National Public Works Week

May 19 - 25, 2024 is Public Works Week and we are excited to celebrate our Public Works Professionals and call attention to the important roles they play in our community! A lot of hard work goes on, behind-the-scenes, in Public Works that keeps our community moving safely, and efficiently. In fact, Public Works Professionals affect our lives, and how our community functions, every single day.

This year’s theme, “Advancing the Quality of Life for All” shines a light on the vital role of Public Works in our communities. Public Works’ role is to develop and maintain the City’s infrastructure. These dedicated professionals are responsible for building/rebuilding, operating, maintaining, and improving essential transportation, water, stormwater and emergency managements systems, as well as maintaining public buildings and other structures and facilities essential for our residents.  Their work enhances the livability and quality of life. 

Public Works is organized into two groups, Operations and Engineering. Each group handles its own part of the City’s infrastructure. 

The Engineering Group is responsible for planning, design, construction and database mapping for Oregon City public infrastructure (including capital improvement projects, development projects, and asset management). In addition, the Engineering Group: 

• Ensures improvements are constructed to industry standards, adopted by the City Commission. This is accomplished by overseeing projects, from start to finish, and performing construction inspections throughout. 
• Reviews and approves permits for items such as driveways, sidewalks, road closures, moving pods, special events and much more. 
• Engineer and review new improvements engineered by others relating to roads, sewers, and water mains. These improvements exist in the right-of-way (i.e. sections of land set aside for public benefit). Examples or right of way include streets and sidewalks, as well as water pipes, electricity lines and other utility structures.  
• Coordinates with Portland General Electric (PGE), Northwest Natural, CenturyLink, Comcast, and all the other private utility providers to ensure their needs do not conflict with the City's needs. 

The Operations Group is responsible for operating and maintaining the Oregon City public infrastructure systems, including the Water Division, Wastewater (Sewer) Division, Stormwater Division, and Street (Transportation) Division.  The Group also supports a Fleet Division that provides a comprehensive fleet management program - that fulfills the vehicle and equipment needs of City customers through cost-effective and dedicated personal services. The Group and Divisions, collectively, maintain: 

• Quality drinking water, by keeping it clean and ensuring proper pressure for use.

• Maintain the stormwater (rainwater) and sanitary (kitchen, bathroom, and laundry waste) sewers to minimize flooding, environmentally dispose of waste and keep the sewers free from backups.
• Maintain the roads by removing potholes, providing new surfaces, keeping the roads safe by maintaining traffic signs, signals, and lights.