For the third time since 2015, the Austin Public Works Department received full accreditation by the APWA recognizing the agency.
AUSTIN, Texas – The City of Austin Public Works Department recently received full accreditation by the American Public Works Association (APWA) for the third time. This accreditation formally verifies and recognizes that the agency is in full compliance with the recommended management practices set forth in APWA’s Public Works Management Practices Manual.
Open to all governmental agencies with responsibilities for public works functions, initial accreditation from APWA is for a four-year period, during which time semi-annual updates will be required to demonstrate continuing compliance. After that time, there is a re-accreditation process which builds on the original accreditation, encouraging continuous improvement and compliance with newly identified practices.
“Our teams are not just dedicated to providing a transportation network that is well-built and well-maintained, but they are committed to meeting the highest standards set forth for public works organizations,” said Richard Mendoza, Interim Director of Austin Transportation and Public Works.
The purpose of accreditation is to promote excellence in the operation and management of a public works agency, its programs and employees. Accreditation is designed to assist the agency in continuous improvement of operations and management and in providing a valid and objective evaluation of agency programs as a service to the public and the profession.
“APWA accreditation serves as the benchmark in the public works field,” said James Snow, Interim Director of Austin’s Capital Delivery Services Department. “The City of Austin is committed to providing programs and services to our communities in an efficient and effective manner. Receiving APWA reaccreditation demonstrates these values. I congratulate our public works staff, as well as the staff of several other City departments, on the recognition of their hard work.”
APWA’s accreditation process includes five major steps:
- Self-Assessment: Using the Public Works Management Practices Manual, an internal review of an agency’s practices combined with a comparison of the recommended practices contained in the manual;
- Application: Once the decision has been made to commit to the Accreditation Program, the agency submits a formal application;
- Improvement: After the agency has completed the self-assessment and identified areas needing improvement, the agency will work to bring all practices into an acceptable level of compliance with the recommended practices;
- Evaluation: Following the completion of the improvement phase, the agency will request a site visit. The site visit will consist of a review and evaluation of the agency to determine the level of compliance with all applicable practices.
- Accreditation: The Accreditation Council will review the site visit results and recommendation from the team, voting to award or deny accreditation.
Formally awarded the prestigious accreditation by APWA’s Accreditation Council for the third time, the Austin Public Works Department was originally awarded APWA Accreditation in 2015.
About APWA
The American Public Works Association (apwa.net) is a not-for-profit, international organization of more than 30,000 members involved in the field of public works. APWA serves its members by promoting professional excellence and public awareness through education, advocacy and the exchange of knowledge. APWA is headquartered in Kansas City, MO, has an office in Washington, DC, and 63 chapters in North America. For more information about APWA Accreditation, please contact APWA Accreditation Manager Jeanette Klamm at jklamm@apwa.net or (816) 595-5295.