Chris Lips, Assistant Public Works Director

Albert J. Carbon III, P.E., Public Works Director

Issue Statement: In 2005, the neighborhood of North Andrews Gardens was annexed into the City of Oakland Park. Prior to the annexation, Broward County improved the utilities and the roadways within the neighborhood, including landscaping within medians. The landscaping in many areas of this neighborhood has declined and requires replacement. The Public Works Streets Division is responsible for the maintenance of City owned medians, and the FY 2024 Adopted  Budget for the Division includes funding for improvements to the North Andrews Gardens medians.

Recommended  Action: City Commission adopt a resolution approving the purchase of plant and landscape materials and installation from Cayco Landscape Services  for the medians located on NE 51 Street between North Andrews Avenue and NE 6th Avenue, at a cost not to exceed $65,000, utilizing the recently awarded ITB #030723 (R-2023-071) for Plant and Landscape Materials with Installation.  

History

In 2022, City staff improved many of the medians on NE 4^th Avenue, NE 59^th Street, and NE 58^th Street. These improvements were designed by the City Horticulturalist. In 2023, the landscape improvements were performed by Cayco Landscape Services on NE 3rd Avenue. In addition, landscape improvements were performed on NE 56th Street by Landscape Service Professionals, as well as by City Staff. The remaining medians in North Andrews Gardens with the greatest need for landscape improvements is along NE 51^st Street. 

There is a Business Plan Initiative (BPI) included in the FY 2024 budget to fund landscape City Medians in North Andrews Gardens (NAG). Staff developed a replacement plant palette utilizing the City's Median Landscape Standards to include native and drought tolerant plants, while harmonizing the proposed plants with the healthy plants and trees already located in the medians. 

On April 19, 2023, the City Commission awarded Invitation to Bid (ITB) #030723 (R-2023-071) to three contractors: Landscape Service Professionals; Cayco; and Runway Growers. Cayco Landscape Services provided the attached quote using the approved bid pricing.  The proposed work exceeds $25,000, and therefore requires Commission approval. 

Staff evaluated the plant quantities and contractual pricing and found that Cayco Landscape Services has the lowest pricing for the replanting plan for NE 51st Street.  City staff has previously contracted the purchase of plant material and installation through Cayco Landscape Services and has been satisfied with the material provided.

The FY 2024 adopted budget includes a Business Plan Initiative (BPI) to fund median landscape replacement for $40,000. The quoted price of the median landscape replacement is $61,400, as shown in Exhibit A. Sufficient funds are available in the Public Works Streets Maintenance Division's operating budget to accommodate the additional costs of $21,400 over the budgeted amount of $40,000.  $3,600 in additional expenditure authority is requested as part of this award to serve as contingency for a total of $65,000.  The proposed expenditure is as follows: