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Parks staff asks for full-time maintenance position as workload rises
Summary
Staff told the board that parks staff are stretched thin after taking on additional mowing and maintenance responsibilities, and said they will request a new full-time maintenance position in the city’s upcoming budget process to help handle winter tasks, mowing, and upkeep of newly acquired facilities.
Parks staff told the board on Oct. 21 that the department is understaffed and requested that the board support a request for one additional full-time maintenance position in the 2026 budget. Staff said current crews are “running ragged,” working extra weekends to keep up with increased mowing and maintenance responsibilities after taking on facilities such as the pickleball courts, Lions Park and a new Hallmark facility.
Staff said some proprietary funds (transportation, water) are restricted and cannot be used to cover general-fund maintenance, so the department will make its case during the city’s budget prioritization meetings. Staff noted seasonal workloads — winterization and tree trimming — require sustained crew time and that hiring would improve service continuity for spring reopening and summer programming.
Board members and staff discussed limited overtime funding and the department’s reliance on seasonal and part-time employees. No formal board decision on the budget request was recorded in the meeting transcript.
