeout
Park City Municipal in coordination with Summit County, the State of Utah, surrounding cities and counties and FEMA Region 8 will be participating in the April 17, 2011, regional full scale exercise called the Great Utah Shakeout next April. Are you and your family prepared for a major disaster where you live and/or work?
Park City Municipal is registered for the Great Utah Shakeout, but you may want to register your family on the website, plus the website has lots of good resources.
FAM Program
For each of the past 20 years, Park City Municipal has teamed up with the Chamber/Bureau to present a FAM Program (short for familiarization program) for new city employees, front desk personnel and other interested community members. The underlying philosophy is that Park City depends on its hospitality business. One of the keys to our success is our knowledgeable and informed employees and citizens. This year, 55 people attended the FAM Program, There were presentations on Park City's unique past including fascinating pictures of our mining history and Olympic planning and celebrations, the Chamber/Bureau's marketing efforts, future trends and prospects for the ski industry, and an update on emerging city issues like affordable housing, open space & trails, walkability, economic development and the City's Low Carbon Diet program.
The presentations were followed by a social lunch at Bandits Restaurant. As usual we received excellent comments on the program which participants found to be very informative, worthwhile and well time well spent. We anticipate continuing this FAM Program which is offered once a year in early December, but if you missed this opportunity or would like more in-depth information on citywide issues, we offer a day long Leadership 101 program on Wednesday, February 8. Watch for details in the January newsletter.
For each of the past 20 years, Park City Municipal has teamed up with the Chamber/Bureau to present a FAM Program (short for familiarization program) for new city employees, front desk personnel and other interested community members. The underlying philosophy is that Park City depends on its hospitality business. One of the keys to our success is our knowledgeable and informed employees and citizens. This year, 55 people attended the FAM Program, There were presentations on Park City's unique past including fascinating pictures of our mining history and Olympic planning and celebrations, the Chamber/Bureau's marketing efforts, future trends and prospects for the ski industry, and an update on emerging city issues like affordable housing, open space & trails, walkability, economic development and the City's Low Carbon Diet program. The presentations were followed by a social lunch at Bandits Restaurant. As usual we received excellent comments on the program which participants found to be very informative, worthwhile and well time well spent. We anticipate continuing this FAM Program which is offered once a year in early December, but if you missed this opportunity or would like more in-depth information on citywide issues, we offer a day long Leadership 101 program on Wednesday, February 8. Watch for details in the January newsletter.
Winter Fires; Safety Tips for the Home
The high cost of home heating fuels and utilities have caused many Americans to search for alternate sources of home heating. The use of woodburning stoves is growing and space heaters are selling rapidly, or coming out of storage. Fireplaces are burning wood and manmade logs. The following fire safety tips can help you maintain a fire safe home this winter.
To use wood stoves, fireplaces, and your furnace safely:
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Be sure the fireplace or stove is installed properly with adequate clearance
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Have the chimney inspected annually and cleaned if necessary
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Keep a screen in front of the fireplace opening
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Keep flammable materials away from your fireplace mantel
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Before you go to sleep, be sure your fireplace fire is out
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Have your furnace inspected to ensure that it’s in good working condition
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Be sure all furnace controls and emergency shutoffs are in proper working condition
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Leave furnace repairs to qualified specialists
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Keep trash and other combustibles away from the heating system
News You Can Use
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There is free parking on Park City's Historic Main Street until Friday, December 17th.
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Park City Library is excited to launch a new eBook platform, Axis360. You can browse for eBooks by using the "Magic Wall," subject areas, or you can search by title. A one-time online registration is required. The registration process will allow for easy check out and reading. After you check out an eBook on Axis360, you will need to open it using the Blio reader, which is available for free download at this link. Axis360 eBooks are free to Park City Library cardholders. Ready to get started? Click here to access the Magic Wall.
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Improvements to the Spiro Ditch are underway to help reduce flooding during snow melt season, improve efficiency of the raw water system and ensure downstream water rights are met. Installation of a diversion structure will begin this month.
Green Your Routine
Cooling Temperatures? Check Your Tires!
Rapidly cooling temperatures can negatively impact air pressure in your tires. Low air pressure is bad because it is unsafe and it also wastes fuel! In fact, you can improve fuel efficiency by over 3% by keeping your tires properly inflated. Click here for more info on air pressure and other tips for maintaining a safe, fuel efficient vehicle.
In November, City Council . . .
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Authorized the City Manager to sign an agreement with Fehr & Peers for a corridor study and strategic plan for State Route 224 from Thaynes Canyon Drive to Bonanza Drive.
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Approved the Park City Heights Phase 1 Subdivision.
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Approved a Purchase Agreement with Ivory Development, LLC, for 195 acres of unimproved land within the Park City Heights Master Planned Development.
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Home: Energy Myths
Following are some common home energy myths that may be costing you.
1. Setting the thermostat higher or lower will heat or cool the house faster.
Many a homeowner has come home to an uncomfortable house and set the thermostat higher or lower than necessary, thinking it will warm or cool faster. In reality, a furnace or air-conditioner works at the same speed, no matter what the thermostat setting. A home will warm up to 68ºF just as quickly if the thermostat is set at 68ºF as it would if the thermostat was set at 80ºF. In such instances, energy may be wasted as the heating or cooling system continues to run after it reaches your desired set point.
2. A heating and cooling system "works harder" to reach a comfortable temperature after setback or set forward.Many people do not adjust their thermostat at night or while the home is unoccupied because of the common misconception that the heating or cooling system must "work harder" or use more energy to reheat or re-cool the house. This is not how a thermostat works. The system turns on to reach a set level and then shuts off when that level is reached. It can be likened more to a switch that shuts on and off, rather than a gas pedal that accelerates faster the more you step on it.
3. Energy efficiency and energy conservation are the same thing.
Efficiency refers to using less to perform a specific task. Examples include replacing traditional lighting with LEDs (light emitting diodes), or installing a high performance appliance. Conservation refers to reducing your need for energy through changes in behavior, such as setting the thermostat lower or riding a bike to work.
4. When an appliance is turned off, it is off.
Many appliances and electronic devices—such as coffee makers and cell phone chargers—in the home continue to use power after they have been switched off. Sometimes as much as if they were on! This is known as standby power or “phantom load.” The only way to stop the power usage by these devices is to unplug them.
5. Leaving lights, computers and appliances on uses less energy than turning them on and off.
In most cases, the small surge of power needed to start a device is much less than the power that is wasted by leaving it on when it is not needed.
6. Duct tape is the best choice for sealing ducts.
Duct tape has very low durability when used to seal ducts, according to laboratory research. On new installations duct tape will not last long without extensive surface preparation, especially in dirty or dusty locations. Over time, duct tape will fall off as the adhesive dries out and the tape starts to wrinkle. Mastic or metal-backed tapes—available at your local hardware or do-it-yourself retailer—are better choices for duct sealing.
7. Purchasing an efficient air-conditioner or furnace will automatically reduce energy bills.
This is true to some extent, but optimal savings will not be achieved unless the system is sized and installed correctly. Installing an efficient, but over-sized, system can negate much of the potential savings, while a poorly designed duct system can also have an impact on efficiency and comfort. Windows, doors, and insulation also play a factor in heating and cooling efficiency.
8. Dimming lights by 50% will cut lighting costs in half.
In reality, the relationship is not quite direct and the savings may be less than expected. Dimmed lights do use less power, but when lights are dimmed, the voltage drops and the filament becomes cooler. This causes a loss in overall efficiency.
9. Closing off vents will help to lower heating and cooling costs.
Closing or covering up vents is typically not a good way to save on energy costs. Heating and cooling systems balance their load throughout the duct system. If one vent gets closed off, it throws the system off balance. Pressure can build up in the duct work, causing leakage and less air circulating in your home. This reduces system efficiency and home comfort.