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Homewood finance panel reviews three proposals for city beautification plan
Summary
City staff told the Finance Committee three firms submitted scopes for a Homewood Beautification Plan; the committee agreed to review proposals and carry the item forward for decision before upcoming budgeting deadlines.
The Homewood City Finance Committee heard a briefing Jan. 6 on proposals to create a Homewood Beautification Plan and agreed to leave the item on the committee agenda for further review.
City staff said three firms submitted scopes for the project and that the proposals came in within the range the city budgeted. "We have 3 total, you know, bids or scopes, if you will," City staff member Nick said. He added, "everyone came in in the same range, which is the range that we budgeted." The committee did not select a firm at the meeting.
The committee and staff described the work as a professional-services engagement that would produce a citywide vision and recommendations. Committee members said the plan would tie aesthetic improvements to practical goals such as stormwater management and lower-maintenance landscaping. Nick said the firms would consult with stakeholders including the Beautification Board, the Environmental Commission, Public Works, Parks, and the city engineer's office.
Committee members discussed procurement steps. Staff said the project did not require a formal sealed-bid procurement because the contract value falls below the city's professional-services bid threshold, and that the three proposals were sufficient to move forward through the committee process. "The reason that we did not have to do a formal bid process is because this falls under the amount that ... triggers a bid," City staff member Nick said.
Several council members asked about timing and how the plan would inform the capital budget. Staff said the Beautification Board's original goal was to have the plan worked on during the calendar year so any recommended capital projects could be considered in the next budget cycle. "So that then anything that did come out as, like, a subsequent capital type project or need additional funding ... would be known going into next year's budget cycle," Nick said.
Committee chair and council members asked all councilmembers to review the three proposals before the committee meets again. The item was left on the agenda and will be carried to a future meeting so members can compare scopes and select a firm.
Ending: The Finance Committee did not take a contract vote Jan. 6. Staff and the Beautification Board will continue coordinating; the committee expects to return to the item with a recommendation for contracting and any budget impacts before the next budget cycle.
