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Board and staff review plan to standardize downtown plantings and consider rebidding Shady Lane contract
Summary
Staff described a plan to inventory planting needs, match plant lists to sun/shade microclimates, and consider bundled bidding to lower costs for downtown pots and hanging baskets.
West Bend BID staff and parks personnel described a plan to standardize downtown plantings for the coming year: create a full list of required plants, assign plant types by microclimate (sun vs. shade), and produce a maintenance schedule covering watering and fertilization.
John (role not specified) told the board that last year was the program’s first run for pots and hanging baskets and that private‑sector sponsors supported the approach. Parks staff member Rick said he has prepared a plant list that would allow the same visual appearance across downtown while tailoring specific plants to shady or sunny locations.
Staff recommended taking a “step back” to view the program as an annual system instead of piecemeal purchases. That approach would let the BID bundle items for bid solicitation — potentially securing better pricing — rather than buying plants in separate small lots. Staff said growers typically begin planting in February; bundling decisions and vendor direction would need to be finalized before then to avoid production delays.
Board members asked for a full cost picture before final contract awards. Chris, a BID staff member, explained the BID’s typical landscaping budget is $40,000, with roughly $6,000 often used for sidewalk cleaning and smaller recurring allocations (an example $700 was referenced for a partner organization). Staff said total program costs will exceed the $40,000 baseline and that the final funding mix may include BID funds, city contributions and private sponsorships.
Several board members supported preparing the detailed plan and plant specifications and then returning with a recommended procurement approach — either direct contract or competitive bidding — and full budget allocations.
