BID seeks to replace downtown benches, signs and trash cans; preliminary cost exceeds budget
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Summary
Staff presented preliminary estimates to replace 11 benches, 72 street signs and 38 trash cans in the BID area. The high‑end estimate was $87,845 vs. a budgeted $75,000; staff proposed using a purchasing cooperative and Public Works installation to lower costs.
City staff presented a preliminary procurement plan and cost estimate to replace downtown street furniture and signage in the BID area and to introduce art and a distinct downtown identity on selected assets.
The staff presentation enumerated existing assets in the BID area: “You have 11 benches, 72 street signs, 38 trash cans located in the downtown area,” the staff member said. The staff member provided two estimates based on bench size; the larger estimate for six‑foot benches showed a preliminary total of $87,845 compared with the BID budget of $75,000.
To reduce cost, staff proposed using purchasing cooperatives such as Sourcewell and having Public Works perform installation rather than contracting out. Staff estimated about 121 hours of Public Works time to install the items at a fully burdened rate that implied roughly $12,000 of in‑house labor, avoiding prevailing wage procurement for an outside contractor. “That estimate may be on the higher side… this is a preliminary number for budgeting purposes,” the staff member said.
Board members discussed aesthetic details, logo usage and the cultural‑arts district identity for downtown. Some members asked to incorporate local imagery: “Let's add some grapes to it because that's us. That's Selma,” one public commenter said when discussing trash‑can art. Staff replied that the downtown BID identity can be distinct from the citywide logo and that an art solicitation could prioritize local artists; staff suggested a written art RFP for the BID to review.
Why it matters: Replacing downtown street furniture and deploying branded signage and art are part of the BID and city strategic plan for a cultural arts district; the final procurement approach and installation timing will determine whether the project fits within the adopted BID budget or requires council approval for reallocation.
Next steps: Staff said it will refine cost estimates this week, test cooperative pricing, prepare mockups for logo options and return with updated numbers and a proposed installation schedule for the board’s consideration.
