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Beautification committee approves tree-planting contracts and eyes $18,762 in 10,000 Trees funds
Summary
The Marco Island Beautification Advisory Committee approved multiple tree-planting contracts (including a $3,043 Leland Way bid and a $5,202.16 Colusa Park bid) and discussed using $18,762 identified in a 10,000 Trees account for tree maintenance and plantings.
The Marco Island Beautification Advisory Committee approved multiple tree-planting contracts Tuesday and heard that $18,762 has been identified in a legacy 10,000 Trees fund that could be used for tree work.
Committee members voted to accept the lowest responsive bid for Leland Way — $3,043 from Affordable Landscaping for plantings without irrigation — after staff said three vendors were solicited. “The lowest price was $3,043,” Joe (staff member) reported; member (speaker 4) moved to approve the lowest bid so work could begin before the rainy season, and the motion passed by roll call.
The committee also reviewed bids for Colusa Park and Mackle Park. Joe told the group the lowest bid for Colusa Park, including the requested irrigation tie-in, was $5,202.16. City Clerk Joan (speaker 3) moved to accept a package of work from Affordable Landscaping for Mackle Park Lake and related phase work (described in the meeting as phase 1 and phase 2) with combined project language referencing up to $19,000 in associated phase work; that motion was seconded and approved.
Members reiterated that the committee had previously set 25-gallon trees as the standard for plantings and that Tree City USA had approved the planting plan. City Clerk Joan said the committee had approved the plan in November 2024 and that staff had been waiting for funding to proceed.
On funding, Council member Deb Henry (speaking as a citizen) told the committee she was checking the Parks Foundation records for donations made to an earlier 10,000 Trees initiative and that a total would be reported at the next meeting. Later in the meeting Henry announced the account holds $18,762 that could be available to the Beautification Advisory Committee (BAC). “There is $18,762 for the BAC in the 10,000 tree fund,” Henry said.
Members discussed potential uses, including maintenance for established trees (bubblers and targeted irrigation). Staff noted Tree City USA counts bubblers that water only a tree at 100% for Tree City reporting, while sprinklers that irrigate a larger park area would require estimating the percent dedicated to the tree (example given: 5%). Joe agreed to check on bubblers reported as not delivering water at several sites and to provide cost estimates for any required irrigation extensions.
Members also requested that staff include a live snapshot of BAC budget encumbrances in future meeting packets so the committee can track committed versus spent funds.
The motions to approve the bids were recorded by roll call in open session; staff will proceed with vendor coordination and tree siting for the approved locations. The committee did not vote on any allocations from the 10,000 Trees balance during the meeting; members agreed to consult with the Parks Foundation and donor records to confirm donor intent before committing the funds.
