San Francisco Public Works Annual Report - Fiscal Year 2017-18 | Page 14

and
EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT PROGRAM works
to continuously improve our capability to prepare for,
respond to and recover from both natural and human-
inflicted disasters.
POLICY & COMMUNICATIONS keeps the public
and staff informed of the department’s services, projects
and programs through print, social media, websites,
community meetings, events and other outreach
activities. The team provides construction outreach
services and produces Public Works TV, reports, a
monthly digital newsletter; briefs elected officials;
and troubleshoots constituent concerns.
UNIVERSITY OF PUBLIC WORKS is our in-house
training and education program. Launched in 2013
and expanded in 2014, the university offers a variety of
courses to improve our employees’ technical skills and
provides a forum where staff can learn about cutting-edge
and effective strategies in the areas of engineering and
architecture, workplace safety, technology, emergency
management, communications, construction management
and more.
OFFICE ADMINISTRATION AND PUBLIC RECORDS
coordinates director’s hearings, processes director’s
orders and responds to public records requests.
GOVERNMENT AFFAIRS manages the department’s
relationship with the Board of Supervisors, promoting
the department’s interests by monitoring, submitting
and working with policy-makers to craft and amend
legislation and acting as the face of the department to
supervisors and their staffs.
ADMINISTRATION includes Contract Administration
and Performance Management. Contract Administration
is responsible for advertising upcoming projects,
distributing plans and specifications, receiving bids,
processing documents, handling bid protests, awarding
contracts and ensuring compliance with insurance,
bonding and licensing requirements.
FINANCE oversees budget preparation; capital
planning, analysis and reporting; grants research and
administration; and accounting. It also prepares, analyzes
and produces reports to implement and manage our
projects and programs. Responsibilities include the
creation and monitoring of the annual budget; preparation
of an annual indirect cost plan; participation in bond
authorizations and sales; development of the capital
plan; and grant proposals. Accounting reviews and
records financial and purchasing transactions; prepares
grant billings and account analyses; collects revenues;
disburses funds; and guides funds through required
procedures until final liquidation.
INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY designs, programs,
operates and maintains all department-wide automated
information systems and equipment. Services include
process analysis and planning; software development,
configuration and implementation; network and hardware
installation; technology operations; help desk and
security; and software support and system compliance
functions.
PERFORMANCE MANAGEMENT runs the
PublicWorksStat performance-management tool used to
measure and monitor programs and projects; tracks the
department’s Strategic Plan progress and is involved in
the development of organizational excellence initiatives.
STREET-USE AND MAPPING ensures that City
sidewalks and streets are safe and accessible by
permitting and inspecting the use of the public right of
way. The bureau also does surveying and maintains the
official map of the City and County of San Francisco.