In honor of National Public Works Week, the city of Santa Barbara will host a meet and greet, 10 a.m.-1 p.m. Thursday, May 8 on the Great Meadow Lawn at Santa Barbara City College, 721 Cliff Drive.

Community members can talk with department staff; learn about career opportunities; and get up close and personal at Touch a Truck, where large Public Works vehicles will be on display.

Attendees can also participate in water taste tests; see demonstrations including e-bike usage, traffic signal operations, and sandbag filling; and learn about ongoing Public Works projects.

Every year during National Public Works Week, the American Public Works Association recognizes public works professionals who provide community services in transportation, roadways, water, fleet vehicles, public buildings, emergency management, and engineering.

This year’s theme, People, Purpose, Presence, highlightes the three cornerstone ideals that motivate public works professionals to serve in their communities.
 
Santa Barbara’s Public Works Department has some 400 employees who maintain and service the following, including but not limited to:

• 1,200 crosswalks
• 99 miles of storm drains
• 3,300 parking spaces
• 480 city fleet vehicles
• 79 miles of bike infrastructure

For more event information, visit SantaBarbaraCA.gov/PWWeek.
 
For information on the department, division and facilities, visit SantaBarbaraCA.gov/publicworks.