Oakdale approves one-year TruGreen turf-management contract for parks

The Oakdale City Council on Feb. 18 authorized a one-year agreement, with options for two additional one-year renewals, with TruGreen LP for turf management and weed-abatement services in city parks at $40,000 per year.

City staff said the contract will be funded from the park maintenance fund (Fund 110) and two Landscaping and Lighting Maintenance District funds (LLMD Fund 284 and LLMD Vineyards Fund 286). Staff described the scope as citywide turf-program work on approximately 150 acres of maintained landscape, focusing on pre-emergent and post-emergent herbicide application and fertilization on turf areas. The contractor will also satisfy monthly reporting requirements the state requires for pesticide application records.

Council members asked whether hiring a contractor was more efficient than creating an in-house spray technician position; staff said a full-time position at present would not be covered by the contract amount and that the city already contracts separately for weed abatement and rodent control. Staff said the one-year contract is intended to test performance and cost before any longer-term staffing changes.

Council asked about public notification and potential health impacts from chemicals. Staff said the contractor would use products appropriate for turf areas and follow state regulations; staff and contractors currently perform some spraying and do not close parks during those operations. Specific product names were not part of the staff report. A council vote approved the contract 5-0 on a roll call. The meeting record did not name the motion maker or seconder on the audio.