TO: Honorable Mayor & Members of the North Port Commission
FROM: A. Jerome Fletcher II, ICMA-CM, MPA, City Manager
TITLE: Approve and Authorize the City Manager to Execute the Tree & Brush Abatement Services Agreements for a Three (3) Year Term and the Option to Renew for Two (2) Additional One (1) Year Terms With Arbobella Tree Service, LLC, Olive Branch Enterprises of Florida, Inc., and Bushman’s Landscape Management, LLC for Citywide Tree and Brush Abatement Services in an Amount Not to Exceed $200,000.00 Annually, Subject to Contractual Escalators for the Remaining Term.
Recommended Action
Option 1: Approve Award of Request for Bid 2026-05 Citywide Tree & Brush Abatement Services to Arbobella Tree Service, LLC, Olive Branch Enterprises of Florida, Inc., and Bushman’s Landscape Management, LLC in an amount not to exceed $200,000.00 annually and authorize the City Manager to approve the future renewal terms.
City Commission Options
Option 1: Approve Award of Request for Bid 2026-05 Citywide Tree & Brush Abatement Services to Arbobella Tree Service, LLC, Olive Branch Enterprises of Florida, Inc., and Bushman’s Landscape Management, LLC in an amount not to exceed $200,000.00 annually and authorize the City Manager to approve the future renewal terms.
• Pros: Ensures continued maintenance and a consistent level of Tree and Brush Abatement services throughout the City. Ongoing maintenance contributes to community safety, aesthetics, and resident satisfaction. Vendors were selected through a transparent and competitive solicitation process, promoting fairness and fiscal responsibility. Utilizing contracted services eliminates the need for upfront capital expenditures for equipment and associated maintenance costs. The City pays established contract rates while the vendor assumes responsibility for employee payroll, insurance, benefits, and operational management. Awarding contracts to multiple vendors can also reduce scheduling delays when one contractor is unavailable and provides additional capacity to address workload increases or emergency service demands.
• Cons: Requires additional contract administration and oversight to coordinate work assignments among multiple vendors and ensure consistent service delivery. Managing several contractors may increase administrative workload related to scheduling, performance monitoring, invoicing, and communication. Service quality and response times may vary between vendors, requiring ongoing oversight to maintain consistency and adherence to contract requirements. Dependence on contracted services may also reduce direct City control over staffing availability and day-to-day operations.
Option 2: Reduce number of awarded vendors
• Pros: Simplifies contract administration and coordination efforts while still maintaining contracted service coverage for Tree and Brush Abatement needs. Reduces the administrative burden associated with managing multiple contractor relationships, including scheduling, invoicing, and performance monitoring, while preserving access to outsourced services.
• Cons: May increase the risk of service delays during periods of high demand, emergency events, or when a contractor is unavailable. A smaller vendor pool may reduce flexibility, limit available resources, and create challenges in responding to workload surges or simultaneous service requests.
Option 3: Direct staff to reject all bids and revise and re-advertise the solicitation
• Pros: Re-advertising the solicitation may attract additional vendors who were previously unaware of the opportunity or unable to respond within the original solicitation period. Revising the solicitation also provides an opportunity to clarify specifications, modify requirements if needed, and potentially increase competition, which may result in improved pricing or service offerings.
• Cons: Delays implementation and extends the timeline for establishing contractor services, which may negatively impact the City's ability to respond promptly to Tree and Brush Abatement demands. Re-advertising also requires additional staff time and resources to revise documents, conduct a new procurement process, and complete evaluations, potentially extending the procurement timeline and creating service gaps.
Background Information
This bid opportunity was sent to 358 suppliers. On the bid opening of December 12, 2025, six (6) sealed bids were received from the following vendors:
A-2-Z Distributing, LLC
Arbobella Tree Service, LLC
Bushman’s Landscape Management, LLC
Greentopps Landscape, Maintenance, & Tree Services, LLC
Olive Branch Enterprises of Florida, Inc.
Sherlock Tree Company, Inc.
Based on the evaluation of the submitted bids and the established award criteria, staff recommends awarding the contracts to Arbobella Tree Service, LLC, Olive Branch Enterprises of Florida, Inc., and Bushman’s Landscape Management, LLC. Additionally, Arbobella Tree Service, LLC, a North Port firm, has been identified as qualifying for local preference and has price-matched Olive Branch Enterprises of Florida, Inc., in accordance with the applicable local preference provisions. It is the intent of the City to administer this Contract on a rotating basis, according to lowest price and Contractor’s availability to meet the City’s required response time. The contract term is for a three (3) year term with the option to renew for two (2) additional one (1) year terms. A binding contract has been executed with each vendor.
Strategic Plan Pillar
Safe Community
Financial Impact
Total award (initial term): Not-to-exceed $200,000 annually.
Funding in the amount of $200,000 is budgeted in the Code Enforcement Division Fiscal Year 2026 budget in account number 001-2720-524.34-00 (Other Contracted Services). Any purchase made on or after October 1, 2026, or each year after, against these Agreements is contingent on future appropriated funds. Expenditures will be based on actual services performed and approved work authorizations.
Procurement
Tree and Brush Abatement services were procured pursuant to Chapter 2 - Administration, Article VIII - Procurement, Section 2-404 - Competitive Sealed Bid Process of the Code of the City of North Port, Florida.
Contract term: Three (3) years from the date of issuance of the Commission Approval
Renewals: Two (2) one-year optional renewals
Pricing: Unit-price per bid schedule
Attachments:
1. RFB #2026-05 Solicitation and Addendum
2. Staff Award Recommendation Memo
3. Bid Tabulation
4. Submittal by Arbobella Tree Service, LLC
5. Submittal by Bushman’s Landscape Management, LLC
6. Submittal by Olive Branch Enterprises of FL, Inc.
7. Signed Contract by Arbobella Tree Service, LLC
8. Signed Contract by Bushman’s Landscape Management, LLC
9. Signed Contract by Olive Branch Enterprises of FL, Inc.
Prepared by: Kevin Raducci, MPA, Code Enforcement Manager
Lori Barnes, AICP, CPM, Development Services Deputy Director
Department Director: Alaina Ray, AICP, Development Services Director