The Public Works Department staff designs, operates, and maintains the city-owned facilities and equipment.  The staff’s major areas of responsibility include streets, street lights and signals, sewers, storm drainage and public buildings.  The staff administers environmental protection services for sewer and stormwater service within the city, provides professional and technical support to other city departments, and manages franchises granted by the city.

Administration staff provides general oversight and leadership for the department, coordinates the department budget, and administers franchises granted by the city.

The Engineering Division staff promotes public safety through responsible development of the city’s infrastructure and provides good records and technical assistance related to that infrastructure.
 

• Civil Engineering staff designs and manages construction of city projects and inspects private developer permit projects.
• Survey staff maintains and records legal descriptions of property and surveys activities for city infrastructure projects.
• Transportation staff operates and maintains the centralized controls of traffic signals within the city, plans and designs signals and other traffic control facilities, and plans and designs bicycle facilities.

• Building Maintenance staff maintains all city buildings, including custodial services and building security for 97,000 square feet of office and public space in City Hall and Springfield Museum.
• Sewer Maintenance staff ensures operation of the 225 miles of sanitary sewer and other components of the city’s sewage collection system.
• Sub-surface Drainage staff maintains and improves the city’s 213 miles of storm pipelines and facilities, including catch basin cleaning, pipeline cleaning, and repairing manholes and pipes.
• Street Landscaping staff maintains and beautifies City-owned landscaped areas.
• Surface Drainage staff provides services for the 8.5 miles of large drainage canals, 20 miles of roadside ditches, and 3.5 miles of the Millrace waterway.
• Street Maintenance staff maintains 155 miles of improved streets and 30 miles of unimproved streets. Staff activities include sweeping, grading, flushing, patching, crack sealing, controlling road ice and snow, removing road hazards and debris from public rights-of-way (including dead animals), inspecting for compliance with encroachment permits, and repairing sidewalk problems caused by City street trees.
• Traffic Control Maintenance and Construction staff constructs and maintains traffic signs, traffic signals, and pavement markings and does special projects.
• Vehicle and Equipment Maintenance staff repairs and does preventive maintenance for 220 City-owned vehicles and equipment.

The Regional Wastewater staff administers the Metropolitan Wastewater Management Commission and construction for the regional facilities, including contract, project, and construction management related to facilities planning, design, and construction; managing and setting budget and user rates; public information and education.  The Industrial Pretreatment Program staff oversees regulation of waters discharged to the sanitary sewers by industries in Springfield to ensure that wastewater does not damage the collection system, interfere with wastewater treatment processes, result in harmful pollutants passed through to the Willamette River, or threaten worker health and safety.

Public Works Director Susie Smith, Public Works Director, has served in this position since July 2008.  She also serves as the Executive Officer for the Metropolitan Wastewater Management Commission.  She has worked for the City of Springfield in various capacities since 1987.  She received her bachelor of science degree in Natural Resources from the University of California at Berkeley in 1983, and received a master of science degree in Urban and Regional Planning from the University of Oregon in 1987.

Last Updated September 3, 2008. Problems? Public Works