STAFF REPORT
Meeting Date:
June 23, 2026
Consent
15 SUBJECT: AWARD OF CONTRACT TO BURNBOT, INC. FOR FUEL MODIFICATION ZONE 19 IMPLEMENTATION SERVICES AND APPROVAL OF AMENDMENT
TO AGREEMENT WITH LAGUNA CANYON FOUNDATION FOR ENHANCED
BIOLOGICAL MONITORING AND REPORTING
RECOMMENDATION: It is recommended that the City Council:
1. Award and authorize the City Manager to execute a contract with BurnBot Inc. (BurnBot) in the amount of $208,824 for implementation of Fuel Modification Zone 19 (FMZ 19);
2. Approve and authorize the City Manager to execute Amendment No. 1 to the Professional Services Agreement with Laguna Canyon Foundation in the amount of $20,124 for enhanced biological monitoring, mapping, and reporting services associated with FMZ 19 implementation; and
3. Find that the recommended actions are within the scope of the environmental review previously completed for the Lower Hobo and Diamond Crestview Fuel Modification Project (FMZs 16 and 19), that no further environmental review is required pursuant to CEQA Guidelines Sections 15162 and 15168, and that the project is further statutorily exempt from the California Environmental Quality Act ("CEQA") pursuant to Public Resources Code Section 21080(b)(4) and CEQA Guidelines Section 15269(c) as specific actions necessary to prevent or mitigate a wildfire emergency.
SUMMARY OF THE MATTER
This report recommends awarding a Professional Services Agreement to BurnBot, Inc. for the implementation of Fuel Modification Zone 19 (FMZ 19), a new fuel modification zone located within the Diamond/Crestview area, and approving an amendment to the City's agreement with Laguna Canyon Foundation (LCF) for enhanced biological monitoring and reporting services associated with project implementation.
FMZ 19 consists of approximately 26.9 acres of previously untreated vegetation located adjacent to residential development within a Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zone. The project will reduce wildfire risk by establishing defensible space, reducing fuel continuity, removing invasive vegetation, and implementing fuel modification treatments in accordance with the City's approved Fuel Modification Zone Treatment Protocol and applicable environmental permit requirements.
To implement the project, the City issued Request for Proposals (RFP) FD-26-004 seeking qualified contractors to perform the required vegetation reduction services. Multiple proposals were received and evaluated based on contractor qualifications, project approach, environmental considerations, and cost.
Following evaluation of the proposals, staff determined that BurnBot provides the best overall value to the City and is capable of completing the project in accordance with all operational and environmental requirements.
AWARD OF CONTRACT TO BURNBOT, INC. FOR FUEL MODIFICATION ZONE 19
IMPLEMENTATION SERVICES AND APPROVAL OF AMENDMENT TO AGREEMENT
WITH LAGUNA CANYON FOUNDATION FOR ENHANCED BIOLOGICAL MONITORING
AND REPORTING
June 23, 2026
The report also recommends approval of an amendment to the City's existing agreement with Laguna Canyon Foundation in an amount not to exceed $20,124 to provide enhanced biological monitoring, mapping, invasive species tracking, and reporting services during project implementation. These services will ensure compliance with permit requirements and provide documentation of project outcomes.
DISCUSSION
Background
The City maintains a comprehensive wildfire mitigation program intended to reduce wildfire risk throughout the Wildland Urban Interface (WUI). Fuel Modification Zones (FMZs) are a critical component of the City's wildfire mitigation strategy and are designed to reduce fuel loading adjacent to developed areas while maintaining environmental stewardship and habitat protection.
FMZ 19 was identified as a priority wildfire mitigation project due to its location immediately adjacent to residential neighborhoods in the Diamond/Crestview area. The project area contains approximately 26.9 acres of unmanaged vegetation and has not previously undergone fuel modification treatment.
The project will establish a new fuel modification zone through selective vegetation thinning, removal of invasive species, reduction of ladder fuels, pruning, and disposal or processing of vegetation in accordance with City standards and environmental permit requirements.
Request for Proposals
On April 29, 2026, the City issued Request for Proposals (RFP) FD-26-004 seeking qualified contractors to implement FMZ 19. Proposals were received from multiple firms and reviewed by City staff.
In addition to proposals received through the competitive solicitation process, Nature's Image, Inc., the City's current wildfire mitigation contractor, submitted a proposed amendment to its existing agreement offering to perform FMZ 19 for a revised amount of $845,075, representing an approximate ten percent reduction from the previously allocated FMZ 19 cost of $939,066. Although Nature's Image's proposal provided a reduction from the originally anticipated cost, staff determined that the proposal did not provide sufficient cost savings to be competitive with the proposals received through the solicitation process.
Proposal costs are summarized below:
Proposer Cost
BurnBot $208,824
Summitt Forests $158,549
Blaze Blockers $667,325
Julian Tree Care $342,000
Singh Group $776,093
West Coast Arborists $387,360
AWARD OF CONTRACT TO BURNBOT, INC. FOR FUEL MODIFICATION ZONE 19
IMPLEMENTATION SERVICES AND APPROVAL OF AMENDMENT TO AGREEMENT
WITH LAGUNA CANYON FOUNDATION FOR ENHANCED BIOLOGICAL MONITORING
AND REPORTING
June 23, 2026
Proposer Cost
Nature's Image (Contract Amendment Proposal) $845,075
Staff evaluated each proposal based on contractor qualifications, project approach, environmental compliance, operational capabilities, project schedule, and cost. While Summitt Forests submitted the lowest-cost proposal, staff determined that BurnBot's proposal provided the best overall value based on its proposed treatment methodology, project approach, environmental considerations, and demonstrated experience performing similar wildfire mitigation projects.
Laguna Canyon Foundation Monitoring Amendment
Implementation of FMZ 19 by BurnBot will require enhanced biological oversight to ensure compliance with environmental permits, mitigation measures, and project-specific environmental requirements. The City currently utilizes Laguna Canyon Foundation to provide environmental monitoring and invasive species management support associated with its fuel modification program.
To support implementation of FMZ 19, staff recommends approval of an amendment to the existing agreement with Laguna Canyon Foundation in an amount not to exceed $20,124. Services provided under the amendment include:
• Project oversight and coordination;
• Biological monitoring during implementation activities; • Mapping and monitoring of special-status and invasive plant species; • Continued monitoring through the Calflora system;
• End-of-season vegetation surveys and monitoring; and
• Preparation of an end-of-season monitoring report documenting treatment outcomes and vegetation conditions.
The proposed amendment will provide the additional biological oversight necessary to ensure that implementation of FMZ 19 remains consistent with permit requirements and environmental commitments while documenting the effectiveness of the fuel modification treatments.
FINANCIAL ANALYSIS
AWARD OF CONTRACT TO BURNBOT, INC. FOR FUEL MODIFICATION ZONE 19
IMPLEMENTATION SERVICES AND APPROVAL OF AMENDMENT TO AGREEMENT
WITH LAGUNA CANYON FOUNDATION FOR ENHANCED BIOLOGICAL MONITORING
AND REPORTING
June 23, 2026
Funding for the proposed BurnBot agreement and the Laguna Canyon Foundation amendment is available within existing wildfire mitigation funds previously budgeted for implementation of FMZ 19. Under the City's existing agreement with Nature's Image, FMZ 19 was originally allocated $939,066. During the solicitation process, Nature's Image submitted a proposed contract amendment reducing the cost of FMZ 19 implementation to $845,075. While the proposal represented a reduction from the originally budgeted amount, staff determined that greater value and cost savings could be achieved through the competitive solicitation process. The recommended BurnBot agreement, combined with the proposed $20,124 amendment to the Laguna Canyon Foundation agreement, will allow the City to complete FMZ 19 at a substantially lower cost than both the originally budgeted amount and the revised proposal submitted by Nature's Image, while maintaining all required wildfire mitigation and environmental protection objectives.
As a result, the City will realize significant cost savings compared to the originally anticipated implementation cost, and no additional appropriation is required.
ENVIRONMENTAL ANALYSIS
The proposed project was previously evaluated as part of the Lower Hobo and Diamond Crestview Fuel Modification Project (FMZs 16 and 19) and is consistent with the Mitigated Negative Declaration and associated environmental permitting completed for that project. The recommended actions consist solely of implementing the previously approved FMZ 19 fuel modification activities and do not constitute a substantial change to the approved project. No changes to the project, circumstances, or environmental impacts have occurred that would require subsequent environmental review. Accordingly, no further environmental review is required pursuant to CEQA Guidelines Sections 15162 and 15168. In addition, the project consists of vegetation management activities undertaken for the purpose of reducing wildfire hazards and protecting life and property. The project is therefore statutorily exempt from CEQA pursuant to Public Resources Code Section 21080(b)(4) and CEQA Guidelines Section 15269(c), which exempt specific actions necessary to prevent or mitigate an emergency.
ATTACHMENTS
1. Request for Proposals FD-26-004 – Wildfire Mitigation Vegetation Reduction Services (Pgs. 5-278)
2. BurnBot Proposal (Pgs. 279-291)
3. Professional Services Agreement with BurnBot (Pgs. 292-317)
4. Laguna Canyon Foundation Amendment (Pgs. 318-321)
Submitted By:
. Approved: .David A Kiff
Niko King, Fire Chief Dave Kiff, City Manager
Report Prepared By: Coordinated With:
AWARD OF CONTRACT TO BURNBOT, INC. FOR FUEL MODIFICATION ZONE 19
IMPLEMENTATION SERVICES AND APPROVAL OF AMENDMENT TO AGREEMENT
WITH LAGUNA CANYON FOUNDATION FOR ENHANCED BIOLOGICAL MONITORING
AND REPORTING
June 23, 2026
Kirsten Gallacher, Senior Administrative
Analyst
Chris Gort, Fire Safety Inspector
Patrick Donegan, Assistant City Attorney