HomeMy WebLinkAboutMINUTES - 05181999 - SD2 TO: BOARD OF SUPERVISORS
FROM: J. MICHAEL WALEORD, PUBLIC WORKS DIRECTOR
DATE: May 18, 1999
SUBJECT: Public Works Accreditation
SPECiFf REQU ST( )OR R2 ., tv P_NDA`r# N( )&BACKGROUND AND jU TF( ATI N
!. Recommended Action:
A. ACCEPT the attached report on Accreditation.
B. APPROVE participation in the Accreditation Program as outlined in the
attached report.
C. AUTHORIZE staff to proceed with the Accreditation process.
Il. Einanciallmoact:
Staff time spent assessing business practices and identifying and implementing
improvements where indicated.
Continued on Attachment: X SIGNATUR�
RECOMMENDATION OF COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR
RECOMMENDATION OF BOARD COMMITTEE
APPROVE OTHER
SIGNATURE(S): a
ACTION OF BOARD ON APPROVED AS RECC3MMI LADED
OTHER
I hereby certify that this is a true and correct copy
VOTE OF SUPERVISORS of an action taken and entered on the minutes of
- UI`tAlltou (ABSENTsc )
AYES: NOES: the Board of Supervisors on the date shown.
ABSENT: ABSTAIN:
ED:ol
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Contact: Aileen Do,
en 393-2305 PHIL BATCHELOR, erk offhe Board of
o: Supervisors and County Administrator
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By Deputy
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Pubiic Works Accreditation
May 19, 1999
Page Two
Ill. Reasons for Recommendations and Background.
The Pub'Hc Works Department is proud of its culture of self improvement. We have conducted
numerous studies of our business practices, embraced the concept of total quality management
and through various and ongoing process improvement teams, implemented changes in several
areas. The American Public Works Association Accreditation Program now gives the Department
an opportunity to measure its practices, policies; and procedures against internationally accepted
public works practices.
IV. Conseguences of Negative Action:
The Department will not benefit from the opportunity to review and improve its existing practices.
PUBLIC WORKS ACCREDITATION
MAY 18, 1999
The American Public Works Association (APWA) has developed the first program ever
to accredit public works departments. The purpose of accreditation is to promote
excellence in operations and management. Schools, hospitals and other institutions
have lana enjoyed the opportunity to became accredited, yet until recently, there has
been no program accrediting a public works department.
Accreditation is a mark of professionalism that indicates a commitment to continuous
improvement in the delivery of public works operations and services to the community,
Accreditation is recognition that a department's policies, procedures and practices have
been evaluated against internationally recognized management practices, and meet or
exceed the established standard..
Currently there are just three APWA accredited departments: Coquitlam, British
Columbia; Shamburg, Illinois and Greeley, Colorado. Several other cities have formally
applied for participation in the program and several more are preparing to apply. If the
Contra Costa County Public Works Department is successful, it could be the first
accredited county department in the U.S. and Canada.
The accreditation program has five phases: application, self assessment, improvement,
evaluation, and accreditation. A department seeking accreditation is given three years
from the date of application to become accredited.
The Public Works department has applied for accreditation and has completed the self
assessment phase. The department expects to achieve accreditation by June, 2041.
During our self assessment, staff learned that the majority of our practices are in full or
substantial compliance with the APWA practices. In several cases, we are compliant but
need to develop documentation. In some cases, our practices are not consistent with
APWA, and those practices have been identified for improvement.
Once the department believes it complies with all applicable practices, an APWA
evaluation team will conduct a site visit to confirm compliance. The site visit can last
three to five days and will involve documentation review, staff interviews and facility
tours to evaluate our level of compliance.
The evaluation team will report its findings to the APWA Accreditation Council. If the
Council approves the department's accreditation, the department will be accredited for
three years, after which we will need to seek and achieve re-accreditation to maintain
our status.
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