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Alley Enforcements <br /> Alleys are inspected for vegetation violations in response to service requests. and <br /> as time permits. In the past there has seldom been time for a systematic inspection <br /> of alleys. As a result, some alleys are becoming overgrown. When an alley becomes <br /> overgrown, it requires more effort to regain control. Ideally, alleys should be <br /> inspected so as to keep them serviceable for the public, property owners, and <br /> utility maintenance. <br /> Work Orders Issued <br /> More than any other statistic, the drop in the number of work orders indicates how <br /> well the Vegetation Program is achieving the goal of voluntary compliance through <br /> informing and educating property owners about their vegetation maintenance <br /> responsibilities. The number of work orders issued in 1995 was nearly the same as <br /> the past three years. This may indicate that the program is nearing the level of <br /> voluntary compliance that might be expected. (Figure 2) <br /> Miscellaneous Statistics Related to Billings <br /> Contractor payments, as well as the amount billed to private property and City <br /> property. increased in 1995. (Figure 3. Table 4, Table 5) However, the number of <br /> abatements on private and City property remained essentially the same as the <br /> previous year. The reasons for the increase in the amount billed and contractor <br /> payments are mostly due to an increase in the rates charged by the contractors, and <br /> a change in the contract equipment requirements. A significant change in the rates <br /> charged by the undeveloped property contractor occurred this year with the signing <br /> of a new contractor. The minimum charge per work order increased from $42.00 to <br /> $60.00 and the charge per hour increased from $25.00 to $35.00. <br /> In 1995. the undeveloped mowing contract equipment requirement was changed. The <br /> horsepower requirement was lowered to 20 horsepower from 35 horsepower. This was <br /> done to increase interest in bidding on the contract. As it was, only three bids <br /> were received, and the successful bid used a tractor of 20 horsepower. The lower <br /> horsepower along with thicker grass, due to the wet /mild spring, resulted in <br /> slightly higher mowing times. These factors, along with the rate increase resulted <br /> in higher billings and contractor payments. <br /> 3 <br />