City Council Approves Landscape Agreement for Green Ribbon Program

02-18-2013

Denise Bell
Post Managing Editor

At the last meeting of the Forney City Council, Assistant City Manager, Gina Nash and Public Works Director, Chris Metz, requested approval for a Landscape Maintenance Agreement with TxDOT, and then discussed funding needed for the city’s participation in the Texas Green Ribbon Program.

Asst. City Manager Nash explained, “In order for the city to perform the required landscape maintenance on the FM 741 Pass Through Toll Project, the city must execute a Landscape Maintenance Agreement with TxDOT and in this agreement the City agrees to provide the maintenance of all elements of the landscape within the right of way and including the median areas.”

Nash detailed that the city’s responsibilities would include mowing, trimming, irrigation maintenance and any other duties that are related to the landscaped areas. The cost of the maintenance can be absorbed in the regular operating budget within the Public Works and Parks Departments.

Asst. City Manager Nash explained that the funding of the State’s Green Ribbon Program is contingent upon the city taking responsibility for the maintenance of the landscaped areas and that approval of the Landscape Maintenance Agreement with TxDOT allows city staff the legal ability to perform this maintenance.

Joining Asst. City Manager Nash at the podium, Director of Public Works, Chris Metz next informed the Council about the Green Ribbon Program’s Advance Funding Agreement for the funding on the FM 741 Project.

Director Metz said “As you will recall, on the FM 741 Pass Through Project the decision was made to install drought tolerant vegetation in the medians instead of large quantities of stamped concrete to provide for improved aesthetics.”

Reportedly after design and cost estimates were provided to the City by the landscape architect, city staff sought ways to find savings on the project. City staff approached TxDOT about the possibility of using funding from the State’s Green Ribbon Program and the TxDOT Dallas District agreed that the FM 741 project would qualify fro funding if TxDOT could find savings in other area projects that were already in progress.

Director Metz said, “In September 2012, we were notified by the Dallas District that one of the larger projects was postponed, and that we would be able to utilize that funding for the FM 741 project.”

The Green Ribbon Program is limited to landscape planting and some of the elements needed to support the plant material. The City of Forney will be responsible for the material in the construction that is non-vegetation related, such as crushed granite.

According the Director Metz “the City’s cost for this project will be $31,181.04 and TxDOT will fund the majority of the project and their estimated cost will be $371,037.66.”

The Forney City Council, less absent Council Member, Robbie Powers, unanimously voted to approve the new Landscape Maintenance Agreement and the funding for the city’s participation in the Texas Green Ribbon Program.