Fiscal Note
General Obligation Debt |
$101,000 |
Other Funding |
$0 |
Total: |
$101,000 |
Levy Impact: |
$13,080 |
Title
CAPITAL BUDGET AMENDMENT # 9 - Streets / Additional Equipment (New), p. 114
Body
The Operating Budget as amended adds 1 Lead Worker and 3 Street Machine Operator 2s to the Streets Division effective September 1, 2011. Tasks will include clearing prioritized bus stops after all snowfalls. High priority stops (to be determined) would be cleared within 3 days (not 5-6 days as noted in the operating amendment) and all stops cleared within 7-10 days except following major snows greater than 8" or back-to-back snowfalls. Crews will be responsible for maintaining bus stops at all times except for major snow events when plowing of all City streets is required. Crews will remain assigned to bus stop clearing even during salt spreading snow events (snows of less than 3"). During the rest of the year the crews will be assigned to duties such as stump removal, curb repair, more consistent maintenance of City bike paths, additional brush or leaf collection capacity in the fall, and more. There is a stump removal backlog and with the impending Emerald Ash Borer invasion, Streets will need additional capacity to deal with the City's ash trees. This Capital Budget amendment of $101,000 is needed to fund 2 additional "Tool Cats" for use in the bus stop clearing as well as the other tasks. Tool Cats are better for leaf collection than most of the equipment used today.
Note: The intent of the language above is to clarify the goals of the new program. The operating budget amendment as proposed included funding for 8 new workers, who would clear high priority stops in 3 days and all stops within 5 days. The operating amendment as adopted contained funding for only 4 additional workers, which requires an adjustment of the program goals to account for the reduced level of resources. High priority stops will be defined more narrowly than originally proposed, but this reduced number of high priority stops is still to be cleared within 3 days. All stops are to be cleared within 7-10 days. The intent and goals language contained in this capital amendment supersedes and replaces the intent and goals language contained in the operating amendment.