Public Works presents 2024 annual report, stresses staffing, preventive maintenance and capital planning

Public Works staff presented the department's 2024 annual report to the Leavenworth City Council on March 25, outlining staffing changes, strategic goals for 2025 and a set of capital and operational priorities.

The report, delivered by Public Works staff (identified in the presentation as Andy and members of the leadership team), summarized that the department has about 29'30 employees organized into five divisions'utilities, parts, facilities, wastewater and water'plus administrative functions. Staff said 2024 saw "a lot of turnover," and that several seasonal positions were vacated midseason, creating operational challenges and prompting a staffing timeline and cross-training emphasis for 2025.

Why it matters: The department framed 2025 goals around preserving institutional knowledge, improving workplace culture and completing policy and process work so routine maintenance and emergency response are less reactive and more predictable.

The report identified three headline goals for 2025: extract institutional knowledge and better organize asset and records data; enhance workplace culture with bilingual communications, safety check-in/check-out procedures and schedule flexibility; and complete policy/process work around capital planning and preventive maintenance. Specific initiatives described included standardizing materials across divisions, advancing standard operating procedures, continuing a catch-basin cleaning program, and restoring the FOG (fats, oils and grease) inspections program in wastewater once staffing allowed.

Public Works staff told council the wastewater division had fallen behind on regular FOG inspections because the division had only two operators for a time; they said the department hired a third operator, Jamie Hyde, and expected to resume the FOG program after the new hire started in April. Staff also flagged cybersecurity as an emerging priority for water and wastewater systems because of network-connected devices.

The report included results of an employee engagement survey conducted with department staff. Staff said the survey was administered during a department meeting and that participation covered "about 85% of total" staff present at that meeting; responses highlighted workload concerns, requests for additional staffing, interest in a new Public Works campus and a desire for more cross-training and role rotation.

On safety and claims, staff said the department has a low number of L&I (Labor & Industries) claims, "one or two a year at best," and a claims count of about 13 over the last three years (claims that can range from street- and vehicle-related incidents to slip-and-fall). Public Works said it operates a monthly safety committee with representation from every division and conducts toolbox talks and incident follow-ups to identify mitigation steps.

Staff closed by reviewing 2024 capital and metric highlights and offering to bring greater detail on any item councilmembers wanted to explore.

Councilmembers asked about cybersecurity vulnerabilities, the postponed FOG inspections, safety procedures for remote staff and the department's ability to sustain preventative programs given turnover. Staff said progress would depend on completing the planned hires and following the department's cross-training and scheduling changes.

The council did not take formal action on the report; staff said several items would return for ordinance, budget or project-specific authorizations where required.