To: Board of Supervisors
From: Warren Lai, Public Works Director/Chief Engineer
Report Title: Amendments with Arboricultural Specialties, Inc. d/b/a The Professional Tree Care Company and West Coast Arborists, Inc.
☒Recommendation of the County Administrator ☐ Recommendation of Board Committee
RECOMMENDATIONS:
APPROVE and AUTHORIZE the Public Works Director, or designee, to execute contract amendments with Arboricultural Specialties, Inc. d/b/a The Professional Tree Care Company and West Coast Arborists, Inc., effective April 30, 2026, to extend each contract term through October 31, 2026, with no change to the payment limit, for on-call tree trimming services at various County sites and facilities, Countywide.
FISCAL IMPACT:
Facilities Maintenance Budget. (No fiscal impact)
BACKGROUND:
The Public Works Department, Facilities Services is responsible for grounds maintenance of all County properties. An important aspect of this is tree maintenance and trimming. Both of these contractors provide tree maintenance, trimming, and complete removal, as needed. These contractors also have the personnel, equipment, and training to trim trees near power lines and provide any necessary traffic control.
Government Code Section 25358 authorizes the County to contract for maintenance and upkeep of County facilities. Originally bid on BidSync #2011-438, Arboricultural Specialties, Inc. d/b/a The Professional Tree Care Company and West Coast Arborists, Inc., were the two lowest, responsive, and responsible vendors awarded for this type of work.
The Public Works Department originally awarded both contractors a three (3) year contract with the option of two (2) one-year extensions. The total contract amount awarded to Arboricultural Specialties, Inc. d/b/a The Professional Tree Care Company was $2,000,000 with the term May 1, 2021 through April 30, 2024. The total contract amount awarded to West Coast Arborists, Inc. was $1,000,000 with the term May 1, 2021 through April 30, 2024.
The contract with Arboricultural Specialties, Inc. d/b/a The Professional Tree Care Company had two additional amendments. Amendment No. 1, effective April 30, 2024, extended the term an additional year through April 30, 2025. Amendment No. 2, effective April 30, 2025, extended the contract term an additional year through April 30, 2026, with no change to the payment limit.
The contract with West Coast Arborists, Inc. had five additional amendments. Amendment No. 1, effective November 28, 2023, increased the total payment limit to $1,500,000 and extended the term an additional year through April 30, 2025. Amendment No. 2, effective May 31, 2024, increased the rates according to the terms of the contract. Amendment No. 3, effective April 30, 2025, extended the term an additional year through April 30, 2026. Amendment No. 4, effective May 31, 2025, increased the rates according to the terms of the contract. Amendment No. 5, effective November 1, 2025, increased the payment limit by $500,000 to a new payment limit of $2,000,000, with no change to the term.
Facilities Services recently completed a new bid for these services on April 10, 2026 and evaluations of the new proposals are currently underway. Facilities Services is requesting Amendment No. 3 with Arboricultural Specialties, Inc. d/b/a The Professional Tree Care Company and Amendment No. 6 with West Coast Arborists, Inc. to be approved, extending each contract term by an additional six months through October 31, 2026 for on-call tree trimming services.
CONSEQUENCE OF NEGATIVE ACTION:
Without the approval of these contract amendments, the current contract with Arboricultural Specialties, Inc. d/b/a The Professional Tree Care Company and West Coast Arborists, Inc. will expire, and there will be a lapse in tree trimming services until the new contracts are awarded and fully executed.