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. , <br /> COMMUNITY DE�EI,OPMENT MEMORANDUM <br /> �1TOe 99-193 <br /> August 11, 1999 <br /> TO: Honorable Mayor Terry 1VI. Howley and City Council Members <br /> FROM: James L, Williams, Jr., City Manager � <br /> Cecil A. Collins, Jr., Director of Commu�ty Development�P� <br /> Max Forgey, AICP, Senior Planner�l� <br /> Hala Ahmed, Environmental Planner� <br /> SUBJECT; Contract for Pilot I,eaf Vacuuming Program <br /> Staff requests authorization of Council to execute a contract with Romer Brothers, Inc. to <br /> perform the Pilot Leaf Vacuuming Program. <br /> Background. City Council adopted an amendment to Chapter 48 of the City Code on Apri126, <br /> 1999, imposing a ban on leaf burning effective October 1, 2000. The pilot leaf vacuuming <br /> program and the other items in the grant from the Illinois Department of Commerce and <br /> Community Ai�airs (DCCA)will help Decatur make the transition away from leaf burning, <br /> The Grant. On January 27, 1999, the City of Decatur received a $400,000 grant from DCCA. <br /> The stated purpose of the grant was"to organize and coordinate a pilot program which will offer <br /> residents additional alternatives for leaf collection and disposal in addition to the currently <br /> available options." The schedule called for the pilot leaf vacuurrung program to be conducted in <br /> the Fall of 1999, and called for a request for proposals (RFP) to find a contractor to conduct the <br /> pilot program. <br /> The Request for Proposals (RFP). Staff prepared the RFP, which was advertised on May 12, <br /> 1999 in the Decatur Tribune and approached several firms to encourage participation. A pre-bid <br /> conference was conducted on Wednesday, May 26 at 4:00 p.m. <br /> The deadline for responses to the RFP was Wednesday, June 23. No bids were received on that <br /> date. The deadline was extended to July 7. In an effort to drum up qualified bids, staff obtained a <br /> membership roster of certified landscape contractors statewide from the Illinois Landscape <br /> Contractors' Association and proceeded to contact them about the program. Nlany expressed <br /> interest in the project, but declined to participate, frequently citing the high transportation costs <br />