ACTION REQUESTED:
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Communication from the City Manager and Director of Public Works with a Request for the Following:
A. APPROVE the Addition of 10 FULL-TIME MAINTENANCE WORKERS, that will Increase the City’s Full-Time Maintenance Worker Staff from 31 Employees to 41 Employees, will Reduce the City’s Temporary Maintenance Worker Staff from 15 Employees to 5 Employees During the Summer, and will Reduce the City’s Temporary Maintenance Worker Staff from 22 Employees to 12 Employees during the Winter; and,
B. ADOPT an ORDINANCE Amending the City of Peoria 2022 and 2023 REVISED ANNUAL BUDGET Relating to the Use of General Fund Balance and Storm Water Utility Fund Balance for the Additional Staff in the Public Works Department, in the Amount of $250,000.00 $125,000 in 2022 and $450,000.00 $50,000 in 2023.
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BACKGROUND: As a trending challenge across all hiring, recruiting additional temporary maintenance workers has proven to be difficult during the current labor market conditions. Additionally, the vast majority of our existing temporary labor workforce will attain 1,000 hours before the end of the year. Reaching 1,000 hours requires the employee to be IMRF eligible and contribute 100% of the required amount. This requirement will cause some of the temporary workforce to terminate employment due to the lower rate of pay after reaching 1,000 hours, and at varying times due to the rolling start dates for individual employees, which could cause serious disruptions in winter operations. However, the additional full-time staff will also provide resources for the long overdue Annual Crack Seal Program to be fully reinstated during warmer weather months, which is the first line of defense against further road surface deterioration and potholes. To date in 2022, over 18,000 potholes have been patched, and over 1,500 calls were received in relation to the 2021/2022 snow and ice events on City roads. In addition to the preventative measures of crack sealing, the Annual Winter Maintenance Program will return to 21 snow routes starting with the 2022/2023 season. Further, with the additional full-time staff, the need for hiring outside contractors during large snow events will also be reduced. Finally, more work can be added to the overall annual maintenance work plan in other areas such as sewer, ditch, culvert, alleys, and forestry maintenance.
FINANCIAL IMPACT: The addition of the full-time staff positions will add an additional $250,000 $125,000 to the 2022 budget and $450,000 $50,000 to the 2023 budget.
NEIGHBORHOOD CONCERNS: Service levels on infrastructure have been diminished in recent years due to the budgetary impacts of COVID on the economy and the City budget leaving roadways/infrastructure in disrepair.
IMPACT IF APPROVED: The additional staff will enhance infrastructure conditions and will also provide greater efficiencies for snow removal, especially in residential neighborhoods.
IMPACT IF DENIED: Additional temporary staff will need to be hired and trained due to the 1,000 limitation causing terminations/voluntary departures needed to return to the 21 routes for the Annual Winter Maintenance Program. Crack sealing will only be performed as time allows, which will result in less desirable driving conditions on City roads. Contracted labor will be required for large snow events to complete the residential neighborhood snow removal. The snow routes would remain at 17 and the increased time of coverage for each route.
ALTERNATIVES: Outside contractors would need to be hired to contract for crack sealing of the City roads and snow fighting in the residential neighborhoods at a higher cost.
EEO CERTIFICATION NUMBER: N/A
WHICH OF THE GOALS IDENTIFIED IN THE COUNCIL’S 2017 - 2032 STRATEGIC PLAN DOES THIS RECOMMENDATION ADVANCE?
1. Safe Peoria
2. Beautiful Peoria
3. Financially Sound City Government
WHICH CRITICAL SUCCESS FACTOR(S) FROM THE COMPREHENSIVE PLAN DOES THIS RECOMMENDATION IMPLEMENT?
1. Invest in our infrastructure and transportation.
2. Reinvest in neighborhoods.
3. Have an efficient government.
DEPARTMENT: Public Works