• To support and enhance a high quality of life for the City's residents, businesses and visitors by providing well planned, environmentally sensitive, cost effective infrastructure and services to promote public health, personal safety, transportation, economic growth and civic vitality.
• To respond to and aid in recovery from earthquakes, storms and other emergencies as an integral part of providing and managing public works services.
• To provide for public participation in departmental policy consideration.
• To accomplish the foregoing through effective oversight of the Department of Public Works including the Bureaus of Accounting, Contract Administration, Engineering, Financial Management and Personnel Services, Sanitation, Street Services and Street Lighting.

As part of the Department's Strategic Plan, the Board of Public Works has adopted the following as the Department of Public Works Mission Statement:

"The Department of Public Works - We work for you! Our mission is to improve the quality of life for City residents through responsive, efficient, and effective delivery of services to every neighborhood and by reflecting a can-do attitude with our customers and stakeholders."

The Public Works Mission Statement articulates the Department's Strategic Plan's four major initiatives which are Customer Service, Infrastructure, Employee Involvement, and One-Department. The Mission Statement provides the focus for all employees to carry out the Department's mission, vision, and goals by encouraging continuous development and implementation of strategies and actions that resolve issues and achieve objectives while improving daily operations that support the Strategic Plan's Customer Service, Infrastructure, Employee Involvement, and One-Department Initiatives.