The City’s street system consists of approximately 13.61 miles of paved streets. The Street Department is responsible for the construction and daily operation and maintenance of City streets, including street signs, lighting, bike paths, storm drainage, open ditch cleaning, sweeping and utility locates.
Funding is from State gasoline tax, grant funds, permit fees, miscellaneous revenues and system development charges.
The Public Works Superintendent is pursuing a responsive, proactive, and pre-planned approach to respond to both the citizen requests and to initiate a planned and prioritized repair and maintenance program for the City’s street system. Daily operations emphasis will be on the repair and preservation of street travel-way surfaces, curb/street paint markings, street sign replacements, and the maintenance of storm drains and drywells.
The Street Department is staffed by the Public Works Superintendent, Micah Rogers, and three Utility Workers. The Public Works Superintendent is responsible for overseeing the day-to-day operations and the development of the City street system, and for supervising the street system maintenance staff. The department can be reached by calling (503) 366-0454. Their mailing address is PO Box 189, Columbia City, OR 97018. The City Shop is located at 1755 Second Place.
The City has an active Streets Committee and they meet on an as-needed basis. Click here for Street Committee Meeting Minutes.
DEPARTMENT ACCOMPLISHMENTS IN 2019-20:
- Re-graveled alleyways and replaced street signs and traffic signs as needed during the year.
- Patched and repaired various streets throughout the year.
- Performed routine street sweeping and storm maintenance.
- Completed routine storm facility cleaning and maintenance activities.
- Installed thermoplastic traffic markings around the City, estimated to significantly reduce financial expenditures for paint striping service payments.
- Installed two catch basins and 150’ of 10” and 12” storm line on The Strand at “H” Street in order to improve drainage and redirect storm water flow.
DEPARTMENT OBJECTIVES FOR 2020-21:
- To investigate and pursue alternative funding opportunities for street maintenance and improvements as identified in the City’s Five Year Capital Improvement Program and Transportation Systems Plan and in accordance with 2020-21 Policy Goal and Objective 2D adopted by Council. Target date: Ongoing.
- To communicate with the City Council in the form of a monthly activities report, and with the citizens through the City’s newsletter and website, as well as through Facebook and Twitter. Target date: Ongoing.
- To develop a Debris Management Plan to accompany the City’s Emergency Operations Plan. Target date: June 30, 2020.
- To update the Columbia City Transportation System Plan (TSP) with the assistance of a Transportation Growth Management (TGM) Grant award. Target date: December 31, 2020.
- To complete The Strand Restoration Project, between E and I Streets. Target date: July 31, 2020.
- To complete another round of crack seal work to help extend the life of the existing roadways. Target date: June 30, 2020.
- To continue storm system cleaning and maintenance around the City. Target date: Ongoing.
- To complete traffic striping primarily with thermoplastics and with traffic paint, as needed.