Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Contract Oversight Landscaping topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Resident complains about metal stakes and poor-quality 'black dirt'; staff says contractor will replace metal stakes with biodegradable versions
Summary
During public input a resident said Mears Landscaping placed more than 200 stakes and supplied sand-heavy material labeled 'black dirt.' Staff told the board the contractor will remove metal stakes and replace them with biodegradable stakes and that the city will hold the contractor responsible for acceptable soil quality under the contract.
At the Aug. 4 public input period, resident Jim Stern of 413 Ashcroft Street told the Board of Public Works that landscapers for a recent street project left dozens of stakes in yards and the soil provided as "black dirt" was sandy and low in organic material.
Why it matters: Residents raised safety concerns about metal landscaping stakes that can become hazards for people and animals, and questioned whether the product delivered matched contract specifications for topsoil.
Jim Stern said Mears Landscaping “put over 200 stakes in my yard” and that he personally removed about 100 plastic stakes and would replace others. He also said the soil delivered—what he called “black dirt”—felt like sand and had become compacted after watering, and he said he was arranging a paid analysis of a sample.
In response, Public Works staff confirmed they had contacted the landscape contractor. Staff said that when the contractor returns to the area they will remove all metal stakes and replace them with biodegradable stakes. Staff advised residents not to remove metal stakes themselves because doing so could shift responsibility for replacement. Public Works staff also said they would enforce contract requirements for acceptable soil quality; the city retains payment until contractors provide acceptable product and work, and retainage can be used to require remediation if the material does not meet the contract specification for black dirt.
Stern also told the board that police arrived after an exchange about curbside soil and that he believed a city official had reported him; staff said they had spoken with residents at the scene and encouraged anyone with concerns to contact Public Works directly so staff can address issues promptly.
No formal action was taken; staff said they would follow up with the contractor and residents and that the contractor had agreed to remove metal stakes and repair or replace deficient topsoil where required by the contract.
Residents who feel they were affected were told to contact Public Works for follow-up and to preserve any samples or documentation relevant to product quality and placement of stakes.
