About the Public Works Department
The Public Works Department is the largest department within the City of Astoria and is responsible for maintaining and improving the infrastructure and public services that support the community’s daily life. The department is organized into three divisions: Administration, Operations, and Engineering.
Public Works manages a wide range of essential services, including water treatment and distribution, wastewater collection and treatment, street maintenance, engineering services, sanitation, fleet maintenance for City vehicles, forest and watershed management, City facility maintenance, railroad infrastructure maintenance, and Geographic Information Systems (GIS) mapping.
The department also provides staff support to the Traffic Safety Advisory Committee (TSAC).
Public Works staff are actively involved in planning, designing, constructing, and maintaining infrastructure throughout the city. This includes managing capital improvement projects such as water, sewer, street, and stormwater upgrades, as well as overseeing construction management and participating in the City’s land development review process.
Mission, Vision, and Values
Mission
To effectively develop and maintain public infrastructure and facilities that provide for the social, economic, and environmental needs of our community.
Vision
The City of Astoria Public Works Department will be a recognized leader in the delivery of public services—known for our responsiveness, proactive approach, reliability, responsible stewardship of fiscal and personnel resources, and our commitment to the community we serve.
Values
· We learn, grow, and continuously improve
· We work together as a team
· We work with integrity
· We prioritize the best interest of the public
· We are responsive and respectful, making customer service part of our culture
Public Works Operations Division
The Operations Division is responsible for the day-to-day operation and maintenance of the City’s critical infrastructure systems, including streets, sanitation, sewer, stormwater, water utilities, and the Public Works shop and yard.
Operations staff maintain and operate an extensive system that includes the City’s 3,700-acre watershed, a slow sand filter water treatment facility, a 12-mile water transmission line, two covered reservoirs, more than 4,000 water meters, over 400 fire hydrants, and more than 80 miles of water distribution lines. The division also maintains the City’s stormwater infrastructure, including catch basins, inlets, and conveyance systems, as well as the sanitary sewer collection and treatment system, which includes 68 miles of sewer pipe, approximately 1,600 manholes, two major pump stations, three lift stations, and the wastewater treatment facility.
In addition, Operations staff provide street sweeping, roadway maintenance, traffic signage maintenance, snow plowing, and de-icing, while also managing inventory and maintaining nearly 400 pieces of City-owned equipment and vehicles.
Public Works Engineering Division
The Engineering Division plans, designs, and manages many of the City’s infrastructure improvement projects. The division provides engineering and technical services for City systems and facilities, including water, sanitary sewer, storm drainage, streets, sidewalks, docks, and other public infrastructure.
Engineering staff are responsible for project design, construction management, contract administration, and grant administration for a wide range of public works projects. The division also works closely with the Community Development Department during the development review process to ensure new development meets City infrastructure standards.
In addition, Engineering maintains critical Public Works records, including utility maps, as-built drawings, and the City’s Geographic Information System (GIS). The division also provides technical support to other City departments and manages the design, maintenance, and construction of various community development projects, such as trolley trestles, docks, walkways, and related infrastructure.
Public Works Administration
The Administration Division provides leadership, oversight, and strategic planning for the entire Public Works Department.
Administration oversees the operations and maintenance of City streets, water and sewer systems, and major public infrastructure projects. The division manages department budgets, grant and loan funding for capital projects, and oversees City facility maintenance.
Public Works Administration also manages City-owned real property transactions, including easements, right-of-way vacations, licenses, and sales of City property.
In addition, the division oversees forest resource management, including the City’s timber harvest program and carbon credit projects associated with City forestlands.
Administration also serves as the primary liaison between the Public Works Department and the City Council, helping coordinate policies, priorities, and long-term infrastructure planning for the City of Astoria.
Resiliency and Sustainability
The Public Works Department incorporates resiliency and sustainability principles into the planning, design, and operation of City infrastructure to the extent feasible within available resources.
These principles aim to reduce the impacts of natural hazards, strengthen infrastructure reliability, and improve recovery following extreme events. For example, the City has adopted new standards that utilize earthquake-resistant pipeline materials as aging water infrastructure is replaced.
Modern resilience and sustainability practices are incorporated into planning and asset management to help ensure Astoria’s infrastructure systems remain reliable and adaptable in the future.
Environmental Stewardship
As caretakers of the City’s natural resources, the Public Works Department strives to:
· Protect the City watershed and drinking water supply
· Prevent contaminated stormwater from entering the natural environment
· Optimize wastewater treatment prior to discharge
· Prevent illicit wastes from entering the sewer system
· Protect native vegetation and remove invasive species when feasible
· Minimize the use of chemicals in City systems
· Promote reduced use of petroleum-based products and encourage bio-based alternatives
· Minimize energy use in operating City infrastructure
