Tuesday, March 18, 2025

The council approved a $419,883 construction contract with Innovative Playgrounds Co., Inc. for the Cesar Chavez Playground Improvement Project (CDBG FY2018 funds) as an action item, passed 5-0 after the city clerk noted a correction to account codes in the fiscal impact section; the same meeting's consent agenda, also passed 5-0, included a $46,639 purchase order for touchless bottle filling stations to HD Supply Facilities Maintenance—formerly The Home Depot Pro—from CDBG-CV funds, a figure that sits $10,361 below the $50,000 council approval threshold. The largest dollar item on the agenda was a proposed citywide illegal dumping cleanup contract structured as two separate line items to the same vendor, Valley Vista Services, Inc.—a $367,270 annual service agreement and a $122,423 purchase order for the remainder of fiscal year 2024-2025, totaling $489,693—but no vote was taken and the item was continued to the following week's meeting. At least four members of the public spoke in favor of prior incumbent vendor Screaming Eagles Services, including the company's owner, and Councilmembers Spicer and Darden expressed support for Screaming Eagles on the record; the city manager stated Valley Vista was the lowest responsive bidder at $367,270 annually versus Screaming Eagles' $450,000 bid, a difference of $82,730. A motion by Councilmember Spicer to award the contract to Screaming Eagles, seconded by Councilmember Bowers, was withdrawn before any vote when Bowers requested that both vendors be placed on the following week's agenda for formal consideration.