Streets and drainage ask for middle managers and a second concrete crew to move from reactive to proactive maintenance

Street and drainage staff said the department has become too reactive and asked council to fund middle-management positions and an additional concrete crew so the city can preserve pavement and sidewalks before they require costly reconstruction.

At the March 26 retreat, the street division manager said the department lacks field supervisors who can monitor quality and prioritize work. ‘‘If we were to go around the whole city and trim and look at every tree once a year, it would take 20 years,’’ he said, using vegetation and tree trimming as an example of large backlogs created by reactive operations.

Why it matters: Staff said investing in a modest layer of middle managers and two foremen will allow field crews to be dedicated to pavement patching, crack sealing and sidewalk upkeep, instead of being repeatedly diverted to emergency repairs. That work, they argued, will extend pavement life, reduce total lifecycle costs and avoid more expensive mill-and-overlay projects.

Requested items included a street construction manager, two additional foremen (signs/traffic and general maintenance), another concrete crew focused on sidewalks and right‑of‑way, and a dedicated sign coordinator. Staff said most of these roles are already identified in the six‑year plan but recommended accelerating the hiring timetable.

Council discussion touched on funding sources and sequencing. Staff said many items are already in the adopted plan and could be moved forward as council prioritizes capital and personnel spending.

No formal action was taken. Staff asked council to indicate whether to accelerate the positions into FY26.