AGENDA ITEM
TO: HONORABLE MAYOR
AND MEMBERS OF THE CITY COUNCIL
FROM: CARLO TOMAINO
CITY MANAGER
BY: GABINO C. LUNA
PUBLIC WORKS DIRECTOR
SUBJECT:
title
FINAL ACCEPTANCE OF THE STREET TREE PLANTING PROJECT AND CONTRACT SERVICES AGREEMENT WITH THE CONSERVATION CORPS OF LONG BEACH FOR TREE WATERING AND MAINTENANCE
summary
Summary:
The Street Tree Planting Project implements the City’s 2023 Street Tree Master Plan and is funded through a $1,000,000 United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Forest Service grant administered by GreenLatinos. On August 26, 2025, the City Council awarded a Public Works Contract to Kormex Construction, Incorporated (Kormex) for tree planting and an initial establishment-maintenance period. Kormex completed the work on August 21, 2026, in accordance with the approved plans and specifications and to the satisfaction of the Public Works Department. The final contract amount for this project is $396,810, including two change orders totaling $31,310.
Staff recommends the City Council accept Kormex’s work and direct staff to record a Notice of Completion. Staff also recommends awarding a Contract Services Agreement to the Conservation Corps of Long Beach (CCLB) for the project’s final tree watering and establishment-maintenance phase. Under the proposed agreement, CCLB would maintain 510 newly planted trees from September 23, 2026, through November 30, 2027, for a not-to-exceed amount of $194,700.84. The City requires these services to protect its investment, support successful tree establishment, and complete the grant-funded project.
Strategic Plan Goals:
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Goal No. 1 |
Financial Stability: Ensure the City’s long-term financial stability and resilience. |
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Goal No. 4 |
Infrastructure: Maintain and improve the City’s physical infrastructure, water system, and recreational spaces. |
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Goal No. 5 |
High-Functioning Government: Strengthen internal communication, recruitment, retention, systems, and processes to increase the effectiveness and efficiency of City services. |
recommendation
Recommendations:
1. Accept the work completed by Kormex Construction, Incorporated for the Street Tree Planting Project (Project No. 90.25012) in conformance with the approved plans, specifications, and contract requirements, and authorize the City Manager to execute the Notice of Completion;
2. Direct staff to record the Notice of Completion with the Los Angeles County Registrar-Recorder’s Office and thereafter process release of retention in accordance with the contract documents;
3. Find, pursuant to Signal Hill Municipal Code Section 3.20.120(I) and 2CFR 200.320 (C) (4), that awarding the Contract Services Agreement to the Conservation Corps of Long Beach without conducting a competitive procurement is authorized and in the best interest of the City and the public health, safety, and welfare, based on the City’s written request and GreenLatinos’ written approval, as the pass-through entity, dated September 2, 2026;
4. Adopt a Resolution, entitled: A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SIGNAL HILL, CALIFORNIA, AUTHORIZING THE NONCOMPETITIVE PROCUREMENT AND AWARD OF A CONTRACT SERVICES AGREEMENT WITH THE CONSERVATION CORPS OF LONG BEACH FOR TREE WATERING AND MANTENANCT SERVICES FOR THE STREET TREE PLANTING PROJECT
5. Authorize the City Manager to execute a Contract Services Agreement with the Conservation Corps of Long Beach for tree watering and establishment-maintenance services for a term beginning September 23, 2026, and ending November 30, 2027, in a not-to-exceed amount of $194,700.84, in a form approved by the City Attorney and subject to compliance with applicable federal grant procurement requirements.
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Fiscal Impact:
Street Trees Planting and Construction
The completed Kormex contract and the proposed CCLB agreement are fully funded through the $1,000,000 USDA Forest Service grant; staff is not requesting an additional appropriation. The City Council awarded Kormex a $365,500 Public Works Contract and authorized a $36,550 contingency, for a total construction budget of $402,050. The final contract amount was $396,810, which is below the total construction budget.
Street Tree Establishment-Maintenance Services
The USDA Forest Service grant allocated $292,248 for the tree-establishment maintenance phase. The proposed CCLB agreement for tree watering and establishment-maintenance services has a not-to-exceed amount of $194,700.84, which is $97,547.16 less than the amount allocated in the subaward agreement. Sufficient funding is available in the Fiscal Year 2026-2027 Capital Improvement Program for the Street Tree Planting Project (Project No. 90.25012).
Background:
On February 28, 2023, the City Council adopted the 2023 Street Tree Master Plan to restore and expand the City’s urban forest canopy, notably in areas with low tree cover and elevated environmental burdens. The plan supports increased resilience to extreme heat and storm events, enhanced air quality and public wellness, and expanded environmental benefits in disadvantaged communities. On September 14, 2023, the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) awarded the City a $1,000,000 grant for the Street Tree Planting Project. On August 27, 2024, the City Council approved a grant agreement with GreenLatinos, a national pass-through partner of the USDA Forest Service, to administer the grant and guarantee compliance with the funding requirements. The City identified Conservation Corps of Long Beach (CCLB) as a supporting project partner in its original grant application, and the executed grant agreement continues to identify CCLB as an organization supporting the project. Awarding the final establishment-maintenance phase to CCLB is consistent with the project team and implementation approach presented to the funding agencies.
Analysis:
The project included planning and implementation, tree planting, and tree establishment phases. During the planning phase, SWA Group surveyed potential planting locations, selected tree species suited to site conditions, prepared planting plans and technical specifications, and conducted community outreach. The final plans identified 510 planting sites in parkways, medians, and existing or new tree wells within the grant’s designated disadvantaged census block groups. On August 26, 2025, after a competitive bidding process, the City Council awarded a Public Works Contract to Kormex for $365,500 and authorized a 10 percent contingency of $36,550 for the tree planting phase. Kormex’s work included nursery tagging, resident notifications, site preparation, concrete removal, soil amendments, installation of 510 trees, and an initial 90-day watering and maintenance period.
Notice of Completion: Kormex Construction Incorporated
During the planting phase, staff authorized two change orders totaling $31,310. Change Order No. 1 addressed additional demolition needed for new tree wells and provided the contract time necessary to complete the initial maintenance period. Change Order No. 2 addressed additional demolition and disposal quantities and the removal and replacement of pavers at planting locations. The change orders increased the contract to $396,810, which remained within the previously authorized construction budget and contingency. Kormex finished all work, including corrective and closeout items, on August 21, 2026. The Public Works Department confirmed the work met the approved plans, specifications, and contract requirements. Based on the foregoing, staff therefore recommends final acceptance and recordation of the Notice of Completion. Following final acceptance, staff would record the Notice of Completion with the Los Angeles County Registrar-Recorder’s Office and process the release of retention in accordance with the Kormex contract documents (Attachment A).
Contract Services Agreement with the Conservation Corps of Long Beach
The transition from planting to long-term establishment maintenance marks the project’s final phase. Newly planted trees face risks from drought stress, stake or tie failures, weed competition, pests, and disease. Continuous watering and early corrective maintenance are especially important during the first several growing seasons because root systems have not yet developed enough to withstand extended dry periods. Timely maintenance improves tree survival, protects the grant-funded investment, and helps the City achieve the canopy, shade, air-quality, and neighborhood-benefit outcomes outlined in the Street Tree Master Plan and grant agreement.
On August 10, 2026, CCLB submitted a proposal to the City to procure the third and last phase of the USDA Street Tree Planting Project for a term from September 23, 2026, through November 30, 2027, which correlates to the USDA Agreement term expiration. As part of the scope of work, CCLB would water trees weekly from June through September, every two weeks during April, May, October, and November, and monthly from December through March, with additional watering during extreme heat or prolonged dry conditions. CCLB would also remove weeds, trash, and debris; inspect and adjust stakes and ties; replenish mulch; perform minor pruning; monitor tree health; apply plant supplements at scheduled intervals; notify City staff of tree-health concerns; and submit monthly activity summaries.
CCLB is a nonprofit, State-certified community conservation corps that provides paid work experience, education, and career development opportunities through conservation projects. The City and CCLB have maintained a successful partnership since 2005. CCLB provides recurring cleanup services along the Cherry Avenue and Willow Street corridors and at City bus stops, assisted with the Bixby Ridge Trail refurbishment, constructed Heritage Point Park, and supported City tree-planting activities. Staff remains satisfied with CCLB’s performance on these assignments. Furthermore, CCLB’s urban-forestry experience, familiarity with the City’s maintenance expectations, prior work on the project trees, and ability to mobilize immediately support an efficient transition into the final project phase.
The ongoing services proposed as part of a new contract with CCLB would advance the grant’s community and workforce-development objectives and provide the consistent, labor-intensive care necessary to establish the new trees. CCLB has also provided these services at cost-effective rates while creating paid training and employment opportunities for local young adults; the proposed price of $194,700.84 is $97,547.16 less than the $292,248 tree-establishment maintenance vendor allowance included in the executed grant budget; therefore, the proposed costs are reasonable. The City is working with GreenLatinos to procure tree well enhancement related tasks with the remaining grant funds estimated at $170,000.
To comply with federal requirements, the City submitted a written request to GreenLatinos, the pass-through entity for the USDA Forest Service award, seeking approval to use a noncompetitive procurement method for the proposed CCLB agreement. On September 2, 2026, GreenLatinos approved this request and cited both the longstanding partnership and urgent project timeline, in accordance with 2 CFR 200.320(c). This approval meets the federal conditions for noncompetitive procurement. In addition, Signal Hill Municipal Code Section 3.20.120(I) permits the City Council to authorize a contract without following the standard procurement methods when it is determined that the award serves the best interest of the City or the public health, safety, and welfare.
Staff recommends this finding based on CCLB’s relevant experience, longstanding relationship with the City, ability to transition immediately after Kormex’s completion, community workforce benefits, and the need to maintain uninterrupted care of the newly planted trees. Staff prepared a resolution that provides legal justification for the noncompetitive procurement (Attachment B). Based on the foregoing, staff recommends awarding a contract to CCLB (Attachment C). Upon execution of the proposed CCLB agreement, staff would coordinate the maintenance route, water access, City-furnished materials, reporting, and ongoing monitoring through the grant period ending November 30, 2027.
Reviewed for Fiscal Impact:
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Siamlu Cox
Attachments:
A. Notice of Completion - Street Tree Planting Project
B. City Council Resolution 2026-09-6963
C. CCLB Street Tree Watering and Maintenance Agreement