City Council Agenda Report
August 4, 2026
TO: Honorable City Council
FROM: Jesus M. Gomez, City Manager
BY: Albert Mendoza, P.E., Director of Public Services/City Engineer Damian Rosales, Public Services Superintendent
Gabriela Garcia, Senior Management Analyst
SUBJECT: AWARD CONTRACT FOR CITYWIDE TREE MAINTENANCE SERVICES Background:
In April 2026, the City released an Invitation for Bid (IFB) for qualified contractors to provide Citywide tree maintenance services. The successful contractor shall be responsible for performing and completing all citywide tree maintenance work in a thorough and professional manner, and shall provide all labor, tools, equipment, materials, and supplies necessary to complete the work in keeping with the City’s cycle and ad hoc pruning requirements and requests.
Furthermore, the successful contractor shall deliver a level of quality that is compatible with International Society of Arboriculture (ISA) standards, American National Standards Institute (ANSI) criteria and the standards and requirements described herein in providing tree services.
All work performed shall comply with arboreal practices within the industry for the particular species of tree being maintained.
Additional scope of services include, but limited to, the following:
•Supervision: Supervisor present at each job site and accessible to the City via telephone during the business hours of the work being executed. Contractor shall have an ISA Certified Tree worker or Arborist on staff at all times to supervise all tree maintenance services conducted at any time.
•Workforce: A standard crew of three employees, one chipper and truck, one aerial tower, and all necessary hand tools for each applicable job task. Contractor shall provide specialty trainings, such as Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR), Electrical Hazards
City Council August 4, 2026
Citywide Tree Maintenance Services Page No. 2
1 9
4 6
Awareness Program (EHAP), Aerial Rescues, and Traffic Control; conduct weekly tailgate meetings.
•Database: A record-keeping system consisting of an Internet-based software program that allows the City to maintain information about the City’s tree population, including the description of each tree by species, drought tolerance, natural habitat, height, diameter, work history, photographs, and tree planting site location. •Traffic Control: All construction signs to be used on the job site and on the approaches to the job site shall conform to those standards set forth by the State of California, Business and Transportation Agency, Department of Transportation, Manual of Traffic Controls, latest edition and WATCH (Work Area Traffic Control Handbook). •Emergency Work: Contractor shall provide the City with 24-hour emergency phone numbers and names of at least two (2) assigned individuals to be contacted in case of an emergency or call out.
•Clean-Up and Best Management Practices: Clean all job sites when work is completed, including the raking of leaves, twigs, etc. from the lawns and parkways and the sweeping of streets.
•Disposal of Materials: All tree branches produced as a result of the operations will be reduced, reused, recycled, and/or transformed.
Six firms responded to the IFB with the following results:
Contractor Name Annual Bid Price
North Star Land Care $ 530,406
Mariposa Tree Management, Inc. $ 639,459
United Pacific Services, Inc. $ 702,958
West Coast Arborist, Inc. $ 705,762
Great Scott Tree Service, Inc. $ 830,101
SGD Enterprise dba Four Seasons Landscaping $ 1,002,897 North Star Land Care, State of California Contractors State License Board License #1034669, C27-Landscaping Contractor, C49-Tree and Palm Contractor and D49-Tree Service Contractor, of Downey is the lowest responsive and responsible bidder for all categories listed in the solicitation Bid Form which exercised by the City for citywide tree maintenance services. All other items listed in the Bid Form are tasks that could be exercised should the City elect to do so.
North Star Land Care currently provides citywide tree maintenance services, which includes grid pruning, tree removals, emergency response services, tree risk assessments, for the Cities of Commerce, El Monte, Hawthorne, and Lynwood; and for the Little Lake City School District in the City of Santa Fe Springs. References indicated a high level of satisfaction with their scope of work performed, adherence to safety guidelines, field operations and communications, and community engagement.
City Council August 4, 2026
Citywide Tree Maintenance Services Page No. 3
1 9
4 6
Additional North Star Land Care highlights include, but limited to, are as follows:
•Contractor can start the tree trimming project within 10 working days of award of contract or as to be determined by the City. Prior to commencing work, submit and gain approval of a weekly work schedule indicating the order, location, and completion of work based on the information provided by the City representative or grounds supervisor. •Notification to the City of the work schedule on a daily and weekly basis. The schedule will be submitted for approval in writing at least 48 hours prior to the commencement of any tree work in the City or as directed by the City representative and grounds supervisor. •Notification to residents 72 hours in advance prior to restricting street parking or access to work area and will post “No-Parking” signs with the date of work to be performed including notification of tree trimming on each sign 72 hours in advance of operations. •Any activities found by the City to be unacceptable will be rectified immediately. All other complaints shall be abated within 24 hours of occurrence by the Contractor. •The City will have access to the gathered tree data information, which will be integrated into its geographical information system (GIS).
•Dedicated tree removal crew available for citywide removals with tree stumps removed within 48 hours.
•Regularly scheduled updates with the City to address trees whose regrowth rate outpaces the scheduled grid pruning cycle, meaning the tree grows back into the clearance zone well before its next scheduled trim thereby requiring an unplanned, mid-cycle tree pruning service.
•Community Outreach: Participation at City events that promote long-term value of urban forestry, education outreach relating to the City’s green canopy and engagement through tree plantings and community clean up efforts.
•Wildlife Protection Plan: Should North Star Land Care field operations come across any birds, nests, feathers, eggs, etc., they are to stop any tree work immediately and NOT touch or remove it themselves. They have also been instructed to notify their supervisor immediately so that he/she can notify the City officials and make the proper determinations.
The City is divided into 10-Tree Districts, of which specific Districts are pruned every 3-years and is keeping with industry standards. As outlined in the solicitation, the proposed 6-year term for a contract provides cohesion to ensure that all Districts are serviced during the term of the contract.
City Council August 4, 2026
Citywide Tree Maintenance Services Page No. 4
1 9
4 6
Fiscal Impact:
The FY 2026/27 proposed budget includes continued funding for citywide tree maintenance services.
Citizens Advised:
N/A
Strategic Plan 2023 Implementation:
N/A
Recommended Action:
Staff recommend City Council award a contract to North Star Land Care, to provide citywide tree maintenance services for an initial term of six-years, effective date of contact through June 30, 2032, with the option to extend for two additional three-year periods; and authorize the City Manager to execute the contract and any amendments; provided there is funding in the budget and it is within the City Manager’s signing authority; on behalf of the City, in a form approved by the City Attorney.
Attachments:
North Star Land Care proposal