Council extends CHOP tree-service contract for 2025–26 despite calls to rebid; two council members vote no

The Lincoln Park City Council voted to extend the city's tree-removal and pruning contract with CHOP for fiscal years 2025 and 2026 at the company's current unit rates.

City staff presented the extension as an offer from CHOP to keep the contract at existing rates for 2025 and 2026 and said funds will come from accounts 20246481800013 and 20346481800013. Staff noted CHOP has provided tree services to the city since July 1, 2023, and described operational benefits, including the contractor's ability to respond for emergency storm work and to remove trees to allow roadway and utility work to proceed.

Several council members pressed for a competitive bid process before further extensions. Council President Salcedo said she ‘‘really truly believe[s] the right thing to do is do a bid on that’’ and raised concerns about previous contractor performance and invoice transparency. Another council member said she did not see CHOP trucks consistently earlier in the year and worried the city would not receive priority service.

Staff responded that CHOP serves multiple clients and schedules city work into its calendar; staff also said the city had limited bidders the last time it went to bid. Supporters of the extension said CHOP stepped in for emergency work and helped clear trees so pavement and utility projects could proceed.

The motion to approve the contract extension passed on a roll-call vote recorded as: Councilperson Baer — yes; Councilperson Dupree — yes; Councilperson Nichols — yes; Councilperson Ross — yes; Councilperson Salcedo — no; Councilperson Zohr — no; Mayor Maureen Tobin — yes.

Council members who expressed concern asked staff to pursue a formal bidding process in the future rather than rely on extensions.