TO:Andrew P. Powers, City Manager
FROM:Nader Heydari, Public Works Director
DATE:March 24, 2026
SUBJECT: Weed Abatement Services Agreement
RECOMMENDATION:
1. Award General Services Agreement to SoCal Brush (Newbury Park, CA), for weed abatement services in an amount not to exceed $730,516.88 for scheduled weed abatement, plus $195,000 for extra services, for a total not-to-exceed amount of $925,516.88, with a term ending December 31, 2030.
2. Authorize budget appropriation in FY 2025-26 in the amount of $18,920 as follows: $14,171 from A/C #611-0000-341-9900 (Water Fund – Net Position) to A/C #611-8050-682-5611 (Water Fund – Contracted Weed Abatement Services) and $4,749 from A/C #621-0000-341-9900 (Wastewater Fund – Net Position) to A/C #621-8250-682-5611 (Wastewater Fund – Contracted Weed Abatement Services); and in FY 2026-27 in the amount of $18,355 as follows: $13,390 from A/C #611-0000-341-9900 (Water Fund – Net Position) to A/C #611-8050-682- 5611 (Water Fund – Contracted Weed Abatement Services) and $4,965 from A/C #621-0000-341-9900 (Wastewater Fund – Net Position) to A/C #621-8250-682- 5611 (Wastewater Fund – Contracted Weed Abatement Services) to fund scheduled weed abatement and as-needed extra services.
3. Authorize expenditure/expense for scheduled weed abatement in FY 2025-26 in the amount of $135,824 as follows: $40,605 from A/C #001-5630-632-5611 (General Fund – Contracted Weed Abatement Services); $84,801 from A/C #142- 5630-632-5611 (Landscape Fund – Contracted Weed Abatement Services); $7,969 from A/C #611-8050-682-5611 (Water Fund – Contracted Weed Abatement Services); $2,449 from A/C #621-8050-682-5611 (Wastewater Fund – Contracted Weed Abatement Services); plus an additional $50,000 in extra services as budget is available; and in FY 2026-27 in the amount of $139,253 as follows: $41,357 from A/C #001-5630-632-5611 (General Fund – Contracted Weed Abatement Services); $88,443 from A/C #142-5630-632-5611 (Landscape Fund – Contracted Weed Abatement Services); $6,896 from A/C #611-8050-682- 5611 (Water Fund – Contracted Weed Abatement Services); $2,557 from A/C #621-8050-682-5611 (Wastewater Fund – Contracted Weed Abatement Services); plus an additional $50,000 in extra services as budget is available.
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4. Find that this action is not a project as defined under the California Environmental Quality Act.
LEVINE ACT ITEM: Yes
FINANCIAL IMPACT:
$14,171 Increase to Adopted FY 2025-26 Water Fund Budget, $4,749 Increase to Adopted FY 2025-26 Wastewater Fund Budget, $13,390 Increase to Adopted FY 2026-27 Water Fund Budget, and $4,965 Increase to Adopted FY 2026-27 Wastewater Fund Budget. $14,171 Increase to Adopted FY 2025-26 Water Fund Budget, $4,749 Increase to Adopted FY 2025-26 Wastewater Fund Budget, $13,390 Increase to Adopted FY 2026-27 Water Fund Budget and $4,965 Increase to Adopted FY 2026-27 Wastewater Fund Budget is requested to fund scheduled weed abatement and as-needed extra services at reservoirs and Hill Canyon Treatment Plant. $65,000 is included in the Adopted FY 2025-26 General Fund Budget and $125,000 is included in the Adopted FY 2025-26 Landscape Assessment District Fund Budget for weed abatement services. $70,000 is included in the Adopted FY 2026-27 General Fund Budget and $125,000 is included in the Adopted FY 2026-27 Landscape Assessment District Fund Budget for weed abatement services. Funds for the remaining term of the contract will be requested during the upcoming biennial budget process.
BACKGROUND:
Ventura County Fire Department (VCFD) requires annual weed abatement under their Fire Hazard Reductions Program (FHRP). This is necessary to create defensible areas between urban development and potential wildfires. The program supports community wildfire risk reduction efforts by removing combustible vegetation and maintaining required clearances. There are a total of 207 locations for which the City is responsible for weed abatement across the City, for a total of approximately 160 acres of annual clearance.
Annual services under this program include trimming, cutting, and clearing weeds, brush, shrubs, and trees within 100 feet of structures in accordance with FHRP standards. This work provides defensible space, reducing risk to structures during wildfire events and helping to prevent fire ignition and spread. Vegetation management is ongoing, and some parcels require additional abatement during the year to maintain compliance with fire prevention standards. Maintaining these areas is particularly critical during the high fire season, historically from April through October.
In previous years, the City, Conejo Recreation and Park District (CRPD), and Conejo Open Space Conservation Agency (COSCA) have utilized a joint weed Weed Abatement Services Agreement
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abatement contract. While the collaborative approach was effective, the shared billing and budget administration among the agencies became increasingly complex.
For this solicitation, the City proceeded as the lead agency and issued the Request for Proposals/Qualifications (RFP/Q) independently. The resulting agreement includes provisions allowing CRPD and COSCA, at their sole discretion, to utilize the competitively procured pricing through separate contracts between those agencies and the selected contractor. This approach preserves the cost efficiencies associated with the combined service area while simplifying contract administration. Under this structure, the City will incur no financial responsibility for any contract executed by CRPD and COSCA, and those agencies will remain solely responsible for their respective costs and contract administration. Existing cost-sharing arrangements between the City and CRPD related to COSCA’s expenses are administered separately and are not affected by this agreement.
DISCUSSION/ANALYSIS:
In accordance with Government Code Section 4526 and Thousand Oaks Municipal Code Section 3-10.401, staff solicited a formal RFP/Q for Weed Abatement Services on December 12, 2025. The solicitation was published in the Thousand Oaks Acorn newspaper and on the City’s e-procurement website, which notified 2,327 users, generating 634 views and 51 downloads. The solicitation closed on January 16, 2026, and proposals were received by the following eight companies:
Unlike the low bid requirements of the Public Contract Code, contracts for professional, management, general, or special services are awarded to firms that demonstrate an appropriate level of experience, competence, training, credentials, resources, staffing, and other professional qualifications necessary to satisfactorily perform the requested services.
An evaluation committee consisting of representatives from the City’s Public Works Operations staff and CRPD staff reviewed the proposals. The committee evaluated submittals based on project approach, qualifications and experience, proposal Company Location
1. SoCal Brush Newbury Park, CA
2. Venco Western, Inc. Oxnard, CA
3. Rapid Response Force, LLC Hollister, CA
4. Mariposa Landscapes, Inc. Irwindale, CA
5. Wildscape Restoration Ventura, CA
6. BrightView Landscape Services, Inc. Thousand Oaks, CA
7. DeAngelo Contracting Services, LLC Ontario, PA
8. Sustainable Mitigation Angeles Oaks, CA
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quality and responsiveness, schedule and cost reasonableness, and the ability to meet applicable emissions regulations and align with the City’s Climate and Environmental Action Plan. The top three proposers were invited to participate in interviews. Following the detailed proposal evaluation and interview process, the committee determined that SoCal Brush possesses the experience, competence, training, credentials, and resources necessary to successfully complete the work.
Staff recommend approval of a five-year agreement with SoCal Brush for Weed Abatement Services in a total not-to-exceed amount of $925,516.88 (Attachment #1), which includes $195,000 in extra services to address additional work the VCFD may deem necessary to protect public health and safety, including clearance of vegetation regrowth due to excessive soil moisture or rainfall and abatement of additional square footage identified by VCFD.
This action meets City Council’s Top Ten Priorities #9, “Public Works Infrastructure Investments.”
LEVINE ACT (California Government Code § 84308):
This item is subject to the Levine Act. City Councilmembers who have received a campaign contribution of more than $500 (aggregated) within the preceding 12 months from a party or their agent/representative, or a financially-interested participant involved in this proceeding may do either of the following: (1) disclose the contribution on the record and recuse themselves from this proceeding; or if applicable (2) return the portion of the contribution that exceeds $500 within 30 days from the time the official knew or should have known about the contribution, and participate in the proceeding.
All parties and their agents/representatives must disclose on the record of this proceeding any aggregated contribution of more than $500 made to any Councilmember within the preceding 12 months. Councilmembers are prohibited from accepting, soliciting, or directing a campaign contribution of more than $500 (aggregated) from a party, their agent/representative, or a financially-interested participant during a proceeding and for 12 months following the date a final decision is made. In addition, a party, their agent/representative, or a financially- interested participant is prohibited from contributing more than $500 (aggregated) to a Councilmember during a proceeding and for 12 months following the date a final decision is made. The signed Levine Act Form for Socal Brush is included in Attachment #1 as Exhibit D.
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COUNCIL GOAL COMPLIANCE:
Meets the following City Council goals:
C. Operate City government in a fiscally and managerially responsible and prudent manner to ensure that the City of Thousand Oaks remains one of California's most desirable places to live, work, visit, recreate, and raise a family.
D. Maintain strong commitment to public safety (including Police, Fire, Emergency Medical Services, and Emergency Management) to ensure City remains one of the safest Cities in the United States with a population over 100,000.
F. Provide and enhance essential infrastructure to ensure that the goals and policies of the Thousand Oaks General Plan are carried out and the City retains its role and reputation as a leader in protecting the environment and preserving limited natural resources.
PREPARED BY: David Chavez, Landscape Maintenance Supervisor Attachment:
Attachment #1 SoCal Brush Agreement
DPW: 821-20;540-70\ev\Council\2026\032426\Weed Abatement Service Agreement staff report.docx