In May 2022, the City Council approved American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funding for the Parks and Recreation Department, with $1,900,000 dedicated to cattail removal/dredging. The Parks and Recreation Department held multiple meetings with City Management and staff from other departments, including Engineering and Water, to determine the best course of action. Through collaboration, staff determined that establishing a baseline cattail management plan would be an essential first step in beginning the cattail mitigation and dredging process. Cattail growth has taken over a significant portion of the Jim Bertram Canyon Lakes System and has become a detriment to the experience of users of the City lakes and parks. Spreading across 28 acres, cattail species extend across 11 public areas: Lake 1, Lake 2, Creek 1, Lake 3, Creek 2, Creek 4, Lake 4, Creek 5, Creek 6, Lake 5 and Lake 6. The Parks and Recreation Department issued a Request for Proposals (RFP) to complete this project. In response to RFP 24-17844-TF, a sole response was received from PondMedics, Inc., of Gunter, Texas, for $719,180.61. The Parks and Recreation Department Staff recommend award of Professional Services Agreement 17844 to the sole proposer, PondMedics, Inc., for $719,180.61, for Cattail Removal and Control. |