Council approves $93,500 soil‑quality restoration contract, expands program to 100–110 homes

The Clive City Council on July 24 approved plans and awarded the 2025 Soil Quality Restoration (SQR) contract to A+ Lawn and Landscape for $93,500 after a public hearing and unanimous votes.

City staff said the winning bid reduced the program cost from last year’s 14 cents per square foot to 11 cents per square foot, allowing the city to increase outreach. "Last year we were at 14 cents per square foot. This year we came in 11," said Pete, a city staff member who presented the SQR summary and bid results. Staff said grant dollars permit expanding the program beyond the usual ~80 properties to a goal of about 100–110 residential parcels, with additional emphasis on the Angel Park neighborhood.

Councilors asked about irrigation and how the city would handle watering if a residential watering restriction were reinstated. Pete said participants are residential only and can use their automatic or manual sprinkler systems for germination; he said the city is monitoring guidance from Central Iowa Waterworks but planned to start seeding the Tuesday after Labor Day, aiming to finish by the end of September or in early October. He noted staff had discussed limited exceptions tracked by irrigation meters tied to participant addresses if needed.

After hearing no public comments, the council closed the hearing and voted 4–0 to approve plans and specifications, receive bids, and award the contract to A+ Lawn and Landscape for $93,500. Staff said a neighborhood kickoff (virtual) and a contractor kickoff meeting would be scheduled in mid‑August and the week after, respectively.

The approval covers a residential-only SQR scope for 2025; staff emphasized they would monitor weather and irrigation restrictions and would bring any need for further council direction back to the dais.