NOVAK called for the realignment of the Traffic Engineering Department from Neighborhood Development Services (NDS) to Public Works (PW).  Also, NOVAK recommended the realignment of Engineering from NDS to PW, which is a larger discussion of Right-of-Way (ROW) management responsibilities in the City but plays an integral role in effective and efficient management.

According to the American Public Works Association, Right-of-Way Management is best defined as, “the ability of a municipality to govern, regulate and/or control the activities occurring within its property (ROW)."  A well-managed ROW provides regulations for access while also providing a mechanism to enforce illicit activities.  Policy and code outline the obligations of the City, as well as the obligations of utilities, developers, contractors, and the public.  Proper ROW management controls public use and private property owner interface.

Current Structure

Managing traffic, circulation, and regulating use in the ROW are the responsibility of the City Traffic Engineer in NDS under the current table of organization.  The operation for traffic signals, signs, and pavement markings are the responsibility of Public Service (PS).  The attached “Agency Roles on the City Streets, “As-Is” depicts the current functional areas assigned to NDS, PW, Utilities and Parks & Recreation.  City Code provides control of the ROW under the duties and responsibilities of the Public Works Director.

Traffic Engineering is currently in NDS while Traffic Operations are in Public Works under Public Service.  The Public Works Manager coordinates traffic operations with the City Traffic Engineer.   

Public Works Recommendations

Having one department responsible for ROW management provides regulatory compliance, the safety of the public, defines the responsibility of cost, and creates consistency in the roadway network.  All of these elements coupled together become the brand of the City.  Having defined functional areas that match within the organization reduces conflict and increases efficiency.  Aligning departments within the framework of controlling either the private realm or the public realm creates clear accountability.  City Code provides control of the ROW under the duties and responsibilities of the Public Works Director.  The City Code should be modified in the future to reflect any organizational changes in functional areas.

The attached “Agency Roles on the City Streets, To-Be” depicts an alignment of function and responsibility for the departments.  It also provides a clear chain of command in the organization.  Reorganization under this methodology provides an opportunity for sophisticated asset management programs in PW and enhanced community engagement within the private realm for NDS.  The complex landscape of the built environment can become clear and accountable.

Public Works proposes a phased approach to ROW management going from the current “As-Is” state to the proposed, “To-Be” state.

Phase I - Traffic Engineering

Public Works proposes the following reorganization of Traffic Engineering to meet Novak Efficiency Study Recommendation 39:

Phase II – Reorganization of Engineering Responsibilities

Future consideration of Novak 2016 Efficiency Study Recommendation 39 – Create and Engineering Division in the Public Works Department, should be considered for FY2021.  With functional areas aligned and implementation of asset management systems, Public Works should house the City Engineer and responsibility for construction activities in the ROW.  The City Engineer would report to the Public Works Director and provide development services to the NDS Director under a Service Level Agreement.

To provide an effective, efficient asset management strategy, Public Works requires civil engineering services that blend capital projects with maintenance methodologies.  Responsibility for the life-cycle of ROW assets should be assigned to the department maintaining the assets.  In the case of the ROW, all above ground assets should be assigned to PW and all subsurface assets to Utilities.