The City Council has approved a budget appropriation of $382,000 for the procurement of street sweeping signs as part of a new initiative to enhance the city’s cleanliness and efficiency in street maintenance.

Staff members presented a request to waive formal bidding requirements and instead award a Purchase Order to Pacific Products, the lowest bidder, at a cost of $346,766.44. The remaining funds will go towards a contingency budget of approximately 10%, estimated at $35,233.56, to cover unforeseen signage production and materials expenses. This represents a slight increase from the original estimate of $375,000.

The street sweeping operation plan, approved on January 21, 2025, includes a shift to bi-weekly sweeping on alternating sides of the streets, a change made to bolster the city’s cleaning efforts. With the council’s approval, the signs are expected to be installed swiftly to align with the planned enforcement schedule starting in January.

The decision to employ an informal bidding procedure was made to expedite the procurement process and avoid potential inflation impacts from tariffs, ensuring the signs could be installed promptly. If Pacific Products cannot fulfill the order, the city has identified alternative vendors, including Safeway Signs and Zumar.

City officials emphasized the importance of this initiative in maintaining clean and accessible streets for residents and visitors alike. As the project progresses, the Sanitation Fund is expected to reimburse the General Fund for the expenses incurred.

This information is from the backup material for April 15, 2025 City Council.