Mountain House council approves $897,000 janitorial contract after debate over staffing and oversight

The Mountain House City Council voted unanimously June 9 to award a three-year janitorial services contract to Advanced Property Services (APS) for up to $897,108, with a 10% contingency and optional extensions. Council members extensively questioned staff about how many personnel would be dedicated to town facilities and how the city would verify performance.

Council member Harrison led the questioning, saying she was uncomfortable approving what she described as “almost a million dollar contract” without a clearer understanding of how many APS employees would be working in Mountain House on a routine basis. Public works director Kusan Kim told the council APS proposed eight staff assigned to the city with capacity to expand to 12 as needed for larger events. “They have the ability to expand up to 12 for this area,” Kusan said.

Staff presented the procurement record to justify the selection: an RFP on April 20, mandatory site tour, an evaluation committee and scoring that placed APS at 97 points versus 82 for the next-ranked bidder. Kusan summarized scoring categories—cost, qualifications/methodology, financial capacity and references—and noted APS has more than 25 years’ experience and existing municipal clients.

Council members pressed two recurring concerns: (1) daily staffing and how the city will measure on‑the‑ground performance; and (2) how park trash and special-event porter service would be handled. Council member Tingle asked for examples of what the 10% contingency (about $89,700) might cover; staff said it would be used only for extra services outside the contract scope, such as additional cleaning at unexpectedly large events or urgent repairs.

City staff said the contract includes performance metrics and a quality-assurance program; complaints and issues will trigger performance reviews. The city manager said quarterly reports and internal monitoring will track the contractor’s compliance. The council debated whether landscapers or the janitorial contractor would handle daily park trash; staff clarified landscape contractors handle routine park trash while the janitorial contract covers buildings and restroom cleaning, with the option to add porter services for special events.

After discussion, Council member Disco moved to approve the contract; another council member seconded. Roll call was unanimous in favor. The contract begins July 1, 2026, and includes CPI-based increases and the 10% contingency described in staff materials.

What’s next: Staff will execute the agreement and implement contract oversight procedures, including complaint tracking and quarterly performance reviews; council members asked that staff keep them informed on measurable outputs like daily site visits and response to complaints.