Agenda Item Wording:
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Award contract and appropriate funds for St. John’s River Trail landscaping - Authorize the City Manager to award the construction contract to Gowin Green Landscaping for the St. John’s River Trail landscaping east of Dinuba Boulevard project in the amount of $287,826; and authorize the additional appropriation of $255,000 from the Waterways Capital Fund (Fund 261).
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Agenda Date: 08/03/2026
Prepared by:
Jonathan Frausto, Senior Project Manager, Jonathan.frausto@visalia.gov, 713-4369
Dolores Verduzco, Financial Analyst, Dolores.Verduzco@visalia.gov, 713-4540
Azalia Chavez, Financial Analyst, Azalia.Chavez@visalia.gov, 713-4316
Ivan Nicar, Parks and Facilities Manager, Ivan.Nicar@visalia.gov, 713-4564
Chris Crawford, City Engineer, Chris.Crawford@visalia.gov, 713-4331
Jason Huckleberry, Engineering and Building Department Director, Jason.Huckleberry@visalia.gov, 713-4495
Department Recommendation:
Staff recommends that the City Council authorize the City Manager to execute a construction contract with Gowin Green Landscaping for the St. John’s River Trail landscaping east of Dinuba Boulevard project in the amount of $287.826 and authorize the additional appropriation of $250,000 from the Waterways Capital Fund (Fund 261).
Summary:
This project award will initiate the construction phase for the St. John’s River Trail landscaping east of Dinuba Boulevard. Improvements include, but are not limited to, mulch, compost, trees, and shrubs.
Background Discussion:
The St. John’s River Trail, located just east of Dinuba Boulevard along the St. John’s River, is an approximately one-mile-long Class I multi-use trail constructed along the riverbank. The project included several trail amenities, including lighting, benches, trash receptacles, and dog waste dispensers.
The trail serves as an important connection within the City’s broader pedestrian and bicycle network. At its southern end, the St. John’s River Trail connects to the pedestrian crossing project at Riggin Avenue and the future Santa Fe Street intersection. The signalized pedestrian crossing at Riggin Avenue provides a connection between the Santa Fe Trail, which extends from Houston Avenue to Riggin Avenue, and the St. John’s River Trail. The Santa Fe Trail will also connect to a future Class IV cycle track extending from Tulare Avenue to Houston Avenue, ultimately creating a continuous north-south pedestrian and bicycle corridor. At the Dinuba Boulevard end, the St. John’s River Trail connects to the St. John’s River riparian corridor project, completing the connection to Riverway Sports Park.
Landscape and irrigation improvements were not included in the original construction contract for the St. John’s River Trail. Irrigation infrastructure was subsequently installed; however, the system is not currently in use, and landscaping has not yet been installed.
The proposed project will complete the remaining landscape improvements along the trail, providing the final improvements necessary to complete the original vision for the St. John’s River Trail.
Project Impacts:
The Project specifications require that pedestrian and bicycle access along the St. John’s River Trail be maintained throughout construction. The contractor will be required to perform the landscape improvements in a manner that maintains continuous trail circulation and minimizes impacts to pedestrians and bicyclists.
Bidding Process:
Staff advertised RFB 25-26-42 for the St. John’s River Trail landscaping east of Dinuba Boulevard on March 13th, 2026, with a bid close date on April 14, 2026.
The project consists solely of landscape improvements that will be required to be planted to an existing irrigation system installed under a previous construction contract. Due to the complexity of the existing irrigation system and unknown field conditions associated with tying into infrastructure installed by a previous contractor, two mandatory pre-bid meetings were held at the project site. These meetings provided prospective bidders an opportunity to become familiar with the existing site conditions, review the irrigation system, and ask questions regarding the proposed work prior to submitting their bids. The mandatory pre-bid meetings were held on Thursday, March 26, 2026, and Friday, March 27, 2026. Two prospective bidders attended the meetings and are listed below.
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1 |
Brightview Landscaping |
Bakersfield, CA |
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2 |
Gowin Green Landscaping |
Tulare, CA |
At the time of bid opening staff did not receive any bids.
Quote Process:
Following an unsuccessful bidding process staff proceeded to directly solicit the contractors that attended the pre-bid meetings.
Based on the quote review and contractor verification, staff recommends awarding the construction contract to Gowin Green Landscaping for the landscaping at St. John’s River Trail east of Dinuba Boulevard (3010/72000/CP8131-999) in the amount of $287,826.
Fiscal Impact:
Budget Shortfall:
The project has a budget shortfall of approximately $255,000. This shortfall can be contributed to the rise in construction costs since the year 2018 when this project was originally estimated. From January of 2021 to January of 2025, the California Construction Cost Index shows an increase of approximately 40%.
Budget Overview
The Landscaping at St. John’s River Trail East of Dinuba Boulevard is multi-funded using the Waterways Capital Fund (Fund 261) and a State Grant. A budget breakdown is provided in the table below. The table below reflects the remaining balance in the project budget to complete landscaping at the St. John’s River Trail East of Dinuba Boulevard.
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Landscaping at St. John’s River Trail east of Dinuba Boulevard (CP8131) |
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Project Funding Source |
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Waterways Capital Fund (Fund 261) remaining balance |
$ 32,243 |
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State Grant (Fund 281) remaining balance |
$ 49,152 |
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Total Project Funding |
$ 81,395 |
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Estimated Project Costs |
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Construction |
$ 287,826 |
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Construction Contingency (~10.0%) |
$ 30,000 |
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Construction Management (Staff Time) |
$ 5,000 |
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Construction Management (Consultant Time) |
$ 5,000 |
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Construction Services (Inspection) |
$ 5,000 |
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Total Estimated Project Costs |
$ 332,826 |
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Surplus (Deficit) |
($ 251,431) |
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Round to |
$ 255,000 |
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Appropriate funds from Waterways Capital Fund (261) |
$ 255,000 |
Due to the above-identified budget deficit, staff recommends the additional appropriation of $255,000 from the Waterways Capital Fund to the Landscaping at St. John’s River Trail east of Dinuba Boulevard project.
Prior Council Action:
None
Recommended Motion (and Alternative Motions if expected):
recommendation
I move to authorize the City Manager to execute a construction contract with Gowin Green Landscaping for the landscaping at St. John’s River Trail east of Dinuba Boulevard in the amount of $287,826 and authorize the additional appropriation of $255,000 from the Waterways Capital Fund.
CEQA Review: Project falls under the original environmental permit.
Deadline for Action: 8/3/2026
Attachments:
1. Gowing Green Landscaping ownership disclosure form
2. Project location map
3. Gowin Green Landscaping draft contract
Strategic Goal: Indicates which City Strategic Goal(s) this item supports. Check all that apply.
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☒  Economic Vitality |
☐  Organizational Excellence |
☐  Fiscal Strength |
☒  Infrastructure & Growth |
☒  Quality of Life |