06-02-26 City Council Meeting Packet

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STAFF REPORT DATE: June 2nd 2026 CONSENT TO: Mayor and Councilmembers FROM: Adam Swanepoel – Assistant Public Works Director AGENDA ITEM: Public Works Lawn Mower Purchase CORE STRATEGIES: ☐ Vibrant, inclusive, connected community ☒ Responsive, transparent, adaptive governance☒ ☐ Managed Growth ☒ Efficient, reliable, innovative services ☐ Balanced Finances now and future ☐ Resilient Infrastructure BACKGROUND: The Public Works Department contracts out a majority of the City’s mowing operations. This ensures the maintenance and appearance of 47 sites encompassing more than 60 acres of lawn and green space and allows public works staff to focus on other maintenance tasks throughout the city. These areas include parks, public facilities, and other highly visible community properties that require regular upkeep throughout the growing season. In addition to the contracted services, Public Works staff is also responsible for mowing and maintaining city-owned trails, right-of-ways, and additional municipal properties throughout the community that are not included under the mowing contract. This ongoing work is essential to, maintaining accessibility, enhancing community aesthetics, and ensuring that city properties remain clean, functional, and welcoming for trail users and visitors. ISSUE BEFORE COUNCIL: Should the Council approve the purchase of a lawn mower for public works. PROPOSAL DETAILS/ANALYSIS: The Public Works Department currently operates two lawn mowers that are used annually to maintain city- owned properties. These mowers are primarily utilized for mowing city trails, drainage areas, outlots, and other municipal parcels that are not included in the City’s contracted mowing services. Maintaining these areas in- house provides the City with flexibility to address newly acquired properties, development-related parcels, and other locations that require upkeep and not expected to be on the contractors mowing schedule.