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City says City Hall fountain restoration to go to bid; construction expected this spring
Summary
Public Works director gave a construction update on the City Hall fountain restoration: bids to be received Feb. 19, contract award expected in early March, construction to begin in April and finish in July with hope to have fountain functioning before year'end.
The city's public works director reported Tuesday that the long-awaited City Hall fountain restoration has entered the construction procurement phase, with bids due Feb. 19 and a recommended contract to come to council in early March.
Public Works Director Ken Berkman said the fountain, built in 1943 and listed as a historic resource in 1996, requires a full overhaul of mechanical, electrical and plumbing systems to accept recycled water and to meet modern safety standards. "Existing systems in the fountain can't simply take on the recycled water due to its chemical composition," Berkman told the council.
Nut graf: City staff say design and permitting for a recycled-water line were completed in April 2023 and installed that summer, but because the fountain's internal pumps and electrical vaults were not designed for recycled water and have electrical equipment inside the same vault as water piping, a full MEP rebuild and separation of electrical and plumbing vaults are required before the feature can run again.
Berkman said the project split utility equipment into a refurbished electrical vault under City Hall and a new plumbing vault in the alley, and the city is advertising construction bids with expected construction starting in April and completion in July, "With a quality contractor and minimal, unforeseen conditions, we are hopeful to have the fountain functioning before the end of the year." The director noted the vault under City Hall will be refurbished to house only electrical components, while new plumbing and pumping equipment will go to the new vault.
Community context: The fountain was taken out of service following drought restrictions and more recently has been a frequent topic of resident questions; council members praised staff for advancing the work after years of design and permitting.
Ending: Council thanked the Public Works Department for the update and offered congratulations in advance for the planned return of the fountain to operation.
