City Council Briefing on Equipment Services Facility and Debt Financing - January 20, 2026

On January 20, 2026, the Greensboro City Council held a morning briefing to receive an update on the Equipment Services (fleet) facility project, including a request for additional debt financing of $8 million for environmental remediation at the 404 Patent Avenue site. The presentation, led by Deputy Finance Director Chris Payne and Finance Director Marlene Druga, covered the project's history, current facility constraints, remediation needs, and staffing challenges. Council members discussed the necessity of the project, the impact of remediation costs, and persistent issues with technician recruitment and retention.

Discussion Items

• Project Background and Need: Chris Payne presented findings from a 2015 fleet study, noting that the current facility is at 100% bay utilization, has undersized offices, and lacks adequate parking and parts storage. The new facility at 404 Patent Avenue will add 9 service bays (35 to 44), a centralized parts location, modernized equipment, and a loading dock. The project will also consolidate procurement services into the new facility, freeing up space at the existing site for other departments.
• Remediation and Financing: Marlene Druga explained that $30 million in bonds were issued in August 2024 for the project, but site work halted in November 2024 after environmental assessments discovered contamination requiring a soil management plan. An additional $8 million is needed for remediation, and a vote on that financing was scheduled for the evening meeting. Druga noted that the bond covenants require the funds to be used for the garage construction, and IRS tax-exempt status imposes a three-year completion window.
• Project Timeline: Remediation is expected to begin in spring 2026 and take until late summer, with construction starting in fall 2026 and completion in early calendar year 2028.
• Staffing Challenges: Council members raised concerns about chronic technician vacancies, which have slowed vehicle service and upfitting (e.g., police cars). Chris Payne reported that 12 positions have been vacant for several months, and the department is outsourcing some work. The city competes with the private sector and other city departments for heavy-duty technicians. Council members suggested that salary increases, similar to those used to address police staffing shortages, might be necessary. They also asked for a comparison of total costs (in-house vs. outsourced) and a review of salary competitiveness.
• Service Efficiency: In response to questions, Payne stated that the new facility will allow for more technicians and improved efficiency, but current service delays are largely due to vacancies. The city recently shifted to four 10-hour weekday shifts to attract applicants.

Key Outcomes

• No votes were taken during the briefing; the council was expected to vote on the $8 million additional debt financing at the evening meeting.
• Staff was directed to provide additional information on technician salary ranges, total operational costs at full complement, and a comparison of in-house vs. outsourced service costs for upcoming budget discussions.
• The council expressed support for the project but emphasized the need to address staffing issues promptly, noting that the new facility alone will not solve service delays without adequate skilled personnel.