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Ontario approves Phase 1 park construction contract and tree-planting agreement; councilmember recuses on arborist contract
Summary
Council awarded a construction contract for phase 1 of Ontario Grand Park and approved a sole-source agreement with West Coast Arborist to plant approximately 4,500 trees; Mayor Pro Tem Wapner recused from the tree contract due to a campaign contribution, and items 10B/C passed with a 4-0 vote and one recusal.
The Ontario City Council approved a construction contract and a sole‑source tree-planting agreement for phase 1 of the Ontario Grand Park master plan and accepted staff’s timeline for the first phase of work.
City Manager presented the Phase 1 proposal as the eastern 130‑acre portion of the 370‑acre master plan, saying the area would include an amphitheater, a farm hub, Market Alley, orchards, trails, a dog park and an all‑access playground. "This is 1st, phase of Ontario Grand Park, the 130 acres," the city manager said, and described the amphitheater as having a "5,000 seat capacity." He told the council that if the construction contract is awarded to Clark Construction the city could start construction in January 2026 and that a Phase 1a delivery could be ready by the following fall; staff estimated the overall project cost at roughly $125,000,000.
Staff recommended a sole‑source contract with West Coast Arborist to use its GPS‑based inventory and plant roughly 4,500 trees across phase 1. Mayor Pro Tem Wapner asked to be recused from the tree contract after saying, "I've received a campaign contribution from West Coast arborist, so please record me as a recusal." City Attorney advised the recusal was appropriate under the Levine Act and that the council should take separate votes so the record would show the abstention.
Council voted separately on item 10A (construction contract) and items 10B and 10C (tree contract and document execution). Item 10A passed on a roll call vote after a motion by Councilmember Bowman and second by Councilmember Macias. Items 10B and 10C passed on a separate vote with four members in favor and one recusal recorded for Mayor Pro Tem Wapner. The council did not take additional public testimony on the contracts.
Staff said tree inventory work with the arborist preserves an existing GPS database the city would otherwise need to recreate and that the overall plan seeks to balance restoration of agricultural features with passive and active recreation.
The contract awards authorize the city manager and appropriate departments to finalize construction contracts and to proceed with the tree planting and related park improvements under the adopted master plan.
