Public Works Department

Fiscal year 2024 Budget

Overview

Public Works Administration: The Public Works Administration Office is responsible for the planning, organization, direction, and budgetary/financial control of the six divisions of Public Works. The goal of the office is to foster the safe, reliable, responsive, and cost-effective provision of services to both the citizens of Charlottesville and internal customers.  Responsibilities include supporting the Director, as well as administrative services, budget development, human resources, process and workplan development, safety, and systems performance for the Department.


  • The Engineering division has several roles that span a variety of areas within the organization.  Some of the core functions of the Engineering Division include Project Management, Traffic Engineering, Inspections, Compliance, Plan Review, Stormwater, Bridge Maintenance oversight, and providing general technical support to other departments within the organization.  The Engineering division is also responsible for administration of the Virginia Erosion and Sediment Control and Virginia Stormwater Management Programs on behalf of the Department of Environmental Quality.
  • The Facilities Development Division of Public Works is responsible for the efficient and cost-effective planning, design and construction of projects related to the approximately 50+ City-owned public buildings and 9 City School campuses. Facilities Development leads the City’s efforts associated with all new capital construction and development, facility renovations, expansion of facilities and major repairs. In addition to the City’s portfolio of government buildings, including City Hall and City Hall Annex. Facilities Development’s oversight includes the City’s libraries, fire stations, parks & recreation facilities (including aquatic facilities), court facilities, transit facilities, parking garages, and all school campuses (6 elementary schools, 1 upper elementary school, 1 middle school & 1 high school).
  • Environmental Services: The Environmental Sustainability Division (ESD), established in 2002, is responsible for environmental compliance and management strategies, public education and outreach, sustainability, and environmental stewardship opportunities.  ESD is an internal City resource dedicated to promoting and supporting the City of Charlottesville’s pursuit of the sustainability-based and climate-conscious vision of being A Green City.   Core programs focus on climate action and adaptation, water and energy management, water resources stewardship, and green infrastructure.  These are delivered along with pollution prevention strategies, “green” innovation, high performance infrastructure, environmental remediation, and collaboration with community stakeholders. Organizationally, this division is part of the Public Works Department. The majority of this division's budget comes from the Gas and Water Utility funds. A portion of the budget is also funded in the City's General Fund.


Street & Sidewalk Services: Streets and Sidewalks is responsible for maintenance of the City’s 159 lane miles of streets, sidewalks, leaf collection services, emergency weather response, and data collection that assures continued annual VDOT maintenance funding.


City Building Maintenance Services: The Facilities Maintenance Division of Public Works currently provides support to over 70 individual buildings and structures in a diverse portfolio consisting of government buildings, school campuses, and administration buildings, as well as facilities leased through the City of Charlottesville.  Incorporating a highly skilled work force, Facilities Maintenance provides routine repair and maintenance services to ensure our facilities are operating in the most safe and efficient manner our aging infrastructure can deliver.  Facilities Maintenance Custodial Section manages a hybrid system of city employees and contracted services to provide safe and effective cleanings of our Government facilities.

   

In addition to managing the daily stream of work orders, Facilities Maintenance administers the City’s Access Control building security systems and maintains the City’s and schools’ Fire Alarm Control Panels (FACP).  Facilities Maintenance engineers a systematic CIP equipment replacement program for city schools and government facilities that consist of HVAC, Electrical, Emergency Generators, and a full range of digital controls and management or Building Automation Systems (BAS).  Facilities Maintenance has an active role in city snow removal operations, as well as working Logistics Section in Emergency Operations that may develop from time to time.


Facilities Maintenance is also a key partner with City Environmental and Sustainability, Utilities Management, and Facilities Development Divisions where Facilities Maintenance will provide technical and logistical support to these important initiatives or Divisions.


Refuse Collection Services: Refuse Operations manages and oversees the municipal solid waste and recycling programs for the City, including private contracts for curbside services, large item collection, and street sweeping. In addition to managing our solid waste disposal services for efficiency, Refuse Operations also supports the evaluation of the municipal solid waste program for waste generation reduction and landfill diversion strategies.


Traffic Operations: Traffic Operations maintains signs, signals, publicly owned street lighting systems, and parking meters. It also is responsible operationally for the Intelligent Transportation System, which ensures safe and efficient traffic conveyance across our city street and pedestrian network.


Public Service Administration: Administration manages and oversees the sections within Public Service, including Streets and Sidewalks, Streetlighting Operations, Traffic Operations, and Refuse Operations. This centralized office houses the customer service functions of the Division’s many public facing services and ensures operations are aligned in an effective and efficient manner.

Staffing Summary

Departmental Revenues (Summary)

Departmental Expenditures (Summary)

Funding Allocation

Departmental Revenues (Details)

Departmental Expenditures (Details)

Performance Measures

Explanation of Changes

Salaries and Benefits

3% salary increase was given in FY 23 and the total funding for the increase was shown in the FY 23 budget as a lump sum under the Employee Compensation and Training section for the budget. For FY 24, the funding has been allocated to reflect the actual salaries for each department.


2 FTEs Added to Environmental Sustainability - Climate Action Specialist and Environmental Sustainability Outreach Coordinator. These positions are funded by re-allocating lump sum funds approved in FY 23 for climate action activities from other expenses to personnel.


1 FTE Added to Public Service - Maintenance Worker moved from Neighborhood Development Services to Public Works.


Other Expenditures

Contractual increases for construction materials, vehicle replacement and maintenance, contractual services, education and training and computer software. Increases for contracted services include $90,000 for the Engineering Division to use for surveying services related to right-of-way interactions that often arrise when work related to building permit occurs. These surveys will help help minimize future infrastructure conflicts and ADA issues.


The Environmental Management and Water Conservation programs are part of the Environmental Sustainability division. Those programs are funded are reported as part of the Gas and Water Utility budgets but are delivered by the Public Works Department. Please see the separate utility budget for further information on those expenses.