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Carpinteria extends Showscapes landscaping contract for one year amid calls for closer oversight
Summary
The council approved a one-year extension to the city’s maintenance agreement with Showscapes Inc. (doing business as TreeScapes) at a not-to-exceed $267,600, bringing the amended contract total to $1,229,010. Council and public speakers pressed staff to strengthen oversight, reporting and training for work in sensitive natural areas.
The Carpinteria City Council on May 27 authorized the city manager to execute Amendment No. 2 to the maintenance agreement with Showscapes Inc., DBA TreeScapes, extending the contract for one year with a not-to-exceed amount of $267,600. The extension completes the two one-year renewal options originally built into the 2021 contract.
Staff told the council that performance evaluations, site visits and vendor reports indicate ShowScapes’ work is satisfactory and that there is no fee increase for this extension. The extension covers maintenance for city-owned assets including bike paths, trails, facilities, parks, open space, parking lots and rights of way. Staff said that after the final extension expires the city will either issue an RFP or consider transitioning these services in-house.
Council discussion and public comment focused on quality control and scope clarity. Several council members asked whether specific locations — including the roundabout at Linden and frontage landscaping along Via Rio — were included in the contractor’s responsibilities. Staff said some parcels were added in a prior amendment and that staff would confirm other specific locations. Public commenter Susan Allen and other speakers urged more training for crews working in natural areas and better supervision for sensitive sites such as the bluffs.
Public Works staff asked council members to email specific complaints so staff can respond, and the director said he would ask the contractor to attend council follow-up meetings if requested. Councilmember comments referenced Green Gardener certification as one option to increase field staff training for working in native habitat and public open-space settings.
Council approved the amendment by unanimous roll call. Staff said the FY 2025–26 budget will present funding for the extended term and that the contract contains no additional fee increase for the extended year.
What’s next: staff will follow up on location-specific questions, request contractor attendance if requested by council, and collect written concerns from council members and the public for immediate quality-control follow-up.
