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Commission questions contractor reliance for gateways and tree trimming; staff says $27,000 placeholder for third-party trimming
Summary
Commissioners raised concerns that the beautification and maintenance division spends time on events instead of core landscaping and tree trimming, and asked staff to provide a schedule and to consider doing more work in house rather than relying on contractors.
Commissioners pressed staff about the city's approach to maintaining gateways, roundabouts and trees at the July 10 budget workshop, questioning a draft $27,000 placeholder for third-party tree trimming and whether the city's beautification crew should perform more of that work.
Vice Mayor Kelly and others said they want the beautification division focused on core landscaping and upkeep rather than being reassigned to event setup. "They should not be working events. That's not their job," one commissioner said, urging that the crew focus on parks, medians and other city properties.
Beautification interim manager said the $27,000 is a starter for contractor work that covers high trees or jobs requiring boom equipment and that routine trimming and landscape maintenance are within the division's duties. Staff said some gateways sit on property not owned by the city, complicating maintenance; staff also said contract vendors handle some planting and post-install maintenance for gateway projects paid through CIP.
Next steps: staff will provide the commission a schedule of routine trimming and a clearer breakdown of which tasks the department will perform in-house and which will be contracted. Commissioners asked staff to consider whether tasks now contracted out could be moved to in-house crews when feasible and to return with options.
