Monona committee approves $328,000 capital budget amendment for College Lake stormwater project

The Monona Public Works Committee voted to approve a $328,000 capital budget amendment to the College Lake stormwater improvement project, which raised the project construction budget to $1,965,000 and the amended total project budget to $2,188,000.

The amendment was necessary after construction bids came in higher than the 2024 estimate, committee members heard. "We are needing about $328,000 to make this project go, and that also includes a 7.4% contingency," said Brad, Public Works staff. He said the city's original capital budget for the project was $1,860,000 but the low construction bid received during the current procurement exceeded that figure.

The committee's finance director recommended funding the increase by bumping a planned 2026 stormwater project (Gisholte and Interlake Storm Project) back one to two years, effectively using some money planned for future work to cover the current shortfall. "We don't have the reserves of the stormwater fund, so we'd have to do it by bumping a project back," Brad said.

Staff told the committee the amended project budget includes $1,965,000 for construction, $60,000 for project administration (on-site observation and record drawings), and $162,000 for contingency. Committee members were told that $1,150,000 in grant funding will be reimbursed after project completion, leaving a final estimated net cost of $1,038,000 once grants are received.

Committee members discussed reasons for the higher bid, including the scope and size of storm infrastructure to be replaced, and unusual site work. "The raise in the bid price was to account for conveying stormwater during the project," Brad said, citing the need for bypasses and moving a sanitary sewer main because the work opens the full parcel width. He added that the contingency percentage used on Monona projects has typically been about 7–7.5%.

A motion to approve the capital budget amendment was made and seconded; the committee voted in favor.

The committee also heard that the College Lake project is being advanced to meet MS4 permit obligations and other watershed requirements. Staff said the project is part of the city's five-year cycle for large stormwater construction projects intended to help meet permit levels and adaptive management obligations under the city's stormwater program.

The committee chair said the amendment will be forwarded to the City Council for final action.