Minutes - Council Work Session - 07/11/2023

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City Engineer/Public Works Director Westby explained that it is difficult to find qualified workers who actually want to work. He noted that they have been able to find some good workers recently even with a lower number of initial applicants. Councilmember Musgrove asked if all three of the streets workers’ salaries would be the same. She asked about the request for a signs workers and if that worker would be the only one in this area or if it would be in addition to the worker that is already there. City Engineer/Public Works Director Westby explained that the new signs worker will replace the worker who is currently there. He shared that the starting wages would all be the same for the new workers. He noted that if there is a better candidate who could be started at a higher rate they may be able to offer this person more. Councilmember Specht asked why there is now a request for three new streets workers. City Engineer/Public Works Director Westby explained that this request is due to the condition of the roads. He shared that there are many social media posts of residents complaining about their streets not being swept, which is due to the low staffing. He added that there are also sight distance concerns and trees becoming overgrown which are things that they have not had the capacity to get to in years. He stated that they have already been falling behind with these duties and now with the need for pothole patching these other items are not getting done. He noted that with a few more bodies they would also be able to get these other items finished. Councilmember Specht shared that in the past they have discussed more maintenance workers. He asked if this would be strictly a parks workers. City Engineer/Public Works Director Westby explained that there are maintenance workers for all different departments. He noted that sometimes the different departments do help each other out when there is a need. Councilmember Specht asked if the new parks maintenance workers would be hired to help keep up with things that they have not been able to keep up with in the past. Parks and Assistant Public Works Director Riverblood explained that they have developed a ten year maintenance worker forecast, and in the forecast they are showing a minimum of a two maintenance worker deficit. He stated that as the City’s population grows, there is more and more work for these maintenance workers. Councilmember Riley stated that they have added one street maintenance worker in the last five years. Councilmember Musgrove noted that she read through the description of the job for the parks maintenance worker and it stated that part of the job is to keep up with the demands of residents and athletic organizations. She asked if these services are charged for or if they are just done as a service to these organizations. City Council Work Session / July 11, 2023 Page 3 of 8