Title
Downtown Ambassador and Clean Team Status Report
Recommended Action
Move to receive the report. Briefing only; No action requested.
Report
Issue:
Whether to receive an update on the onboarding of the Downtown Ambassador and Clean Team program as a City service.
Staff Contact:
Mark Rentfrow, Downtown Liaison, CP&D, 360.570.3798
Presenter(s):
Mark Rentfrow, Downtown Liaison, CP&D, 360.570.3798
Mark Moore, Clean Team Lead, CP&D, 360.522.3850
Background and Analysis:
At its Nov. 28, 2017 meeting, the Olympia City Council approved making the Downtown Ambassador and Clean Team Program part of regular City services. The City of Olympia’s Downtown Ambassador and Clean Team launched on Jan. 2, 2018.
Part of the Clean Team’s strategy is to incorporate mechanization as a means to make a greater impact on removing litter, organics, and other waste. Clean Team lead Mark Moore has arranged to repurpose an existing city vehicle for use as a Clean Team mobile unit. This will allow the Team to collect waste throughout downtown, maintain a high level of productivity, and eliminate the need to continuously return to City Hall or the trash compactor to deposit collected waste. Machines such as a street vacuum and leaf blowers will also be used for cleanups. Mr. Moore also has incorporated his experience in Parking Services to devise waste collection routes that mirror those of parking enforcement, maximizing efficiency of waste collection and ‘eyes on the street’ for spotting and addressing graffiti.
The Downtown Ambassadors have begun reintroducing themselves to every business in the downtown core, and providing newly designed rack cards that highlight the services they provide, the hours they are available and a phone number at which they can be reached.
Additional assistance from our Communications Services staff has also produced a dedicated web page on the City’s website to highlight both the Ambassadors and Clean Team programs. That web address is attached.
Neighborhood/Community Interests (if known):
The Ambassadors and Clean Team programs have become an important and well recognized part of the City’s efforts to create a clean and safe downtown. Over the past five years the City has received many compliments about the work of the Team and the critical nature of the effort. Continuing challenges downtown illustrate the need for both the Ambassadors and the Clean Team.
Options:
N/A
Financial Impact:
The Downtown Ambassadors and Clean Team Programs will operate at an estimated cost of $466,829 in 2018.
Attachments:
• Link to Ambassador webpage
• 2017 Ambassador and Clean Team Stats Overview