Parks operations report: snow removal, storage crunch and golf equipment management

Operations staff told the advisory board they have been busy with winter operations, including multiple snow‑removal callouts since Thanksgiving and ongoing facility checks because of cold temperatures. "We've been removing snow from everywhere ... we've been 5 times, 3 Saturdays to, Monday and a Friday at 5 in the morning to come in and and remove snow," operations staff said.

Staff also described a storage constraint after the sale of an operations building at Marquette, noting the Vander Veer house and the 29th Street shop are being 'spring cleaned' to free up space for equipment and supplies. The department said it is prioritizing central locations to reduce travel time for crews and to limit 'windshield time.'

Troy Evans, senior golf manager, described equipment staging and storage practices: about a third of golf equipment is moved to EMICE for winter storage, and golf maintenance staff are engaged in equipment replacement planning, painting tee markers and prepping tools during the slow season. He noted remote storage sites are problematic due to flood risk and distance.

Staff said these operational constraints inform planning for CIP requests and storage space improvement needs.

Next step: operations will continue to reorganize storage, maintain facilities through winter checks, and align equipment/storage needs with CIP planning.