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West Bend BID board weighs perennials, spring plantings and an adopt‑a‑basket fundraising idea
Summary
Board discussed switching some planters to perennials to reduce water and replacement costs long-term, considered a roughly $12,000 unsolicited spring-planting proposal and spring banners as lower-cost options, and debated an adopt‑a‑hanging‑basket fundraiser to help cover annual horticulture costs.
At its Feb. 3 meeting the City of West Bend BID Board spent substantial time on downtown landscaping options, noting ways to reduce annual planting costs and increase community involvement through an adopt-a-basket program.
An unidentified BID staff member reminded the board the BID is in year two of a three-year maintenance contract and said donors had removed perennials from large planters last year, leaving more expensive annuals to be replaced each season. The staff member urged the board to consider returning to perennials in some planters, saying perennials “are going to survive the winter” and “won’t have to be replaced” each year, which could lower long-term costs.
The board also reviewed an unsolicited spring-planting proposal priced at about $12,000 that was not budgeted for 2026. Staff suggested piloting spring plantings on 3–4 planters to test success, or instead using spring banners as a cheaper, reusable visual option. Timing was discussed: greenhouse-grown plants would need ordering soon for a March planting window.
On hanging baskets, staff outlined current BID costs and a possible adopt‑a‑program: there are 32 hanging baskets and staff reported roughly $3,200 spent on plants, about $700 on irrigation and $2,000 on fertilization in the packet. Staff suggested that donations channeled through a tax-deductible entity such as Friends of Parks could allow donors to contribute toward individual baskets or to sponsor baskets for a season.
Other landscaping items included consideration of moving small planters to 6th Street where space allows, replacement of some trees that failed over the winter, and a possible small planting bed or display near the library roundabout (subject to an amended maintenance contract and visibility concerns). Staff said they will return in March with vendor quotes and a design/cost proposal if the board wants to pursue any of these options.
Board direction: staff to obtain additional quotes for mums and banners, prepare a March proposal for perennial pilot plantings or banner options, and return with a proposed scope and costs for any south-of-library roundabout planting.
