Council approves contracts to finish Main Street Commons; shade canopies and bathroom/concession bids draw split votes

Lake Havasu City Council voted Sept. 23 to award construction contracts to finish the downtown's Main Street Commons. The council separately approved a $346,807 contract to install eight remaining shade canopies and a $1,059,423 contract to build a restroom and concessions building; both awards went to Merrill Development Inc.

Jason Hart, project manager, said the park was built with a mix of grants and contest winnings from the America's Best Communities program and other sources and that additional work remained from earlier phases. The shade-canopy award completes eight additive alternate canopies that were deferred when the base project was previously awarded. The restroom/concessions contract includes a storage/operations area the city expects to use to support events.

Council votes were split and closely watched: the shade-canopies contract passed 4-3 and the restroom/concessions contract passed 4-3. Several council members and many speakers from business and event communities urged finishing the project so downtown can host more events; others objected to the bids'price and to elements of the design. Critics questioned the visual impact of the canopy design, the long-term operating costs for permanent restrooms and whether a concession building would compete with private downtown businesses. Supporters, including event promoters and Go Lake Havasu, said completing the infrastructure (shade, restrooms, operations storage) is needed to host regular events, connect downtown businesses to event visitors and help the venue become financially self-sustaining.

Hart and staff provided the project funding history: the overall project had earlier grant and prize funding (America's Best Communities, LWCF, WIFA) alongside general-fund support. For the restroom/concessions award, staff cited a $400,000 community contribution alongside $659,423 from the general fund. Staff noted that some of the 'community' funds are contributions from local event partners and tourism partners rather than new outside grants.

Councilmembers asked that staff continue community outreach on intersection design, shade orientation and longer-term programming. Hart said submittals and inspections will ensure the awarded contractor meets the design specifications.

Contracts: Shade canopies (Merrill Development Inc.) $346,807; Restroom & concessions (Merrill Development Inc.) $1,059,423. Both contracts include standard city change-order provisions and completion windows (90 calendar days for canopies; 180 days for buildings).