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Council approves Whitman Park design contract after split vote
Summary
The Grand Junction City Council voted 4–3 to authorize a $231,000 design and engineering contract for Whitman Park revitalization, resolving a months‑long debate over timing and whether to delay design work until a newly seated council takes office.
The Grand Junction City Council on April 16 approved a contract to finish full design for the Whitman Park revitalization, authorizing roughly $231,000 for engineering work and moving the project from concept toward construction planning.
Councilmember Dennis Simpson, who asked that the item be removed from the consent agenda for discussion, urged delay. “This item calls for us to hire engineers for 200 and some thousand dollars to do preliminary work on Whitman Park redo,” Simpson said during the discussion, adding the council had not yet formally adopted the concept plans outside work sessions.
Supporters said the design step was part of a previously vetted public process and budget. City Manager Mike Bennett said the city had budgeted design funds during the 2025 budget process and that the design-bid-build delivery would allow phasing and future grant seeking. Parks and Recreation Director Ken Sherbonneau told council the funds come from dedicated parkland dollars and that the delivery method was chosen to respond to council concerns about phasing and fiscal control.
Councilmember Jason Stout and others said the project had undergone extensive outreach and workshop review and argued the city should proceed. Opponents argued the new council should re-evaluate before committing the engineering dollars.
A roll-call vote adopted the contract 4–3. The yes votes were Councilmember Wynne, Mayor Pro Tem Wrights, Councilmember Stout and Mayor Herman. The no votes were Councilmember Bialfas, Councilmember Kennedy and Councilmember Simpson. The motion was moved by Councilmember Stout and seconded by Councilmember Winn.
The contract funds are intended to complete full design; construction funding was not yet committed and staff noted design work is often used to create phased options and refine cost estimates before seeking full construction authority or outside grant funding.
Council and staff also discussed prior expenditures: Simpson and other council members noted about $71,000 had already been spent on planning, and staff said the adopted 2025 budget and 10‑year capital plan included additional design funding allocated from parkland funds.
The decision allows consultants to complete design documents and phasing plans that staff said will inform future budget and construction decisions; councilmembers on both sides said they expect continued public updates and possible phased construction depending on funding.
