The Sanitation Division has been very successful in its mission to maintain cleanliness throughout the City.  It has also received high marks as it relates to preparing for, implementing strategic plans, and maintaining cleanliness during highly attended events pre-pandemic.  In addition, the Sanitation Division has continued to work throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, providing Citywide litter control, pressure cleaning, and street sweeping services.

As the City entered Fiscal Year (FY) 20/21, the Sanitation Division continued its diligent efforts to observe COVID-19 protocols in order to protect the safety of all employees.  However, during its first quarter, the Division was challenged with a reduction in staff of 11 full time in-house positions due to attrition, layoffs, and the loss of 45 budgeted temporary staffing positions.

In an effort to provide uninterrupted City service, the Sanitation Division received approval to rehire over 20 temporary staffers to help cover the gaps due to the unexpected vacancies, and the increased amount of pedestrian traffic in the Mixed Use Entertainment (MXE) District since December 2020.

There have also been modifications made to the scope of services that the Sanitation Division provides in order to assist with activities related to the prevention of the spread of COVID-19.  The pressure washing crews also altered their routes to include augmenting and increasing the cleaning of bus stops and benches.

The Sanitation Division currently has five, one-person crews, and two, two-person crews for pressure cleaning operations.  These crews work five days a week, Monday - Fridays and clean an average of two blocks per day, per crew member.  Additional pressure washing is done on an as-needed basis, as well as in preparation for special events, holidays, and when providing assistance to other departments. 

Areas of Coverage:

1. Ocean Drive
2. Washington South
3. Washington North
4. Lincoln Road West  (two-person crew,) once the crew is finished by 9:00am they continue on to Collins Avenue
5. Lincoln Road East (two-person crew,) once the crew is finished by 9:00am, they continue on to Collins Avenue
6. 41^st  Street
7. North Beach

Prior to the pandemic, the Sanitation Division had dedicated crews that serviced alleys throughout the City, including crane trucks that were assigned to patrol the alleys and collect discarded items. However, during the pandemic adjustments needed to be made, including reducing staffing from two people to one person, for five of our seven pressure washing routes, with the exception of the Lincoln Road crews. 

The Washington Avenue routes (North and South) are maintained Monday - Friday, approximately two blocks at a time daily, from 5^th Street to 16^th Street.  In order for the City to provide a 5-day rotation as opposed to a 10-day rotation, it would require an additional two, one-person crews on Washington Avenue.  This effort would translate into overtime assistance for crews, including the weekends.  Currently, as soon after they finish servicing their designated areas, the Sanitation Division's crew members focus their efforts on other sections of the beach, ensuring the cleanliness of bus benches and shelters, addressing Code Compliance complaints, homeless complaints, and litter container cleaning Citywide. 

Results from the 2019 Resident Survey regarding overall City rating show that 69% of residents rate neighborhood cleanliness as excellent/good and 58% for business and commercial areas.  In order to continue maintaining excellent standards in this area, the Sanitation Division continues to provide uninterrupted cleanliness for its residents.