The City Council has approved the new three-year project for the management of parks and gardens, a contract worth nearly €7 million that puts an end to the old system of limited-access projects.
The major innovation, as Environment Councilor Romina Mura explains, is the "flexibility of the project." In practice , the areas to be treated can vary as the project progresses based on needs, and new services and processes not initially envisioned can be added. This project "arises from optimizing the experience of the previous tender, implementing best practices and addressing critical issues, with a significant focus on environmental aspects and water conservation. And with a comprehensive vision of the city's green heritage, finally surveyed and geo-referenced," she explains after last night's approval from the City Council.
The working method has changed: management has shifted from a fixed number of passes to one based on actual needs, expanding or contracting based on the growing season. The much-discussed limit has been abolished: shrubs and hedges will be maintained whenever shoots exceed 25 cm in length, and lawns will be maintained when the grass exceeds 8 cm in height.
Furthermore, all necessary maintenance activities will be carried out in the areas covered by the contract, including pruning, mowing, and fertilizing. For example, the previous contract excluded the pruning of trees over 4 meters, which was not included in the fee, resulting in uncertainty and increased time and costs. Furthermore, frequent tree stability checks and inspections of dog areas with monthly disinfestations in the summer will be required.
An emergency response team is also planned—with an on-call team able to arrive within 30 minutes during business hours and within one hour after hours, including holidays, even on private land in the event of a public safety risk—and a computerized management system will record every green space, tree, and furniture, and record work, which can be updated in real time. The municipal administration assures that maximum attention will also be paid to the coastal greenery, "for which an entire LavoRas construction site will be dedicated. This project envisages an increase in the overall number of workers, with the hiring of specialized workers led by the Environment department." Also planned is the enhancement of the green space on Via Goceano and, if necessary, additional resources for pruning.