Manteca is no longer paying $29.36 to $36 per hour to “mow and blow” 11 parks where maintenance costs are covered by the city’s general fund.

The city — starting in late May — awarded contracts to private landscaping companies to do the work on a weekly basis.

Employees of such firms typically make minimum wage that is currently at $16.90 an hour. The California minimum will go up to $17.40 per hour in Jan. 1m, 2026.

Manteca’s Park Maintenance 2 workers earn $29.36 an hour or $61,000 a year while Park Maintenance 3 workers earn $36 an hour or just under $75,000 a year.

City Manager Toni Lundgren said the goal is to free up more skilled city workers to tackle other park maintenance tasks that require more expertise than basic mowing, trimming, and clean up.

The contracted work is being monitored to make sure it meets city standards.

The parks contracted workers are handling grass upkeep on Tuesdays are Cotta, Quail Roidge, Southside, Walnut, Hildebrand, and Wilson.

Park work is being done at Giles, Greystone, Mayors, Willian Martin and Crestwood on Thursdays.

The city’s move doesn’t impact landscape maintenance districts where homeowners in the surrounding neighborhoods are assessed annually to cover the costs. It is also why those parks tend to have a higher level of care.

It marks the first time the city will use a private sector contractor to do routine upkeep at municipal parks where such work is now covered by the general fund.

The goal is to step up the quality of park care as Manteca has been struggling to fill positions. It also will help reduce long-range costs as contracted workers do not require the city to add to its pension liability.

The idea was advanced by Assistant City Manager Jose Jasso.

The 11 parks consist of 26.6 acres.

Manteca is nearing 80 park facilities with roughly half that have their maintenance and upkeep costs covered by community facilities districts that assess costs against homeowners in specific neighborhoods tied to parks.

The other parks rely on the general fund to cover costs, material, and utilities.

The four general task categories the contracted workers are handling are:

Mowing

*Routine mowing of turn areas within designated park locations.

*Mowing frequency shall be efficient to maintain healthy turf and an acceptable appearance, as determined by the city.

* Grass clippings shall be evenly dispersed or removed as directed.

* Turfgrass shall be maintained to a uniform height at 2.5” for appropriate park use.

Edging/string trimming

*Mechanical or manual edging along sidewalks, curbs, pathways, playground borders, parking lots, and other hardscape interfaces.

*Edging shall be completed weekly, unless authorized by the City.

*String trimming shall be performed as needed to maintain a neat and well-maintained appearance around obstacles, fencelines, signposts, trees, playground equipment, park furnishings, and areas not accessible by mowing equipment.

*Edging and trimming shall maintain clean, well-defined turf lines and prevent turf or weed encroachment.

* All debris generated from edging and trimming shall be blown off or removed from site.

Trash/litter pickup

*Collection and proper disposal of trash and litter from turf areas, landscaped areas, playgrounds, picnic areas, parking lots, and other park amenities.

*Immediate removal of hazardous debris (e.g., broken glass) upon discovery.
*The contractor shall be responsible for the proper disposal of all general trash and litter connected as part of routine maintenance.

*If large debris, bulky items, or evidence of illegal dumping is encountered, the contractor shall not remove such materials and shall immediately notify the City’s assigned Parks Department representative for direction and disposal coordination.

Blowing of hardscapes

*Blowing and cleaning off all hardscape surfaces including sidewalks, walkways, plazas, parking lots, courts, and other paved areas.

*Removal of grass clippings, leaves, dirt, and debris from hardscapes following mowing and edging operations.

*Debris shall be collected and disposed of appropriately and shall not be blown into landscaped areas, streets, or storm drainage systems.

To contact Dennis Wyatt, email dwyatt@mantecabulletin.com