R2004-128 ACCEPTING BID AND AUTHORIZING CONTRACT

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ECONOMIC AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT MEMORANDUM Memo No. 04-124 August 11,2004 TO: Honorable Mayor Paul Osborne and City Council Members FROM: Steve Garm City Manager Dane Bra , irector of Economic and Urban Developm��r� Steve Van St enhuyse, Long Range Planning Manag� Terry Cunnin�ham,Neighborhood/Housing Planner .�y �i SUBJECT: The Decatur Wildflower Initiative Planting Project—Acceptance of Bid RECOMMENDATION: Staff recommends approval of the resolution authorizing execution of a contract with LaGesse & Associates, Inc. of Springfield. LaGesse was the sole bidder, with a bid of $10,428.00. �, BACKGROUND: � The City of Decatur entered into an intergovernmental agreement with the Illinois Department of Transportation on February 2, 2004, wherein the City was awarded up to $35,000 for the planting of wildflowers and landscaping along state highways. The City is required to match this grant with $5,000 in local funds, which can be paid in cash or provided as in-kind services. Working with landscape architectural firm Massie Massie & Associates, plans were developed for three entryways to the City: Route 36 West, the I- 72 and Rte.51 interchange, and Rte. 51 at South Shores. Prairie plants in the necessary type and quantity for this project are only available from a few specific growers locally, and only a few landscape firms specialize in planting and maintaining prairie wildflowers. The specified types and amounts of prairie wildflower plugs will be ordered from three sources (The Prairie Patch in Niantic, Fromm Huff Farms in Pleasant Plaines, and Prairie Seed Supply in New Berlin). The flowers must be planted as soon as possible in order to become established before the first frost. IDOT is also providing $5,000 a year for the next two years for maintenance of the planting areas. POTENTIAL OBJECTION: None known. INPUT FROM OTHER SOURCES: Intergovernmental Agreement dated February 2, 2004; Wildflower Planting Proposal prepared by Massie Massie &Associates,May 5, 2004 STAFF REFERENCE: Should City Council members have questions they may contact Terry Cunningham, Neighborhood/Housing planner at 424-2795 (tcunningham�decatunlet.org).