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STAFF REPORT <br />TO:Mayor Fischer and Members of the City Council <br />FROM:Eric Seaburg, P.E., City Engineer <br />DATE:February 22, 2023 <br />RE:Twin Lake Boulevard - Tree Clearing Contract <br />ACTION TO BE CONSIDERED: <br />Motion to award tree clearing contract to Precision Landscape & Tree for the Twin Lake <br />Boulevard Improvements, City Project No. 2023-04. <br />BACKGROUND: <br />The Twin Lake Boulevard Improvement Project will require removal of approximately 120 trees <br />to accommodate the new road and trail improvements. Typically, tree clearing is performed by a <br />subcontractor as part of the City’s larger contract with a general roadway contractor. However, <br />new endangered species rules go into effect on March 31, 2023 for the newly classified and <br />endangered Northern Long-Eared Bat (NLEB). <br />The US Fish & Wildlife Service has not announced if or what the new regulations will be for the <br />NLEB in Minnesota effective March 31st. Typically, tree clearing could be performed on Twin <br />Lake Boulevard throughout the entire spring until June 1. However, to hedge against possible <br />new tree clearing restrictions and avoid possible delays to the project, staff solicited quotes from <br />six local tree contractors to clear trees prior to March 31st. One quote was received from <br />Precision Landscape & Tree. <br />Precision Landscape & Tree..............................$139,031.68 <br />The quote received from Precision Tree Care was substantially higher than the <br />estimated/budgeted amount for tree clearing on the project. Staff does not recommend awarding <br />the contract at the current price quote. Prior to the City Council meeting, City staff will be <br />meeting with Precision Landscape & Tree to find ways to reduce quoted price. City staff plans to <br />have an updated quote at the City Council meeting and will provide a recommendation to the <br />City Council to reject or accept the revised quote. <br />STAFF RECOMMENDATIONS: <br />Staff recommends that the City Council: <br />Reject the initial quote from Precision Tree Care in the amount of $139,031.68. <br />Consider accepting a revised quote from Precision Landscape & Tree in an amount as <br />presented at the City Council meeting.