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McAllen commissioners table $1.7M in added features for Quinta project after cost questions
Summary
The commission postponed approval of two change-order items for the Quinta Mazatlan project — a $512,945 restroom scope and a $1,172,329 shade structure called the “magic tunnel” — after commissioners asked for more detail on cost and scope.
McAllen commissioners on Monday voted to table consideration of change order No. 1 for the Quinta Mazatlan project after several commissioners said the packet lacked enough detail to justify roughly $1.7 million in added scope.
The proposal, described by staff as buyout-funded work that would not raise the project’s contracted total, included a detached restroom estimated at $512,945 and a shade structure labeled the “magic tunnel” for $1,172,329. Public Works staff and the project consultant said available buyout savings would be used to pay for the items so the contract amount would remain at $51,928,000.95.
Supporters said the additional elements were part of the original design that had been postponed for budget reasons and that installing them now avoids higher costs or construction disruption later. Staff said some of the work extends beyond the restroom building itself, including adjacent sitework and dressing areas, and that contractors’ pricing and subs contributed to the higher figure.
Commissioners repeatedly pressed staff for breakdowns of the costs and for technical details such as dimensions and materials. One commissioner described the restroom price as “a lot of money,” and several said the packet showed only line-item totals without the information needed to evaluate whether the buyout savings could or should be allocated to these elements at this time.
After the exchange, the commission voted to table the change order and asked staff to return with: an itemized cost breakdown, a description of the scope beyond the restroom shell (utility, paving, site work), and specifications for the magic tunnel (length, height, width) so commissioners could compare the proposal to prior park restrooms and to alternative contracting options.
Staff said they would provide the requested details at the next commission meeting. No formal expenditure or contract adjustment was approved Monday.
The matter will return to the commission with the requested documentation before any change order is executed.
