PUBLIC WORKS

Physical address:
110 S. Pine Street, Suite 221
Santa Maria, CA 93458 		Mailing address:
110 S. Pine Street, Suite 101
Santa Maria, CA 93458

The Department of Public Works/Engineering is responsible for ensuring that City-owned transportation infrastructure and facilities, transit services and capital improvement programs are designed, engineered, constructed, maintained and/or modified in a presentable and safe condition. The department coordinates a variety of activities and services including the preparation of plans and specifications for public works related construction projects; the design and inspection of public facilities; ensuring the proper installation of all public improvements made in new subdivisions, such as streets, curbs, gutters, sidewalks, water mains, sewer lines, and drainage; and provides custodial service to City facilities. The Streets division is responsible for preventive and regular maintenance of streets and appurtenant facilities. Santa Maria Area Transit (SMAT) system provides a regional public transportation service.

HOTLINES:

City Lights / Traffic Signals
Report inoperable streetlights and traffic signal concerns by contacting
(805) 925-0951 ext. 442 or 229. After hours/weekends you may leave
a message on the City's Streetlight Hotline - (805) 925-0951 ext. 804.

City Sidewalk / Potholes
Report a damaged, raised or hazardous City sidewalk or a pothole by contacting
(805) 925-0951 ext. 229 or 442. Use the City's Streetlight Hotline at ext. 804
for after hours/weekend reporting.

City Facilities
To report an unsafe condition at a City facility contact (805) 925-0951 ext. 229 or 442.

photo of David J. Whitehead, Director of Public Works DAVID J. WHITEHEAD
Director of Public Works/City Engineer

City Phone: (805) 925.0951 x227
City Fax: (805) 928-4995
E-Mail

EDUCATION & EMPLOYMENT:

  • Registered Professional Engineer, State of California
  • BS Civil Engineering, California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo
  • Director of Public Works/City Engineer - City of Santa Maria
  • Principal Civil Engineer, Construction & Development – City of Santa Maria
  • Senior Civil Engineer, Construction - City of Santa Maria
  • Senior Civil Engineer, Development - City of Santa Maria
  • Associate Civil Engineer, Capital Projects - City of Santa Maria
  • Assistant Civil Engineer, Design – Santa Clara County Transportation Agency

COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT:

  • American Public Works Association
  • American Society of Civil Engineers
  • UCSB Economic Forecast Project, North Santa Barbara county Board of Directors
  • Autumnwoods Homeowners Association, Past President

DESCRIPTION OF RESPONSIBILITIES:

Manager of Public Works Department, streets and facilities maintenance; transit system; and engineering.

Mission Statement
To effectively provide public works services to all City residents in a courteous, responsible, responsive and efficient manner.

2012-13 Goals/Objectives

  1. Improve regional traffic circulation and relieve congestion by completing construction of the Union Valley Parkway Phase III from Broadway to Hummel Drive. This project will complete the arterial roadway from Blosser Road to US 101. When the US 101 interchange project is completed, a new freeway access route will exist for the planned Santa Maria Airport Business Park.
  2. Continue to pursue opportunities to retrofit existing low-pressure sodium streetlights with energy efficient induction or LED fixtures.
  3. Complete annual roadway maintenance projects such as chip seal, overlays, and reconstructions as recommended by the City’s Pavement Management System.
  4. Improve public rights-of-way by repairing sidewalks, adding ADA-accessible ramps, and improving roadways by completing annual concrete repair projects.
  5. Attain increased ridership by providing expanded Breeze Service, and successfully marketing local and regional transit as an efficient and economic alternative to increasing fuel prices.
  6. Implement a bus stop improvement program to provide more amenities for waiting passengers in an effort to improve customer service and increase the community’s use of public transportation.
  7. Improve transit-related customer service and operational reliability in the transit system by purchasing nine (9) new fixed-route buses and two (2) new paratransit vans using Federal Transit Administration (FTA) Section 5307 funding.
  8. Complete the construction of the vehicle staging expansion project adjacent to the Maintenance and Operation facility.
  9. Improve public safety, reduce energy utility costs, and lower long-term maintenance costs within the City street lighting system by calling for bids to install retrofit induction street light fixtures on all existing street lights on Broadway (State Highway 135) and Main Street (State Highway 166).
  10. Reduce traffic congestion and improve safety, by completing construction of a new lane on the eastern approach of Battles Road at Depot Street, construct a left-turn "refuge lane" at Donovan Road/Lynne Drive, and improve the traffic signal at the intersection of Miller Street and Donovan Road.
  11. Restore facility integrity and reduce utility service costs at the Veterans’ Memorial Community Center building by renovating the parking lot and replacing deteriorated sewer and water lines.
  12. Reduce energy consumption and improve service performance by installing new high efficiency HVAC systems at the Ruffoni Building and at the Atkinson Community Center.
  13. Continue to improve access to City facilities for persons with disabilities by installing restroom upgrades at the Atkinson Community Center and City Hall.