REPORT TO COUNCIL
SUBJECT
Title
Action on Amendment No. 2 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 regular tree trimming and related services to reduce threats to the integrity of SVP's electric distribution system associated with tree and related vegetation contact with power lines. Regular and emergency tree trimming services are critical to reduce power outages for SVP customers and minimize duration of outage when they occur due to trees. In recognition of this hazard, SVP uses a tree trimming contractor specializing in working near electrical infrastructure to provide these services.
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. SVP has been satisfied with services provided by Davey.
As a result of numerous wildfires and wildfire-related events such as public safety power shutdowns of the past several years, the California Legislature implemented multiple legislative measures to reduce the risk of wildfires. One of the latest, Senate Bill 247 (SB-247), titled "Wildland fire prevention: vegetation management," 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 in the City of Santa Clara to no less than the prevailing wage for a first period apprentice electrical utility lineman. This resulted in a significant cost increase to the City's current contractor.
D...
Click here for full text