§ 2.18.015. Director of Public Works—Powers and Duties Generally.

In addition to the functions, duties, and responsibilities specified by the Charter of the County and by State statute or ordinance, and except as otherwise provided in this Chapter, the Director of Public Works also shall have the duties specified in this Section:

A.

Upon order of the board of supervisors to do all necessary investigation, surveying, and engineering work relative thereto, and to prepare plans, specifications, and estimates, and perform inspection, supervision, and construction of public works, such as county roads, highways, bridges, harbor, beach and coastal improvements, airports and aviation facilities, and water, sewer, and drainage systems, including acquisition of right-of-way and reimbursement processing, as the county of Los Angeles is authorized by law to construct, or for which the county is authorized by law to prepare such plans, specifications, or estimates, or furnish such inspection, surveying, or supervision, excepting such of said public works as are placed by law under the jurisdiction of some other county officer or department, or are otherwise expressly delegated by the board of supervisors;

B.

In accordance with procedures established by the board, to perform the necessary studies, investigations, and other work relative to special assessment improvement districts, including the duties set forth in Chapter 15, Division 7, of the Streets and Highways Code;

C.

To observe and enforce all of the provisions of the following ordinances: Ordinance 2225 (Building Code—Title 26); Ordinance 11096 (Electrical Code—Title 27); Ordinance 2269 (Plumbing Code—Title 28); Ordinance 6130 (Sanitary Sewers and Industrial Waste—Title 20, Division 2); Ordinance 7834 (Water—Title 20, Division 1); Ordinance 7888 (Sewer Maintenance—Title 20, Division 3); and Ordinance 9544 (Mechanical Code—Title 29), as set forth in this code;

D.

To observe and enforce all of the provisions of the following ordinances: Emergency Ordinance (Title 2, Division 3, Chapter 2.68); Catastrophes (Title 2, Division 4, Chapter 2.130); Traffic Ordinance (Title 15, Division 1); Miscellaneous Traffic Regulations (Title 15, Division 2); Highway Permit Ordinance (Title 16, Division 1); Undergrounding of Utilities Ordinance (Title 16, Division 2); Basic Franchise Ordinance (Title 16, Division 3); Pipeline Franchise Ordinance (Title 16, Division 3A, Chapters 16.52 and 16.54); Cable Television System Franchise Ordinance (Title 16, Division 4); Subdivision Ordinance (Title 21); Zoning Ordinance (Title 22), as set forth in this code;

E.

Under the supervision and direction of the board, to perform the duties of superintendent and engineer for all work, duties, or responsibilities under Chapter 27 of Part 3 of the Improvement Act of 1911; all county waterworks districts formed under Division 16 of the Water Code; for all county sewer maintenance districts formed under Division 5 of the Health and Safety Code; for all county drainage maintenance districts formed under Division 7 of the Streets and Highways Code; and for all lighting districts formed under Statutes of 1909, page 551, or the Highway District Lighting Act, Part 4, Division 14 of the Streets and Highways Code; for all assessment districts formed under Part 2, Division 15 of the Streets and Highways Code; and for all lighting maintenance districts formed under Statutes of 1921, page 1658 or Chapter 26 of Part 3 of the Improvement Act of 1911, Division 7 of the Streets and Highways Code, and operating under said Chapter 26. The director of public works, through the purchasing agent of the county and upon requisition, shall procure the purchase of all materials and supplies for the said districts. The cost thereof shall be paid out of the funds of the respective districts;

F.

To design, construct, manage, operate, and negotiate necessary leases for all facilities and fields owned and operated by the county for the purpose of serving aviation;

G.

To study and make recommendations to the board concerning the regulation and development of aviation, including proposals for the enlargement of existing facilities, or the addition of new facilities to adequately service the aviation industry, and concerning programs for the promotion and growth of aviation;

H.

To grant licenses and permits for the storage of aircraft at county-owned or operated airports if the estimated or actual compensation passing to the county for the license or permit is $5,000.00 or less per month, and if the term of the license or permit is on a month-to-month basis;

I.

Under the supervision and direction of the board of supervisors, to negotiate procedural agreements with the utilities for ultimate board approval, to review the petition signup for the executive officer of the board of supervisors as required for the conversion of existing overhead electric and communications facilities to underground locations pursuant to the provisions of Chapter 28 of Division 7 of the Streets and Highways Code of the state of California;

J.

To perform the duties of the road commissioner under the Streets and Highways Code. The director shall divide all the unincorporated territory in the county and such incorporated territory in the county as may be under the jurisdiction of the county for road purposes, into administrative districts to be known as road districts. In the construction, repair, reconstruction, or relocation of highways, or in the construction, repair, or modernization of traffic signal systems, the director may salvage, junk, or abandon such traffic-control, warning, or protecting signs and devices, and appurtenant material as have been rendered unnecessary by said work. The director shall account for all such articles in his records, and shall account for and report them to the auditor-controller in such manner and on such forms as are prescribed by the auditor-controller;

K.

To encourage the planting of trees, shrubs, and flowers along the untraveled portion of public highways, and to decide upon the variety, kind, and character of trees, hedges, shrubs, lawns, and flowers that shall be planted upon the public highways; to determine all questions respecting the pruning, cutting, and removal of any trees, hedges, shrubs, lawns, or flowers now growing or to be grown thereon, and the necessity therefor and the extent of and the manner in which such work is to be done, and to plant and properly care for such trees, hedges, shrubs, lawns, and flowers, and to enforce the provisions of all ordinances, making certain acts with respect to trees on county roads unlawful and authorizing the issuance of permits to remove or otherwise interfere with trees or other plant life growing upon public highways within the county of Los Angeles;

L.

To perform all functions, duties, and responsibilities in his capacity as director of public works, county engineer, road commissioner, or chief engineer of the Flood Control District now or hereafter delegated by this code, or any other ordinance of the county, by the Charter or by any state statute. In addition, the director and members of the department may perform the functions of a district or other public entity as authorized by the board pursuant to Section 56 3/4 of the Charter;

M.

To administer and negotiate for the board of supervisors all transactions pertaining to acquisitions, sales, dedications, leases, or rentals of real property, or any interest therein under the administrative control of the director, as well as property interests of the county or its special districts or entities for which the board of supervisors is the ex officio governing body. Where such property is being acquired by eminent domain by the county or by any public entity of which the board of supervisors is ex officio the governing body, if requested to do so by the county counsel, the director may assist in negotiations for settlement and in the service of papers. The director shall, upon order of the board, make appraisals and reports thereon of such real property proposed to be acquired or sold by the county and may make title searches in any matters in which the county, or any department or any public entity of which the board of supervisors is the ex officio governing body may be officially interested. The director may, at his discretion, cause the duties and responsibilities imposed by this subsection to be performed by other county officers or departments;

N.

To act as the lead county officer for waste management and transportation issues. The director shall be responsible for advising the board of supervisors on all matters of countywide concern relating to waste management and transportation. The director shall have the primary responsibility for coordinating and implementing all policies adopted by the board of supervisors in the area of waste management and transportation except as otherwise provided by state or federal law or by order of the board of supervisors;

O.

To develop and implement the county's waste management program, including the authority to: prepare, adopt, maintain, and implement the Los Angeles County Countywide Integrated Waste Management Plan (ColWMP); periodically review and update the ColWMP with the assistance of the Los Angeles County integrated waste management task force; prepare the Los Angeles County Hazardous Waste Management Plan (CoHWMP) with the assistance of the county hazardous waste advisory committee; administer, maintain, and implement the CoHWMP; and make recommendations to the board of supervisors for the award of nonexclusive, partially exclusive, or wholly exclusive franchises for solid waste handling, as defined in section 40195 of the Public Resources Code and pursuant to the provisions of section 40059 of the Public Resources Code, in any part of the unincorporated territory of the county;

P.

To oversee planning for the coordination of transportation needs within the unincorporated areas of the county, including the authority to: develop and maintain the county's highway system; develop traffic mitigation measures to maximize movement of vehicles throughout the county; develop countywide measures to maximize utilization of existing highways, provide uniform operation and maintenance of traffic signals; review the transportation components of preliminary community general plans; and provide public transit services for the unincorporated areas of the county, exclusive of the Southern California Rapid Transit District service;

Q.

To negotiate and execute agreements for the use of real property, or interests therein, under the administrative control of the Director, including properties owned by the County of Los Angeles, the Los Angeles County Flood Control District, and other special districts for which the Board of Supervisors is the ex officio governing body, provided the rental amount in the agreement does not exceed five thousand dollars ($5,000.00) per month, and the term of the agreement is month to month not exceeding a maximum duration of ten (10) years or is a non-renewable fixed term not exceeding ten (10) years. When the proposed agreement involves property owned by the County of Los Angeles, the Director shall comply with the notice requirements of section 25537 of the Government Code. Except as provided in Section R, below, the authority granted to the Director pursuant to this section, as it pertains to agreements for the use of real properties owned by the County of Los Angeles, shall be effective through and including June 30, 2019, after which time it shall be deemed expired and of no further effect;

R.

Notwithstanding any other provision in this code, to negotiate and execute agreements for the use of real properties owned by the County of Los Angeles acquired for highway purposes, provided the rental amount in the agreement does not exceed five thousand dollars ($5,000.00) per month, the term of the agreement is a fixed term not exceeding three (3) years, and a notice of intention is posted as required under the provisions of Section 960.6 of the Streets and Highways Code;

S.

[Reserved.]

T.

Pursuant to Government Code Section 25350.51, the Director is authorized to enter into a lease or license for the use of real property by the County of Los Angeles, for a term not to exceed five (5) years and for a rental not to exceed seven thousand five hundred dollars ($7,500.00) per month, and to amend real property leases or licenses for improvements or alterations, or both, with a total cost not to exceed seven thousand five hundred dollars ($7,500.00), provided that the amendment does not extend the term of the lease or license and that no more than two (2) amendments, not to exceed seven thousand five hundred dollars ($7,500.00) each, are made within a 12-month period. Notice of intention to consummate such a lease or license shall be provided as required by Section 25350.51 of the Government Code;

U.

Easements. Pursuant to the authority granted by Government Code Section 25526.6, the director is authorized to grant or otherwise convey an easement for the use of any real property of the county to the state or to any county, city, district, or public agency or corporation, or to any public utility corporation upon a finding by the director that the conveyance is in the public interest, and that the interest conveyed will not substantially conflict or interfere with the use of the property by the county.

V.

Nothing in this section shall prohibit the director from causing another county officer or department to acquire, lease, sell, or obtain or grant permits or licenses for the use of properties by the department of public works, or for the use of properties under the jurisdiction of the department of public works pursuant to the provisions of any state law or the County Code.

W.

Except as otherwise expressly delegated by the board of supervisors, the director shall prepare or cause to be prepared all plans and specifications for the construction of, or extraordinary repair and maintenance, as defined by the chief administrative officer, of any and all county buildings, and related structures, improvements, or fixed equipment, except as otherwise provided by law; and shall supervise and inspect for contract and code compliance the construction of or extraordinary repair and maintenance of any and all county buildings and related structures, improvements, or fixed equipment, where such work is done pursuant to contract let by the county. The director shall report to the board of supervisors any work not done in accordance with the contract, the plans and specifications, or the applicable codes. Upon completion of such work in accordance with the terms of the contract and the plans and specifications, the director shall cause the contractor to issue a certificate in writing certifying that the work has been done in accordance with the contract and the plans and specifications. The board of supervisors may designate specific projects solely or predominantly involving a single department to be managed by that department. In such cases, the department head must employ the public works department or competent contract project management; the construction documents shall be approved by the public works department for compliance with applicable codes and county-wide design review standards for quality, durability, facility of maintenance and repair, and life cycle cost; and all construction shall be inspected for code compliance by public works department inspectors. The department head shall provide the director with such information as he requires to maintain county-wide coordination and reports to the board of supervisors.

X.

Except as otherwise expressly delegated by the board of supervisors, the director shall coordinate and administer the relocation assistance program of the

county as set forth in Chapter 2.110 of this code; upon the order of the board of supervisors, make appraisals and reports thereon of real property proposed to be acquired or sold by the county; and make title searches in any matters in which the county, or any department or officer thereof, as such, may be officially interested.

Y.

To act as the lead county officer for water recycling issues. The director shall be responsible for advising the board of supervisors on all matters of countywide concern relating to water recycling issues. The director shall have the primary responsibility for coordinating and implementing all policies adopted by the board of supervisors in the area of water recycling except as otherwise provided by state or federal law or by order of the board of supervisors.

(Ord. 2015-0008 § 1, 2015; Ord. 2014-0032 § 1, 2014; Ord. 2007-0082 § 1, 2007; Ord. 2004-0055 § 1, 2004: Ord. 2002-0039 § 2, 2002; Ord. 95-0052 § 27, 1995: Ord. 91-0126 §§ 1-3, 1991; Ord. 89-0117 § 2, 1989; Ord. 89-0026 § 3, 1989; Ord. 88-0088 § 1, 1988; Ord. 84-0189 § 1 (part), 1984.)