On May 30, 2019, Menlo Park hosted an accreditation workshop for member agencies of the Silicon Valley Chapter of the American Public Works Association (APWA). Attendees included representatives from nine agencies including Belmont, Burlingame, Cupertino, Daly City, Gilroy, Gonzales, Los Gatos, Menlo Park and San Mateo. The accreditation program recognizes public works agencies that go beyond the requirements of established industry practices.

Agencies that achieve APWA accreditation meet or exceed standards of performance in areas such as water, solid waste management, street/sewer repair and maintenance, engineering, building maintenance, stormwater drainage, traffic safety, environmental services and vehicle maintenance. The process involves a formal evaluation by a panel of external public works professionals who confirm an agency’s compliance with recommended practices.

Currently, there are 19 accredited agencies in California and 192 nationwide. By examining and evaluating the department’s current management policies and procedures, and hosting this workshop, Menlo Park has taken the first step in learning about and working toward APWA accreditation.