City to Cease Funding Landscaping, Washing Services

The Sierra Madre City Council moved unanimously Tuesday to eliminate funding for pressure washing of downtown sidewalks and landscaping services for downtown areas.

These services were formerly paid for with Community Redevelopment Agency funding. However, CRAs ceased to exist on Feb. 1.

There's a possibility that Athens Services, Sierra Madre's contract trash haulers, could take over the pressure washing responsibilities.

Ed Chen, Director of Public Affairs for Athens, offered to perform pressure washing services free of charge ... if the City is willing to change its current contract from a fixed term to a rolling (or "evergreen") contract that would have no set expiration date.

If Athens doesn't take over pressure washing, restaurant owners would be responsible for cleaning their own sidewalks.

The Council will discuss Athens' offer. In the meantime, Councilmember Mary Ann MacGillivray asked Chen if Athens would perform the pressure washing in good faith. Chen said he would discuss it with his colleagues.

Landscaping maintenance will also be reduced downtown. The Council moved to eliminate $19,000 in yearly funding for an irrigiation technician, fertilizers, chemicals, mulch and other maintenance.

Public Works employees will be called upon on an as-needed basis for landscaping. So downtown plant beds and trees will still be cared for, just not as regularly.

The undertaking of former CRA responsibilities coupled with the $695,000 the Council just spent to cover windstorm damage has put a strain on the City budget and a dent in General Fund Reserves.