City centralizes fleet maintenance under new fleet manager; mechanics staffing remains a challenge
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Summary
City fleet maintenance was consolidated under a new fleet manager, John Wyankoff, who told the finance committee the move aims to standardize maintenance and improve uptime across roughly 600 vehicles and equipment; the fleet is short mechanics and expects personnel pressure through winter.
John Wyankoff, the city’s new fleet manager, told the finance committee on Oct. 16 that the city centralized fleet maintenance—bringing Park & Rec equipment and other departmental assets under a single management structure—to improve standards and uptime.
Wyankoff said the city maintains a broad fleet (from handheld equipment to construction vehicles) and that the consolidation followed a Park & Rec retirement and review of efficiencies. He said the combined fleet includes many assets and that the city’s mechanic staffing baseline must increase to meet maintenance needs: the department has been able to fill only three mechanic positions and expects another retirement that will make short-staffing acute.
Wyankoff said consolidating stockrooms and maintenance into a single operation will produce more consistent maintenance practices and better parts management; he acknowledged early “growing pains” while the new structure stabilizes and urged applicants for mechanic roles. Public Works leadership said staffing shortages present a short-term risk to uptime and seasonal readiness.