Placement: Consent Agenda
Action Requested: Motion / Vote
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Approve Contract #20250194 for Yard Waste Processing and Disposal Services with Nature’s Keeper, Inc.
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Submitted By: Alaina Knofla, Acting Procurement Manager, Procurement Management Department (PMD).
Strategic Plan Link: The City's Goal of a high-performing city government organization.
Summary Brief (Agreements/Contracts only)
1. Prepared by: Alaina Knofla, Acting Procurement Manager (PMD).
2. Parties: City of Port St. Lucie and Nature’s Keeper, Inc.
3. Purpose: The project’s objective is to reduce yard waste processing fees by contracting with a third-party provider to receive, process, and manage the City’s yard waste materials. The selected vendor will support daily yard waste disposal operations and disaster response needs.
4. New/Renewal/Modified: New.
5. Duration: October 1, 2025, and will terminate in five (5) years on September 30, 2030. The City also has the option to begin services up to one month earlier (September 1, 2025) by providing notice to the vendor. There is also the option for one, five-year renewal.
6. Benefits to Port St. Lucie: Outsourcing all or a part of this service will ensure service continuity, cost efficiency as well as comply with the City’s environmental regulations.
7. Cost to Port St. Lucie (Annual and Potential): Prior to scales in place: $125/load. After scales in place: $28.00/ton. Estimated expenditure is $600,000.00 annually.
Presentation Information: N/A.
Staff Recommendation: Move that the Council waive the bidding, per Chapter 35.08(a)(24)(a), for Yard Waste Processing and Disposal Services with Nature’s Keeper.
Alternate Recommendations:
1. Move that the Council amend the recommendation and approve Contract #20250194 with Nature’s Keeper.
2. Move that the Council not approve Contract #20250194 with Nature’s Keeper and provide staff with direction.
Background: On November 4, 2024, the City received a letter from St. Lucie County regarding the non-renewal of the current contract Interlocal Agreement for disposal at the county landfill. Subsequently, the County provided a rate increase for all types of debris created within the City’s municipal boundaries. As a way to mitigate the increase to the solid waste residential non-ad valorem assessment a new designated vegetative disposal facility was identified. Current disposal facility St. Lucie County Sanitary Landfill increased per ton vegetative rates from $31.20 to $59.00.
Issues/Analysis: Staff has reviewed the price list provided by Nature’s Keeper and finds it acceptable. This Contract with Nature’s Keeper also permits the City to preserve the current rates in the Franchise Agreement with the City’s waste hauler, FCC Environmental Services Florida, LLC, based on the terms for designated drop-off facilities in that agreement.
Financial Information: Solid Waste Collection Fund/620-3400-534000-00000.
Special Consideration: N/A.
Location of Project: Various areas throughout the City of Port St. Lucie.
Attachments:
1. Contract #20250194.
2. Sole Source Justification.
3. Approved Sole Source Report Checklist.
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: 25177-04.
Legal Sufficiency Review:
Reviewed by Alyssa Lunin, Senior Deputy City Attorney. Approved as to Legal form and sufficiency by Richard Berrios, City Attorney.