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Parks staff seek two maintenance hires, outline projects and equipment purchases
Summary
Parks staff told the Parks and Recreation Board they are requesting two additional maintenance positions to address a backlog of upkeep across 26 parks and about 400 acres. Staff also updated the board on several capital projects, an RFQ/RFP schedule, and recent equipment buys.
At the October 2024 Parks and Recreation Board meeting, staff outlined staffing requests, capital schedules and recent equipment purchases.
Aaron Milner, planning and development manager, said the proposed budget includes two new full‑time maintenance worker positions to bring staffing closer to operational needs. “We were advocating for two new maintenance worker positions… we’re really far behind and we struggle to maintain what we have,” Milner said, noting the department manages roughly 400 acres and 26 parks.
The nut graf: Staff said the two maintenance hires would fund core operations rather than new projects; several positions added earlier with ARPA funding are being planned for transition into the general fund in the next biennium and will need council approval during regular budget cycles.
Staff confirmed two city positions were initially funded with ARPA dollars and that staff plan to transition those roles to general‑fund support in a future biennium. Board members asked how sustained positions would be funded; staff replied that positions must be advocated for in each budget cycle.
Capital projects status and timelines provided by staff: - Playground project: survey and critical‑area contracting to start; design revisions to follow and construction scheduling to depend on those studies. - Madraso Park: 90% design complete; staff said construction is on track for the second quarter of 2025. Staff also said the city will recontact a family previously engaged in the project before construction begins. - Former Wayne Golf Course (Blythe/Front 9): bridge repairs and demolition work are being bid; bridge repairs on the Front 9 are planned for spring 2025. An RFQ for a master plan consultant is expected to be advertised in November; staff clarified the RFQ scope and critical‑area language were revised to include a 4‑acre parcel while excluding active salmon restoration areas from the RFQ scope. - Field bridge/demo: hazardous materials and historic property reports completed; demo to be put out to bid.
Staff also described recently purchased equipment intended to improve capacity: a Ford F‑550 truck for towing, a passenger van to replace an older recreation van, and a stand‑behind leaf blower for field clean‑up. Parks staff said smaller equipment purchases and asset‑replacement planning are handled through the operations budget.
Other items: staff is drafting an RFP for an organization to produce a seasonal night market on Main Street (Memorial Day through Labor Day, weekly), and staff asked board members to help publicize the Park at Bothell Landing open house.
Next steps: council will consider budget and position requests in the regular budget process; staff will advertise RFQs/RFPs as scheduled and return to the board with updates on the playground, Madraso Park and former golf course master plan.
