Sedro‑Woolley council awards $2.44 million contract for Olmsted Park improvements and approves funding for alternates

The Sedro‑Woolley City Council voted to award the 2025 Olmsted Park site improvements contract to the low bidder, Excavation West, and approved paying for two additive alternates that will add pavilions and additional site features.

Bill (city staff) reported the engineer’s estimate for the base bid was $2,761,698 and that Excavation West submitted the low base bid at $2,437,616. The council packet showed two additive alternates: Alternate 1 for larger pavilions (engineer estimate $369,945; low bid $336,308) and Alternate 2 (engineer estimate $314,940; low bid $237,974). The full base bid and the two alternates together would allow construction of picnic pavilions, a caretaker’s house, public restrooms, parking and site utilities; staff noted the project also leaves space for a future playground or additional recreation amenities.

City administrator Charlie and finance staff summarized funding options. The council had $338,000 already set aside in the special projects fund earmarked for Olmsted Park; staff said using that amount plus a draw from the general fund reserve would cover the two alternates. The council ultimately approved allocating $338,000 from the special projects fund and $236,283 from the general fund reserve to fund the alternates (total alternates funding $574,283.07), and awarded the base contract amount of $2,437,616.79 (including sales tax) to Excavation West. The award includes the base contract; the council motion and funding allocation were passed by voice vote with no recorded dissent.

Council members argued for completing the park rather than phasing it in later, citing rising construction costs and the benefits of doing most work at once. Councilman Burns said he favored completing the project now to avoid further price escalation; Councilman Cott and Councilwoman Diamond supported using reserves rather than the city’s strategic reserve fund. Councilman Henderson asked about timing and whether a playground would be included; staff said a playground had been planned but a related state grant (RCO) was not awarded and the playground remains a potential future phase depending on funding.

Funding partners cited in the packet included the Port of Skagit, HUD, the state Recreation and Conservation Office (RCO) grant efforts and other local sources used to assemble the project budget. Staff said a budget amendment would be brought forward to record the use of reserves and funding sources.

Why this matters: Olmsted Park’s site improvements add facilities (pavilions, restroom, caretaker’s house, parking and accessible paths) that staff and council said will meet community needs and that completing alternates now provides cost savings compared with later phasing.