Gig Harbor awards Harbor Hill landscape mitigation contract; staff to plant 192 seedlings

Gig Harbor's City Council voted Feb. 9 to award a SmallWorks construction contract to implement landscape mitigation at Harbor Hill Drive and approved related construction support services.

Associate engineer Chloe Weiser told council the Harbor Hill Drive mitigation project dates to 2016, when the city removed trees during road construction and is now required by code to replace the lost tree caliper inches. "Per current code, a 145.5 caliper inches of trees were required," Weiser said, and staff proposed planting seedlings around the stormwater pond at the Harbor Hill roundabout.

Weiser said the design calls for planting 192 seedlings, "which well exceeds the original requirement of a 145.5 caliper inches," and that the project received an alternative landscaping permit allowing a diverse, drought-tolerant and mostly native planting palette. The city also received permits for clearing and grading required for installation.

Council member Coronado moved to authorize the mayor to execute a public works construction contract with Gate Harbor Excavation LLC not to exceed $147,000.78, authorize the city engineer to approve additional construction expenditures up to $8,000, and authorize the city administrator to execute a professional services contract for construction support with AHBL Inc. not to exceed $14,378. The motion was seconded and passed 6-0.

Weiser said the planting will both meet mitigation obligations to the private property affected in 2016 and provide additional replanting to benefit the stormwater-pond hillside and nearby public spaces. The council approved the contract and related authorizations; staff will proceed with construction scheduling and permit compliance.