Water district tries new landscaping

By Stephanie Bertholdo bertholdo@theacorn.com

The Las Virgenes Municipal Water District has signed a five-month, $25,000 contract with Villa Esperanza Services to perform landscaping at four district locations. Villa Esperanza is a nonprofit organization that employs people with disabilities.

The water district chose not to renew its contract with Mariposa Landscaping, its previous landscape services provider. District officials say they weren’t satisfied with Mariposa’s work.

According to a staff report, the landscaping firm wanted to increase its rates and reduce its onsite work time by 40 percent.

Jeff Reinhardt, water district spokesperson, said the contract with Villa Esperanza will not exceed $25,000. Villa Esperanza Services will be paid $4,555 per month—approximately the same as the new rates proposed by Mariposa. Villa Esperanza will provide landscape services for all four facilities: the district office, Tapia Water Reclamation Plant, Rancho Las Virgenes Composting Facility, and the Westlake Filtration Plant.