Agenda Item Wording:
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Authorize a sole source agreement - Authorize the City Manager to enter into a sole source agreement with Community Services Employment Training as a local Conservation Corps partner, for a one-year term with the option to renew annually for up to four (4) additional one-year terms, in an amount not to exceed $500,000 per year.
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Agenda Date: 02/17/2026
Prepared by:
Dolores Verduzco, Financial Analyst, dolores.verduzco@visalia.gov, (559) 713-4540
Chris Crawford, City Engineer, chris.crawford@visalia.gov, (559) 713-4331
Jason Huckleberry, Engineering & Building Director, jason.huckleberry@visalia.gov, (559) 713-4495
Department Recommendation: Authorize the City Manager to enter into a sole source agreement with Community Services Employment Training, Inc. (CSET), as a local Conservation Corps partner for primarily grant-funded work related to trail and landscaping projects, in an annual amount not to exceed $500,000, for a one-year term with the option to renew for up to four (4) additional one-year terms.
Summary:
The City of Visalia and the Community Services Employment Training, Inc. (CSET), have a history of partnering on landscaping projects throughout the city. Often, these projects are paid for through a combination of various grant funds and matching city funds. The city has been partnering with CSET on urban forestry projects since 2008. Staff recommends Council authorize an agreement for an initial term of one year, renewable for up to an additional four (4) one-year terms, (total of five years) between the City and CSET in order to continue to provide a proven partnership that benefits the city with needed landscaping work while providing work for youth.
Background Discussion:
CSET is a non-profit agency with a mission to reduce poverty by equipping individuals, families, and communities with the skills, resources, and opportunities they need to succeed. One of the services offered by CSET is through their Sequoia Community Corps (SCC), a certified California Conservation Corps that employs adults between the ages of 18 to 26 years old. CSET’s local conservation corps provides young adults job skills training and educational opportunities while preserving and protecting the environment. The SCC offers vocational training in the trades of weatherization, conservation education, recycling and urban forestry.
The city has partnered with CSET on various types of grant funded projects including federal and state programs for urban forestry within the city such as, the Transportation Enhancement Program, and state funded urban forestry grants. In some grant applications such as the Active Transportation Program, it is a requirement to partner with a local conservation corps, and doing so increases the probability of receiving an award of grant funds. CSET is the only local conservation corps serving the Tulare County area.
Past grant awarded projects in which CSET was a participant include: the Mill Creek Trail at McAuliff, Jennings Waterway Trail, Piano Basin Trail, portions of Packwood Creek Trail, the St Johns Trail west and east of Dinuba. Currently funded projects that may utilize CSET’s local conservation corps for the landscaping component include the Basin D project, Peoples Basin project, Oakes Basin project, each of which includes a trail along the perimeter, and the reconstruction of the Goshen Trail. The scope of work to be performed by CSET may include mulch, tree vegetation and shrub installation.
Grant funding covers project management, plants, irrigation materials and labor. The partnership has been beneficial to the City’s environment and quality of life. It has also positively impacted the lives of the young people in the Sequoia Community Corps. The Corps members have learned valuable work skills, and gained hands-on work experience while beautifying our community and improving their future job prospects.
Fiscal Impact including annual maintenance and operating costs:
Based on past projects awarded, it is estimated no more than $500,000 annually would be paid to CSET, subject to the availability of grant funding and City Council approved project appropriations. CSET will be paid accordingly from the funds appropriated for the awarded grant and may include city matching funds from the Measure R Trailway Fund.
There are maintenance costs associated with the trees and shrubs that may be installed by the applicable projects. Typically trees along trails are on a 4-to-5-year pruning cycle or are pruned and trimmed on an as needed basis with varying costs based on the size of the tree. Each individual project when presented to Council will further assess the associated maintenance costs.
Prior Council Action:
November 5, 2018
Authorized the City Manager to enter into a sole source agreement with CSET as a local conservation corps partner for primarily grant-funded work related to trail and landscaping project, in an annual amount not to exceed $500,000.
September 3, 2013
Authorized the City Manager to enter into a renewed agreement with CSET for an annual amount not to exceed $500,000.
January 7, 2008
Authorized the City Manager to execute a services agreement with CSET to provide labor for various grant projects where CSET is specified as a partner for amount not to exceed $293,000.
Alternatives: None
Recommended Motion (and Alternative Motions if expected):
recommendation
I move to authorize the City Manager to enter into a sole source agreement with CSET, Inc. as a local conservation corps partner for primarily grant funded work, in annual amount not to exceed $500,000, for a one-year term with the option to renew for up to four (4) additional one-year terms.
Environmental Assessment Status: N/A
CEQA Review: N/A
Deadline for Action: 02/17/2026
Attachments: Draft Professional Services Agreement between the City of Visalia and Community Services and Employment Training, Inc.
Strategic Goal:
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☒ Economic Vitality |
☐  Organizational Excellence |
☒ Fiscal Strength |
☒  Infrastructure & Growth |
☒  Quality of Life |