Memo - Public Works Pre- Budget Discussion 2006
Public Works Department
Memorandum
To: Honorable Mayor and Members of the City Council
Copy:
Rick Getschow, City Manager
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From:
Steven J. Stadler, Public Works Director
Date:
June 23, 2005
Subject:
2006 Public Works Pre-budget Discussion
PW ReorQanization update:
In April 2005 City Council approved a reorganization of Public Works, It is already
apparent that the reorganization is meeting one of the primary goals: a more efficient,
coordinated and mutually supportive Parks & Streets workforce, The Superintendent -
Foreman structure is working very well. I believe most, if not all, employees view the
reorganization as a positive change for the department.
Siqnificant 2006 budqet requests:
I would like to re-establish one of the three positions lost due to the 2003 loss of State
Aid revenue and associated city personnel cutbacks. The reasons are as follows:
. Increasing workload
o Outsourcing of pavement marking has not been successful and this
$30,000 contract cost is being eliminated from the budget
o Need to start doing storm sewer catch basin repairs again
· Can't meet winter sidewalk maintenance needs with just three employees
· Loss of y.. of one position (one week/month) due to continuing need to train an
employee in water/sewer system
This annual cost of a MW II position step 1 - 5 is $47,000 - $58,000,
I request to add one full-time position in the Utility Division, Currently, the Division has
a superintendent, three MW Ills and one foreman. In 2003, the meter reader position
was cut. The workload in this division has grown with the NPDES, Phase II
regulations requiring that all storm water quality structures be cleaned each year.
Besides this new tasking, it is impossible to keep a two-person maintenance crew on
task due to station check duties, meter reading, project-related support required
throughout the summer, vacations and sick leave, Besides not being staffed to
consistently perform basic maintenance duties, it is imperative that we begin training a
new person in our unique water and sewer systems, as three of the four employees in
the division will be eligible to retire within five years, The annual cost of this new
position would be $62,000/year, including benefits when the employee is fully trained,
qualified and licensed (MW III wage rate),
Other significant proposed 2006 pW budget requests include:
· Building/Equipment Maintenance
o $7,000 for a fire alarm central reporting system, Currently, the city pays
$300/year/building x 5 buildings for an alarm service to receive our fire
alarms and report them to Police Dispatch, This new system would
provide the alarm directly to Police Dispatch, eliminating the contract
service,
o $3,500 - new tire changer
o $3,000 - City Hall gas boiler controls upgrade
o $5,000 Hopkins Center for the Arts energy management system
. Streets/Parks
o $20,000 - Upgrade older downtown planted areas
o $4,000 - new ballfield drag
o $60,000 - eleven seasonal workers
. Utility Division
o $22,500 - Begin upgrade program for Trace radio-read meters
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