8.2. SR 08-20-2012 - Laserfiche WebLink

Home Browse Search

Option 3. Add overstory and ornamental trees,retain prairie grass in center (mow late July), add turf grasses to edges. Analysis: Requires irrigation,is costly,but meets the beautification,visibility, and maintenance goals, although weekly snowing would be required. If irrigation is added, there is no reason to retain prairie plantings. Option 4.Add overstory and ornamental trees and add turf grass to remaining areas. Analysis: Requires irrigation,is costly, but meets the beautification and visibility goals, although weekly mowing would be required. Option 5. Add overstory and ornamental trees,place rock mulch in center, and replace outside areas with turf grass. Analysis: Requires irrigation,is costly, but meets the beautification,visibility, and maintenance goals, although weekly mowing would be required. Frequent weeding of mulch areas will be necessary. Option 6.Add overstory and ornamental trees,place wood mulch in center, and replace outside areas with turf grass. Analysis: Requites irrigation,is costly, but meets the beautification,visibility, and maintenance goals, although weekly mowing would be required. Frequent weeding of mulch areas will be necessary. Irrigation. Understanding the Council's concern with the aesthetics of prairie type plantings, it is apparent that the introduction of turf grass will require an irrigation system. While staff understands there was irrigation in the median in the past, all connections to this system were removed when the berms were removed. Of the $40,000 irrigation estimate, $35,000 is the landscape architects estimate of the system, $5,000 for the WAC fee and other incidental plumbing costs associated with creating a new service near the Fresno Street alignment. It is possible that a lower cost could be identified by the contractor during the quoting process. Maintenance expectations. One of the draws of the current prairie planting configuration is the limited maintenance necessary. Improvements to the boulevard will require additional maintenance,including hand watering the tree installation until establishment (plans with no irrigation),mowing (plans with turf grass), and weeding (plans with mulch areas). These items could be handled by Parks and Recreation staff or contracted with bids. Recall that there is over 2000 linear feet of median on Orono. In formulating staff's recommendation,it was our belief that the aesthetic concern did not outweigh the expense of the irrigation system. FINANCIAL IMPACT ATTACHMENTS • Planting plan • Obstruction illustration • Cost summary Action Motion by Second by Vote Follow Up N:\Public Bodies\City Council\Council RCA\Agenda Packet\08-20-2012\SR to CC boulevards 8-20-12.docx I