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Council approves 20 engineering positions amid debate over contracts, staffing and project pace
Summary
The City Council authorized 20 additional positions in the Engineering Services department and equipment pay‑able from the capital program after extended debate about whether to hire permanent staff or expand contract crews to handle a growing capital program.
The City Council on Monday approved a mid‑year amendment to the Engineering Services staffing authorization, adding 20 position slots and equipment to the department’s operating complement and directing those costs to be charged against capital project budgets.
Jeff Edmonds, director of Engineering Services, told the council his group is managing roughly $600 million in awarded construction contracts and a steady pipeline of projects totaling roughly $1 billion in the adopted capital plan. Edmonds said award and payment volume has jumped in recent months and the department is running close to capacity.
“Our sales are up 60% over last year, and they’re predicted to continue at that rate of growth,” Edmonds said, using a business metaphor for the department’s workload. “We’ve made the sale, and we’ve got to deliver the goods on $600 million worth of construction.”
Why it matters: Council members heard a technical and…
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