Public Works Administration Program
The Public Works Administration Program oversees the following divisions and respective programs within the Public Works Department:
Engineering Division
- Public Works Administration
- Transportation, Parking and Lighting
- Capital Improvements
Street Maintenance Division
- Street Maintenance
- Right-of-Way Maintenance
Sustainability and Environment Division
- Resource Conservation (Energy)
- Solid Waste
- Watershed Management
The Public Works Administration Program is responsible for the planning, organizing, and directing of all services in the Public Works Department.
The Public Works Department is augmented with contracts for professional (consulting) services, solid waste hauling, street sweeping, and street and right-of-way maintenance.
Contract Services:
The Public Works Administration Program administers professional (consulting) services to augment Public Works Department staff in the delivery of capital projects, engineering plan checks, and specialty studies. Professional services are private architectural, landscape architectural, engineering, environmental, land surveying, or construction project management firms. The procurement of professional services is made by a qualifications-based selection process in accordance with California Government Code Sections 4525 through 4529.5 and the federal Brooks Act for federal-aid projects.
The Public Works Administration Program administers maintenance contracts to augment Public Works Department staff in solid waste hauling, street sweeping, and street and right-of-way maintenance.
Engineering Permits Service:
The Public Works Administration Program administers the Engineering Permits Service. Under this service, engineering permits are issued for grading, right-of-way encroachments, dumpsters, and oversize loads; and special event permits are issued for events held in the public right-of-way including temporary parking. Engineering plan checks and inspections are performed for conformance with City construction standards and compliance with City regulations.
The Engineering Permits Service also administers the City floodplain management regulations. The purpose of these regulations is to promote the public health, safety, and general welfare, and to minimize public and private losses due to flood conditions.
Traffic Safety Committee
The Traffic Safety Committee consists of the City’s Public Works Director, Community Development Director or representative, Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Department representative, Carpinteria Unified School District representative, and any other City official as approved by the City Council.
The Committee duties include suggesting the most practicable means for coordinating the activities of all officers and agencies of the City having authority with respect to the administration or enforcement of traffic regulations; to receive complaints having to do with traffic matters; and to recommend to the City Council and Public Works Department ways and means for improving traffic conditions and the administration and enforcement of traffic regulations.
The Committee meets quarterly and meetings are open to the public.
January 18, 2023
April 19, 2023
July 19, 2023
September 20, 2023
Transportation, Parking and Lighting Program
The Transportation, Parking and Lighting Program provides for the following services:
- Transit service contracts with Santa Barbara Metropolitan Transit District (SBMTD), Easy Lift Transportation, and Help of Carpinteria
- Public parking lot maintenance
- Train station platform maintenance
- Street light and traffic signal maintenance
Public parking lots include Parking Lot #1 (Ninth St.), Parking Lot #2 (Cactus Ln.), and Parking Lot #3 (Fifth St.) which comprise Parking and Business Improvement Area Assessment District No. 4. The Downtown “T” Business Advisory Board is responsible for promoting the economic growth and stability of the District. To learn more about the Downtown “T” Business Advisory Board, click here.
The majority of the public street lights are owned, operated, and maintained by Southern California Edison (SCE). Decorative street lights are owned, operated, and maintained by the City, while SCE provides the power. The decorative street lights are located citywide including on portions of Linden Avenue, Carpinteria Avenue, City Hall, Parking Lot #3, parks, and bike paths. All public street lights and traffic signals comprise Street Lighting District No. 1.
Contract Services:
Transit Services: SBMTD Electric Shuttle is an electric shuttle service that will continue to be provided from the previous fiscal year. The service is subsidized by SBMTD. The subsidy allows a reduced fare for residents and visitors to use the electric shuttle. Easy Lift Transportation is a paratransit service that will continue to be provided from the previous fiscal year. It is funded by Measure A. Help of Carpinteria is a door-to-door transportation service that will be continue to be provided from the previous fiscal year for non-driving residents. It is funded by Measure A.
Assessment Districts: The Parking and Business Improvement Area Assessment District No. 4 provides for the funding of the operation and maintenance for Parking Lot #1, Parking Lot #2, and Parking Lot #3.
Street Lighting District No. 1 provides for the funding of the operation and maintenance for all the street lights and traffic signals.
Capital Improvements Program
The Capital Improvements Program consists of capital projects greater than $10,000 in value and generally financed with specific funds intended only for capital improvements. Capital projects are listed in the Capital Improvement Plan (CIP) and substantiated or prioritized in conformance with the General Plan and Local Coastal Plan, master plans, and/or special studies. (The term, Capital Improvements Program, also refers to a budgetary category in the City’s fiscal year budget and is interchangeably called CIP.) The CIP includes capital projects for Alternative Transportation, General Facilities, Highway Interchanges and Bridges, Parking Facilities, Parks and Recreation Facilities, Storm Drain Facilities, Streets and Thoroughfares, and Traffic Control Facilities.
Capital projects are often long-term, and expenditures occur over multiple years. In many cases, capital projects may have had prior design work completed or may even have had partial construction completed prior to the current fiscal year. In other cases, capital projects may be completed in future years.
Project management and contract and grant administration of capital projects are able to be performed by Engineering Division staff. Professional (consulting) services augment Engineering Division staff in the design and construction project management of capital projects.
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