2025-2027 Goals & Objectives – Public Works

Department Summary

During the reporting period, the Department advanced several strategic initiatives aligned with City Council goals related to accessibility, sustainability, operational efficiency, and community engagement. Work during the period focused on improving service delivery, expanding bilingual outreach, and strengthening internal capacity. Notably progress includes the successful implementation of multi-language translation across the GoGov service request platform, improving access for non-English-speaking residents. The Department also completed its role in supporting the selection and implementation of a new permit workflow system aimed at modernizing internal processes and improved external coordination. Public education and outreach efforts continued to expand, particularly in solid waste and environmental programs. Materials and event promotions were provided in English and Spanish for all department community activities, school-based programs, and hands-on demonstrations, such as Creek Week, Explore Ecology education partnership, and the Pumpkin Smash Event. Operational capacity was strengthened through workforce training and certification, enhancing the ability to perform specialized work in-house, including traffic control, playground inspections, and backflow testing. Cost-control efforts for out-sourced work also progressed through the execution of on-call maintenance agreements with pre-negotiated fixed rates for multiple services, namely tree care and landscaping. Several initiatives related to capital improvements, greenhouse gas reduction, and solid waste program implementation remained pending due to external factors such as lack of grant availability, delayed regulatory review, and interagency coordination challenges. Staff continues to monitor these factors and is prepared to advance initiatives from pending to started as ability and opportunities arise.

Major Milestones Achieved

• Workforce Development and Capacity Building: The Public Works Department invested in employee training and certification, expanding internal skill sets. Certifications obtained during the period included traffic control and flagger safety, certified pool operation, backflow prevention testing and maintenance, and 40-hour Hazardous Waste Operations and Emergency Response certification. These efforts are intended to strengthen operational ability, improve safety, and reduced reliance on external contractors.
• Expanded Environmental Education and Outreach: The Sustainability and Environment Division delivered or supported multiple educational initiatives, including school-based waste reduction and watershed programs, composting education, and community events focused on landfill diversion and environmental stewardship. Partnerships with organizations such as Explore Ecology; the Parks, Recreation, and Community Services Department; and the Promotores Network expanded the reach and cultural relevance of these efforts.
• Improved Accessibility and Digital Services: The Department successfully completed the integration of multi-language translation functionality across the GoGov platform, including the embedded City website and mobile application. This achievement aimed to improved accessibility for non-English-speaking residents and represents a major milestone in equitable service delivery. Ongoing monitoring will ensure functionality remains effective and up to date.

Significant Challenges Encountered

• External regulatory and process delays: Certain sustainability initiatives, including enrollment in the Community Hazardous Waste Collection Center, were delayed due to concerns raised by University of California Santa Barbara (UCSB) following California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) review of the Center’s original Environmental Impact Report (EIR). Santa Barbara County’s Resource Recovery and Waste Management Division is waiting for final data from Fiscal Year 2024/25 to confirm alignment with the original EIR to alleviate UCSB’s concerns and allow the City to sign a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU).
• Limited near-term grant opportunities: Staff actively monitored state and federal funding programs, especially for pavement; however, no opportunities were identified.

Community Engagement

Expanded targeted community engagement and programs through:

• Promotores led solid waste outreach through a Memorandum of Understanding with the Santa Barbara County Education Office
• In collaboration with Explore Ecology, waste reduction and composting education was provided to 300 students through summer and school-year programs
• Hosted three Creek Week cleanup events focused protection of creeks, waterways, and the ocean
• Held the annual Pumpkin Smash event, promoting landfill diversion and composting

Upcoming Department Priorities

• Develop and implement a standardized feedback and evaluation framework for community events to assess outcomes, capture public input, and inform continuous improvement of future programming.
• Execute the Memorandum of Understanding required for enrollment and access to the Community Hazardous Waste Collection Center and Obtain regulatory approval for the Trash Implementation Plan.