City Will Spend Will Spend Millions to Trim Trees Clear of Power Lines

The City Council on Monday approved a three-item consent calendar, including a maximum $15.7 million contract to provide power line clearance tree trimming services for the city’s Water and Power Department.

The vote clears the way for City Manager Steve Mermell to enter into a contract with Utility Tree Service for an initial period not to exceed three years, or until $9,432,000 has been expended, whichever occurs first; with two optional one-year extensions, each not to exceed $3,144,000.

The California Public Utilities Commission’s General Order 95 requires power utilities to trim trees that are in close proximity to overhead power distribution lines.

Pasadena Water and Power trims an average of 7,800 trees annually that are in close proximity to energized electrical lines.

As part of the agreement, the city accepted a letter from Pasadena-based Flintridge Tree Care, Inc. rescinding its bid to provide power line clearance tree trimming services for the city utility. The Pasadena company bid $2,680,284 to perform the work. San Diego-based Utility Tree Service came in second place. Two additional companies each placed higher bids to perform the work.

The City Council also voted to enter into a $368,000 contract with Transcore to provide adaptive traffic control services as part of the adaptive traffic control network included in Phase II of the Metro grant-funded project.

Under Phase II of the Adaptive Traffic Control Network, the expansion of traffic control operations provides for an additional 31 signalized intersections citywide.

Adaptive traffic control operations will be placed at:

• Foothill Boulevard, from Sierra Madre Boulevard to Michillinda Avenue

• Lake Avenue, from Orange Grove Boulevard to San Pascual Street

• Del Mar Boulevard, from St. John Avenue to Lake Avenue

• California Boulevard, from St. John Avenue to Lake Avenue

The council also voted to allow the city manager to enter into a $230,000 contract with Ellis Equipment for TSleds and K-Rails.

An additional $35,000 will be appropriated from the General Fund operating reserve for on-street dining to the Department of Transportation.

K-Rails are temporary concrete barriers that are used for perimeter protection, prohibiting access and defining walkways. The barriers are being used to protect outdoor dining areas along Colorado Boulevard in Playhouse Village and Old Pasadena.

The city has paid $151,000 for rentals of K-rails and TLS2 SLEDs and will pay an additional $110,000 to rent the barriers until June.

The council passed all of the items with one vote. No items were pulled for further consideration.