APPROVED AS TO FORM AND LEGALITY
___________________________
CITY ATTORNEY’S OFFICE
OAKLAND CITY COUNCIL
RESOLUTION NO. ______________ C.M.S.
RESOLUTION: (A) AWARDING A CONTRACT FOR TREE
MAINTENANCE SERVICES TO WEST COAST ARBORISTS,
INCORPORATED, THE LOWEST RESPONSIVE AND RESPONSIBLE
BIDDER, IN AN AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED THREE MILLION FIVE
HUNDRED THOUSAND DOLLARS ($3,500,000) FOR THREE YEARS
WITH AN OPTION TO EXTEND THE CO NTRACT FOR UP TO TWO
ADDITIONAL YEARS ; AND (B) ADOPTING APPROPRIATE
CALIFORNIA ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY ACT FINDINGS
WHEREAS, trees are public infrastructure that have a positive impact on people and wildlife because they improve air quality by producing oxygen and reducing air pollution, reduce water pollution and flooding by capturing stormwater, improve soil structure and reduce erosion with their root systems, combat climate change by sequestering and storing carbon, and reduce the urban heat island effect by lowering ambient air temperatures; and
WHEREAS, Oakland’s street trees have not received routine pruning since 2008 or earlier, resulting in overgrown trees, preventable limb and tree failures, and dissatisfied community members; and
WHEREAS, in December 2024, the City Council adopted Oakland’s first Urban Forest Plan (Resolution No. 90547 C.M.S.), an equity -focused strategy for restoring and growing a healthy and equitably distributed urban forest; and
WHEREAS, in May 2024, the City Council adopted a resolution authorizing the City Administrator to apply for, accept, and appropriate eight million dollars ($8,000,000) in Inflation Reduction Act funding from the United States Department of Agriculture Forest Service to help meet the goals and objectives of the Urban Forest Plan by planting trees with non -profit partners and contracting with a professional tree service provider through a competitive bid process to maintain public trees in Oakland’s highest-priority communities (Resolution No. 90216 C.M.S.); and
WHEREAS, the Department of Work place and Employment Standards set the local or small local business enterprise requirement to zero percent after conducting an availability analysis and finding that no current registered local or small loca l business enterprises can do the work required in the solicitation, but Oakland businesses were encouraged to submit bids or be included as subcontractors; and
2 WHEREAS, this solicitation was exempt from the City’s Local and Small Local Business Enterprise program because it is funded by a federal grant and subject to federal laws on how the funding can be distributed; and
WHEREAS, a request for qualifications for a tree maintenance contract (RFQ No. 345532) was issued and West Coast Arborists, Incorporated, was deemed the lowest responsive and responsible bidder; and
WHEREAS, the federal Inflation Reduction Act funding for this contract is available in Fund 2101, Organization 30654, Project 1007512; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED: That the City Council awards a three-year tree maintenance contract to West Coast Arborists, Incorporated, in an amount not to exceed three million and five hundred thousand dollars ($3,500,000) and the City Administrator is authorized to extend this contract up to two additional years at no additional cost; and be it
FURTHER RESOLVED: That the City Administrator is hereby authorized to approve and execute any subsequent amendments or modifications of the contra ct within the limitation of the project specifications, extensions, payment requests, application for permits, and agreements and execute all related actions for the completion of the project without returning to the City Council; and be it
FURTHER RESOLVED: That the City Council finds and determines that the performance of this contract shall not result in the loss of employment or salary by any person having permanent status in the competitive service; and be it
FURTHER RESOLVED: That the contract shall be approved as to form and legality by the City Attorney and copies shall be on file in the City Clerk’s Office; and be it
FURTHER RESOLVED: That the City Council finds that the contracted work is exempt from the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) pursuant to CEQA Guidelines Section 15304, Class 4 (Minor Alterations to Land) because it involves minor alterations to the condition of land, water, and/or vegetation that do not involve the removal of healthy, mature, or scenic trees.
IN COUNCIL, OAKLAND, CALIFORNIA,
PASSED BY THE FOLLOWING VOTE:
AYES - BROWN, FIFE, GALLO, HOUSTON, RAMACHANDRAN, UNGER, WANG, AND
PRESIDENT JENKINS
NOES –
ABSENT –
ABSTENTION –
ATTEST:
ASHA REED
City Clerk and Clerk of the Council of the
City of Oakland, California
3425236/AS