8.3. SR 09-04-2012 Elk REQUEST FOR ACTION
River
TO ITEM NUMBER
Mayor and City Council 8.3
AGENDA SECTION MEETING DATE PREPARED BY
General Business September 4, 2012 Jeremy Barnhart, Planning Manager
ITEM DESCRIPTION REVIEWED By
Orono Parkway Median Landscaping Improvement Quotes Cal Portner, City Administrator
REVIEWED BY
ACTION REQUESTED
Accept quote from Midwest Landscapes for Orono Parkway landscaping improvements at a cost not to
exceed $10,732.
BACKGROUND/DISCUSSION
On August 20, the City Council directed staff to obtain quotes to complete the landscaping work along
Orono Parkway. The landscaping work included plating trees along Orono Parkway. Areas disturbed by
planting will be mulched. Staff requested quotes from six companies, five from the Elk River area, and
the company that completed the landscaping at the parking lot downtown.
Two complete quotes were received, ranging in price from $10,732 to $19,600. Staff s estimated cost was
$13,805.
The Council also directed staff to develop estimates to cover the prairie grasses with rock mulch. To
mulch with rock,the landscape architect recommends removing the top 3-4 inches of plant material and
soil and place the river rock in this void, to minimize the movement of rock due to snow plow blades.
Orono median costs
Wood $ 14,651.00
Limestone $ 31,395.00
River rock @ 4" $ 25,116.00
These estimates include installation.
Staff does not recommend this approach.Aside from spraying for weeds,the relocation of rock will be
constant. Further, '/2 mile of rock will not achieve the beautification objectives as staff understands them.
FINANCIAL IMPACT
Funding will come from intersection enhancements within the Street Improvement Reserve Fund.
ATTACHMENTS
■ Quotes
POWERED 0
N:\Public Bodies\City Council\Council RCA\Agenda Packet\09-042012\8.3Orono Medians.docx 4A f U R E
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LANDSCAPES
City of Elk liver
Orono Parkway Median
August 29,2012 DATE
TO Jeremy Barnhart,AICP
Planning Manager
City of Elk River
13065 Orono Parkway
Elk River,MN 55330
QTY SIZE fEC ICON
23 2" bb Deciduous Shade Tree"
15 G" bb `Ornamental Tree
7 CY Shredded Hardwood Mulch tree rings)
:1 EA `Traff"ic Control
TOTAL.,., :$1£1,731€1€?
NOTES:
*Bid based on information and plans provided by Jeremy Barnhart via email
*Proposal includes mulch rings for trees planted in medians. Mulch beds are not part of the proposal
R"ECE
AUG 2 9 2012
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6221 Oakwood Ave.NE * Otsego,MN 55330 * 763-241-1320 ph 763-241-1340 fx 1
Aug, 29. 2012 3: 21f l Neterson Uompanies Inc, IVo, 4747 r,i
QUOTE.
/ ! Peterson Companies, Inc, 1 4866
8326 Wyoming Trail
Chisago City, MN 55013
Phone; (651) 257-6664
Fax: (651) 257-3393
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w,vu,w
City Of Elk River
To Attn; Jeremy Barnhart
13065 Orono Parkway
Elk River, MN 55330
I
QUOTE pAT� I VALID THRU TSALE S REP PAGE
8/29/201-2—T9/27/2012 Project 1 Parkway Median RYANPETE 1�
If Both Projects Are Accepted Take $500.00 Off Each Project i
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ITEM NO QUANTITY DESCRIPTION UNIT PRICE EX7ENDED I
Project 1: Orono Parkway median, i
Provide and install trees and mulch as illustrated
in the attached plan, within the existing prairie
planting areas. There is no turf or edging.
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PRICING BELOW: ; -A
1 Landscape materials include; Shade trees; 17100.00 171100,001" )
Swamp while oak, Autumn Blaze Maple, or
Heritage Oak (all 2"caliper) Ornamental trees:
Prairie Fire crabapple, Autumn Brilliance Service i
Berry, Thorn less Cockspur Hawthorn (all 2" i
call er !
1 Work involved will Include working in public Right 2500.00 2;500,00
of Way. All proposals must include costs for
temporary traffic control devices to be furnished
and installed In accordance with MMUTCD and
MnUOT requirements, Work proposed for must
be completed by October 15th, 2012, i J
I
T OTAG MOUNT $191600.00
QUOTE ACCEPTANCE
Your signature below personally confirms acceptance of Ihie quote, Upon acceplanca of this quote,contact your sales represenlellve.l
SIGNATURE; DATE:
,you ft),t)- tfie oppol-:un.ily to 1 lvol'(e yvil 'wi"tr th'i's plote.
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(AWSC c(r(('(01M nary c0771.1770171s or gtfestimis! I
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Portner, Cal )2
From: Dave Anderson <danderson @cretexinc.com>
Sent: Tuesday, September 04, 2012 5:15 PM
To: Portner, Cal; Hecker, Michael
Subject: Orono medians
Cal and Michael,
This note is in response to a call that I just received from Michael that there was going to be some discussion on the
Orono medians at this evenings council meeting. I will not be able to attend because I have a prior engagement for
work. If I get back to town in time, I will stop at the meeting.
First, I recognize the council's desire to improve the appearance of the medians in front of the City campus. While we
may disagree on what looks good,the wishes of the Mayor and Council will be what is done. I do have a few specific
comments that I would like to share.
1. Any design considered should be carefully thought out with regard to aesthetics when newly planted,aesthetics
when mature (or old),installation costs, maintenance costs and sustainability. Initial cost may be a small part of
the total cost depending on design and materials selected.
2. I have thought more about planting trees as a first phase since the last meeting. I think trees will add to the look
of the medians, now and in the future. Two specifics to consider are:
a. If the trees are planted to grade as it currently exists,this grade will likely not match the grade of any
future plantings or landscaping. We would almost certainly raise the medians in the center as is typical
to landscape design. This would mean the trees would be planted too low. This could be remedied by
creating the ultimate design before planting the trees and plant them to the appropriate grade,or more
simply waiting for the installation of the ultimate design.
b. I have watched several plantings of trees fail at the businesses in the area during the past few years due
to lack of water. Although our maintenance is is better than that,we will have to be very diligent to
keep them thriving.
3. I highly recommend that do it right this time. This is the third time and I do not want those in the future redoing
this again. Let's create something that we can all be proud of.
4. If this were at my house, I would not do it all at once. I would put together designs and costs for a high quality
treatment of the three shorter median sections directly in front of the City campus. This will allow phasing of
the project,and a bit of a look into the future when it comes to completion of later phases. We will know if we
like our plan and we will know how much time and money it takes to keep it looking good.
5. With regard to the possible use of rock as a landscape treatment for the medians, personally I think this is a poor
choice of materials for the location. I have experience with several rock treatments and none have withstood
the test of time. All have been replace or need to be replaced. Rocks tend to fill up with both organic(leaves
and weeds) and inorganic debris(sand from sand salting in the winter and litter). They also are often infested
with weeds. The ones we have at our office require 5 herbicide applications a year to keep weed free and they
still look poor due to the voids being full. One only needs to go to the West Bound liquors to see weed infested
rock landscaping on the edges of the parking lot.
6. Leaving the larger two sections of median in native plants could certainly be the more cost effective alternative
and in the opinion of some, blend in nicely with adjacent landscaping.
Thanks for listening to this hastily written note.
Dave Anderson
1
karia-tha
Portner, Cal Q 14 - 12_
From: Mary Ernhart <mke @mr.net>
Sent: Tuesday, September 04, 2012 4:26 PM
To: Portner, Cal
Subject: medians
Mr. Portner,
Below is an email that I sent to John Deitz. I would like you to also read my comments and consider them. Many times
those of us who like things in the city do not raise our voices.Thanks for you time.
Mary Ernhart
Hi John,
I read in the paper that you may be considering removing the native prairie on the medians by the city offices. I hope
that does not happen.Time and money have already been invested, most seasons the medians are truly beautiful.To
replace them with rock would be awful. Rock presents a very"cold," hard feeling as landscaping-certainly not friendly
and eventually weeds grow through it.Add a few tress if you want but don't spend taxpayers dollars on an area that is
done.
A place that money could really buy trees and make a difference in our city, is the road median behind Home Depot,
going towards the Northstar train depot-that really needs some trees! Or the median running on the west side of the
Trott Brook addition,or the medians coming into our city from the west.Our image really could use a facelift with trees,
flowers, and bushes-create a beautiful, inviting entrance to our city.
Mary Ernhart
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