Resident urges council to outsource property mowing to free up street crews

Tom Watts, who identified himself as living at 3313 Outdoor Road, addressed the Committee of the Whole on July 10 during public comment to urge the council to consider outsourcing mowing and landscaping tasks now performed by the street department.

Watts said many residential properties are not being mowed and that the street department is being used to mow private properties and 14 city parks, which he said ties up staff who should be addressing street maintenance. He argued the city already outsources tasks such as street striping and cemetery care and suggested the city consider contracting out more landscaping work to free street crews for maintenance tasks.

Why it matters: The comment raises operational and cost‑allocation questions about using in‑house crews for landscaping and park mowing versus contracting those services. Council did not make a policy decision at the committee meeting, but Watts asked the body to consider the option.

No formal staff response or action was recorded beyond discussion and the public comment record.