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The agenda for next weeks Malibu City Council meeting includes recommending over $2.5 million in spending, for projects as far-ranging as updates to city hall council chambers, tree removal, Point Dume parking restrictions, new street signs and new city contractors.

Of that $2.5 million price tag, staff is allocating $382,600 to pay city contractors.

A project to improve the broadcast capabilities in the council chambers at City Hall could add $262,922 to Mondays bill. Staff is recommending lighting and camera upgrades, as well as upgrades to the projection system and other broadcast equipment.

Another $697,011 is recommended by staff for the construction of the Las Flores Canyon Creek Restoration and Park Project, for the second phase of its development. This is a project that has already been approved.

Staff recommends the Council authorize City Manager Jim Thorsen to hire a development and database management services contractor for $46,500.

A proposed preferential parking zone near the intersection of Heathercliff Road and Dume Drive will add another $4,500 to the tally.

The Parks and Recreation Commission recommends the Council authorize adding Malibu Cars and Coffee to its schedule of programs for another $1,000. The cars and coffee program is billed as a social event for car enthusiasts.

Staff recommends authorizing the preparation of a Master Plan and EIR for Malibu Bluffs Open Space Parkland at $325,000.

Finally, Councilmember Laura Rosenthal is requesting the removal of eucalyptus trees planted in the City right-of-way. The estimated number of Eucalyptus trees in the right-of-way, according to the agenda report, is 876, with tree removal estimated at $1,000 per tree. Therefore, that project could cost up to $876,000.

Not included in the count are other proposed project that are do not include cost estimates, such as a proposal by Mayor Skylar Peak for all new street signs and welcome signs.

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City Proposes $2.5 million in Spending at Upcoming Council Meeting

Waterford - A neighborhood dispute over the town's removal of several trees on Greentree Drive led to questions Monday during a public hearing about the propriety of spending taxpayer money on issues affecting individual landowners.

Tim Conderino, owner of T&T Contracting, said he believed the removal of pine trees on the property of Kelly and Brentt Smith at 23 Greentree Drive set a bad precedent.

"You're opening up a huge, huge cost to the town," he said.

Geoff Burnham, a neighbor of the Smiths, requested the hearing because he felt that the removal of trees created an eyesore and as he wrote in a letter to the town, "taxpayer dollars should not be spent for work on removing trees on what amounts to private property and could be spent on more pressing improvements and repairs."

The Smiths, however, said during the Town Hall hearing attended by about 30 people that the trees were past their prime and branches were constantly falling on their property, endangering their children. Pine needles from the trees also blocked storm drains, they said, causing 4 feet of water to accumulate in their basement during one big storm.

One issue discussed was why the town would be required to remove trees more than 20 feet from any town road. But First Selectman Dan Steward said the subdivision granted the town a 24-foot right of way so that even trees deep within private property could be removed if they posed a hazard.

Burnham questioned whether the trees did pose a hazard, considering that Tree Warden Kristin B. Zawacki, who is also the town's director of public works, indicated in a note last August that she wasn't concerned about them.

"We don't clear healthy trees," she said in the note.

Zawacki said during the hearing, though, that the trees had deteriorated in the intervening months and were "snapping at the top."

Conderino and others noted that the Greentree Drive controversy occurred not long after Waterford High School removed 40 pine trees from its property to much public lamentation. He said the high school's trees were removed on a Sunday by a town crew, resulting in overtime costs.

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Removal of trees in Waterford at root of dispute

WOODRIDGE This fall, the Village of Woodridge will begin to remove the last batch of ash trees deemed unsalvageable due to the emerald ash borer.

The village is seeking bids for the removal of roughly 1,400 infected ash trees on village-owned property, which would bring the total number of ash trees on public property lost to the invasive bug to about 3,000.

The bid process is part of an accelerated effort to remove the unsalvageable trees, according to Chris Bethel, director of Woodridge Public Works.

Weve condensed the timeline for removal because the drought of two years ago and the extreme cold this past winter really accelerated the decline [of the infected trees], Bethel said. So we recommended accelerating the removal as opposed to removing the trees over the next four years. That way we can focus on replacing the trees in years two through four.

The remaining ash tree population on public property "several hundred" are either showing signs of resistance to the ash borer or are being treated with a chemical injection to fend off the bug, whose larvae feed on the tree's vascular system and deteriorate the tree.

Public works staff members are certified and licensed to administer the chemical injections, allowing the department to handle the treatment in-house as opposed to outsourcing.

About 50 white ash trees have been treated with the chemical. This month, the Woodridge Public Works Department began tying pink ribbons around the treated trees, indicating that the trees should not be touched or disturbed.

So far the results [of the chemical treatment] have been positive, Bethel said. Were seeing a decline in the deterioration of the trees.

The village is expected to spend more than $600,000 over the next five years for treatment and removal of ash trees.

"Right now we have $150,000 budgeted for calendar years '15 and '16, $160,000 for '17 and $70,000 each in years '18 and '19. The expenditures for 2018 and 2019 are for replacement of the trees," Bethel said, adding that the timing of those expenditures will soon change in adjustment to the more condensed timeline for removal of the trees.

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Village accelerates removal of infected ash trees

PennDOT officials said Tuesday the outbound Squirrel Hill Tunnel will be closed around the clock this weekend for construction.

The tunnel will close at 10 p.m. Friday and will not reopen until 6 a.m. Monday. Work will include paving inside the tunnel, tile placement, water line installation, sandstone and brick cleaning, lighting work and other construction. The work is part of a $50 million project to rehabilitate the tunnel. The project is expected to be completed by the end of the summer.

The inbound tunnel will remain open during the outbound closure, PennDOT officials said.

To minimize the impact on Squirrel Hill businesses, PennDOT will post different detours for day and night. The daylight detour will route traffic from Forward Avenue to Beechwood Boulevard to Forbes Avenue to South Braddock Avenue and back onto the Parkway.

The night detour will route traffic from Forward Avenue to Murray Avenue to Forbes Avenue to South Braddock Avenue and back onto the parkway.

We anticipate this being the last full weekend tunnel closure of the project, PennDOT spokesman Steve Cowan said. The contractor still has a closure in each direction per the contract, but it is doubtful they would use it. If all goes well this weekend, that should be the last full closure.

Bobby Kerlik is a staff writer for Trib Total Media. He can be reached at 412-320-7886 or bkerlik@tribweb.com.

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Rehab work to close Squirrel Hill Tunnel outbound this weekend

The Waterloo Pool in Denison will remain closed for the next two weeks as workers perform annual maintenance at the facility.

In past years, the pool has closed during the late part of August for annual work, Parks and Recreation Department Manager Sunny Mackey said. As summer temperatures historically hit their peak during the month, attendance tends to drop, she said.

August is one of the least busy months of the year for us, said Mackey.

Mackey said workers will be finishing final touches to repairs to the womens bathroom that began earlier in the summer. At the beginning of the summer, a leak was discovered in the wall of the restroom. While the leak was repaired, paint and tile work were delayed until the August break due to the humidity and use of the facility, said Mackey.

Additionally, workers will be painting the main office area.

The pool will open again on Sept. 2 in time for the swim team season, Mackey said.

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Waterloo Pool closes for seasonal maintenance and repairs

When Perkasie Fire Company members speak with residents, one of the things they encourage them to have is a sprinkler system in their homes.

However, some might be surprised where there isnt a sprinkler system.

We promote sprinklers, but we dont have one in our building, Perkasie Fire Company Chief David Worthington said.

A sprinkler system is the biggest ticket item on a 14-item, $423,000 list of capital funding projects the company would like to implement at its Perkasie station.

With the cost of maintaining the station in mind, the company is considering asking borough residents for an increase in the fire tax and held a public forum to get resident feedback at the firehouse Thursday, Aug. 14.

In addition to borough officials and members of the fire company, a small handful of residents listened to Worthington expound upon the companys financial situation and funding needs.

The fire company has two stations: one in the borough and one in East Rockhill Township, with the company providing coverage to 68 percent of East Rockhill. Both Perkasie and East Rockhill have a fire tax, with the company receiving the entirety of Perkasies tax and a proportional 68 percent of East Rockhills tax funding, according to Worthington.

Funding for the maintenance of each station and the apparatus held there is kept separate, meaning the taxes Perkasie residents pay go only to the station in the borough, according to Worthington.

Currently, 1 mill out of the 5.75 mill tax rate goes to the fire company, according to information on the boroughs website.

It basically equates to $27.80 per billable parcel, the chief said. Continued...

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Perkasie Fire Company discusses funding needs

Eve and Adam. Plaid Systems

Hop over to Kickstarter this morning and you'll see the smart gardening platform the Eve Ecosystem launched its crowd-funding campaign. Built specifically to work with the SmartThings home automation hub, Eve is designed as an irrigation controller that automatically adapts to the conditions of your yard. It can manage up to 16 different watering zones of your home's existing sprinkler system. You can control each zone individually from your smart phone or tablet, or let Eve do the scheduling for you. It'll process data from its moisture sensor -- called Adam -- placed in your yard, and take into account any weather info gathered by the SmartThings hub, to give your lawn the exact amount of water it needs.

Eve, the first product by Plaid Systems, will have plenty of connected capability right from launch, including IFTTT functionality, courtesy of the existing SmartThings platform. For example, you could have your sprinklers automatically turn off whenever you open the front door, then turn back on a set amount of time later.

SmartThings, a former Kickstarter project itself, was recently acquired by Samsung to help them grow their footprint in the ever-growing smart home market. With a bevy of motion sensors and power controls already at its disposal, SmartThings can now use Eve to expand outside of the walls of the Smart Home.

Screens from the app. Plaid Systems

The increased profile of SmartThings caused by the Samsung deal can only help Eve with its Kickstarter campaign. The downside of Eve building its system for SmartThings is the greatly increased initial cost for interested parties who don't already own a SmartThings hub, as the Eve Irrigation system won't function without it.

On its own, the SmartThings hub costs $99. The Eve Irrigation controller will retail separately for $150, with each Adam sensor tacking on $55. Together, the two sell for $200. All prices will be consistent for Kickstarter backers and shoppers once it hits store shelves, though Plaid is offering a limited number of discount devices for those who pledge early. They plan to have the product ready to ship by March of 2015. Currently, the Eve Ecosystem is not available overseas.

Even with the cost of the SmartThings hub, Plaid's pricing for both the Eve and Adam components pits it favorably against the competition. The Rachio Iro functions as an irrigation controller similar to Eve. It costs $249 or $299 for an 8 zone or 16 zone capacity, with the low price matching the cost of an Eve plus a SmartThings hub.

Similar to Eve, you can use the Iro to manually control each sprinkler zone or allow it to take care of the watering schedule for you. Rachio's device connects directly to your Wi-Fi router, so it can adapt to weather information without the need for a separate hub.That said, SmartThings allows Eve's system to scale in a way that Rachio's can't match.

Adam. Plaid Systems

Read more:
The Eve Irrigation System hopes to make your garden perfect

By Leslie Postal, Orlando Sentinel

2:11 p.m. EDT, August 19, 2014

UCF's Bright House Networks Stadium has been closed temporarily this week for repairs to its sprinkler system, but the work will not interfere with upcoming college football games, officials said.

The University of Central Florida is replacing a small section of pipe less than four feet that feeds the stadium's sprinkler system, said Grant Heston, vice president for communications and marketing.

A sign announcing the stadium's closure went up today.

The work is to be completed before Aug. 31 when the 10th annual MEAC/SWAC Challenge is to be held in the stadium. In that game, North Carolina A&T State University will face off against Alabama A&M University.

The Knights' first home football game of the season is scheduled for Sept. 20 against Bethune-Cookman University. The closure has "no operational impact," Heston said.

If for some reason the repair work is not finished before the scheduled games, the stadium would still open. But UCF would need to have firefighters stationed there during the contests, he added.

lpostal@tribune.com or 407-420-5273

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UCF stadium shut down for sprinkler repairs

Ponderay, ID (PRWEB) August 19, 2014

Storage Sheds Outlet has now announced the availability of metal sheds at the most affordable prices. Their metal sheds are robust enough to be used for any commercial purpose, as well as for any residential purposes like for use in a back yard. This climate-resistant metal shed comes in a myriad of designs and patterns. They give customers many choices when it comes to shape and size. This metal garden shed is easy to maintain and doesnt require painting. Furthermore, all Storage Sheds Outlet products come with a manufacturers warranty. In addition to metal sheds, the company also offers storage shed accessories, Plastic Storage Buildings Shed, greenhouses, deck boxes, utility storage sheds, outdoor canopies, and many other similar items.

Storage Sheds Outlet also offers storage sheds for sale where customers can get products at discounted prices. They have a large inventory of storage sheds that are from genuine and reliable brands. With this company, one will find storage sheds available in various patterns of wood, plastic, vinyl, and lots more. Talking more about the company, one of their representatives, Jason Guerrettaz, CEO of United Commerce Group, owner of StorageShedsOutlet.com stated, Storage sheds are the perfect solution for regaining control over your yard and garage! From storage sheds to steel buildings, we have the outdoor storage products and accessories you need. Organize your outdoor equipment and tools by creating more space with a new storage shed today. With dealer-direct outlet prices and free shipping on all our products, we won't be beat in price or service right here at Storage Sheds Outlet.

About Storage Sheds Outlet- A Division of United Commerce Group, Inc.

StorageShedsOutlet.com is a market leader in the provision of a number of outdoor structures including Storage Sheds (garden, metal, plastic, vinyl and wood), Storage Buildings, Garages, Portable Buildings, Deck Boxes, Greenhouses, Outdoor Canopies, Outdoor Shelters, Carports, Utility Sheds, Patio Accessories, Shed Accessories, Solar Lighting and Firewood Storage. This company will continue to expand by increasing its product offerings and categories. Its primary goal is to ensure a positive customer service relationship and to ensure the very best prices in this sector.

For more information, please visit http://www.storageshedsoutlet.com.

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Storage Sheds Outlet Now Offers Metal Sheds at Cost-Effective Prices

Golfscape CEO Raghad Mukhaimer recognizes that the United States domestic golf industry is going through a challenging time. However, he notes that international demand for golf has never been stronger. As Mukhaimer and his team shed the Beta tag off of theGolfscape.comwebsite this morning, Mukhaimer maintains that his company is ready to meet the needs of the modern digital golfer by making it easier to book tee times at the best and most beautiful golf courses around the world.

Mukhaimer refers to Golfscape as the Expedia Expedia of the golf world. He says that it may sound trivial, but a service that accepts real-time credit card payments to book tee times does not yet exist in golf . . . or at least those few companies in the space do not operate effectively.

The stated plan is for San Francisco-based Golfscape to take on legacy tour golf operators that have monopolized 85% of the golf travel market, but have not successfully adapted to modern digital trends. It is not a service for everybody;Golfscape is particularly being pitched as a luxurygolf travel concierge with top-end golf courses made available for what its founders call insta-booking, and will provide social recommendations along with virtual tours of the courses offered on the platform. Importantly, Golfspace is not for the golfer looking to find the cheapest tee time. Instead, Golfscape is positioning itself as providing a luxury experience for travelers who want to control their itinerary instead of handing over the keys to a travel agent.

An example of booking a tee time at Palmetto Dunes through GolfScape.com.

Golfscape is launching to the general public with a handful of destinations that were handpicked by founders Mukhaimer and Michael Galasso. Along with U.S.-based courses, Golfscape will offer courses found withinThailand, Bali, Vietnam and elsewhere in Asia.

Directors of golf courses are saying, if you can give me a new distribution strategy, then Im all for participating and working with you guys, said Mukhaimer and Galasso. Golf courses are looking for new customers. Golfscape has come up with a new sales channel targeting highly desirable golf travelers. Courses havent had the resources or tools to focus on that through the recession.

Golf course operators can register their courses for consideration to be included within Golfscapes framework. The rate displayed on the Golfscape website is the same rate a golfer will find behind the desk at the requested golf course. Golfscape receives revenue by invoicing its fee to the golf course (there is no fee paid by the consumer to Golfscape) and earns a percentage commission based on the booking amount.

While Golfscapes founders compare their platform to Expedia, they understand that the golf industry is very different than the hotel, airline and car rental industries. In the latter industries, there are limited offerings. Someone booking airfare has few seating class options. With golf, there may be 100 different tee time booking options throughout a single day. Those tee time resources are not easily swapped out for each other.

There is no open API, no integrated method, no standard based system for this, explained Golfscapes founders. Weve taken a different approach. Were saying we dont want the 100-200 different options. Our customer isnt really concerned whether the tee time is 6:08 a.m. or 6:16 a.m. They care if its morning, afternoon or evening. We feel thats enough variety for a user to say Im on a holiday. A 9:00 a.m. tee time or something around it is good enough for me.

For Golfscape to work, it needs to limit the number of tee times available for users so that the platform more closely resembles an Expedia type of offering where only a few booking options exist.

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Golfscape Sheds Beta Tag On Its Luxury Golf Travel Concierge Service