Public Works

Department Description
The Public Works Department is focused on protection of the environment, providing ongoing support of public health and safety programs, and providing construction, maintenance and operation support for city facilities. As a baseline effort, Public Works will provide outstanding wastewater collection and treatment, innovative trash collection and recycling, and reliable geothermal heating and pressurized irrigation services. The department will continue providing strong engineering support for public streetlights, storm water drainage, hillside protection, flood plain review, and construction management. The Government Buildings division of the department will provide responsive building operation and maintenance for the City Hall complex and other city owned buildings.
Longer-term efforts are focused on developing strategies to protect the quality of the community’s ground and surface waters. These efforts will include ensuring that water rights are protected and wisely used.
The department will facilitate an organizational effort to “lead by example” to protect the valley’s air quality. Public Works will bring community leaders together to discuss and take action on programs that will have positive air quality impacts. The city organization will also encourage the construction of environmentally friendly buildings, strive to meet the Climate Protection Agreement goals of a 7% reduction of greenhouse gas emissions by 2012, and participate in the implementation of the Clean Cities plan.
Long term planning efforts will be completed for both solid waste and sewer services ensuring an integrated vision for community growth and infrastructure support. It is expected that the city will be taking a leadership role to promote solid waste reduction, reuse, and recycling efforts.
Public Works may also be asked to take a larger role as an internal service provider. As the city invests in new facilities such as branch libraries, emergency services headquarters, and fire stations, Public Works has the potential to assume the project management lead from the point of design all the way through facility construction. This centralized project management service will ensure that facilities are built to meet the community’s needs, that the construction is environmentally sustainable, and that long-term operation and maintenance needs are considered.
 

Mission Statement
To use our resources effectively, to protect the health, safety, and welfare of the community --- leaving a legacy of enhanced quality of life for Boise.

Strengths

• Well maintained public lighting system
• Proactive groundwater, storm water, and air quality (leadership) programs
• Ability to ensure regulatory compliance
• Good foothills flood control infrastructure
• Long term wastewater plans are periodically reviewed and updated
• Land and funding for wastewater facilities are available to accommodate growth and new regulatory requirements
• Unlimited curbside trash/recyclable collection is provided
• Solid waste services are good and rates are low
• Geothermal system provides a low cost, reliable, and pollution free source of heat to the downtown core
• Infrastructure is in good condition, funding is strong, and staff is competent
   

Weaknesses

• Well lit neighborhoods are in conflict with concerns over light pollution
• Lack of clarity on which organization(s) should own and operate pressurized irrigation systems
• Multiple, fragmented service delivery systems (sewer, water, roads, drainage)
• Downstream drainage facilities are old
• Lander Street wastewater treatment facility is aging and in need of expensive upgrades
• Difficult to forecast and control future demands on the infrastructure
• Geothermal system lacks pipeline redundancy
• Restriction on General Fund capital improvements; General Fund programs are constrained
• Limited control on valley air quality

Opportunities

• Seek grants and partnerships
• Focus more on energy efficiency
• Consolidate facility management
• New options available for wastewater treatment facilities
• Evaluate business processes
• Extend further education and outreach
• Look to technology improvements to address cost containment and improving efficiencies
• Expand utility services
• Evaluate composting
• Evaluate effluent reuse
• Annexation
  

Threats

• Growth stresses resources
• Environmental regulations
• Sometimes difficult relationships with other cities, entities
• Antigovernment sentiment
• Limitations on geothermal production
• Cost increases for solid waste operations
• Difficulties in managing biosolids operations
• Privatization causing reduced services
• Lack of technical resources
• An aging workforce - loss of key employees