The Public Works Department manages contracts for landscape beautification services covering 315 acres of various Rights-of-Ways throughout the City. The scope of these contracts includes, finish mowing, edging (sidewalks, curb lines, etc.), line trimming (around railing, posts, fence lines, retaining walls, etc.), hardscape weed abatement, and plant bed maintenance, 44 cycles annually. Also included is mulching, fertilizer, pre/post emergent and ant bait applications twice annually, with litter pickup 52 times annually.

The four (4) contracts managed for these services are: State Highway 6, US90A, US59, and Area D (Eldridge Rd., Dulles Ave., Burney Rd., University Blvd., Dairy Ashford Rd., Brooks St., Lexington Blvd., and West Airport Blvd.).  All four contracts went out for bid in March of Fiscal Year 2017, due to the previous contractor defaulting on the contract.  The new contracts were awarded as a partial year (FY17), with the possibility of four one-year extensions to end in 2021.  Maldonado Nursery & Landscaping, whom were awarded two of the contracts, State Highway 6 and US90A, notified staff that they will be choosing not to renew their contracts for FY19.

On June 7 and July 4, 2018, the bid request for State Highway 6 was publicly advertised and on July 12, 2018, four proposals were received. Below are the bids received, with Westco Grounds Maintenance being the apparent low bidder, whom is the current contractor for US59 beautification.  The previous base cost for SH6 was $201,328, and the new proposed base cost is $216,284.32, representing an approximate 7% increase over the past contracts. 

Funding for this contract is available within the Public Works Operating and Maintenance Budget.

The Public Works Department recommends the City Council approve the Right of Way Landscape Beautification Contract - SH6 with Westco Grounds Maintenance Co., Inc. in the amount of $216,284.32 to provide right-of-way landscape beautification services with automatic two one-year renewals for a total contract amount of $648,852.96.

Should the future year funding not be approved for any reason, the contract will terminate on the first day of the new fiscal year.