Placement: Consent Agenda
Action Requested: Motion / Vote
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Approve Amendment #17 to Contract #20040116 for Vegetation Control of Drainage Rights-of-Way, Waterways, Lakes, and Ponds.
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Submitted By: Kevin Eggleston, Procurement Contracting Officer I, Procurement Management Division (PMD).
Strategic Plan Link: The City's Goal of safe, clean, and beautiful.
Summary Brief (Agreements/Contracts only)
1. Prepared by: Kevin Eggleston, Procurement Contracting Officer I, PMD.
2. Parties: City of Port St. Lucie and Aquatic Vegetation Control, Inc.
3. Purpose: To extend the Contract through April 30, 2027, maintain uninterrupted vegetation control services while the City completes a competitive solicitation, and establish pricing for the extension.
4. New/Renewal/Modified: Modified.
5. Duration: Duration: Six-month extension from November 1, 2026, through April 30, 2027.
6. Benefits to Port St. Lucie: Maintains uninterrupted vegetation control to protect the City’s stormwater system and keep waterways and greenways free of obstructive and unsightly growth.
7. Cost to Port St. Lucie (Annual and Potential): The estimated cost for the six-month extension is $580,188.07.
Presentation Information: N/A.
Staff Recommendation: Move that the Council approve Amendment #17 to Contract #20040116 for Vegetation Control of Drainage Rights-of-Way, Waterways, Lakes, and Ponds with Aquatic Vegetation Control, Inc.
Alternate Recommendations:
1. Move that the Council amend the recommendation and approve Amendment #17 to Contract #20040116.
2. Move that the Council not approve Amendment #17 to Contract #20040116 and provide staff with direction.
Background: The City has utilized vegetation control services for more than 30 years. Traditional mechanical harvesting was found to be cost prohibitive, leading the City to use specialized herbicide applications and biological controls to manage nuisance vegetation within its waterways, stormwater system, and greenways. Continued treatment is necessary to prevent vegetation from obstructing stormwater conveyance and creating public safety concerns.
The Contract also includes the Citywide Bio-Zyme Bacteria Program, which uses beneficial bacteria to improve water quality, reduce sediment and floating vegetation, control odors, and reduce nutrient loads.
Contract #20040116 expires on October 31, 2026. The City is conducting a competitive solicitation for replacement services, but the process will not be completed before the Contract expires. Amendment #17 provides a temporary six-month extension through April 30, 2027, to maintain uninterrupted services during the transition and establishes the pricing applicable during the extension. This is an extension for continuity of services, not a renewal.
Issues/Analysis: Without the extension, the City could experience a gap in vegetation control services while completing the competitive solicitation. During this gap, nuisance and invasive vegetation could spread throughout the City’s waterways, drainage rights-of-way, lakes, ponds, and greenways.
Excessive vegetation growth can restrict stormwater flow, reduce drainage capacity, impair water quality, limit maintenance access, and increase the risk of localized flooding and public safety concerns. A service interruption could also require more intensive and costly treatment once services resume.
The six-month extension will maintain service continuity and allow sufficient time to complete the competitive solicitation and transition to the new contract. Staff reviewed the amended pricing and recommends approval for the temporary extension period.
Financial Information: Funds are appropriated in the Stormwater Utility Fund / Greenbelt & Waterway Maintenance / Aquatic Spraying (#401-4127-534113-00000).
Special Consideration: N/A.
Location of Project: Throughout the City of Port St. Lucie.
Attachments:
1. Amendment #17 Signed.
2. Amendments #1-16.
3. Original Contract.
NOTE: All of the listed items in the “Attachment” section above are in the custody of the City Clerk. Any item(s) not provided in City Council packets are available upon request from the City Clerk.
Internal Reference Number: 26285-06.
Legal Sufficiency Review:
Reviewed by Alyssa Lunin, Senior Deputy City Attorney. Approved as to Legal form and sufficiency by Richard Berrios, City Attorney.