Title
[Contract] Grazing Services - Fuel Reduction and Vegetation Management
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FileID
File ID: 2026-01570
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Location
Location: Citywide
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Recommendation
Recommendation: Pass a Motion authorizing the City Manager or designee to execute a Goods and Nonprofessional Services Agreement for Grazing Services to support vegetation management and fuel reduction services with Robert Thompson dba Legacy Ranching (PRC004499) for an amount not to exceed $675,000 with a maximum term of five years.
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Contact
Contact: Adam Strebel, Utilities Operations & Maintenance Supervisor, (916) 808-4029, astrebel@cityofsacramento.org; Charley Cunningham, Wastewater and Drainage Division Manager, (916) 808-5518, ccunningham@cityofsacramento.org; Dalia Fadl, Director, (916) 808-3765, dfadl@cityofsacramento.org; Department of Utilities
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Presenter
Presenter: None
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Attachments
Attachments:
1-Description/Analysis
2-PRC004499_Robert Thompson dba Legacy Ranching
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Additional Description/Analysis
IssueDetail
Issue Detail: The Department of Utilities (DOU) has a need for effective vegetation control services at locations throughout the City. Protection of critical infrastructure is required by Sacramento City Code 8.140.010 and South Sacramento Streams maintenance is required per CA State Department of Water Resources pursuant to CA Water Code 12670.14(d). This program includes the usage of sheep and/or goats for focused grazing at various natural and open space City locations including but not limited to areas adjacent to levees and waterways. Grazing services are required to meet City, State, and Federal regulatory maintenance and flood protection requirements, protect critical infrastructure by reducing fuel loads and fire hazards and support operational efficiency. This approach significantly decreases the amount of manual labor needed as the volume, terrain, and ongoing nature of the vegetation management work exceeds the capacity of in-house staff. In addition, utilizing grazing animals removes the potential safety hazard of staff using mowers and trimmers on rough terrain and steep slopes. Utilizing contracted grazing services ensures consistent, safe, and cost-effective vegetation reduction that aligns with operational needs, regulatory expectations, and public safety.
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PolicyConsiderations
Policy Considerations: In conformance with Sacramento City Code section 3.56.090, City Council approval is required to execute an agreement if the amount expended under an agreement is $250,000 or more.
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EconomicImpacts
Economic Impacts: None.
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EnvironmentalConsiderations
Environmental Considerations: The Community Development Department Environmental Services Manager has determined that the proposed agreement is not a project subject to the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA). CEQA Guidelines Section 15378(b)(2). The activity is a continuing administrative or maintenance activity such as purchases of supplies and personnel-related actions and is therefore not subject to CEQA. CEQA Guidelines Section 15060(c)(3). The resulting grazing for vegetation control and fire hazard reduction consists of the operation and maintenance of existing facilities and topographical features, including maintenance of existing landscaping and is exempt from CEQA pursuant to CEQA Guidelines Section 15301 (Existing Facilities).
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Sustainability
Sustainability: The proposed contract is consistent with the 2040 General Plan Policy PFS-1.8 to continue to remove excessive/overgrown vegetation from City-owned property and PFS 3.1 to continue with the provision of adequate utilities to meet the needs of residents and businesses throughout the City.
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Commission/Committee Action
Commission/Committee Action: Not applicable.
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RationaleforRecommendation
Rationale for Recommendation: On February 27, 2026, a Request for Proposals (RFP) P26141431808 was issued on PlanetBids for Goat/Sheep Grazing Services. Through PlanetBids, 238 Suppliers were notified of the solicitation with 13 self-identifying as Prospective Bidders. Five proposals were received by the closing date, with one being determined to be unresponsive. After thorough review of proposals and conducting interviews, the Department of Utilities determined Robert Thompson dba Legacy Ranching to be the top ranked proposer based on combined proposal and interview scores (see table below).
|
Vendor Name |
Rank |
Proposal Scores |
Interview Scores |
|
Legacy Ranching |
1 |
96.5 |
19.75 |
|
Capra Environmental Services, Corp. |
2 |
96.75 |
18 |
|
Paradise Grazing Company |
3 |
88.25 |
N/A |
|
Goats R Us |
4 |
80.75 |
N/A |
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FinancialConsiderations
Financial Considerations: The total not-to-exceed amount of the contract is $675,000 for a maximum five-year term. Sufficient funding of $150,000 exists in the FY2026/27 budget of the Flood Control Planning Program (I14010100, Fund 6011) and SAFCA Levee Maintenance Program (I14120300, Fund 6211) for the first year of the agreement. Funding of this agreement in future fiscal years will be subject to availability of sufficient funds in the budget adopted for the applicable fiscal year. Purchase orders encumbering funds under this agreement will not be created until needs and funding are identified in the applicable budget (operating, capital, multi-operating, or grants) for the applicable fiscal year.
There are no impacts to the General Fund for these Agreement.
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LocalBusinessEnterprise
Local Business Enterprise (LBE): Robert Thompson dba Legacy Ranching is not an LBE. The LBE Participation requirement was waived by the Director of Utilities for this solicitation due to the lack of local qualified vendor availability.
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