University Park council approves consent agenda including $270,033 concrete truck and landscaping contracts; rejects Portland cement bids

The University Park City Council approved its consent agenda at the Jan. 21 meeting, clearing four routine items with a single motion and voice vote.

City Manager Robbie Quarter outlined the consent items: replacement of a 2009 concrete truck with a 2025 Freightliner concrete truck with a 30‑yard body for $270,033 through a Sourcewell cooperative purchasing contract; two outsourced landscaping contracts (mowing/edging for roughly 50 sites and bed maintenance) recommended for award to Bare Roots Landscaping at $171,634 and $61,930 respectively; rejection of bids for Portland cement due to inability to secure an annual contract; and approval of minutes from the Jan. 7, 2025 council meeting.

Quarter said the concrete truck purchase meets the city’s competitive bidding requirements through the Sourcewell contract. He told council the mowing and bed‑maintenance procurements drew multiple proposals (mowing: five proposals; bed maintenance: five bids) and that Bare Roots was the low bidder on both services. Staff recommended rejecting the Portland cement bids because no vendor would commit to an annual contract, creating high short‑term costs; staff will pursue a different bidding approach.

Council member Melissa Reaman moved approval of the consent agenda and the council approved it by voice vote; the meeting record shows affirmative votes during that roll call. The equipment purchase will be added to the public works fleet and the landscaping contracts will be assigned to the parks/public‑works oversight team per the contracts.