DPW FY 2017 Annual Report

D W
P
Growing with the District of Columbia
Fiscal Year 2017 Annual Report May 2018
DC Department of Public Works

Page 1
Director’s Letter
Greetings:
People from across the nation and around the world visit Washington, D.C., our
nation’s capital, to enjoy the District’s arts and entertainment venues, historic sites
and world-class restaurants, now recognized as among the best in the world. As a
result, the Department of Public Works (DPW) is continually evolving to keep pace
with the growing needs of our residents, businesses, commuters and visitors. We
are a people-intensive operation and FY 2017’s accomplishments illustrate our
commitment to delivering the best possible service.
Thanks to the support and guidance of Mayor Muriel Bowser and City Administrator
Rashad Young, we provided our traditional municipal services – solid waste
management, parking enforcement, fleet management and snow removal – to
preserve the District’s beauty as a world class destination and capital city.
This past year was a transformational time for the agency. As a results-oriented
organization, we enhanced our use of technology and used cutting edge management
techniques to drive our progress toward excellence. We broadened our sustainability
program suite and applied sophisticated data capture and analysis to propel overall
service quality and program improvement. We stepped up our use of social media
and amplified our engagement through direct communications with residents via
direct mail, broadcast media, and the tried and proven face-to-face contact to give
residents 24/7 access to information about our services.
What we do affects everyone in the District – residents, businesses, commuters and
visitors. And every day our population grows. That continued growth shapes how we
do business. For instance, changing population patterns prompted using technology
to rebalance our solid waste collection and snow removal routes. We also introduced
an electronic notification service to alert motorists when their vehicle is towed or
booted. Additionally, this past year we piloted a test of solar-powered street litter
cans that signal their fill levels.
We know that not every challenge can be addressed with technology. This past
spring, we launched the District’s first citywide Food Waste Drop-Off program for
every resident to reduce food waste. DPW made a unique compact with designated
farmers markets – one in each ward – to accept residents’ food waste for composting.
To date, more than 11,000 residents have participated.
From illegal dumping investigations to alley cleaning; from dead animal retrieval
to public litter cans; from graffiti removal to street cleaning; from trash and
recycling collections to waste diversion; from snow removal to rush hour tows; from
fleet management to residential parking permits – complemented by a myriad of
administrative projects and support – DPW employees proudly serve our city. The
District is far better because of the service from the many dedicated men and
women of DPW. For many DPW employees – nearly 70 percent – DC is more than a
destination, DC is home.
As the Director of DPW, I am proud of our accomplishments this past year and I
am looking forward to hearing from you about our work. I invite you to review the
material presented in this report and give us your reaction, comments and questions.
Please send them to dpw@dc.gov or tweet, share or post your comment on our
social media pages.
Christopher J. Shorter
Director, DC Department of Public Works

Page 2
CONTENTS
Director’s Letter
Contents
The Leadership
DPW by the Numbers
Budget
1
2
3
5
7
What We Do
Snow Program Transformation
Environmental Sustainability
Technology Enhancement
Employee Investments
9
15
19
23
27
Special Events Support
DPW in the Community
33
37
DPW in the News and Social Media
Follow Us On ...
43
45

Page 3
The Leadership
Christopher J.
Shorter
Director
Christine
Davis
Interim Chief of Staff
Gabriel
Robinson
Chief Operating Officer
Perry
Fitzpatrick
Agency Fiscal Officer
David
Koehler
Acting Chief
Information Officer
Vasil
Jaini
Chief Performance Officer

Page 4
Teri
Doke
Parking Enforcement
Management Administor
James
Roberts
Office of Administrative Services/
Human Capital Administrator
Valentina
Ukwuoma
Solid Waste Management
Administrator
Courtney
Lattimore
Contracting Officer
Zy
Richardson
Communications Director
Frank
Pacifico
Fleet Management Administrator
Annie
White
Office of Waste Diversion
Program Manager

DPW
by the
Numbers
Page 5
406,104
tons of trash removed
from the city’s two solid
waste transfer stations
170
community meetings
1,265,834
website views

Page 6
34,275
parking enforcement
service requests
95,010
tons of trash collected
57,864
miles of streets
cleaned mechanically
55,522
lbs of food waste
collected in Food Waste
Drop-Off
105,000
single-family homes
4,361
tons of litter removed
mechanically
160
neighborhood
clean-up projects
25,383
tons of recycling
collected
190,841
311 service requests
$43,076
donated by employees
to DC One Fund
14
snow events
7,363
tons of leaves collected

Page 7
Budget
88
Employees
142
Employees
Fleet
Management
$23,643,000
Agency
Management
$32,196,000
Operating
$172, 26
Total
Employees
1,277

Page 8
Solid Waste
Management
$79,754,000
794
Employees
405
Employees
Budget
7, 587
Parking
Enforcement
Management
$31,892,000
Agency
Financial
Operations
$4,783,000
34
Employees

WHAT WE DO
Page 9

The Department of Public Works (DPW) provides
solid waste management and parking enforcement
services. Both contribute to making District streets
and public spaces clean, safe, attractive and
accessible. DPW supports municipal operations by
managing the District’s vehicle fleet.
Page 10

Page 11
Solid Waste Management
Administration (SWMA)
Solid Waste Management Administration supports public
health and safety by keeping the District clean.
Trash collections* are once-a-week generally in Wards
3,4,5,7 and 8, and twice-a-week in Wards 1, 2 and 6. Oncea-week
collection neighborhoods use 96-gallon trash cans,
also known as Supercans.
Bulk waste*, e.g., furniture and appliances, is collected
by appointment.
Recycling collections* are once-a-week.
49,329
bulk waste
collection
requests
*DPW collects from single family homes and apartment buildings
with up to three units.
Leaf collections are made in the fall between November
and January. Two collections are made in each residential
neighborhood. Holiday trees are collected at the conclusion
of leaf collections.
Residential mechanical street sweeping occurs
between March and October. Signs are posted where
parking is restricted on sweeping days.
Household hazardous waste/e-cycling drop-off
and personal document shredding services make
disposing of these items easy and safe. Just bring them to
the Ft. Totten Transfer Station, 4900 John F. McCormack
Drive, NE.
Helping Hand program supports communities’
Saturday clean-up projects.
Grounds Maintenance and Landscaping
services are carried out at more than 1,000 locations
throughout the District and along rights-of-way,
roadway medians and thoroughfares.
SWEEP (Solid Waste Education and
Enforcement Program) inspectors and
investigators educate the public about proper
sanitation practices and enforce sanitation
regulations, all with the purpose of keeping the
District clean and attractive.
SWEEP Jr. educates students about the importance
of sustainability efforts in their homes and schools.
DPW cleans graffiti from public and private
property using paint or non-toxic solutions that are
applied then removed with a high-pressure water
spray, known as a power wash. A waiver of liability
form must be signed by the property owner and
returned to DPW before abatement will occur on
private property.
There are approximately 4,800 street litter cans
placed along District commercial and residential
streets where there is a high volume of pedestrian
traffic. The cans are emptied at night.
Vacant lot cleanup of weeds and trash helps
reduce illegal dumping, which in turn attracts rats
and mosquitoes.
DPW operates the Ft. Totten and Benning Road
transfer stations, which receive trash and recyclables
from residential collections, as well as commercial
entities and some government agencies. The trash
and recyclables are accumulated at the transfer
stations and taken out of the District.
55.84
115.09
tons of household hazardous waste
tons of electronic waste
215.46 2,100+
tons of shredded paper
Monthly document shredding
events averaged
participants

Parking Enforcement
Management Administration
(PEMA)
Parking Enforcement Management Administration
services keep traffic moving and improve access to
curbside parking along commercial and residential
streets by ticketing and removing illegally parked
vehicles and removing abandoned and dangerous
vehicles.
The most common violations for which Parking
Enforcement Officers write tickets:
Failure to register your
vehicle within 30 days
of moving to the District.
Park legally, save money
TIME
OUT
Exceeding the time
allowed in a Residential
Permit Parking (RPP)
neighborhood zone*,
an expired meter, AM
and PM rush hour, and
expired tags.
When parking in a RPP zone,
check the signs for how long you
may park there. When your time
is up, you must move your car
completely out of the zone.
*If you live in an RPP neighborhood
zone, your vehicle, even if it is
properly registered, is subject to
enforcement if it does not display
an RPP sticker, which can be
obtained when you register your
vehicle.
For more information:
www.dmv.dc.gov for registration
information
www.ddot.dc.gov for RPP program
details.
Page 12
TIPS to park legally:
New residents must register their vehicle(s) within
30 days of moving to the District to avoid a ROSA
(Registration of Out-of-State Automobiles) ticket.
Check the meter for how long you can park in a space,
then pay the amount due. Leave when your time
expires. Adding money after the meter has expired can
result in a ticket for feeding the meter.
Do not park on a rush hour street during AM or PM rush
hour. You may get a ticket, and your vehicle may be
relocated to a legal parking space.
Once you’ve registered your vehicle, be mindful of when
the registration expires.
Other parking services:
Booting vehicles with two or more unpaid or uncontested
parking tickets.
Towing vehicles that are illegally parked. Legally parked
vehicles also may be towed in an emergency or at the
request of the Secret Service or Metropolitan Police
Department to aid the President’s travel throughout the
city.
Removing abandoned and dangerous vehicles. If you see
what you consider is an abandoned or dangerous vehicle,
call 311 to report it.
Vehicle auctions of impounded, unclaimed vehicles. Go to
www.dcgovt.govdeals.com for more information.
When you register, you also may sign up for a Residential
Permit Parking (RPP) sticker, which will exempt your
vehicle from zone-related parking restrictions in your
zone. The boundaries of the eight zones coincide with
existing ward boundaries.

Page 13
Office of Waste Diversion
(OWD)
To implement the Sustainable Waste Management Act, DPW
formed the Office of Waste Diversion to lead DPW’s Zero
Waste DC effort. OWD is charged with strengthening
the District’s sustainability efforts through education and
resources to reduce waste and increase recycling and
composting.
DPW chairs the Interagency Waste Reduction Working
Group, which includes the Departments of Energy and
Environment, General Services, and Parks and Recreation.
Through the Working Group, the District speaks with one
voice in developing and providing resources to help residents,
businesses, and visitors move toward zero waste, which is
defined as diverting 80% of waste by 2032.
The group’s actions include developing and implementing cost
effective strategies to convert waste to resources, improve
human and environmental health, reduce greenhouse gas
emissions, create inclusive economic opportunity, and
conserve natural resources.
OWD engages the public on multiple levels, including
presentations to residents, stakeholders, non-profits and
industry groups through the Zero Waste website, social
media, Live Chats, webinars and an advertising campaign
about the new recyclable items the District will accept.
OWD is exploring options to reduce organic waste with the
understanding that large scale progress requires larger
scale efforts. To that end, OWD commissioned a composting
collection progress and feasibility study to identify how
much organic waste was being generated annually and get
recommendations to take composting to the next level.
The Solid Waste Diversion Report estimates that
the total amount of organic waste—food and yard
waste—generated in the District each year is
between 166,810 and 234,774 tons. This represents
a substantial portion of the District’s total citywide
solid waste stream and offers a sizable opportunity
to increase the residential solid waste diversion
rate, which was 23.1% in FY 2017.
Residential Solid Waste Diversion Rate
23.1%
A primary recommendation is to build an organics
processing facility that would help pave the way
for curbside composting collection within five years.
The 2023 Capital Budget allocates $8 million for
the construction of such a site. Once rolled out to all
DPW-serviced residents, the total annualized cost of
the program is estimated to be between $5.9 and
$9 million per year. The report also estimates the
creation of between 68 and 114 new full-time jobs.
DPW is evaluating this recommendation.
The report was released in the spring of 2017 and
is accessible on both DPW’s and the Zero Waste
DC website(zerowaste.dc.gov).
Each year,
166,810+
tons of organic waste is
generated in the District

Page 14
Fleet Management
Administration (FMA)
Fleet Management Administration keeps District
agencies moving by managing 6,000 vehicles used to
deliver services.
FMA acquires, maintains and disposes of approximately
3,000 vehicles in the District’s fleet. Additionally, FMA
manages the fuel for approximately 6,000 vehicles,
including those used in the public safety sector, i.e.,
the Metropolitan Police Department, Department of
Fire and Emergency Medical Services, Department of
Corrections and school buses used by the DC Public
Schools.
Leader in Alternative Fuel Vehicle (AFV) Use
Motor Pool Structure Increases Efficiency
DPW is the pioneer among government fleet managers in
the use of the ZipCar vehicle reservations model. This has
transformed the motor pool operation, increased vehicle
productivity, and reduced those annoying circumstances
that plague shared-use vehicles. DC government
employees can reserve a vehicle via the Internet on a firstcome,
first-served basis. The motor pool offers mid-size
and compact vehicles, which are fuel efficient Honda
hybrids and Chevy Volts (plug-in electric vehicles) in the
FleetShare motor pool program.
FMA also helps the District reduce its fuel consumption
and meet environmental goals for improved air quality.
It achieves this by acquiring healthier alternative fuel
vehicles (AFV) that use biodiesel, E85*, electricity,
compressed natural gas (CNG) and ultra-low sulfur
diesel. In FY 2017, there were 1,612 AFVs in the fleet.
*E85 is a gasoline blended with 51-83 percent ethanol.
Biodiesel
698
E85
694
Alternative Fuel
Vehicles in the
District’s Fleet FY
2017
Total
1612
CNG
128
Hybrid
76
Electric
16

Page 15
SNOW PROGRAM
RANSFORMATION

DPW is creating a multi-dimensional
transformation of the snow program to
drive service improvements by streamlining
processes, redirecting resources, collecting
and analyzing performance data, and
expanding infrastructure to reflect our
customers’ evolving needs.
Page 16

Page 17
Comprehensive Snow
Program Improvements
Director Shorter transformed planning the
District’s snow response from a concentration on
snow and ice removal operations to integrated
services such as the opening of warming centers, community
outreach strategies and volunteer management. This was
accomplished through the first Multi-Agency Snow Team
Leaders Conference.
+33%
DC Snow Team implemen
Federal Highway Adminis
salt usage during winter sto
spreaders to control the am
release to prevent excessive
DC Snow Team expanded th
of the brine/beet juice
citywide with the addition
The mixture retards ice
roadways and can result in
DPW constructed a new 7,500-ton salt dome at 2750
S. Capitol Street, SE to replace the 5,000-ton dome that
was in the new soccer stadium’s footprint.
ROAD CONDITIONS
Street Address
DPW created a new work team to raise the priority of
clearing snow and ice from bike paths, ADA
ramps, bridge deck sidewalks, bus shelters and trails.
The results will be seen in FY18, when newly-acquired
vehicles (known as Gators) are outfitted with antiicing
tanks, plows and spreader to treat these
locations expeditiously.
DPW and the District Department of Transportation
developed a new Quality Assurance/Quality Control (QA/
QC) process that allows key personnel to view the status
of road conditions on an interactive digital map. Staff use
the map to make resource-allocation decisions during a
deployment. The QA/QC staff use tablets and other mobile
devices to record real-time road conditions, notes and even
pictures.
DPW developed an efficient check-in/check-out
system that trimmed the time for plow drivers to
change shifts to get on the streets faster.

Page 18
ted Salt Institute and
tration guidelines for
rms by calibrating salt
ount of salt plow trucks
salt application.
e District’s application
mixture to roadways
of four tanker trucks.
from bonding to the
using less salt.

Page 19
ENVIRONMENTAL
SUSTAINABILITY
Photo by Alexandra Rose on Unsplash

To achieve the District’s goal of zero waste by
2032, which is an 80% diversion from landfills
and waste-to-energy facilities, DPW weaves
environmental sustainability throughout its
services and administrative functions.
Page 20

Page 21
Zero Waste DC
Zero Waste is defined
as reducing waste taken to
landfills and waste-to-energy
facilities by
80%
Between February and July, DPW conducted 13
recycling engagement webinars and meetings
with various stakeholders. Visit dpw.dc.gov/
recyclingcompostlist for recorded webinars.
An information campaign using news, Metrobus and
rail, Pandora radio advertising and the Internet was
launched to highlight the food service packaging
items that can be recycled for the first time. SWEEP
inspectors were trained to present recycling
program changes at community meetings.
The list of recyclable items in DC was expanded and
an educational campaign was conducted. The campaign
featured a new Zero Waste website to advise residents,
businesses and schools how to recycle, compost, reduce
waste and properly dispose of hazardous waste. Residents
also received a recycling informational mailer introducing
them to the expanded list of recyclable items.
For the second year, DPW, other District agencies
and Living Classrooms hosted a Zero Waste event
at the annual Kingman Island Bluegrass and
Folk Festival. The 2017 music festival attracted
approximately 7,000 fans who followed guidelines
to separate waste at designated zero waste stations.
Approximately 5,180 pounds of materials generated
at the event were separated into recycling, compost
and trash bins. These efforts led to a 78.8% diversion
rate.

Page 22
Clean Air
On June 16, 2017, the Natural Gas Vehicles for America
(NGV America) recognized Director Shorter’s leadership
to achieve the District’s sustainability goals and to
expand deployment of alternative fuel vehicles in the
District’s municipal fleet. The award was presented at
the conclusion of the 2017 18-city West Coast-to-East
Coast NGV Road Rally. The rally, sponsored by NGV
America, completed its 18-city tour at Freedom Plaza.
The rally highlights the importance of using alternative
fuels to curb climate change and emphasizes the national
interest in protecting the environment through the use
of alternative and renewable fuels and alternative fuel
vehicles.
DC DEPARTMENT OF
PUBLIC WORKS
Mayor Muriel Bowser celebrated Earth
Day 2017 by kicking off the first citywide
Food Waste Drop-Off program, a
free service for residents to drop off food
waste at designated farmers markets,
one in each ward, on Saturdays. The food
waste is taken to a local composting facility
where it is turned into compost, a nutrient
rich soil fertilizer. Between April 2017
and September 30, 2017, the program
collected 55,522 lbs. of food waste from
7,506 participants and attracted 9,026
visitors interested in learning about food
waste prevention and composting.
Fleet Management Administration (FMA) developed a
vehicle modernization plan for 2019-2024 to replace
all DPW vehicles following a seven-year cycle. Under this
plan, DPW will acquire more efficient vehicles that will
reduce fuel use and greenhouse gas emissions. The plan
is under review.
The District fleet operation was recognized for the
ninth consecutive year as one of the nation’s top 100
performing fleets for our use of alternative fuel vehicles.
In FY 2017, there were 1,612 AFVs in the fleet that are
hybrids or use E85, CNG, or biofuels. All these vehicles
are used daily by DC government agencies to support
their operations.
5%
In FY 2017, FMA realized a 5%
reduction in overall use of fuel,
including unleaded, compared to FY
2016, because of the use of more fuel
efficient heavy duty vehicles, such as
trash and dump trucks.
PEMA lowers greenhouse gas emissions by towing and
relocating illegally parked vehicles from rush hour streets.
DPW conducted its first grasscycling
campaign to encourage residents to leave
their grass clippings on their lawns instead
of putting them in the trash. The US EPA
estimates that yard waste trimmings
account for 14% of the typical residential
waste stream. To help educate residents
about the benefits of grasscycling,
DPW mailed informational postcards to
residents in neighborhoods that produce
the most yard waste.

Page 23
TECHNOLOGY
ENHANCEMENTS

DPW uses technology to transform our
operations as well as our administrative
functions to work smarter.
Page 24

New Technology Equals
Better Service
Mayor Bowser highlighted DPW’s
two solar-powered litter can pilot
programs at a June 22 press event
focused on the city’s rat riddance
efforts. The first program, made
possible by a DC Department
of Health grant, features 25
solar-powered litter cans
that compress their contents and
remotely indicate their real-time
levels of waste. The second pilot
features more than 400 litter cans
with sensors that communicate
the volume of litter in the can.
The data being collected from
both programs are being used to
add efficiencies to the litter can
collection program.
The District’s population explosion is producing new DPW
customers who expect timely solid waste collections and
snow removal. To ensure all residents are served properly,
we applied routing technology to our collection and
snow removal routes. This technology is improving our
operations and helping to control the use of our resources.
Page 25
District employees can use DC
taxicabs to travel in the District
for official business. This program
is an additional transportation
option that increases availability
of existing FleetShare vehicles
and allows agencies to right-size
their agency fleets over time,
thus realizing savings in vehicle
purchases, fuel and maintenance.
The new Automated Vehicle Locator (AVL) system
allows viewers to see where DC snow plows (as well as
contractors’ plows and rental plows) have traveled throughout
the city. Weather information, key points about the snow/ice
removal program, and DC traffic camera views also can be
accessed. For those using a mobile device – smartphone or
tablet – the system will identify their location through their
GPS. Those using a desk computer, should enter their address
or any other address to see where the plows have been.
Drivers can enroll in a new DPW service to receive
electronic notifications if their vehicle has been
booted, towed or relocated in the District.
The new Tow and Boot Alert System will notify enrolled
drivers if a boot has been installed, or removed from
their vehicle, or if has been towed or relocated by
DPW or a company working on its behalf. Drivers can
register their vehicle into the system by visiting www.
dpw.dc.gov.

Page 26

Page 27
EMPLOYEE
INVESTMENTS

DPW employees are our greatest resource.
Through training, enrichment and
engagement activities, we invest in their
present occupation, help them develop
a vision of their future and support
achieving their goals.
Page 28

Page 29
New Training Opportunities
Training employees is a strategy that has improved
morale, career satisfaction, motivation, productivity and
responsiveness. The Mayor’s vision of establishing clear
pathways to the middle class for our residents and, by
extension, our employees inspired this strategy.
This past year, DPW expanded the snow program training
curriculum for employees to ensure everyone understands
expectations and their assigned role within the updated
Winter Maintenance Plan.
DPW also partnered with DC Public Libraries to provide an
adult learning curriculum for employees to complete their
GED or obtain other certifications to move up the career
ladder at DPW or other agencies.
And the 1st ever ...
On May 21, several hundred DPW employees and their
family members attended DPW’s first Family Fun Day.
The event included food, live music and a host of activities
including karaoke, sack races, volleyball and cards.
The event was made possible through the DPW Labor/
Management Partnership:
AFGE Local 1975, representing PEMA employees,
AFGE Local 631, representing Fleet employees, and
AFSCME Local 2091, representing SWMA employees.
The agency was very supportive of employees who chose
to earn a college degree. In February 2017, we introduced
employees to the College for America online program
that confers associate and bachelor’s degrees through
Southern New Hampshire University.
More than 130 employees attended the “open-house
session,” and many have begun their classes. To ensure
further success, the training staff has offered their services
after normal working hours, and at no cost to DPW, to
create that buddy-system and assist employees where
necessary.
DPW Employee Honored
by President Obama
Parking Enforcement Officer
Barbara Lucas was honored
by President Barack Obama
with a Lifetime Achievement
Award for her work with EGOS
(Education, Goals, Opportunities,
Sports), a nonprofit that mentors
youth through sports. “I used sports
as a tool to try to help youth and
to educate them to do better,” said
Lucas, who played basketball on
the Cheyney University team that
made it to the Women’s National
Collegiate Athletic Association Final
Four.

Page 30
care
values
thank you
people

Employee Recognition Award Winners
Page 31
Celester Brown
Lawana Buckmon
Jesse Gaillard
Brenda Harris
Maurice Queen
Samuel Thomas
Adrienne Williams
LDR
Staff Assistant
Heavy Mobile Equipment Mechanic
Management Liaison Specialist
Collection Supervisor
Heavy Mobile Equipment Mechanic
Equipment Specialist
Toran Felder
IIene Goodwin
Cynthia Jones
Jose Martinez
Annie Mobley
Shaunte Quick
Paulette Redman
Annise Savoy
Carlandzo Smith
Tracy Wardrick
Warnique West
Sanitation Supervisor
Lot Attendant
Abandoned Vehicle Program Manager
Weighing Machine Operator
Motor Vehicle Operator
Program Support Assistant
Sanitation Supervisor
Lot Attendant
Sanitation Supervisor
Program Support Assistant
Sanitation Supervisor
Jocelyn Chase
Angela Coates
Adrian Dixon
Alaina Johnson
Stewart Lovett
Nancee Lyons
Ricardo McManus
Annie Mobley
Darlene Mungin
James Roberts
Tracy Wardrick
Supervisor Parking Enforcement
Program Support Assistant
Supervisor Parking Enforcement
Solid Waste Inspector
Sanitation Worker
Public Affairs Specialist
Motor Vehicle Operator
Motor Vehicle Operator
Fleet Advisory Manager
Administrator
Program Support Assistant

Employee Kudos Corner
Page 32
“
I wanted to tell you about the fantastic job
Inspector Yolanda Hood did for our
community. She was friendly and frank in
explaining what DPW did and did not do. For
most government workers that would have been
good enough, but Inspector Hood went as far
as coming to my home to investigate our issue
and to bring us an entire packet of information
along with flyers from another agency and a
contact person who could help us. Finally, she
said that she was eager to help with anything
our community needed and I believe her.
Thank you for adding Inspector Hood
to our community. She is an asset.
- Rodolfo
“
“
Viola McIver, it was great seeing you
at this year’s THINGAMAJIG® Invention
Convention. On behalf of the YMCA of
Metropolitan Washington and the thousands
of children we serve, thank you for helping
to make this year’s event a success.
“
Kevin Twine, you are awesome!!!
My mom appreciated your help – I told
her how kind you were and walked
me through the process. It is folks
like you who make life easier.
“
Over 42,000 youth from the metropolitan region
participated in a day of experimenting, building,
and growing. The YMCA’s THINGAMAJIG®
Invention Convention challenged kids ages 3 to
14 to participate in STEM (Science, Technology,
Electronics, and Math), physical movement and
the arts. They enjoyed more than 75 handson
experiences and activities. The amazing
THINGAMAJIG® Design Team developed an
impressive array of activities that truly tapped
into their natural curiosity, strategic thinking,
and creative expression. THINGAMAJIG®
indeed helps reinforce our belief that
exposing children to hands-on experiences
is the best form of teaching and learning.
In addition to the interactive workshops on-site,
we also hosted over 575 THINGAMAJIG®
Inventors this year. Again, thank you for
helping us significantly impact the lives
of the young people who participated.
“
- Sonya Karenny, NW - Ed Fones, Association Director of Volunteerism,
YMCA of Metropolitan Washington

Page 33
SPECIAL EVENTS
SUPPORT

DPW plays multiple roles in supporting
international, national and local special
events through street cleaning, trash
and recycling collection, and parking
enforcement where those events occur.
Page 34

Page 35
DPW SUPPORTED COLLECTED TOWED/RELOCATED ISSUED
63 92 288 403
EVENTS
TONS OF REFUSE VEHICLES PARKING TICKETS
President Barack Obama’s
National Christmas Tree
Lighting Ceremony
December 2016
Signature
Events
January 2017
The annual Dr. Martin
Luther King Jr. Parade
President Donald J. Trump’s
Inauguration and associated
events
2017 Women’s March
St. Patrick’s Day Parade
March 2017
March-April 2017
National Cherry Blossom Festival
Memorial Day Parade
May 2017
June 2017
Giant National Capital
Barbecue Battle
Independence Day Parade
July 2017
September 2017
FiestaDC Festival

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DPW IN THE
COMMUNITY

About 70% of DPW employees live in the
District. Through their public service, civic
participation and generous donations
to those in need, they contribute to the
overall well-being of all residents.
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DC Clean Alley
SWEEP
Solid Waste Education & Enforcement Program
The SWEEP team of inspectors and investigators is
an important link between DPW and residents. As
educators, SWEEP employees teach residents and
businesses about the District’s sanitation regulations
and their partnership with the government to keep
the District clean and attractive. They distribute
educational materials and ensure residents know
they are a readily-available resource.
DPW launched the second annual “DC Clean Alley”
initiative on May 1, 2017, to beautify Ward 8 alleys and create
a safer, more attractive environment. The initiative is a
partnership between DPW and the Department of Housing
and Community Development (DHCD), which provided
funding through a federal grant designated specifically for
community improvements.
In FY 2017 DPW cleaned 599 alleys, not in the flood zone, to
help address illegal dumping, abandoned vehicles, rodent
infestation and other sanitation and safety concerns that
can lead to neighborhood blight and crime.
Trucks in
Schools
We
Cleaned
599 Alleys
Community
Goodwill
Activities
Throughout the year, the Fleet
Management Administration brings
vehicles to schools to give children
a hands-on experience.
In FY 2017, DPW employees
collected hundreds of presents
to help children in the care of
the Child and Family Services
Agency celebrate Christmas.
In FY 2017, they attended 120 meetings and events held
by Advisory Neighborhood Commissions, community
and civic associations. They also participated in
Truck Touch, interagency collaboration meetings,
community walking surveys, school presentations,
and educational campaigns targeting specific topics,
e.g., when trash cans can be in the public space.
In advance of snow season, SWEEP receives
applications for an exemption from the snow shoveling
regulation. Eligible residents are 65 years of age or
older or disabled. In FY 2017, SWEEP approved more
than 1,700 of these applications.
SWEEP Jr.
Helping Hand
SWEEP Jr. is DPW’s youthfocused
unit, hosted 85 events
attracting about 16,000 young
people.
DPW supported 160 Helping
Hand neighborhood clean-up
projects throughout the District
in FY 2017.
DPW provided bags, rakes,
brooms and shovels for residents
to assemble trash and debris.
Later that day, DPW collects
the filled bags. If requested,
DPW also will provide compost
for neighborhood beautification
projects.

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Truck Touch
Great Graffiti Wipeout
DPW hosted the District’s 10th annual Truck Touch
event, which features a wide array of vehicles used daily
to provide government services. Among the vehicles
displayed are street sweepers, fire engines, hook and
ladder trucks, dump trucks, tow trucks, one-stop mobile
health and employment vans, mountain bikes, Segways,
bucket trucks, snow plows, trash trucks, wreckers, and
police vehicles – including a helicopter and a horse
(DPW neither acquires nor fuels the horse).
As part of Back to Basics DC, Mayor Muriel Bowser kicked
off DPW’s second annual “Great Graffiti Wipeout,” an
eight-week initiative to remove graffiti and illegal tagging
around Washington, DC. Each year, DPW responds to
more than 40,000 requests to remove graffiti and
posters. In FY 2017, the graffiti abatement team focused
on the hardest hit corridors.
Reponded to
40,000
requests

Page 41
Sanitation Workers Dinner
FY 2017 marked the 19th consecutive year the
congregation of Simpson-Hamline United Methodist Church
and their friends honored the city’s sanitation employees in
memory of the assassination of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
while working with sanitation workers in Memphis 50 years
ago.
The event recognizes the hard work performed by DPW
employees who collect trash and recycling, clean the streets
and alleys, and enforce sanitation regulations.
MuralsDC
FY 2017 marks the 10th anniversary of
MuralsDC, a graffiti abatement initiative funded by
the DC Department of Public Works in cooperation
with the DC Commission on the Arts and Humanities.
MuralsDC projects provide local artists a responsible
and legal means to exercise their artistic skill in a way
that legitimizes graffiti as an art form and promotes
community awareness and respect for public and
private property.
Donuts and Trucks on
Capitol Hill
DPW and the American Public Works Association celebrated
the 57th annual National Public Works Week with a trip
to Capitol Hill to engage with members of Congress in
discussions on the importance of infrastructure investments.

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The 10th anniversary of MuralsDC was celebrated with a new mural at Ben’s Chili Bowl featuring 15 personalities
and iconic images of people who have made, or are currently making, a profound impact on the District of Columbia.
The portraits were selected by the community via an online contest initiated by the legendary eatery, in which more
than 30,000 votes were cast.
In 10 Years...
75
MURALS
Dick Gregory was a pillar of the
civil rights movement and a brilliant
comedian. When he died two months
after the unveiling of this mural, his
passing and contributions to society
were noted by international, national
and local media.
50
ARTISTS
46
NEIGHBORHOODS
88,000
RESIDENTS REACHED

DPW IN THE
NEWS
Page 43
Waste360
WAMU88.5 WTOP REUTERS
WASHINGTON BUSINESS
JOURNAL
The Washinton Post
The Washinton Post
NBC4
“
DPW serves every person
in the District of Columbia.
I firmly believe that direct
communications with our
customers increases their
understanding of our operations
and it also increases their trust.
- Christopher J. Shorter,
DPW Director
“
CNN

DPW GETS
SOCIAL
15,300
FOLLOWERS
7,000+
MONTHLY PROFILE VISITS
200+
NEW ENGAGEMENTS/MONTH
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Follow Us On
@dcdpw
@dczerowaste
@dpwdc
@dczerowaste
@dcdpw
@dczerowaste
dpw.dc.gov
zerowaste.dc.gov
Questions? Concerns?
Email dpw@dc.gov or call (202)673-6833
DC Department of Public Works
Frank D. Reeves Municipal Center
2000 14th Street, NW, Washington, DC 20009

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“
When you see our crews in your neighborhood, please take a moment
to acknowledge them, if possible. If you think they’re doing a good
job, let us know; they love to hear it. If you have concerns, we want
to know that, too. The work we do is for you and this city.
“
- Christopher J. Shorter, DPW Director
DC Department of Public Works