Oakdale approves one-year $40,000 turf-management contract with TruGreen

The Oakdale City Council on Feb. 18 approved a one-year contract with TruGreen LP for turf management and weed abatement services at an annual cost of $40,000, with funding to come from the Park Maintenance Fund and local landscape maintenance district (LLMD) funds.

City staff said the contract covers pre-emergent and post-emergent herbicide applications, fertilization and monthly reporting required by state licensing; it is intended to provide a regular chemical turf program across roughly 150 acres of maintained landscape the city manages. The item includes funding from Park Maintenance Fund 110 and LLMDs 284 and 286.

Public and council questions focused on scope and safety: staff said the contract covers parks and parkway strips but not other city properties, and that the contractor will use licensed applicators and follow state reporting rules. Council asked whether parks would be closed when treatments happen; staff and the presenter said the city currently does not close parks during spraying and that label instructions typically advise a waiting period (staff referenced 30 minutes as an example for some products) while noting the contractor will not use Roundup and will use standard pre/post emergent products suitable for turf.

The resolution approved the one-year contract with options for two additional years at the same price. A council member moved the item and a second was given; a roll call vote recorded a 5-0 vote in favor (Council member Gilbert: yes; Mayor Pro Tem Smith: yes; Council member Potassie: yes; Council member Kettering: yes; Mayor Barrios: yes). Staff said the city may consider a full-time spray technician in the future if the program proves successful.

The contract requires monthly chemical-use reporting and state-certified applicators; staff said the contractor also carries documentation to meet reporting requirements.