TIDA approves $2.845M Rubicon contract; Rec & Park begins horticultural collaboration for Treasure Island parks

The Treasure Island Development Authority board on a voice vote approved a one‑year professional services agreement with Rubicon Enterprises for up to $2,845,000 to continue landscape maintenance and natural‑resources services on Treasure Island and Yerba Buena Island.

The vote came after a multi‑month presentation and discussion about a new horticultural collaboration that has placed Rec and Park staff part time on the islands since January to advise on plant selection, irrigation, and long‑term maintenance planning for recently completed and soon‑to‑open parks, including Panorama Park, the stormwater gardens and the forthcoming Cityside Park.

The contract totals $2,845,000 and, according to staff, is split into two funding buckets: $1,560,000 supported by commercial leasing revenues for landscape maintenance in occupied, lease‑supported areas, and $1,285,000 to cover parks and open‑space work that is subsidy‑eligible under the parks maintenance subsidy and community facilities district revenues. Under the agreement Rubicon will provide five‑day‑a‑week maintenance in residential, commercial and public areas and will continue as‑needed natural‑resource services on Yerba Buena Island. Sites listed by staff include Signal Point, Panorama Park, Waterfront Plaza, Causeway Park, Stormwater Gardens East and West, the Rocks Dog Park on Yerba Buena Island, Landing Park and (when it opens) Cityside Park.

TIDA staff described the Rec and Park assignment as advisory in this fiscal year and said San Francisco Recreation and Park Department is preparing staffing and cost estimates to assume maintenance of the newly constructed parks beginning in fiscal year 2026‑27 (effective July 1, 2026). Board members and staff said the long‑term goal is that Rec and Park will take over maintenance of the “new parks” portfolio while Rubicon and other contractors continue to provide natural‑areas and certain housing‑area services during a transition period.

During the presentation, horticulture and parks experts detailed recent and planned work: removal of failing cypress at Panorama Park, replacement of black mulch with brown mulch to improve slope stability and aesthetics, a planned replanting of two planting islands with larger ceanothus (to be installed within weeks), additional plantings to increase spring bloom in the East Stormwater Garden, and planting and screening work along the Signal Point retaining wall. Presenters said those immediate plantings are intended as improvements visible to summer visitors while longer‑term plant establishment and oak transplant plans are scheduled for rainy‑season work.

Board members pressed staff on a consolidated maintenance plan and budget for the growing portfolio of parks. Several directors said they were not comfortable accepting Cityside Park at a future meeting without a clearer long‑term maintenance and funding plan. Staff and Rec and Park presenters said Rec and Park is developing staffing forecasts and budget estimates to incorporate into its fiscal‑year 2026‑27 budget request.

Rubicon representatives described the organization’s decades‑long training and employment program on Treasure Island and said their proposal combines daily park maintenance with training and workforce development. Rec and Park staff who have been assigned part time to the island said their role to date has included field inspections, plan reviews with landscape architects and advising on plant palettes and irrigation to improve maintainability.

The board approved the Rubicon contract by voice vote after a motion to adopt the agreement. Directors present called for follow‑up memos and updates at the July meeting to track installation progress at Panorama Park and the timeline for Rec and Park’s assumption of new‑park maintenance.

Votes at a glance - Item 6 (consent agenda: minutes and a set of nonprofit professional services agreements including janitorial, YMCA, Boys & Girls Clubs and 1 Treasure Island) — approved on a single consent motion; no roll‑call vote recorded in the transcript; motion carried on voice vote. - Item 10 (professional services agreement with Rubicon Enterprises, 07/01/2025–06/30/2026, not to exceed $2,845,000) — approved on a voice vote.