20250129 SFL Florida DPC Minutes

Meeting Date: January 29, 2025
Location: Miami-Dade Water & Sewer Department (WASD) Douglas Facility, Room 156-A, 3071 SW 38th Ave., Miami FL 33146
Lunch provided by NUCA of SFL & Sunshine 811 Beverages provided by Sunshine 811
Start Time: 11:30 AM
End Time: 1:15 PM
Attendance: 23 Total Attendees In-Person

NEXT MEETING:
Date and Time: April 16, 2025
Location: Kelly Tractor in West Palm Beach
Lunch co-sponsorship by Florida Public Utilities/Florida City Gas & Ritchie Bros Auctioneers

DPC Officers and Open Seats

A participant inquired whether other regional DPCs had selected their officers. It was noted that some had, while others had not. A suggestion was made to hold nominations for officers before the statewide April 10th DPC meeting. An email was sent to the group to solicit nominations, with a deadline of February 28th. Officers were officially selected on March 4th based on those nominations.

Exactix Access

A question was raised regarding obtaining individual login credentials for the Exactix system. A follow-up was promised to assist with the request.

Large Project Tickets (LPT)

There was a request for an update on LPTs. It was confirmed that updates would be shared at an upcoming Sunshine 811 Committee meeting, including information on enforcement and subaqueous ticketing. It was recommended that a pilot program be initiated before any legislative actions. It was emphasized that while a pilot is a good idea, it must still operate within current legal frameworks. Questions arose about project parameters like miles of directional boring. The importance of designating main contacts for locators and contractors was discussed, and attendees were encouraged to invite subcontractors to future meetings. The pilot program should involve only a limited number of contractors and locators for manageability. Stakeholder input at DPC and board meetings was encouraged, with participation available both in person and online.

Underwater Tickets

FPL uses buoys to mark underwater facilities located in coastal waters, not offshore. Coordination with contractors is necessary, where the contractor provides the plot surveying.

Enforcement

Concerns were raised regarding the lack of enforcement of Chapter 556 by the designated agency. Suggestions included the possibility of another agency taking over enforcement (Public Service Commission) and the creation of a board to handle appeals to citations. It was pointed out that this enforcement approach was previously proposed, but not adopted. A question was raised about damage statistics, particularly comparing homeowners and contractors. It was noted that most ticket volume and damages come from contractors. Note: a majority of damages reported to the Damage Information Reporting Tool (DIRT) reports Unknown as the Excavator Type. The system does not currently track contractor licensing status. Feedback on this issue will be taken back to Sunshine 811.

Sub-Contractors and Ticket Renewals

The group discussed concerns about subcontractors needing more training and understanding of the 811 system. Excessive renewals of the same ticket without updates to the scope remain an issue. There was criticism about the failure to revise scopes during renewals. One participant noted that their organization addresses this through weekly reviews with project managers. A call was made for broader communication from Sunshine 811 to stakeholders about renewal concerns. Some attendees reported high renewal rates. The value of quality audits and refresher training for Exactix users was highlighted. It was also suggested to extend DPC meeting invites to contractors and subcontractors. Subscription to the DPC distribution list and news updates from Sunshine 811 was encouraged for ongoing engagement.

USIC Flag Pilot Program

The use of QR codes on marking flags was introduced. These codes link to supervisor contact info by county to facilitate communication. The initiative had been piloted successfully in another state, and while the remaining old flags will be used first, the new QR code flags are set for future deployment. A visual of the new flag is expected to be shared in a future meeting.