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Council approves Old Village Gardens redesign and hires contractor for 2025 installation
Summary
Council approved plans developed with Connect Lake Elmo and contracted Hoffman & McNamara for 2025 installation and a one-year warranty; the contract for 2025 work was authorized not to exceed $50,290.
The Lake Elmo City Council approved revised plans for the Old Village Gardens on May 6 and awarded the 2025 installation contract to Hoffman & McNamara not to exceed $50,290.
Sarah Evenson, the citys landscape architect, presented design work completed with community partner Connect Lake Elmo and local landscape architect Steven Massey. Evenson said engagement included an April 3 open house and meetings with business owners and Washington County engineers over sight-line and right-of-way concerns. The updated planting palette emphasizes native, pollinator-friendly species, a matrix planting approach for extended seasonal color, and lower-growing plantings to maintain sight lines along Lake Elmo Avenue; the plan also adds three trees at locations where soil volume is sufficient.
Evenson said the project team requested quotes from three local contractors for installation and future maintenance; Hoffman & McNamara submitted the lowest combined cost when installation and a multi-year maintenance estimate were considered. The council approved a contract with Hoffman & McNamara for removal and installation in 2025 and directed staff to pursue professional annual maintenance contracts for later years; the 2025 authorization includes funds to cover the one-year warranty period.
Council members and business owners at the meeting praised the community engagement process. Several council members noted the importance of a funded maintenance plan; staff said the contract covers the initial warranty year and that annual maintenance funding would be considered separately. Evenson and staff also said smaller ornamental trees removed as part of the redesign would be salvaged and relocated to other city planting locations where appropriate.
The approved plan retains a largely native, drought- and salt-tolerant palette, replaces some daffodils with tulips at business requests, and adds trees in two locations after confirming no major underground utility conflicts. The project will proceed following contract execution and coordination with Connect Lake Elmo and local business owners.
