Title
Resolution to Approve Adding 2.0 Full Time Employee Equivalents (FTE’s) to the Transportation Unit and Appropriate $87,500.00 to the FY2026 Major Streets Fund Budget (8 Votes Required)
Memorandum
The Transportation Unit is requesting approval of 2 additional FTEs and the appropriation of $87,500.00 in the FY26 budget. The existing scope of responsibilities for the Unit has grown beyond what the current staffing model was designed to support, creating risks to long-term service quality and operational reliability. The workload growth and operational demand have led to increases in overtime, reductions in transportation’s ability to optimally maintain infrastructure, diminished service capacity, and extended timelines to respond and complete work. Additionally, the Transportation Unit is now absorbing duties previously handled by Engineering and taking on tasks handled by outside contractors.
The Transportation Unit respectfully requests the addition of 2 FTEs within the current fiscal year for one (1) Signs & Signals Manager and one (1) Signs & Signals Supervisor. The urgent need for positions now is to be able to have the new staffing model in place to prepare for the 2026 construction season. The upcoming season is expected to be extremely busy with capital projects, council priorities, two concerts at Michigan Stadium, and the regular stream of events requiring road closures.
The Signs & Signals team currently has one Supervisor and thirteen Transportation Technicians (techs) with support from two Transportation Engineers that determine and communicate the signage, signal and streetlight needs for the entire city. Operationally, two of the techs currently function as unofficial leaders and take on increased responsibilities due to the workload - one focuses on Signs, and another on Signals. Adding two positions at the manager and supervisor level frees up two (2) Technician positions to focus on field work, aligns the current operational workload with the appropriate position level, and increases Transportation Engineers’ capacity to focus on development review, Council transportation goals, multi-modal transportation design, and project management.
Budget/Fiscal Impact: This resolution has an estimated impact on the Major Streets Fund budget of $87,500.00 for FY26. The annual estimated impact for future fiscal years is $350,000.00 Which is anticipated to be available with increased weight and gasoline tax revenue estimates and will be partially offset by the reduced need for outside consultants and bringing contracted duties in-house.
Staff
Prepared by: Malisa McCreedy, AICP, Transportation Manager
Reviewed by: Jordan Roberts, Public Services Area Administrator
Approved by: Milton Dohoney Jr., City Administrator
Body
Whereas, Significant annual increases in the infrastructure over the last 10 years have not included corresponding staffing level increases. The infrastructure is not static and is added to annually;
Whereas, Staff have not had the capacity to keep up with traffic signal analysis, development review and infrastructure asset management;
Whereas Expanded Manager and Supervisor capacity enables the transfer of appropriate functions from the Engineering Unit while bringing currently contracted, critical tasks in-house to strengthen service delivery and long-term sustainability;
Whereas, The requested staffing adjustments are the result of deliberate analysis. Over the past two months, the Transportation Manager has worked closely with Human Resources to evaluate workload trends, role alignment, supervisory capacity, and comparable staffing models. This proposed model reflects what is needed for the Transportation Unit to meet current demands, absorb new responsibilities previously handled by Engineering or external consultants, and position the Unit for success; and
Whereas, Adding one (1) Signs & Signals Manager and one (1) Signs & Signals Supervisor align staffing levels with the complexity and scale of the work being performed, reduces operational risk, improves employee retention, and allows the City to bring critical functions in-house more efficiently. This investment strengthens service reliability, supports Council priorities, and ensures the Transportation Unit can continue delivering safe, responsive, and effective transportation services for the community;
RESOLVED, That City Council authorizes the increase of 2.0 FTEs to the Transportation Unit to provide for the hiring of one (1) Signs & Signals Manager and one (1) Signs & Signals Supervisor;
RESOLVED, That City Council authorizes the increase of the City’s full-time equivalent positions by two (2), making the new total 867 full-time equivalent positions;
RESOLVED, That $87,500.00 be appropriated from the Major Streets Fund unobligated fund balance to the Major Streets Operations & Maintenance Budget thereby increasing the expenditure and revenue budgets; and
RESOLVED; That the City Administrator is authorized to take all appropriate actions to implement this resolution.