Landscape Services
Brian Lake
- phone number or extension(909) 869-4544
- email addressbllake@cpp.edu
Landscape Services Organizational Chart
About
Landscape Services is responsible for the grounds maintenance of the campus and University Housing properties, which encompass approximately 550 landscaped acres (nearly 24 million square feet of landscaped grounds). Primary duties include general horticultural maintenance, lawn maintenance, fire break and weed abatement, and litter and debris removal. Staff are engaged in a proactive approach to the maintenance of landscape and grounds care that includes turf and sports field maintenance, shrub and tree maintenance, brush clearing, irrigation system maintenance, exterior Integrated Pest Management (IPM Practice) and planting of annual colors to enhance aesthetics of the campus landscape.
In addition, this unit also keeps storm drains cleared, parking lots and streets free of litter, and assists in the setup of athletic functions, lease of facilities, and scheduled events. Routine landscaping is performed at the W.K. Kellogg Rose Garden, perennial, and annual flower beds, walking trails, manicured lawns and gardens and athletic areas. The irrigation system allows for efficient use of domestic and reclaimed water.
Staff maintain a variety of plant specimens used for botany, horticulture, and agriculture studies, and works closely with faculty to provide hands-on field demonstrations and laboratories to enhance the learning experience for students.
The Landscape team includes gardener specialists, lead grounds workers, gardeners, tree trimmers, grounds workers, irrigation specialists, laborers, a pasture technician, and heavy equipment operators, and is dedicated to providing a safe and aesthetically pleasing campus environment.
What We Do
The Grounds unit provides distinct areas of service which include:
- Grounds maintenance
- Irrigation management
- Tree management
- Pest management
- Horse pasture management
Base Services: FP&M Landscape Services receives a budget allocation and services are rendered without charge. The Association of Physical Plant Administrators (APPA) has established six levels of grounds attention. When staffed and funded appropriately, Landscape Services strives to achieve and maintain Level 2 – High level of maintenance. This level of grounds attention includes these Landscape Base Services and Frequencies.
Premium Services: FP&M Landscape Services does not receive a budget allocation and work must be funded by the department requesting services. Premium Services examples:
- Auxiliary and enterprise facility maintenance
- Department requests
- Event services
- Special requests
- Any Base Service at an increased frequency
For work involving the Grounds crew, submit a service request via email at fmcustomer@cpp.edu.
Services
Turf Maintenance and Mowing is performed mostly on one scheduled service day of each week. Exclusions to the regular schedule occur during holidays and inclement weather. This may be needed to accommodate fertilization and various outdoor activities, which may need to use the lawns.Tree Pruning and Maintenance
Tree pruning is performed with the intent of developing structurally sound trees with a specific appearance and the proper safe overhead clearance for pedestrians and vehicles.Shrub Pruning and Maintenance
Shrubs are kept in a healthy, vigorous condition, free from disease and large concentrations of pests. Shrubs are pruned as needed to provide formal and informal shapes, fullness, and blooms.Landscape Services Crew Biographies
East Campus
Jose Mata, Lead
Andrew Serrano, Gardener (Focus: President’s residence, Kellogg Rose Garden, Aratani Japanese Garden)
Jose Solano, Tree Trimmer (Performs grounds maintenance and tree trimming)
Manuel Guzman, Grounds Worker
Max Villarreal, Grounds Worker
Sirilo Garcia-Rios, Grounds Worker
Nickolas Vasquez, Laborer (Focus: Trash/recycling collection)
North Campus
Jesse Quiroz, Lead
Rob Landin, Gardener
Mike Pettengill, Grounds Worker
Anthony Lara, Grounds Worker
Noemi Gorostiola Vega, Grounds Worker
Ismael Zavalza, Grounds Worker
South Campus
Mike Miller, Lead
Felix Meraz, Gardener (Focus: Athletic turf operations)
Jesus Enriquez-Acero, Tree Trimmer (Performs grounds maintenance and tree trimming)
Mike Babb, Grounds Worker
Eli Gomez, Grounds Worker
Humberto Ochoa, Grounds Worker
Carlos Cuevas Jaramillo, Grounds Worker
Juan Chavez, Laborer (Focus: Trash/recycling collection)
Central Campus
Pamela Jordan, Lead
Jose Mireles, Gardener
Jose Ambriz, Grounds Worker
Rebekah Hempel, Grounds Worker
Mathew Ramirez, Grounds Worker
Gardener Specialists
John Hiatt, Gardener Specialist (Specialty: Plant health/design)
Gardener Specialist, Vacant (Specialty: Operations coordination/materials ordering/sports turf)
Equipment Operations
Ryan Hamilton, Lead Equipment Operator
Doyle Vest, Equipment Operator
John Camacho, Equipment Operator
Juan de Santiago, Equipment Operator
Irrigation
Jaime Garcia-Luna, Lead
Eric Moreno, Irrigation Specialist
Jose Medina, Irrigation Specialist
Vacant, Irrigation Specialist
W.K. Kellogg Arabian Horse Center Pastures Operations and Surroundings
Keith Kittridge, Pasture Technician
Marcoz Rodriguez, Gardener (Grounds maintenance and available to assist Pasture Technician)
Irrigation Management
The proper design and operation of irrigation systems can help reduce excess growth, maintenance requirements, and subsequent waste. Use of drip irrigation can enhance plant health, as well as minimize weed growth. Landscape Services manages the university’s water resources by utilizing the Laguna by Rain Master central irrigation control technology. This system uses drip irrigation and other forms of low-precipitation rate irrigation to minimize the use of water in irrigating the landscape, enhance plant health, and minimize weed growth. Landscape Services is committed to sustainability in its day-to-day delivery of service. Conservation is foremost and ensures efficient and effective irrigation systems, thereby reducing water usage. All landscaped and turf areas are irrigated as required to maintain adequate growth, health, and appearance, regardless of plant type or soil condition. Water use is regulated to avoid excessively wet or waterlogged areas, which can cause a decline in plant health, prevent turf mowing, and create excessive water run-off onto streets and structures.
To optimize water efficiency, Cal Poly Pomona uses:
- Drip irrigation
- Computer-operated irrigation management systems, namely Laguna by Rain Master Irrigation
- Maintains appropriate scheduling for the seasons
- Engages in routine maintenance of the irrigation system.
Native and Endemic Plants
Landscape Services is committed to creating a more self-sustaining system by using endemic and native plant material on campus where feasible. Landscape Services has supported several student projects to plant native and endemic plants around campus.Recycled Wood Chips
Wood chip mulch is created by chipping tree and landscape pruning debris. Rather than being discarded and taking up landfill space, this debris is placed over the soil surface to reduce evaporation and erosion, prevent weed growth, and insulate plants from extreme temperature changes providing a better growing environment in landscaped areas.Wood chips help:
Retain moisture
Reduce soil temperature
Reduce noxious weeds
Reduce erosion
Create natural walkway paths