City staff told the Parks and Recreation Commission on Jan. 15 that Mariposa Landscapes won the citywide landscape maintenance contract at a city council meeting in November and began work on Jan. 1. The contract covers landscape maintenance for city parks, facilities and medians; staff described Mariposa as an established municipal contractor.

Assistant Director Veronica Maris then announced two community programs: a Montebello volunteer "City Service Saturday" on Jan. 31 at Ashia Park starting at 9 a.m., with projects including painting and trash removal and waivers required for volunteers under 18 (participants must be at least 14 and sign a waiver), and a monthly pet vaccine clinic on Jan. 24 from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. at City Park, offered in partnership with Vetcare and providing low-cost vaccines and microchipping. Maris said the pet clinic program may expand to Acuna (the city's dog park) as the city evaluates demand. For both events, staff directed residents to montebellorecreation.com for registration.

No formal vote was taken on the landscape contract at this meeting; staff said the award was made previously by the city council in November and the contract began Jan. 1.