Commission ratifies McKnight Park change order and approves pay request contingent on architect sign-off

Parks and Recreation staff asked the commission to ratify a change order and to approve a contractor pay request for the McKnight Park project.

Staff reported that soil testing at the McKnight site showed an unsuitable plasticity index for the proposed building pad beneath a two-story concession stand, press box and restrooms. The architect and contractor recommended placing approximately 267 cubic yards of crush-and-run rock beneath the building pad. The vendor and placement cost was presented as $17,970; staff said those dollars would come from the project’s contingency fund (originally $150,000). The commission voted by voice to ratify the change order.

Separately, staff presented a pay request of $45,217.80 for work completed to date and asked the commission to approve that payment contingent on final sign-off by the architect. Dennis told commissioners the architect had reviewed much of the work but requested further discussion before final approval; staff asked the commission to authorize the payment contingent on the architect’s approval to avoid delaying routine processing. Commissioners approved the pay request contingent on architect sign-off.

Commissioners asked for an updated schedule; staff said the project was approximately two weeks behind schedule and expected to have an architect update at the next commission meeting. The scheduled completion date recorded in the meeting was March 1995. Commissioners also discussed field dimensions and flexibility: the new McKnight five-field complex will include four fields with approximately 300-foot fences and one larger field (325 down the lines, 345 in the alleys, 360 to center) intended for older youth (Babe Ruth). Staff noted four sets of portable fences are in the budget so field lengths can be adjusted for youth or adult leagues.