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Council extends engineering work for Carpenter Creek fish‑passage project as constructability questions surface
Summary
Council authorized a contract amendment with David Evans and Associates to continue design and constructability analysis for the Carpenter Creek/Hicks Hawks Road fish-passage improvements, with staff warning of complex temporary shoring needs and a likely future report on 60% design findings.
The Mount Vernon City Council on May 28 authorized an amendment to the contract with David Evans and Associates to continue engineering work on the Carpenter Creek, Hicks Hawks Road fish‑passage improvements project and to fund additional constructability and project‑management tasks.
Capital Projects manager Frank Reiner told council the project has progressed into a 60% design phase and that the excavation and temporary shoring needed to place the culvert may be more complex and costly than anticipated. “The complexity that we identified fairly recently ... is that on the northwest side of the ravine ... we will be excavating right at the toe of that slope,” Reiner said, noting the adjacent archery range and the need to assess shoring or sloped excavation methods.
Reiner said the amendment will allow the consultant and geotechnical engineers to define probable costs and to explore alternative construction approaches before the design advances further. He also asked the council to authorize additional project‑management time for David Evans through the end of 2025 to match the revised schedule; earlier amendments extended the contract time to the end of 2026 but staff asked for cost authority only through 2025.
Councilmember Mary Mollinar moved “to let Frank fix this thing,” a colloquial motion that the council adopted; the motion passed with council assent. Reiner said he anticipates bringing at least one more council report after the 60% constructability analysis is complete, especially if the outcome requires a change in design direction or additional funds.
No dollar amount for the current amendment was given at the meeting; Reiner framed the request as an authorization to proceed with scoping and cost‑definition work and to extend consultant project management through the end of 2025. Council did not set a new budget ceiling or direct staff to stop design work pending the analysis; rather, the council approved the amendment so staff and consultants can continue the 60% design and constructability study.
