Public Works

Public Works Department
The Public Works Department employs approximately 58 full-time staff members. Positions in the department include engineers, support staff, administrators, and maintenance workers.
This department is responsible for

• Snowplowing 290 lane miles of streets, 22 miles of alleys and 52 parking lots
• Shoveling snow and repairing 105 miles of public sidewalks and trails
• Repairing and seal coating City streets
• Maintaining 3,000 street lights, 38 traffic signals and 8,400 street signs
• Operating six water treatment plants and seven water storage facilities
• Maintaining more than 423 miles of water/sewer lines and 29 lift stations
• Sweeping streets at least twice a year
• Designing and supervising construction projects
• Managing the City's contract for collection of garbage, recyclables and yard waste
• Managing surface water run-off and flood control projects.
• Erosion control, winter parking permits

Construction Bids
New for contractors!
Receive bid specifications and tabulations online. Click Here for a list of current projects.

Bid Opportunities
When the estimated cost is more than $25,000, competitive bids are sought for -

sale, purchase, or rental of materials or equipment
construction, alteration, repair, or maintenance of real or personal property.

When competitive bids are sought, sealed bids are requested, and the contract will be awarded to the "lowest responsible bidder." Advertisements are published in the city's official newspaper, the St. Louis Park Sun-Sailor. Ads are sometimes placed in other publications or trade magazines to reach more potential bidders. Many Public Works and construction bids are published in the Construction Bulletin. At this time, bids are not placed in this web site.

When the estimated cost is more than $10,000, but less than $25,000, purchasing decisions may be made by competitive bid or direct negotiation using at least two price quotes.

When the estimated cost is less than $10,000, city staff may make purchases directly from vendors.

Special Assessments
Special assessments are one way that property owners pay for the benefit they receive from construction or repair of streets, sidewalks and alleys. The cost of a public improvement is usually divided on a front-foot or area basis. Public hearings are held to order the improvement and specify the special assessment amount for each property.

Special assessment payments are due November 15. Property owners pay a portion of the assessment, plus interest, over a period of years with the annual real estate taxes. Typically, special assessments are paid over a 20 year time period. Certified special assessments also may be paid in full at any time. Usually, special assessments must be paid in full at the time of sale.