Board reviews Ben Gill Park irrigation bids; decision deferred to budget workshop

The Park and Downtown Improvement Corporation received bid results Thursday for a phased smart‑irrigation project at Ben Gill Park and agreed to defer a final recommendation until a budget workshop next month.

Staff said the bid opening produced three responsive bids and a plan that phases work so the city can build two full‑size soccer fields as the base project and add practice fields or softball field irrigation as alternates. The base work would irrigate the two fields closest to the Excel center; alternates would address additional fields and the softball complex.

Why it matters: Staff told the board the system is designed to be expandable — the base installation will allow future hookups — and officials said youth sports participation is growing locally. Board members discussed allocating available park‑capital funds and recommended an aggressive approach on the base scope while considering at least one softball field as budget allows.

Next steps: Board members agreed to workshop the irrigation project and other park priorities at a July meeting so staff can present a budget workbook and cost breakdowns. Staff noted bids are time‑limited and said it would seek contract extensions if needed while the board finalizes funding decisions.

Ending: The board committed to make a decision in the next meeting to preserve bid pricing and to return with a recommended phased purchase plan and financing schedule.