September 16, 2025
TO: City Council
REQUESTED BY: Preston Sullens, Superintendent
APPROVED BY: Robert A. Johnson, City Manager
SUBJECT: Playground Demolition and Construction for Tamarisk Park, Col Lewis Millett Park, and Stallions
RECOMMENDATION:
Staff recommends that the City Council:
1. Find that the Playground Equipment Replacement Project is categorically exempt from the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) pursuant to CEQA Guidelines Sections 15301 (Existing Facilities) and 15302 (Replacement or Reconstruction);
2. Award the construction contract for the Playground Demolition and Construction Project at Tamarisk Park, Colonel Lewis Millett Park, and Stallions Crossing Park to the lowest responsive and responsible bidder, Western State Builders, Inc., in the amount of $362,262;
3. Reject all other bids received for this project;
4. Allocate 10% ($36,226) of the total bid for construction contingencies; and
5. Authorize the City Manager to execute a Construction Agreement with Western State Builders, Inc. subject to review and approval by the City Attorney.
BACKGROUND:
As part of the City’s commitment to maintaining high-quality public parks and recreation facilities, staff developed a plan to replace the aging playground structures at Tamarisk Park, Colonel Lewis Millett Park, and Stallions Crossing Park. These playgrounds have long served their neighborhoods but have now reached or exceeded their useful lifespans.
Staff issued a Request for Proposals (RFP) on April 9, 2025, for the procurement of playground equipment. This step was necessary to first select the specific equipment and obtain the manufacturer’s technical specifications, installation diagrams, and layout details needed to prepare construction-level bid documents. For that reason, the project was structured as a twopart process: an initial RFP for equipment purchase, followed by a separate public works bid for demolition, site preparation, and installation services.
Following the competitive procurement process, the City Council approved a contract with Pacific Play Systems, Inc. on June 17, 2025, to design and furnish customized playground equipment for all three parks. The contract included detailed plans, installation diagrams, and layout specifications, all fully compliant with CPSC, ASTM, and ADA standards.
DISCUSSION:
With the equipment procurement phase complete, the City advanced to the second part of the process and, on August 12, 2025, issued a formal public works bid for demolition and replacement of the playground equipment at Tamarisk Park, Colonel Lewis Millett Park, and Stallions Crossing Park. The scope of work included demolition of the existing playground structures, site preparation, and installation of the City-furnished equipment and resilient safety surfacing, all in accordance with applicable standards and specifications.
Because the estimated project cost exceeded the $200,000 threshold established in San Jacinto Municipal Code Section 3.08.040(C)(3), the City was required to use the formal bidding procedures set forth in the California Uniform Public Construction Cost Accounting Act (CUPCCAA) and the Public Contract Code. The Notice Inviting Bids was publicly advertised through the City’s PlanetBids e-procurement portal and appropriate trade journals in full compliance with state and local requirements. Through PlanetBids, 124 vendors and contractors were notified of the opportunity. Of those, 48 firms registered as prospective bidders, and ultimately 9 bids were submitted by the deadline of September 8, 2025, at 5:00 p.m. PST.
All bids were reviewed for responsiveness and responsibility in accordance with the Public Contract Code, CUPCCAA, and the City’s purchasing ordinance. The City also reserved the right to reject any or all bids as authorized by law. The results of the competitive solicitation are summarized below:
Vendor Bid Amount
Western State Builders $362,262.00
ORTCO $388,290.00
Micon Construction, Inc. $397,110.00
Eastridge Engineering and Construction $414,340.00
R E Schultz Construction, Inc. $449,358.00
Pacific Tide Construction $526,759.44
All American Building Services $544,800.00
JMJ Construction $566,000.00
Millsten Enterprises, Inc. $865,247.00
Following evaluation, Western State Builders, Inc. was determined to be the lowest responsive and responsible bidder. With the Council’s approval, construction is scheduled to begin in September 2025 and to be completed within 60 days, a timeline that avoids disruption during the peak summer season when parks are most heavily used by the community.
By conducting a formal competitive solicitation, widely advertising the project, and applying clearly defined evaluation criteria, the City ensured full compliance with its Municipal Code, CUPCCAA, and state public works contracting laws.
ENVIRONMENTAL DETERMINATION:
The Playground Equipment Replacement Project consists of the removal of existing playground equipment, surfacing, and related site furnishings, followed by the installation of new Cityfurnished playground equipment, resilient safety surfacing, and associated site improvements at Tamarisk Park, Colonel Lewis Millett Park, and Stallions Crossing Park. All work will take place within the boundaries of existing public parks that are fully developed and maintained for recreational use. The project represents a replacement and modernization of existing facilities and does not involve any expansion of the existing use or increase in capacity.
Pursuant to the California Environmental Quality Act, the project is exempt from further environmental review under CEQA Guidelines Section 15301, Class 1 (Existing Facilities), which applies to the operation, repair, maintenance, and minor alteration of existing public facilities where there is negligible or no expansion of use. The exemption also applies under Section 15302, Class 2 (Replacement or Reconstruction), which covers replacement of existing facilities on the same site with new facilities having substantially the same purpose and capacity.
The proposed improvements meet both of these categorical exemptions because the work is limited to existing playground areas, the replacement structures will be located in the same footprint as the equipment being removed, and the new facilities will provide substantially the same recreational purpose and intensity of use as the existing playgrounds.
The project sites are located within developed parks and surrounded by existing urban uses, and there are no unusual circumstances that would result in a significant effect on the environment.
Accordingly, the Playground Equipment Replacement Project is categorically exempt from CEQA pursuant to Sections 15301 and 15302 of the CEQA Guidelines, and no further environmental documentation is required.
FISCAL IMPACT:
Western State Builders, Inc., the lowest responsive and responsible bidder, submitted a total bid of $362,262. Although bids were required to be broken down by park to allocate costs to the appropriate Special Assessment Districts, per the Bid Notice, the City is awarding a single contract covering all three park sites. Western State Builders’ line-item totals are as follows:
• Colonel Lewis Millett Park – $186,759
• Stallions Crossing Park – $40,292
• Tamarisk Park – $111,211
• Mobilization – $24,000
Staff further recommends a 10% contingency of $36,226, bringing the total authorized project budget to $398,488.
Funding for each park improvement has already been budgeted within its respective Special Assessment District, and costs will be charged directly to the benefitting Zones. No General Funds are required, and no additional appropriations are necessary. Therefore, there is no fiscal impact to the City’s General Fund.
ATTACHMENTS:
City of San Jacinto Contract_Playground Demolition and Construction Project San Jacinto Parks Bid Package_Western State Builders_Rev Docs