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DPW director outlines labor reallocation, staffing needs and spring stormwater measures
Summary
DPW director Mike described a new approach to tracking labor by function, two planned hires for snow season, rising salt costs, and a spring stormwater mitigation project for Ne Park that will install two retention structures and a drainage tie-in.
Mike, speaking for the Department of Public Works, reviewed operational adjustments for 2026: the department will apportion labor costs across specific budgets (streets, snow removal, refuse) to improve tracking and budgeting; the change stems from a new time-allocation spreadsheet by employee and task. He said DPW is close to full staffing but still needs two hires — a heavy equipment operator for sewer and another motor equipment operator — and that two new shift patterns for snow plowing will improve coverage.
On materials, Mike said salt costs have increased and the city has budgeted accordingly. He also credited a centralized vehicle-service arrangement (DPW shop) with reducing equipment repair costs citywide.
Capital and stormwater: DPW described a Ne Park spring mitigation project that will install two structures — one at the low point and an upstream structure tied via a drainage pipe — to temporarily hold and infiltrate water while longer-term river-connection work is planned. Staff said the approach resolves near-term flooding risks without the expense of building a full conveyance to the river immediately.
Council thanked the DPW and emphasized the importance of maintaining the new storm structures. Staff indicated these capital projects will be tracked as individual capital items and prioritized in the budget process.
