CITY OF POMONA
COUNCIL REPORT
July 6, 2026
To: Honorable Mayor and Members of the City Council
From: Anita D. Scott, City Manager
Submitted By: Meg McWade, Public Works Director
SUBJECT: AWARD OF PROFESSIONAL SERVICES AGREEMENT FOR CITYWIDE TREE MAINTENANCE AND EMERGENCY RESPONSE SERVICES TO MARIPOSA TREE MANAGEMENT, INC.
RECOMMENDATION:
It is recommended that the City Council take the following actions:
Award a three-year contract to Mariposa Tree Management, Inc. to provide citywide tree trimming, maintenance and emergency response services, at prices bid, for an initial three-year term retroactive to July 1, 2026 through June 30, 2029, with the option to extend for up to two additional one-year periods; and Authorize the City Manager, or designee, to execute the agreement with Mariposa Tree Management, Inc. including extra work, and any extensions or amendments thereto, subject to review by the City Attorney.
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY:
Staff recommends awarding an agreement to Mariposa Tree Management, Inc. (Mariposa) for citywide tree trimming, maintenance and emergency response services for a three (3) year term, with the option to renew for up to two (2) additional one-year periods. Routine, grid-cycle tree maintenance helps preserve the health and structure of the City’s urban forest, while as-needed emergency response addresses hazardous tree conditions caused by storms, disease, or other public safety concerns.
SB1439/GOVERNMENT CODE §84308 APPLICABILITY:
☒ When this box is checked, it indicates the agenda item is subject to the Levine Act SB1439 requirements. Councilmembers are reminded to check their campaign contributions and determine whether they have received a campaign contribution of $500 or more that would require disclosure and/or recusal from discussing or acting on this agenda item. Campaign contributions of $500 or more made 1) by any person or entity who is identified in the agenda report as the applicant or proposer or 2) on behalf of the applicant or participant, including a parent, subsidiary or otherwise related business entity, or 3) by any person who has a financial interest in the agenda item requires a councilmember to comply with SB1439.
FISCAL IMPACT:
Funding in the amount of $1,499,680 was budgeted for tree trimming, maintenance and emergency response services in the Adopted FY 2026-27 Operating Budget.
Worktags
Adopted
FY 26-27 Budget
FD101 General Fund | CC4011 Parks Maintenance | Tree Services $ 354,000
FD101 General Fund | CC4011 Parks Maintenance | Contingency Tree Trimming Citywide Extraordinary $ 250,000
FD128 Measure R | CC4021 Street Tree Maintenance | Tree Services $ 154,680
FD208 State Gas Tax | CC4021 Street Tree Maintenance | Tree Services $ 630,000
FD254 Assessment District – University Corporate Center #4 | CC4073 University Corporate Center MD#4 Zone H | Tree Services $ 1,000
FD256 Assessment District – Phillips Ranch Maintenance | CC4073 Phillips Ranch Zones A and B | Tree Services $ 110,000
Total
$1,499,680
Funds for subsequent fiscal years of the agreement will be requested in the annual budget process.
PUBLIC NOTICING REQUIREMENTS:
In accordance with Section 2-993.1(4)a of the City’s Purchasing Ordinance, a Public Notice inviting bids was posted on the City’s electronic bidding platform, PlanetBids, on April 29, 2026 and bids were due on June 10, 2026.
PREVIOUS RELATED ACTION:
On December 15, 2025, the City Council rejected the bids received for that Invitation For Bids (IFB) after Staff review with the City Attorney determined that a Request for Proposals (RFP) was a more appropriate bid approach due to the professional services nature of tree care. The scope of work was modified to include a separate proposal for the Phillips Ranch area, as well as updated models and pricing for multiple service levels to ensure tree care remains within budget.
Due to the City Council rejection of bids for citywide tree trimming, maintenance and emergency response services, Council authorized a six-month extension to the Agreement with WCA to allow time to complete a competitive RFP for long-term tree trimming and maintenance services.
On September 22, 2025, the City issued Invitation for Bid No. 2025-29 for Citywide Tree Maintenance and Emergency Response Services.
On June 16, 2025, the City Council authorized a six-month extension to the agreement with WCA to allow time to complete a competitive Invitation for Bids (IFB) for long-term tree maintenance services.
On September 20, 2021, the City Council approved a three-year base term piggyback contract with WCA, with two optional one-year extensions for tree related services, not to exceed the annual budgeted amount.
DISCUSSION:
The Public Works Department, through its Parks and Facilities Division, is responsible for maintaining trees across parks, streets, and public facilities as part of its commitment to sustaining a healthy and resilient urban forest. Routine tree maintenance is essential to promote tree health, reduce long-term maintenance costs, and mitigate risks associated with falling limbs or tree failures. Emergency response services are also a critical component, ensuring the City can respond quickly to storm damage, disease, or other urgent tree-related safety hazards.
On April 29, 2026, the City issued Request for Proposal No. 2026-17 (RFP) for Citywide Tree Maintenance and Emergency Response Services to 205 firms via PlanetBids. Thirty-six firms downloaded the RFP and eight bids were submitted. Two bids were deemed non-responsive by the Purchasing Division and as such, six proposals were evaluated based on overall project approach, qualifications, prior experience, technical merit, and price reasonableness. After a comprehensive evaluation, Mariposa was determined to be the most qualified and responsible bidder. Reference checks have been completed with positive feedback received from other cities.
Citywide Tree Maintenance and Emergency Response Services RFP No: 2026-17
Rank
Firm
Score
1 Mariposa Tree Management, Inc.
211.20
2 West Coast Arborists, Inc.
200.01
3 Great Scott Tree Service
177.01
4 North Star Land Care
154.73
5 Golden West Arbor Services Inc.
149.58
6 Tiger Tree Services, Inc.
140.00
Mariposa’s proposal demonstrated the strongest overall understanding of the City’s urban forestry objectives and maintenance standards. While the RFP established a citywide grid-based maintenance program for all City trees, including those in the Phillips Ranch Assessment District and Vehicle Parking District, which currently are trimmed on an as-needed basis, Mariposa’s proposal most closely aligned with the Level A service standards defined by the City Arborist. By comparison, other proposers defined a pruning methodology based on removing approximately 25 percent of canopy growth, which differed from the City’s prescribed maintenance standards. Mariposa was also the only proposer to address the City’s request for a Phillips Ranch Assessment District fire mitigation strategy and will provide a prioritized work plan within thirty days of contract execution.
In addition, the new agreement will increase Palm maintenance from a five-year cycle to a two-year grid trim cycle while maintaining the City’s Chinese Elm inventory grid trim on a two-year cycle.
The annual cost of the Citywide Level A grid trim maintenance program is $962,899 for Year One of the agreement, leaving sufficient funding within the approved budget to address emergency storm response, hazardous tree removals, tree planting and watering, out-of-cycle pruning, and other unforeseen tree maintenance needs. This approach expands proactive tree maintenance coverage while preserving flexibility to address priority and emergency services throughout the year.
The current agreement with WCA for Citywide Tree Trimming, Maintenance and Emergency Response Services expired on June 30, 2026. To ensure continuity of service, Staff recommends City Council authorize the City Manager, or designee, to execute the attached retroactive agreement with Mariposa (Attachment No. 1) to start on July 1, 2026.
Prepared by:
Lindsay McElwain
Acting Public Works Fiscal and Project Manager
ATTACHMENTS:
Attachment No. 1 - Mariposa Tree Management Agreement
Award of Citywide Tree Trimming, Maintenance and Emergency Response Services