City of Encinitas Employees Recognized

The San Diego Union Tribune ran a recent editorial about the good work of the employees of the City of Encinitas, who are represented by SEIU Local 221. We congratulate the hard-working employees of the City of Encinitas for providing high-quality public services and applaud that their role in making our community a better place is being recognized.

U-T editorial: Keeping a city running

Encinitas Public Works deserves its national recognition

By UNION-TRIBUNE

Tuesday, July 20, 2010 at midnight

Encinitas is a small city, just 64,000, yet its Public Works Department is one of the 59 best in the nation.

The department has won American Public Works Association accreditation, something no other Southern California city can boast.

It’s a rigorous, 18-month process. Manager Larry Watt and his charges had to document how they perform 416 best practices, while talking their way out of others such as snow removal. Documents galore had to be produced, followed by a days-long inspection and a board vote.

It’s not what these 54 men and women do, but how they do it. In fact, the small city outsources tree-trimming and street sweeping, tasks that do not justify full-time positions.

These employees, as with the region’s other public works departments, are people we take for granted – until the water stops or traffic lights go out.

To read the full article, click here.