Agenda Item: 8
CITY OF SANTA CLARITA
AGENDA REPORT
CONSENT CALENDAR
CITY MANAGER APPROVAL:
DATE: October 14, 2025
SUBJECT: LANDSCAPE MAINTENANCE CONTRACT FOR LMD ZONE 20 (GOLDEN VALLEY RANCH COMMERCIAL) AND ZONE 21
(GOLDEN VALLEY RANCH RESIDENTIAL)
DEPARTMENT: Administrative Services
PRESENTER: Andrew Adams
RECOMMENDED ACTION
City Council:
1. Award a five-year contract to Marina Landscape Services, Inc., to provide landscape maintenance services for Landscape Maintenance District Zone 20 (Golden Valley Ranch Commercial) and Zone 21 (Golden Valley Ranch Residential), for a total contract amount not to exceed $1,533,260.
2. Appropriate a one-time budget increase in Fiscal Year 2025-26 from the Landscape Maintenance District Fund Balance (Fund 357) to expenditure account 3572441-516110 in the amount of $18,450 and to expenditure account 3572442-516110 in the amount of $60,417.
3. Appropriate an ongoing budget increase, beginning in Fiscal Year 2026-27, from the Landscape Maintenance District Fund Balance (Fund 357) in the amount of $24,600 to expenditure account 3572441-516110 and $80,556 to expenditure account 3572442-516110, contingent upon appropriation of funds by the City Council in each fiscal year.
4. Authorize the City Manager or designee to execute all contracts and associated documents, subject to City Attorney approval.
5. Find that the award of contract is exempt from the California Environmental Quality Act pursuant to Article 19 – Categorical Exemptions, Section 15301, Existing Facilities, (h) Maintenance of Existing Landscaping.
x
BACKGROUND
The City of Santa Clarita (City) administers 62 financially independent zones within the Landscape Maintenance District (LMD), providing landscape maintenance services through contracts with private companies.
The City conducted a Request for Proposal (RFP) to solicit proposals from qualified vendors for the maintenance of LMD Zone 20 (Golden Valley Ranch Commercial) and LMD Zone 21 (Golden Valley Ranch Residential). The RFP was published and circulated via the City’s e- procurement system, BidNet, on August 13, 2025. The City transmitted the solicitation to 1,151 vendors on BidNet, of which 47 vendors downloaded the RFP and 9 companies provided proposals for consideration.
Unlike a bid procurement, where the recommended contract award is based upon the lowest, most responsive bid, the RFP procurement approach utilizes multiple weighted criteria to evaluate and score proposals. This approach reinforces performance expectations and ensures that vendors dedicate adequate employees to service the contract. While the price for services is a component constituting 10 percent of the weighted evaluation criteria, 90 percent of the evaluation criteria focuses on the overall value provided, including the composition and structure of the contractor’s crew, their schedule to rotate through the maintenance areas, understanding of the specifications, and references.
These proposals were reviewed and evaluated based on each company’s ability to meet the specific needs of the City. An evaluation panel comprised of staff representing the City’s Special Districts division scored the responses using the following categories of weighted criteria:
• Value Provided - Includes Team Composition/Crew Structure and Rotation Schedule/Response Times (65%)
• Acknowledgment and Understanding of Specifications (15%) • References and Certifications (10%)
• Proposal Amount (10%)
The evaluation team scored the responses based on a 100-point system, with the results outlined below:
COMPANY LOCATION POINTS
AWARDED
ANNUAL
COST
Marina Landscape Services, Inc. Santa Clarita, CA 92.33 $ 274,356 Stay Green, Inc. Santa Clarita, CA 82.67 $ 192,648
Mariposa Landscapes, Inc. Irwindale, CA 81.67 $ 450,384 Venco Western, Inc. Oxnard, CA 78.33 $ 206,256
Specialized Landscape Management
Service, Inc.
Simi Valley, CA 76.67 $ 235,320
Oakridge Landscape, Inc. Santa Clarita, CA 76.33 $ 233,220
Continued Table:
COMPANY LOCATION POINTS
AWARDED
ANNUAL
COST
Brightview Landscape Services, Inc. San Fernando, CA 73.67 $ 219,444 SGD Enterprises DBA Four Seasons
Landscaping
Van Nuys, CA 65.33 $ 256,560
C&M Landscape, Inc. Santa Clarita, CA 60.66 $ 225,000
Upon reviewing the proposals, Marina Landscape Services, Inc., (Marina) received the highest score from the evaluation team. The team concluded the Marina proposal offered the best balance of proposed resources, rotation schedule, timeline, and overall value for landscape maintenance in LMD Zones 20 and 21. In addition, Marina demonstrated a strong understanding of the landscaping complexities within the zones and articulated a comprehensive approach to a rotation schedule that meets the specific demands of each maintenance area.
While the annual cost of Marina’s proposal is $274,356, approximately 43 percent higher than the second-ranked proposer, Stay Green, Inc., at $192,648, Marina provides nearly 100 percent more manpower than Stay Green, Inc. Further, on a per-hour basis, Marina’s labor is roughly 40 to 50 percent less expensive. The higher total cost delivers significantly more labor hours and greater capacity to meet the specific maintenance demands of LMD Zones 20 and 21.
In March 2025, the Aliento Slopes within Zone 21 were turned over by the developer and incorporated into the zone’s scope of work. This increased the monthly maintenance cost from approximately $11,000 to about $20,000. The City was able to absorb the added cost within the existing budget during Fiscal Year 2024-25; however, staff recognized that a budget increase would be necessary in Fiscal Year 2025-26. This change prompted staff to rebid the zones and incorporate the new scope into the solicitation.
As a part of the evaluation process, staff also conducted a due-diligence review of Marina’s professional references and confirmed that their work history meets the City's standards and performance expectations. Based on the overall evaluation, including scoring and reference verification, staff recommends awarding the landscape maintenance contract to Marina.
To support this contract, staff is requesting an ongoing appropriation of $24,600 specific to LMD Zone 20 and $80,556 specific to LMD Zone 21. The recommended contract amount is essential to ensure Marina can perform monthly landscape maintenance and repairs, maximize operational efficiencies, and complete tasks in a timely manner. These tasks include responding to emergencies, irrigation repairs and replacements, addressing vandalism, and executing one-time beautification enhancement projects.
The increase in expenditure authority granted by the City Council does not guarantee additional compensation under the terms of the recommended contract. The City retains the discretion to engage alternative contractors if necessary. Any unscheduled repair work or one-time enhancement projects performed by Marina, under the contract will still require staff review and prior authorization from the City’s Special Districts division. Additionally, to enhance maintenance standards and enforce accountability, the contract includes provisions for payment reductions in the event of poor performance if the contractor fails to meet their maintenance
obligations.
The award of this contract is not subject to California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) review pursuant to CEQA Guidelines Article 19 - Categorical Exemptions, Section 15301, Existing Facilities, (h) Maintenance of Existing Landscaping. This contract meets the criteria for this exemption because the scope of work falls under existing landscape maintenance.
ALTERNATIVE ACTION
Other action as determined by the City Council.
FISCAL IMPACT
Upon approval of the recommended actions, a one-time budget increase in Fiscal Year 2025-26 will be appropriated from the Landscape Maintenance District Fund Balance (Fund 357) to Expenditure Account 3572441-516110 in the amount of $18,450 and to Expenditure Account 3572442-516110 in the amount of $60,417. Beginning in Fiscal Year 2026-27, an ongoing budget increase of $24,600 to Expenditure Account 3572441-516110 and $80,556 to Expenditure Account 3572442-516110 will be appropriated from the Landscape Maintenance District Fund Balance (Fund 357), contingent upon appropriation of funds by the City Council during the annual budget process.
ATTACHMENTS
LMD Zones 20, 21: Published Bid Documents (available in the City Clerk's Reading File) LMD Zones 20, 21: Marina Landscape Services, Inc. Response File (available in the City Clerk's Reading File)