NEWS RELEASE FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE November 7, 2001 City's Cleanliness Rating On the Rise Department of Public Works (DPW) Measures Its Performance The most recent Clean City Rating, measuring the District's level of cleanliness for the first nine months of fiscal year 2001 (from October 2000 through July 2001) shows a steady advance over the previous year and a marked decrease in areas considered dirty or hazardous. Most dramatic is the improvement found along the District's gateways, commercial and residential streets. In FY 2001, 96 percent of streets in residential areas, and 93 percent of high-visibility gateway streets were rated 1 (clean) or 2 (moderately clean) - a significant jump from the 63 percent clean rating each achieved in 2000. Residential alleys also improved, at a slower pace, from 63 percent in 2000 to 75 percent in 2001. Industrial areas and some alleys still present stubborn challenges to DPW's Street and Alley Cleaning crews. Clean City Ratings are conducted quarterly by citizen survey teams using a defined set of standards. Each of the four-person rating teams consists of a representative from the office of the Councilmember whose Ward is being assessed, two community representatives, and a participant from the Street and Alley Cleaning Division of DPW. The process consists of assessing the level of cleanliness - lack of litter, debris and overgrowth - observed within the Wards on a scale of 1 to 4, with 1 being the best rating.