Concerns over the work done by the city’s landscaping contractor are prompting the Ceres City Council to review other providers.

At the Oct. 13 meeting, Councilwoman Cerina Otero brought up the matter about BrightView Landscapes “possibly not doing what we expect.” Those concerns were originally voiced in July.

“I’d like to see us review the landscape service contracts and possibly find a company that can service our entire city and not just a specific area, separate the contracts from downtown to the residential areas,” said Otero. “For me, it’s important that our residents are getting a clean and maintained city so my recommendation is that we have a presentation brought forward about the landscape services and everything that is expected for these contractors.”

Councilwoman Rosalinda Vierra said she also doesn’t like the results from the contractor.

“I see on Morgan Road that they were not cutting them. It looks like they’re cutting it maybe every six months to a year,” said Vierra, who also noted seeing “weeds that are taller than me over at some of the parks, and one of them that completely covered a garbage can.”

Mayor Javier Lopez said he shares the same concerns and feels “it’s important that we review that contract and possibly look at some alternatives.”

Public Works Director Sam Royal said he reached out to the second lowest bidder who would agree to honor the bid given in July.

“I’m thinking of working on some kind of terminating the agreement with the vendor that we have currently, and maybe give a chance for the second bidder to go ahead and take that task on,” said Royal.

He said the cost difference between the two bidders was “extremely low … about $2,000 a month.”