Brighton councilors question Cherry Meadows Park contract totals; city says change order was $21,900

Brighton’s finance staff presented the city’s monthly contracts report for March at the April 22 study session; a council question about Cherry Meadows Park focused attention on how the report displays contract numbers.

A line in the report shows Cherry Meadows Park with a $2,000,000 figure, which council members read as a change order amount. Finance staff explained the report shows the new total under contract rather than the incremental amount added by a change order. City Manager Martinez told council the actual change order amount was $21,900.

Kyle Sylvester and other staff described the work behind the increase: unanticipated grading and drainage work after water raised on the site required a redesign so park pathways would not flood, and crews added soil amendments because the site had essentially been a gravel pit. Staff emphasized the $2,000,000 figure in the packet reflected the total contract value rather than a single $2 million change order.

Council members said the packet-level presentation led to confusion and thanked staff for the clarification. No formal action was taken during the study session; staff said they would continue reporting contract activity in monthly packets and are available to answer follow-up questions.