TO: Honorable Mayor & Members of the North Port Commission
FROM: Jonathan R. Lewis, ICMA-CM, City Manager
TITLE: Contract No. 2017-09 between the City of North Port and MRT Lawn and Garden Center, Inc. to construct irrigation and landscaping in the South Biscayne Drive medians in the amount of $335,447.94, plus $15,000 for contingencies.
Recommended Action
Approve Contract No. 2017-09 between the City of North Port and MRT Lawn and Garden Center, Inc. of Venice, Florida to construct irrigation and landscaping in the South Biscayne Drive medians in the amount of $335,447.94, plus $15,000.00 for contingencies.
Background Information
The medians on South Biscayne Drive, from Safford Terrace to Elyton Drive, originally consisted of Sabal Palm Trees and grass. Residents expressed a desire for a higher intensity and quality of landscaping to beautify the roadway. A capital improvement project was developed and approved by the City Commission in fiscal year 2013. A project was developed, however, construction bids exceeded the funded amount. Options were discussed, a revised landscaping plan was devised, and the redesign proceeded with more emphasis on long term maintenance. Funds were added for the redesign and curbing.
The project irrigation and landscaping was separated from the curbing to attract qualified bidders to these appreciably different fields of construction to obtain better pricing. The curbing project is being awarded under a separate contract to coincide with the irrigation and landscaping project
Two bids were received for the irrigation and landscaping project. The active economy generating much more private work negatively influenced interest in public projects. Several companies indicated their workload and/or bonding capacity prevented them from bidding this project.
During their meeting on November 22, 2016, the City Commission gave staff the following direction with respect to the landscaping plan:
* Eliminate the Pygmy Dat...
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