Operations

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The Operations Department is a front-line provider for basic public works services including transportation facilities, fleet manage­ment, storm water management, water distri­bution, and sewage disposal.

Operational focus is on the health and safety of the citizens of Maple Ridge, protecting the District's large in­vestment in public works and underground infra­structure, protecting the environment, maintaining cur­rent service levels, providing amenity and convenience features, and providing services at a mini­mum cost to the tax­payers in a manner as responsive to their needs as pos­sible.

Each functional area within the department closely monitors productivity, efficiency, and unit cost, to be con­fident that District customers receive quality service at competitive prices. Calls are received in this department 24 hours per day - 7 days a week and are in­vestigated, responded to and recorded in the public action request system.

Roads

The Roads Department strives to efficiently maintain our present transportation system to meet the current and future needs of our citizens. This department aids in protecting the Municipal investment in roads infrastructure while providing a safe and serviceable road network.  The Roads Department is responsible for activities such as:

• road repairs
• asphalt patching
• sidewalk maintenance
• road and shoulder grading
• snow/ice control
• bridge maintenance
• street sweeping
• traffic sign repair and replacement
• pick up of illegal dumping and litter

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Sanitary and Storm Sewers

Sanitary Sewer
The Sewer Department provides maintenance and construction of the District's sanitary sewer infrastructure. This department provides and maintains an effective and reliable sanitary sewage collection system and transfer to the Greater Vancouver Sewerage and Drainage District facilities for treatment. This utility has two major trunks and twenty-one pumping stations throughout the Municipality. This department is responsible for activities such as:

• Flushing sanitary sewer lines
• Inspection and maintenance of sanitary sewer mains
• Maintenance of sanitary sewer manholes
• Clearing blockages to sanitary sewer mains and services to property line

Storm Drainage
The Storm Department provides an effective drainage system in an environmentally friendly manner. Storm water is managed with an efficient drainage ditch, culvert, and storm sewer system. This department is responsible for activities such as:

• Ditch cleaning
• Storm sewer and culvert maintenance
• Flushing storm sewer lines
• Cleaning catch basins
• Responding to flooding reports

Vegetation Control
This branch of the Sewer Department is responsible for:

• Removal of dangerous trees on municipal property
• Intersection and sight line visibility
• Overhead brushing
• Chipping program
• Roadside mowing and flail cutting

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Waterworks

The WaterWorks Department provides high quality drinking water to homes and businesses, as well as water supply for fire suppression. This department installs and maintains hundreds of kilometres of water mains and connections throughout the Municipality as well as oversees water purchases from the Greater Vancouver Water District. The WaterWorks Department is responsible for:

• monitoring of the District water supply system to ensure safe drinking water
• servicing fire hydrants
• collecting water samples
• standpipe maintenance
• water meter installation, maintenance, and reading
• installing service connections to residents and businesses
• flushing of watermains
• repairing broken or damaged water mains and services

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Electro/Mechanical

The Electrical - Mechanical Department operates and maintains a variety of electrical, mechanical, and instrumentation systems that are vital in the operation of the District infrastructure. The Electrical - Mechanical Department is responsible for activities such as:

• maintenance of traffic control devices
• maintenance of sanitary sewer pump station
• ornamental street lighting repair
• maintaining water pump stations, water reservoirs and chlorinating stations
• radio communication system
• Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA) system

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Fleet Management

Fleet Management is responsible for equipment performance meas­ures, vehicle replacement, equipment charge out rates, and equipment reserve funding.

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Purchasing

The Purchasing section is re­sponsible for imple­men­ta­tion of the municipal pur­chasing policy, contract tenders, municipal stores, par­ticipation in public sector cooperative groups, and administration of the purchasing card program. 

The Purchasing section procures goods and services for the District of Maple Ridge in accordance with the Purchasing Policy while representing the "best value" for the Municipality and all its taxpayers. "Best value" includes many characteristics including, but not limited to: acquisition cost, availability, suitability, procureability, serviceability, transportation, required training, warranty, design, environmental impact, overall life cycle cost implications, and other significant applicable characteristics. With each individual purchase these characteristics can change. Lowest price can be "best value", but lowest price is not always the "best value". We look at the total cost of ownership, which may include but not be limited to:

• acquisition cost
• quality required
• residual value
• disposal cost
• training cost
• maintenance cost
• delivery and shipping terms
• warranties
• payment terms
• performance
• environmental impact

The Purchasing section is committed to conducting business with fairness, probity, and respect for all parties involved. Regulatory factors influencing the Purchasing Department's policies and procedures include:

• Local Government Act (previously named the "Municipal Act")
• TheDistrict of Maple Ridge Policies and Procedures
• Federal and Provincial tax laws
• Excise and Customs Regulations
• WHMIS (Workplace Hazardous Materials Information System)
• Transportation of Hazardous Goods Act
• C.S.A. Electrical Regulations
• Public Sector Policies and Practices
• NAFTA - North American Free Trade Agreement
• AIT - Agreement on Internal Trade
• TILMA - The British Columbia - Alberta Trade, Investment and Labour Mobility Agreement
• Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act

The Purchasing section works closely with the following organizations:

• The Vancouver Regional Cooperative PurchasingGroup
• BC BID
• PMAC - Purchasing Management Association of Canada

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