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Parks maintenance ramps up hedge restoration and lifeguard pay adjusted to aid recruitment
Summary
Maintenance crews are trimming decades-old hedges and repairing irrigation ahead of pool season; staff reported lifeguard pay and recruitment changes supported by HR and the city manager to address staffing shortages.
Staff told the board of stepped-up maintenance activity and personnel adjustments to support summer operations.
Speaker 3 said crews are trimming overgrown hedges (some neglected 30–50 years) to remove dead material and re-establish plant health; the work will leave some bare areas temporarily as plants recover. "You're gonna see some bare areas and choosing the right plants to go back in it," Speaker 3 said, explaining crews will bring plant heights down to approximately 8 feet then manage at 9–10 feet.
Staff also reported pool readiness work — irrigation repairs and pre-season checks — and said the outdoor pool is expected to open the next weekend. On staffing, Speaker 1 said HR and the city manager supported adjustments to aquatic-staff pay and changes to lifeguard-class delivery to improve recruitment; staff aim to incorporate pay changes into next year's budget if successful. "We still pay the lifeguards almost $20 an hour," Speaker 1 said, noting pay was below surrounding cities and recruitment had suffered.
Board members raised questions about Maybrook (a closed roadway area) and vagrant encampments; staff noted easement and ownership complexity involving TxDOT and the city, which complicates near-term trail or reopening options.
Next steps: maintenance crews will continue trimming and irrigation repairs; staff will monitor pool readiness and lifeguard recruitment and report outcomes to the board. No formal action was recorded.
