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[Document title] [Document subtitle] Abstract [Draw your reader in with an engaging abstract. It is typically a short summary of the document. When you’re ready to add your content, just click here and start typing.] Kinila Callendar [Email address] Department of Public Works Fiscal Year 2020 Budget

1 OPENING REMARKS Good Afternoon Chairman of the Committee on Finance Senator Kurt Vialet, Finance Committee members, other Senators in attendance, as well as the viewing and listening public. I am Nelson Petty Jr., Commissioner of the Department of Public Works (DPW). Accompanying me today is my Assistant Commissioner Dennis Brow, Deputy Commissioner of Administration Rueben Jennings; Deputy Commissioner of Transportation Karole McGregor; Federal Highway Program Manager Jomo McClean; Capital Improvement Projects Engineering Administrator James Grum; and District Engineer Eran Flemming. Our department is mandated to plan, construct and maintain our public roads, highways, storm drainage systems, buildings, transportation systems, parking facilities and cemeteries. Additionally, we act as the Government’s engineers, providing engineering and project management where it is required. Our staff is divided into five divisions: Operations, Engineering, Capital Improvement, Transportation and Administration. Thank you for this opportunity to testify in support of our fiscal year 2020 budget request. In this year’s budget testimony, we will present the activities we have prioritized from the funds appropriated to DPW, the grants that supplement those efforts, and the accomplishments of the past year. Department of Public Works Fiscal Year 2020 Budget

2 OFFICE OF THE COMMISSIONER The Office of the Commissioner provides leadership for the overall management of the Department of Public Works. My vision is to elevate the department to one that is efficient, proactive and responsive. Our values are to: ▪ Enhance existing infrastructure ▪ Modernize operations ▪ Efficiently manage the assets of the department ▪ Improve employee morale ▪ Create a positive public works brand COM COMMUNIC ICATION ATIONS S OFFI OFFICE CE Robust communications are an important component of any successful organization. With that being said, I saw it fit to create a Communications Office with the main goals of conveying the department’s efforts and developing unique ways to disperse our message to the public. Currently, messages are dispersed via press releases, our Facebook pages and VITEMA’s Alert VI. H owever, there are plans to utilize more resources. The department is presently involved in a video marketing campaign highlighting numerous projects within the territory and answering many questions we are regularly asked. After months of development, in October of 2018, the department successfully relaunched our website. The site now acts as the ultimate resource for all things related to V.I. Public Works. You can find us at www.dpw.vi.gov and www.vitranvi.com. Forms, service offerings, project updates, news alerts and RFP information can all be accessed on our website. Also, over the past year, we were able to grow our social media following by 700%. All these feats were accomplished with one employee on staff. Now that the office has grown to two ambassadors, the public should expect much more output from us. Department of Public Works Fiscal Year 2020 Budget

3 CHI CHIEF F PROCU OCUREMENT OFF T OFFIC ICER In accordance with the Department of Property & Procurement’s initiative to streamline and automate procurement services throughout central government, DPW has developed a Procurement D ivision within the Commissioner’s office. The development of the Procurement Division is geared toward standardization of procurement and contract management workflow. The procurement division will be led by a Chief Procurement Officer whose prime responsibilities include complete management of procurement policies and procedures, management of procurement processes, establishment of templates, procurement accountability, vendor relations and overall status reporting. OFFI OFFICE CE OF C OF CIV IVIL IL RIGHTS RIGHTS The Civil Rights Program and Disadvantaged Business Enterprise administers and ensures that DPW is in compliance with the laws, regulations, policies and guidance that prohibit discrimination in the workplace. This is based on race, color, national origin, religion, gender, age, disability, genetic information or retaliation. DI DISAD SADVANTAG TAGED D BU BUSI SINESS SS ENTERP RPRISE RISE PR PROGR OGRAM AM The Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE) program is designed to ensure nondiscrimination in the award and administration of U.S. Department of Transportation assisted contracts, in our highway and transit programs. The DBE program ensures that federally assisted contracts for highway and transit projects are made available for small businesses owned and controlled by socially and economically disadvantaged individuals. At present, the Department of Public Works has 100 qualified participants in the program. With the combined funds received through Grant Anticipation Revenue Vehicle (GARVEE) bonds, FHWA and FTA programs, the DBE contractors have earned in excess of $2.9 million this fiscal year thus far. Department of Public Works Fiscal Year 2020 Budget

4 DI DISAST SASTER R R RECOV OVERY RY DPW plays a vital role in the disaster recovery of the Virgin Islands. As such, we are coordinating with the Office of Disaster Recovery (ODR) to ensure that the recovery process is executed in compliance with local and federal regulations. The scale of projects that have been and continues to be identified is such that we recognized the need for a systematic approach for project management. Through the ODR, DPW has developed a complete project listing that is being managed by a central Project Management Office (PMO). The PMO has developed a comprehensive listing of projects that include disaster recovery projects as well as capital improvement projects, locally funded projects and federally funded projects. This data is critical as to how the department manages the recovery process and workflow. The data allows for coordination across agencies and provides realistic outlooks for project implementation and completion. Further, as the Engineer of Record for all central government agencies, DPW has mandated project oversight over those agency projects. (see appendices) ROAD OAD WAL WALKABIL KABILITY ITY EFF FFOR ORTS TS The goal of this project is to address the damages caused by Hurricanes Irma and Maria along with enhancements that will mitigate future hazards and promote walkability around Schneider Regional Medical Center. This project addresses improvements to drainage, pedestrian facilities and the roadway; and enhances recreation, and safety. A full evaluation is being performed by Department of Health, University of the Virgin Islands, Center for Disease Control (CDC), and hospital staff to evaluate the safety and effectiveness of the initiative. American Planning Association (APA) Planning Event: The APA will be hosting a Community Planning Assistance Team (CPAT) at this location. This is a competitive program that has been awarded. This will be the first event of its kind in the Caribbean and is tentatively scheduled for the week of September 8. It will include public involvement exercises. The walkability initiative is funded by the CDC through Tephinet including the demonstration projects (along with volunteers). The APA CPAT is being funded by FEMA/VITEMA. Department of Public Works Fiscal Year 2020 Budget

5 BUDGET OVERVIEW For fiscal year 2020, Governor Bryan has recommended a total of $17,931,763 to be allotted to the DPW from the general fund. GENERAL FUND BUDGET 5 YEAR PERIOD 19,500,000.00 19,058,536.00 19,000,000.00 18,782,000.00 18,500,000.00 18,260,536.00 18,000,000.00 17,931,763.00 17,751,471.00 17,500,000.00 17,000,000.00 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 DPW will also receive $500,000 from the St. John Capital Improvement Fund to assist with our maintenance and capital improvement projects on the island of St. John; $300,000 from the Tourism Revolving Fund, to assist with carnival festivities territory-wide; $1,000,000 from the Anti- litter Fund to assist with roadside maintenance; and we anticipate receiving a combined total of $16,357,000 in federal funds from the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) and the Federal Transit Administration (FTA). The fiscal year 2020 general fund budget of $ 17,931,763 by prime accounts are as follows: Personnel services $ 6,291,753 Fringe benefits $ 2,876,896 Supplies $ 595,000 Other services & charges $ 7,518,114 Utilities $ 650,000 Department of Public Works Fiscal Year 2020 Budget