Erik Gustafson, director of public works operations and maintenance, presented a new public works operation and maintenance plan at the City Council meeting Oct. 17. It addressed the staffing issue and reclassification of maintenance workers. The plan proposes adding 32 workers over time and temporary workers during the summer.
Impacts on sidewalks, roads and storm drains are increasing as Chico’s population continues to grow, Gustafson said. He said there are not enough maintenance workers to fix them and costs to make them operational could be exponential.
“Once we allow a road to fail, it costs 10 to 14 times more to bring that road up to an operational standard versus if we applied some preventative maintenance,” he said.
In a 4-3 vote, the City Council supported Gustafson’s recommendations. Council members Karl Ory, Ann Schwab and Randall Stone voted "no."
--Bianca Quilantan