Title
Resolution to Approve a General Services Contract with KBK Landscaping Inc. for Supplemental Residential Street Plowing Services (Not-to-Exceed $500,000.00, ITB 4756)
Memorandum
Attached for your review and action is a resolution to approve a general services contract with KBK Landscaping Inc. in the amount not-to-exceed $500,000.00 for supplemental residential street plowing services.
Snow removal on city-maintained streets is performed by Public Works. These staff members are also tasked with collecting solid waste, urban forest management, water distribution, sanitary collection and stormwater conveyance system maintenance. Often, these competing interests reduce the number of staff available to perform snow removal.
Major snow routes primarily consisting of major roads and school routes are treated to bare pavement each time there is winter precipitation. Unprotected bike lanes on major snow routes are treated in tandem with roads, while protected bike lanes are treated with specialized equipment. Residential plowing is initiated at 4" of accumulation or when deemed appropriate by the Public Works Manager.
The current goal is to have all local roads plowed and hills, curves and intersections salted within 24 hours after snow stops falling. The assignment of trucks to perform this task is limited until all major salt routes have been treated to bare pavement, leaving the residential roads without attention until well after a storm is over. Wind and snow squalls that frequently move through the area after a major snow event also draw resources back out of locals to focus on keeping major routes clear. This delayed response often leads to hard packed snow on residential roads that cannot be removed with plowing alone and can turn to ice with freeze/thaw cycles. The current practice of not treating residential roads with reduced speed and traffic to bare pavement is disappointing to road users, including bicyclists. An invitation to bid was published...
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