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West Bend BID weighs perennials, spring plantings and planter moves amid rising costs
Summary
Staff said the BID is in year two of a three-year landscaping contract and floated replacing annuals with more perennials to cut long-term costs; a vendor proposal for spring plantings (about $12,000) is not budgeted for 2026 and staff will return with options in March.
City staff told the BID board that the district is in the second year of a three-year landscaping maintenance contract and raised several options to reduce future planting costs.
Staff said donors previously removed many perennials from large planters, leaving pots that now require annuals. They proposed testing a mix of perennials and annuals in a few planters to lower ongoing costs because perennials survive winters and require less annual replacement. "The annuals ... take a lot more water, and they're fairly, you know, expensive," staff said, and suggested returning in March with costed options for adding perennials.
Staff also shared an unsolicited proposal from a landscaping firm for spring plantings that would add material between March and May; the proposal was described as roughly $12,000 and was not budgeted for 2026. Staff said a smaller pilot of three or four planters would limit cost and logistics (watering and greenhouse timing) if the board wants to test spring plantings.
Board members discussed relocating smaller planters to 6th Street where owners have requested more plantings, and queried whether it is more cost effective to move existing planters or purchase new ones. Staff said moving smaller units is generally more cost effective and will consult parks/forestry about timing and logistics.
No formal vote was taken; staff will return with detailed proposals, cost estimates and vendor comparisons at the March meeting.
