The Milwaukee County Personnel Committee approved three separate reallocation items from the Parks Department intended to make landscape‑architecture positions more competitive in the regional labor market.

Sarah Thompson, director of planning for Milwaukee County Parks, told the committee the department has struggled to recruit and fill landscape architect roles and faces competition from other public park systems and the private sector. “We have had issues with recruiting and filling our landscape architect positions,” Thompson said, and asked the committee to approve adjustments to help recruit and retain staff.

The three items covered separate classifications and current incumbents: a Landscape Architect 3 (LA‑3) reallocation (item 2), a Landscape Architect 1 (LA‑1) reallocation (item 3) intended for a more junior, not‑yet‑licensed practitioner, and a related LA‑3 action (item 4) addressing current employees in those roles. Tony Mays of HR and the county budget office reviewed the items prior to the hearing, and the fiscal notes indicate the changes were to be absorbed within the Parks Department budget.

Supervisor Wasserman made the motions to approve each item. The committee voted 4–0 on each motion; the roll calls were recorded as Aye from Supervisors Johnson Junior, Wasserman, Martin and the Chairwoman. No no‑votes were recorded.

Votes at a glance

- Item 2 (LA‑3 reallocation): Motion by Supervisor Wasserman; second not specified in transcript; vote 4–0; outcome: approved.
- Item 3 (LA‑1 reallocation): Motion by Supervisor Wasserman; second not specified in transcript; vote 4–0; outcome: approved.
- Item 4 (LA‑3, employee‑directed adjustments): Motion by Supervisor Wasserman; second not specified in transcript; vote 4–0; outcome: approved.

Ending

The committee moved on without further questions after the three votes; the meeting record shows the actions were recommended for adoption and the committee adjourned.