MANAGING FACILITIES AND GROUNDS IS AN ORGANIZED TEAM EFFORT

KEITH PUGH, PE, PWLF, APWA PRESIDENT

The management of facilities and grounds is the result of an organized team effort implementing best management practices. These practices ensure accessibility, proper management procedures, safe environments, and project management.

Public works professionals who maintain buildings, grounds and parks have a legal responsibility to ensure accessibility for all members of the public to their properties. The Americans with Disabilities Act, Accessible Canada Act, state, provincial and municipal laws require public buildings, grounds and parks to be accessible to everyone. Compliance with these laws must be part of the design process for new and renovated properties. Furthermore, compliance with accessibility laws must be part of the daily maintenance operations of these properties. Guaranteeing public accessibility to public buildings and parks is mandatory and the right thing to do. Managing municipal buildings, grounds and parks requires adherence to the best management practices. The implementation of sound asset management practices is critical. Many of the same asset management practices used in the rest of public works are applicable to maintaining buildings and grounds. These practices include knowing what you have in your inventory, developing and implementing preventive and reactive maintenance scheduling, implementing workflow management, and keeping track of the work that is completed. Furthermore, it is critical to know the lifecycles of the components that make up your facilities, grounds and parks. Well-maintained properties are never by luck but through teamwork and sound management practices.

Customers want the buildings, grounds and parks in their communities to be clean and maintained in an environmentally responsible manner. The implementation of sound custodial practices is a critical part of guaranteeing satisfaction by the public. Practicing environmentally responsible practices such as using green cleaning products keep properties clean and operational while meeting the sustainability expectations of a community. Also, the public expects the maintenance of grounds and parks to be completed utilizing sustainable methods. An example would be implementing turf management plans that include fertilization schedules based on soil testing which reduces overfertilization. The clean appearance and sustainability of public properties is essential to the community.

An exciting aspect of managing buildings, grounds and parks is the construction and/or renovation of new and existing properties. However, just like building new streets and sewer systems, it requires project management. This means the involvement of stakeholders to ensure that the project will deliver a product that meets their expectations: developing a budget and timeline, and then keeping to them; overseeing the work that is being completed to ensure that it is done according to plan; and working with stakeholders, designer, and the builder to work through problems and develop agreeable solutions. Projects are always a fun challenge, but they must be managed properly.

Managing facilities and grounds is complex. A resource for our APWA membership is the Facilities & Grounds Technical Committee. This committee is focused on developing educational opportunities focused on the management of buildings, grounds, and parks. Furthermore, this is the second year that the committee has been providing the Facilities & Grounds Manager Certificate. This program provides a great overview about the issues related to managing facilities and grounds. It is ideal for public works professionals who are new to managing facilities and grounds or who have only been exposed to some aspects of it.