04-14-18 Special Meeting of the La Porte City Council - Budget Retreat

Browse Search

REQUEST FOR CITY COUNCIL AGENDA ITEM Budget Agenda Date Requested: April 14, 2018 Source of Funds: Requested By: Mayor Louis Rigby Account Number Department: Public Works Amount Budgeted: Report: ___ Resolution: _____ Ordinance: _________ Amount Requested: Exhibit: Aerial Photo of PW Budgeted Item: YES NO SUMMARY & RECOMMENDATION This item has been placed on the agenda at the request of Mayor Louis Rigby. The current Public Works Facility was constructed in 1981. The main building footprint is 17,500 square feet. The main building houses office space, warehouse, mechanic shop bays, service bays for Solid Waste, Streets, Drainage, Traffic, and Utilities. A wash bay for vehicles is on the east end of the building. Utilization of current space is distributed for Administrative Staff, the 4 Service Divisions and Equipment Services. In recent years, the positions of City Engineer, Engineering Technician, CIP Project Manager and Public Improvement Inspector have been moved to Public Works. A portion of the original training room and a meeting room were remodeled to accommodate needed office space. Currently employee meetings are being held at the Fire Training Facility. Currently, there is one shower at Public Works for over 95 field personnel. Downstairs office space is approximately 1475 square feet. Upstairs office space is approximately 1150 square feet. A breakdown of staffing is below. Public Works Main Offices Breakdown & Staffing: Administration Engineering CIP / Divisional Water Warehouse / Inspections Superintendents Production Parts Manager 5 4 4 4 2 Public Works Service Bays Breakdown & Staffing: Equipment Water Distribution / Wastewater Streets Drainage Solid Waste Services Collection Traffic 9 19 25 20 New Public Works Facility Witequipment s repairs. The current equipment services shop is limited in the amount of bay space for the repair of the large trucks and equipment in the Solid Waste, Streets and Utilities Divisions. Frequently equipment is repaired outdoors and delays occur due to weather. The current office space has become over crowded with the addition of the Engineering Division to Public Works. A new public works facility would allow provide for areas where space is currently limited or non-existent. A new public works facility would need to be hurricane wind rated to allow for Public Works personnel to stay onsite during an emergency and be readily available to respond immediately to any request for service.