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Committee OKs $151,750 for landscape maintenance at Sokolow Park and San Gabriel River Greenway
Summary
The committee approved $151,750 for annual landscape maintenance contracts for SoCoLo Park and the San Gabriel River Greenway, citing growing built assets and the cost of specialized services such as compact street sweepers and irrigation upkeep.
The Stakeholders Oversight Committee on Oct. 14 approved $151,750 to establish landscape maintenance services for SoCoLo Park and the soon-to-be-completed San Gabriel River Greenway.
Public Works maintenance manager Anthony Vasquez told the committee that while grant and restricted funds covered construction, routine upkeep requires ongoing resources. "Adding these two beautiful projects and getting them completed is just the beginning of a project. Sometimes maintenance gets overlooked," Vasquez said.
Staff explained the request covers mowing, trimming, irrigation management, litter removal and a smaller, specialized street sweeper suited to the trails. The department recommended contracting the work rather than hiring additional full-time employees because full-time staffing would add retirement and benefit costs; contracting was presented as more cost-effective.
Committee members asked about the relationship between this request and a previously approved $200,000 allocation for programming and site maintenance; staff clarified the $200,000 funds program activities and has an available balance (about $90,000 at the time of the meeting), while this $151,750 request specifically covers landscape maintenance performed by Public Works contractors. Members requested that staff provide public reporting (attendance and programming metrics) showing how previous SOC funds were used; staff said they planned social media posts and public updates and will return with budget-cycle updates.
Member Hernandez, Member Martha Carcamo, Member Orozco, Member Nguyen, Vice Chair Jackson and Chair Lara voted yes; the motion passed.
