REPORT TO COUNCIL
SUBJECT
Title
Action on Amendment No. 1 to the Agreement for Performance of Services with Davey Tree Surgery Company [Council Pillar: Deliver and Enhance High Quality Efficient Services and Infrastructure]
Report
BACKGROUND
The City of Santa Clara's Electric Department, Silicon Valley Power (SVP), requires tree trimming and removal services to reduce threats to the integrity of SVP's electric distribution system from tree and related vegetation contact with power lines. In recognition of this hazard, the City Manager's Directive #74 directs the Electric Department to utilize a tree trimming program to protect the distribution lines. SVP has utilized a tree trimming company specializing in working near electrical infrastructure to implement a tree trimming program.
In October of 2017, staff issued a Request for Proposal for tree trimming and two bids were received. By Council action on December 5, 2017 (Attachment 1), Davey Tree Surgery Company (Davey) was selected for a three-year agreement to provide tree trimming services for SVP near electrical infrastructure. Davey has performed well under this agreement.
During 2017 and 2018, numerous wildfires occurred throughout the State of California. In 2019, Pacific Gas and Electric Company initiated several Public Safety Power Shutoff (PSPS) events throughout their service territory. Based on the wildfire-related events of the past several years, the California Legislature implemented multiple legislative measures to reduce the risk of wildfires. One of the latest is Senate Bill 247 (SB-247), titled "Wildland fire prevention: vegetation management," which was signed into law by the Governor on October 1, 2019. While the City of Santa Clara is not in a high wildfire zone, SB-247 affects Santa Clara because it establishes the base prevailing wage for all qualified electrical line clearance tree trimmers performing work to no less than the prevailing wage for a first period apprentice elec...
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