The mission of Grounds Department is to provide a safe, aesthetically appealing learning environment in a sustainable manner.
The Grounds Department consists of 6 grounds technicians and the supporting tools and equipment to maintain the grounds of the District.
The following are Administrative Unit Outcomes for the Grounds Department:
The following strategies supports our Future Development Strategies in the unit plan:
The Grounds Department supports the college in meeting its student achievement standards by maintaining a safe, positive, and appealing environment that supports student and staff success. While we are not directly involved with students earning degrees and certificates, we provide support indirect by fostering an environment conducive to student learning and achievement. The Grounds Department provide maintenance of the grounds for the entire campus community including athletic and approved special events.
The Grounds Department supports the Strategic Direction and Priorities by ensuring grounds are clean, sanitary and safe for faculty, staff and students. Specifically, the Gounds Department supports student success by enhancing a culture of completion and academic achievement (Initiative 1) and supporting student, faculty and staff success (Initiative 2). This is done by providing a safe, clean environment for the campus community.
In addition, the Grounds Department educates the campus community about the sustainable cleaning products we use and we inform the campus about our recycling efforts during Earth Day. This supports Strategic Initiative 5.
The unit plan serves as the Program Review for this area.
The following are goals from the previous unit plan and the current status:
Provide a safe, aesthetically appealing learning environment in a sustainable manner. In order the achieve this goal, the department has developed the following strategies:
Establish new grounds technician position.
Provide technician training to increase skill levels, productivity, efficiency and safety.
Optimize workforce assignments and schedules for efficiency and productivity.
Make use of vendors, consultants, volunteers, and other low or no-cost sources of assistance.
Establish preventive maintenance program for equipment.
Establish pavement maintenance program.
Continue to upgrade irrigation equipment for greater efficiency and renovate landscape areas to minimize water usage and labor effort.
Include water metering when possible.
Review and propose turf areas for elimination.
Develop a tree maintenance and replacement program using native trees.
Remove trees as they die from the drought.
Strategy 1 - Workload Analysis
Optimize workforce assignments and schedules for efficiency and productivity.
Season and workforce changes often require shifting of employees assignments to achieve optimum efficiency.
Strategy 2 - Outside Resources
Make use of vendors, consultants, volunteers, and other low or no-cost sources of assistance.
Many outside entities are capable and willing to provide services to the District at low or no cost, thus maximizing the departmental budget.
Strategy 3 - Equipment Preventive Maintenance Program
Establish preventive maintenance program for grounds equipment.
Preventive maintenance is more cost effective than corrective maintenance. Preventive maintenance extends the life of the equipment.
Strategy 4 - Equipment Replacement
Continue equipment replacement program.
All equipment has a finite life and will eventually need to be replaced. Proactive planning for this replacement will allow better decision making and an orderly process. Current replacement value of equipment is approximately $200K with the average expected life is 12 years.
Strategy 5 - Training
Provide technician training to increase skill levels, productivity, efficiency and safety. Document and report on training.
Grounds activities are increasingly more complex, requiring higher levels of training for technicians. Documentation and reporting allows systematic scheduling of the needed training.
Strategy 6 - Vehicle Replacement
Continue vehicle replacement program. Evaluate usage of electric vehicles for on-campus maintenance needs.
For intercampus usage, electric vehicles provide a safer, less intrusive and more sustainable means of transportation for grounds maintenance activities. Current replacement value of vehicle fleet is $60K with the average expected life of 6 years.
Strategy 7 - Safety and Aesthetics
Provide a safe and aesthetically appealing learning and teaching physical environment for the campus.
The District grounds are vital in providing a safe aesthetically pleasing environment for teaching and learning.
Strategy 8 - Tree Removal and Maintenance Program
Continue with the tree maintenance program and develop a tree removal and replacement program using native trees.
A comprehensive tree replacement program is needed to ensure the safety of the campus users, reduce water consumption and maintain maximum solar production capability. A campus wide tree removal and replacment program is being analyzed to figure cost over a 5 year period.
Strategy 9 - Water Conservation
Continue to upgrade District-wide irrigation systems and renovate District landscape to minimize water usage and labor effort.
A more efficient irrigation system reduces water usage contributing to the overall sustainability of the District. Renovation District landscape with native plant material and no/low water tolerant plants reduce water usage contributing to the overall sustainability of the District. These systems also increase the efficiency of the workforce.
Strategy 10 - Continue to Analyze Water Usage
Continue to analyze water usage data and install water meters as the opportunities arise.
Continue analysis of water usage will allow informed decision making regarding budgeting and water system repair and maintenance.
Strategy 11 - Inspections
Develop and implement an inspection and measurement program for Grounds Maintenance.
This program will give us data to inform decision making regarding allocation of the District's resources.
Strategy 12 - Student Employment/Internship
Employ and train students and promote internships whenever possible.
Research has shown that students who are employed on campus have a much higher rate of success in their academic careers.
Strategy 13 - Asphalt Preventive Maintenance Program
Assist with the implementation of the asphalt preventive maintenance program.
There is a large amount of paving on the campuses. This pavement is subject to wear and needs maitenance and eventual replacement. This program will extend the life of the pavement and forecast funding needs.
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| Original Priority | Program, Unit, Area | Resource Type | Account Number | Object Code | One Time Augment | Ongoing Augment |
| Description | Supporting Rationale | Potential Alternative Funding Sources | Prioritization Criteria | |||
| 1 | Grounds Maintenance | Operating Expenses | 110002101655000 | 56100 | $0.00 | $5,000.00 |
| Tree Maintenance Program | To help manage the District's risk from unforeseen tree hazards, these funds will be used to address issues as they occur. |
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| 2 | Grounds Maintenance | Equipment | 110002101655000 | 54500 | $8,200.00 | $0.00 |
| Purchase Towable Street Blower | The purchase a towable street blower to maintain roadways, parking lots, skid pan and EVOC track will provide the District grounds a safe aesthetically pleasing environment for teaching and learning. |
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| 3 | Grounds Maintenance | Personnel | 110002101655000 | 52130 | $0.00 | $56,318.00 |
| Add one Grounds Technican | Due to the increased regulatory requirements, additional requests for striping of the Athletic fields, and increased landscape maintenance at the off campus centers, additional Grounds staff is required. Additionally, due to the drought the requirement to reduced landscape has resulted in additional workload for the Grounds staff. |
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| 4 | Grounds Maintenance | Equipment | 110002101655000 | 56610 | $14,000.00 | $0.00 |
| Purchase an Electric Vehicle | Purchase an electric vehicle for additional staff. |
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| 5 | Grounds Maintenance | Personnel | 110002101655000 | 52368 | $0.00 | $12,831.00 |
| Hire One Student Assistant | Much research has shown that students who are employed on campus have a much higher rate of success in their academic careers. Other sources of assistance can provide a large benefit to the District at low or no-cost. Cost for one student assistant is $13,485K. |
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| 6 | Grounds Maintenance | Operating Expenses | 110002101655000 | 55200 | $0.00 | $1,000.00 |
| Training | Grounds activities are increasingly more complex, requiring higher levels of training for technicians including the new storm water prevention plan program. No-cost training is available but doesn't fulfill all of the requirements. |
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