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Council hears demonstration and staff recommendation on asphalt zipper to speed street rebuilds
Summary
Public works showed council a remote-controlled asphalt zipper demo; staff recommended buying a larger (72-inch) model under a municipal lease program to accelerate in-house street rebuilds and lower contractor costs. Council discussion favored the purchase and asked staff to return with financing terms.
City staff and public-works leaders presented the results of an asphalt zipper demonstration held March 11 and discussed whether to acquire a larger model for the street department.
Staff described the zipper as a remote-controlled machine that mills existing asphalt, mixes it back into the base and allows crews to compact and reseal streets in a single process. The demonstration on Murphy Street converted a badly deteriorated segment into a compacted, reconditioned surface; the in-house method completed the demo’s “zipping” in roughly two hours for the block demo and would likely take about 90 minutes for a full block with the larger 72-inch machine.
The vendor quoted $331,560 for a 72-inch model with municipal lease terms offered through its government-capital program; staff said the quoted program APR was about 6 percent for five years, and that the financing firm suggested the rate might be reduced if paired with a separately approved loader purchase. Government Capital provided a slightly lower estimate for interest. Council members and staff discussed potential trade-in value ($5,000 for the current 4-foot unit), the operational lifespan benefits versus piecemeal patching, and using Country Club Estates as a training area before wider deployment.
Several council members voiced support, noting repeated public requests for better streets and the long-term life-extension a mill-and-rebuild can provide. Staff said the measure would bring more paving capacity in house and reduce repeated contractor costs; it would not replace traditional milling and full rebuilds when those are required but would expand the department’s ability to reconstruct block-level bases and apply fog seals or overlays after reconditioning.
Council asked staff to return with specific financing comparisons (three- and five-year terms) and to confirm warranty/retirement details and lien implications for different financing vendors. Staff also noted the manufacturer’s municipal program may place a lien on the equipment if purchased directly through the vendor, whereas the government-capital finance option does not place a lien on city property.
