Pomona, California Development News

Pomona Council Fails to Award Tree Maintenance Contract, Leading to New RFP Process

The City Council debated and ultimately failed to approve a new citywide tree maintenance and emergency response services contract with Mariposa Tree Management, Inc. The staff recommendation favored Mariposa based on a rigorous RFP process that scored proposals on project approach, qualifications, technical merit, and pricing, with Mariposa ranking highest. However, Councilmember Martin moved to award the contract to West Coast Arborists, the incumbent of 26 years, citing concerns about job losses, union support, and a desire to maintain a long-standing relationship, despite Mariposa having a higher score. This motion did not receive a second. A subsequent motion by Councilmember Preciado to continue the item to gather more information on the Phillips Ranch assessment plan also failed due to concerns about the extended timeline without a contractor. The council then voted on the staff recommendation to award to Mariposa, which also failed to pass. As a result, the city will now need to issue a new RFP, likely leading to a significant delay in awarding a new contract and potentially requiring emergency interim services at additional cost.