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Streets, Drainage, and Vehicle Maintenance The General Services sections of Public Works consist of Engineering, Streets, Drainage, and Vehicle Maintenance. General Services is administered by the City Engineer/Director of Public Works with the Utilities Superintendent as its manager over the General Service’s section and Utilities Administration, which includes Water Distribution, Sewer Collection, and Wastewater Treatment. Engineering and Public Works The Engineering Division is responsible for the technical oversight of all public infrastructure projects such as roadway and drainage improvements, parks and beach improvements, municipal parking lots, municipal buildings, traffic control devices, water supply systems, and sewage disposal systems. The Engineering Division utilizes both in-house staff as well as outside professional consultants for design, construction management, and contract administration on all major capital improvement projects undertaken by the City of Portland. The Engineering Division interacts on a regular basis with Public Works, Parks & Recreation, and the Planning Departments. The City Engineer also serves as the City of Portland’s Public Works Director with oversight duties of Public Works and the Building Department. The division also provides support services to the Zoning Board of Appeals staff. Streets Division The Street Division of Public Works strives to maintain the best possible road infrastructure for the City of Portland. This objective includes maintenance of drainage ditches, road surfaces, and right-of-way safety, mowing right-of-way frontage, school zone safety, sidewalks, and traffic control signs/lights and street signs. Vector Control The Street Department is responsible for the mosquito spraying throughout the city of Portland. During mosquito season, the City receives spraying on as needed basis according to the number of complaints received and/or as per mosquito count by city personnel. Spraying will start each morning at approximately 4 AM. In addition to mosquito spraying, the City treats drainage ditches and the storm sewer system (areas of standing water) with Environmental Protection Agency-approved Altosid briquets. This is the most effective approach in reducing the mosquito population by killing the mosquito larvae before it has the opportunity to become an adult. Avoid outside activity at dusk and dawn during mosquito season (May to October). Wear protective clothing. Make sure that door and window screens fit tightly. Drain all standing water. Make sure roof gutters drain properly; clean clogged gutters. Drainage & Flooding Problems The City does maintain inlets, pipes, concrete channels, natural channels and headwalls that discharge into open ditches and underground storm sewers. The City maintains drainage easements to ensure they are clear of any obstacles restricting the flow of water. Residents are urged not to use the drainage systems for disposal of leaves, grass clippings or any other debris as that will impede the flow of water into the underground system and could cause flooding and make the maintenance of the area more difficult. Dumping of debris, trash or other items will be referred to the code enforcement officer. Littering is punishable by a fine. Remember that these drainage systems eventually dump into state waters and the state of Texas has severe fines for such pollution. In the event of flooding due to a blockage of the storm drain system, residents are encouraged to contact the Streets Division from 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM at (361) 777-2943, Monday through Friday. In the event of a flooding emergency at any other time, call the Portland Police Department at (361) 643-2546. Right-of-Way Maintenance The Parks Division is responsible for the mowing of public right-of-ways (R.O.W) and drainage easements throughout the City. Sidewalk Maintenance The Streets Division is responsible for the maintenance and repairs on Portland sidewalks and all the Americans with Disabilities ramps within the street right-of-ways. The City has an ongoing repair program based on an established priority system. Through citizens' requests and annual inspections, sidewalk failures are identified and prioritized for repair or replacement. The high priority failures are listed and an annual contract is awarded for the repair of these areas. Inspection of work performed is provided to ensure the quality of the completed work. Small repairs are scheduled and repaired by city staff. To report damaged sidewalks call the Streets Division from 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM at (361) 777-2943, Monday through Friday. Sidewalks that are considered dangerous to pedestrians will be temporarily repaired as soon as possible; the sidewalk will be inspected, prioritized according to the hazardous condition and placed on the Sidewalk Replacement List. According to the priority given that request, the repair will be made as the Street Division's budget and schedule allows. Please be advised that the property owners are responsible for maintaining sidewalks leading to their homes and businesses. Street Maintenance & Repairs The Streets Division performs street maintenance and repairs including: potholes, crack sealing, curbs and gutters, sunken roadway areas and other problems which may be hazardous to pedestrians or vehicles. Request for street repairs should be reported to the Streets Division from 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM at (361) 777-2943, Monday through Friday. Persons reporting requests for services should provide City staff with the name, address, telephone number, location of the requested repair, and as much detailed information as possible concerning the problem. Please be advised that the City does not perform repairs to State Highways. The Texas Department of Transportation (TXDOT) handles those highways such as Wildcat Drive and Moore Avenue. Maintenance repairs for those highways should be reported to TXDOT at (361) 364-6400. For citizens outside the City of Portland, report your road maintenance problems to San Patricio County at (361) 643-4390. Signs The Streets Division is responsible for maintaining all of the traffic/street signs throughout the City except state highways. If you wish to report a sign that has been damaged, is faded, has graffiti, or to request a new sign call the Streets Division from 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM at (361) 777-2943, Monday through Friday. After 4:00 PM weekdays and on weekends and holidays all emergency situations should be reported to the Portland Police Department at (361) 643-2546. NOTE: Regulatory signs such as "STOP" or speed limits and others require an engineering warrant study and/or ordinance. State law will not allow the use of stop signs to control speed. Traffic Signals Please report malfunctioning traffic signals within the City of Portland to the Streets Division at (361) 777-2943. If after hours, please report all traffic signal problems to the Portland Police Department at (361) 643-2546. School Zone Traffic Signals The Streets Division is responsible for maintaining the flashing school zone traffic signals. The times on the flashing school zone signals are set per the direction of the Portland Independent School District to ensure the safety of the children. If you wish to report a flashing school zone signal light malfunction, please call the Streets Division from 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM at (361) 777-2943, Monday through Friday. Pavement Markings The Streets Division is responsible for the maintenance of all pavement markings. If you wish to report damage, call the Streets Division from 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM at (361) 777-2943, Monday through Friday. After 4:00 PM weekdays and on weekends and holidays emergency situations should be reported to the Portland Police Department at (361) 643-2546. Tree Trimming All citizens of Portland are asked to assist in the trimming of overhanging limbs on their property. Go to: http://www.portlandtx.com for pickup schedule. The Streets Division is required to remove tree limbs blocking signs and visibility. To report tree limbs blocking intersections and sign visibility, call the Streets Division from 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM at (361) 777-2943, Monday through Friday. In addition, overhanging trees in streets and alleys may be reported to Code Enforcement from 8: 00 AM to 4:00 PM at (361) 643-0155, Monday through Friday. Code Enforcement is a division of the Portland Fire Department. Street Lights The Public Works Department routinely reports street light outages. If you have a street light out, please contact the Public Works Department (361) 777-2943 and they will refer the street light outage to the appropriate electric company. Vehicle Maintenance Department The Vehicle Maintenance department will insure maximum use of the city fleet through minimized downtime. This department shall be responsible for keeping machinery, vehicles and small equipment in operating condition. This department will also coordinate and facilitate the preventive maintenance on all equipment and vehicles in a timely manner. Vehicle maintenance provides primary maintenance support for all City-owned vehicles and fleet type equipment, offering 24-hour automated fueling and staffed parts and repair facilities for the user departments. Annual departmental fleet equipment requests are evaluated and specifications for procurement are developed as part of the program’s activities. |
