DEPARTMENT: Parks
FILE TYPE: Consent Action
TITLE
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Authorization To Award Bid And Execute Contract With Alex’s Lawn And Turf LLC, dba DreamScapes Landscape and Design To Provide General Contractor Services For Pollinator Promenade And Daylit Stream Project At Thompson County Park
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PURPOSE/ACTION REQUESTED
Authorize award and execute a contract with Alex’s Lawn and Turf LLC, dba DreamScapes Landscape and Design to provide general contractor services for the Pollinator Promenade and Daylit Stream Project as part of the Thompson County Park Phase II Master Plan Improvements project.
SUMMARY
The Thompson County Park Master Plan was approved by the Dakota County Board by Resolution No. 20-037 (January 21, 2020).
Per the 2020 Master Plan, the Pollinator Promenade and Daylit Stream Project is an environmental education project. It will add an accessible, natural surface trail between Thompson Lake and Emerson Pond. The Pollinator Promenade will educate the public on the importance of pollinators and will connect parkgoers with nature through plantings that engage the senses. Interpretative panels along the walkway will guide that sensory connection. The Daylit Stream component of the project will create a new stream channel that will have ecological benefits, including sediment and nutrient reduction and an increase in habitat. The native vegetation will provide soil stability and water retention, and filtration.
Additionally, the project will regrade a portion of the existing paved trail to reduce the slope of the trail in order to meet accessibility guidelines, and it will formalize a neighborhood access point with a curb-cut and accessible trail.
Construction documents were prepared by Hoisington Koegler Group Inc. (HKGi) and advertised for bid on June 17, 2025. Seven bids were received on July 22, 2025. See attached Bid Tabulation for full results. The lowest responsible and responsive bidder is Alex’s Lawn and Turf LLC, dba DreamScapes Landscape and Design (DreamScapes). The lowest three bidders were as follows:
Bidder: DreamScapes Sunram Construction Max Steininger
Roseville, MN Corcoran, MN Eagan, MN
Base Bid: $460,395.60 $574,191 $627,000
Alt. 1: $57,898.08 $51,365 $57,000
Alt. 2: $38,613.62 $19,030 $32,000
Alt. 3: $25,508.21 $79,400 $37,000
Total: $582,415.51 $723,986 $753,000
Three alternates were used to support the bidding outcome. Alternate One would provide lighting along the pathway. Alternate Two would increase the number of plants included in the project; in lieu of plantings, the project included seeding in these areas as part of the base bid. Alternate Three added in a new neighborhood connection point between the River to River Greenway, the Pollinator Promenade, and Sperl Street.
By Resolution No. 24-174 (March 26, 2024), the County Board authorized submission of grant applications to the Legislative-Citizen Commission on Minnesota Resources (LCCMR) program for multiple projects identified in County plans, and authorized the County Manager, or their designee, to accept the grant(s) if awarded and execute the grant agreement. Funding from LCCMR specifically lists this Thompson County Park project.
RECOMMENDATION
recommendation
Staff recommends the base bid and all three alternates for the Pollinator Promenade be awarded to Alex’s Lawn and Turf LLC, dba DreamScapes Landscape and Design (DreamScapes) in an amount not to exceed $582,415.51. The base bid is 39 percent lower than the last engineer’s estimate and falls within the project budget.
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EXPLANATION OF FISCAL/FTE IMPACTS
The County Board authorized an application for this project in 2024 and the County received $867,000 from the Legislative-Citizen Commission on Minnesota Resources (LCCMR) in 2025. The 2025 Parks Capital Improvement Program includes a County-match of $216,750 for a total construction budget of $1,083,750.
☐ None ☒ Current budget ☐ Other
☐ Amendment Requested ☐ New FTE(s) requested
RESOLUTION
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WHEREAS, the approved 2020 Thompson County Park Master Plan identified additional improvements for the park; and
WHEREAS, the Pollinator Promenade and Daylit Stream Project will add a natural surface trail and sensory-engaging plantings and will daylight a stream; and
WHEREAS, the County contracted with Hoisington Koegler Group Inc. (HKGi) to prepare final design documents, which were completed in June 2025; and
WHEREAS, seven competitive bids were received on July 22, 2025; and
WHEREAS, Alex’s Lawn and Turf LLC, dba DreamScapes Landscape and Design (DreamScapes) submitted a bid of $582,415.51; and
WHEREAS, staff and HKGi reviewed the qualifications of the bidder and recommend award to DreamScapes as the lowest responsive and responsible bidder in an amount not to exceed $582,415.51 for the Pollinator Promenade and Daylit Stream Project.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, That the Dakota County Board of Commissioners hereby authorizes the Facilities Management Director to execute a contract with Alex’s Lawn and Turf LLC, dba DreamScapes Landscape and Design, 641 Heinel Drive, Roseville, MN 55113, in an amount not to exceed $582,415.51 for the Pollinator Promenade and Daylit Stream Project.
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PREVIOUS BOARD ACTION
20-037; 01/21/20
24-174; 03/26/24
ATTACHMENTS
Attachment: Bid Tabulation
BOARD GOALS
☐ Thriving People ☐ A Healthy Environment with Quality Natural Resources
☐ A Successful Place for Business and Jobs ☒ Excellence in Public Service
CONTACT
Department Head: Niki Geisler
Author: Christina Lundgren