Staff Report — Santa Ana City Council, May 5, 2026

Public Works Agency
www.santa-ana.org/pw
Item # 19
City of Santa Ana
20 Civic Center Plaza, Santa Ana, CA 92701
Staff Report
May 5, 2026
TOPIC: Median Landscaping, Right of Way, and QOLT Debris Removal Services

AGENDA TITLE
First Amendment to the Agreement with Landscape West Management Services, Inc. for Median Landscaping, Right of Way, and Quality of Life Team Debris Removal Services (General Fund and Non-General Fund)

RECOMMENDED ACTION
Authorize the City Manager to execute a First Amendment to the agreement with Landscape West Management Services, Inc. and increase the annual compensation by $500,000, to provide homeless debris removal services as part of the existing scope for the Median and Right of Way Landscaping Maintenance Services agreement in an amount not to exceed $11,370,000 for the remaining term expiring June 30, 2028 and renewal options (Agreement No. A-2026-XXX).

GOVERNMENT CODE §84308 APPLIES: Yes

DISCUSSION
The Public Works Agency (PWA) is responsible for the maintenance of the City’s right- of-way areas including street medians, linear parks, neighborhood entry areas, and arterial sidewalk areas. Additionally, PWA plays a crucial role in the Quality of Life Team (QOLT) by providing the staff and contracted services that perform the cleanups and storage of personal property when responding to homeless related issues. The current contract for median landscaping and right of way cleaning services, awarded to Landscape West Management Services, Inc. (Landscape West) in July 2025 in an annual amount of $1,874,000 with a not to exceed amount of $9,370,000 (Exhibit 1), includes provisions for debris removal and homeless encampment cleanup. Since the creation of QOLT in early 2018, this essential service has played a crucial role in the delivery of homeless related services designed to improve the quality of life for residents, businesses, and visitors.

On July 7, 2020, City Council approved a blanket order contract (PO8696) to Landscape West to provide staffing coverage for cleanup services seven days a week, including evenings, weekends, and late-night special operations. With the support of these cleanup services, the QOLT Team has completed an average of 16,000 homeless related service

Median Landscaping, Right of Way, and Homeless Debris Removal Services May 5, 2026

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requests annually. The current blanket order contract is set to expire June 2026 with all possible renewal options exhausted. To continue with services, staff recommends amending the agreement with Landscape West Management Services, Inc. (awarded in July 2025) which allows for homeless debris cleanups within its scope of work by reallocating the funding from the soon to expire homeless services contract to the existing agreement for median landscaping services. From an efficiency standpoint, the requested amendment will consolidate two service contracts into a single contract, while providing two services: median landscaping and homeless clean up services. In addition, it is more cost-effective to continue services with Landscape West Management Services through the life of the agreement, as a recent Request for Proposals was conducted for similar services when the city entered into an Encampment Delegated Maintenance Agreement with the California Department of Transportation (Caltrans), and bids demonstrated higher service cost in the range of thirty six dollars ($36.00) to one hundred seventy five dollars ($175.00) an hour, much higher than the current Landscape West agreement pricing of $32.00 per hour.

The current contract for median landscaping and right-of-way cleaning services includes provisions for debris removal and homeless encampment cleanups. The proposed amendment will increase contract limits to allow for increased service capacity and responsiveness within this existing scope to meet current operational demands.

Landscape West has demonstrated the ability to perform services effectively for the City.

Staff recommends approval of the First Amendment to Agreement A-2025-083 (Exhibit 2) with Landscape West Management Services, Inc. by increasing the budget by $500,000 annually, starting July 1, 2026, to continue providing quality homeless debris clean up services for a total revised agreement amount of $11,370,000 for the remaining term of the agreement. The terms of the original agreement will remain unchanged and allows the continuation of services intended to maintain public spaces free of debris and encampments, and open for safe use by residents, businesses, and stakeholders of Santa Ana.

ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT
There is no environmental impact associated with this action.

FISCAL IMPACT
Funds are budgeted and available in the following accounts for FY 2025-26. Funding for subsequent fiscal years will be included in the proposed budgets for City Council consideration.

Median Landscaping, Right of Way, and Homeless Debris Removal Services May 5, 2026

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Fiscal
Year
Accounting
Unit
Fund
Description
Accounting Unit, Account
Description Amount

CURRENT BUDGET
02917635-
62320
Special Gas
Tax
Median Landscaping,
Maintenance & Repair
Buildings
$1,024,000
06817640-
62300
Sanitation
Fund
Public Works-
Environment/Sanitation,
Contract Services-
Professional
$500,0002025-26
01117017-
62320
General
Fund
PWA Service
Enhancement,
Maintenance & Repair
Buildings
$350,000
FY 2025-26 SUB-TOTAL $1,874,000

REQUESTED AMENDMENT AMOUNT
01117017-
62300
General
Fund
PWA Service
Enhancement,
Contract Services-
Professional
$500,000
AMENDED ANNUAL TOTAL $2,374,000
03217662-
62300
Measure M-
Street
Construction
Measure M2 Local
Fairshare St,
Contract Services-
Professional
$1,024,000
06817640-
62300
Sanitation
Fund
Public Works-
Environment/Sanitation,
Contract Services-
Professional
$500,000
01117017-
62320
General
Fund
PWA Service
Enhancement,
Maintenance & Repair
Buildings & Ground
$350,000
FY 2026-27 SUB-TOTAL $1,874,000
01117017-
62300
General
Fund
PWA Service
Enhancement,
Contract Services-
Professional
$500,000
2026-27
AMENDED ANNUAL TOTAL $2,374,000
Median Landscaping, Right of Way, and Homeless Debris Removal Services May 5, 2026

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3 6
Fiscal
Year
Accounting
Unit
Fund
Description
Accounting Unit, Account
Description Amount
03217662-
62300
Measure M-
Street
Construction
Measure M2 Local
Fairshare St,
Contract Services-
Professional
$1,024,000
06817640-
62300
Sanitation
Fund
Public Works-
Environment/Sanitation,
Contract Services-
Professional
$500,000
01117017-
62320
General
Fund
PWA Service
Enhancement,
Maintenance & Repair
Buildings & Ground
$350,000
FY 2027-28 SUB-TOTAL $1,874,000
01117017-
62300
General
Fund
PWA Service
Enhancement,
Contract Services-
Professional
$500,000
2027-28
AMENDED ANNUAL TOTAL $2,374,000
Optional Two, One-Year Extensions:
03217662-
62300
Measure M-
Street
Construction
Measure M2 Local
Fairshare St,
Contract Services-
Professional
$1,024,000
06817640-
62300
Sanitation
Fund
Public Works-
Environment/Sanitation,
Contract Services-
Professional
$500,000
01117017-
62320
General
Fund
PWA Service
Enhancement,
Maintenance & Repair
Buildings & Ground
$350,000
FY 2028-29 SUB-TOTAL $1,874,000
01117017-
62300
General
Fund
PWA Service
Enhancement,
Contract Services-
Professional
$500,000
2028-29
AMENDED ANNUAL TOTAL $2,374,000
Median Landscaping, Right of Way, and Homeless Debris Removal Services May 5, 2026

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EXHIBIT(S)

1. Agreement A-2025-083

2. First Amendment to the Agreement with Landscape West Management Services, Inc.

Submitted By: Rodolfo Rosas, P.E., Acting Executive Director, Public Works Agency Approved By: Alvaro Nuñez, City Manager

Santa Ana City CouncilMay 5, 2026

Santa Ana City Council
May 5, 2026