Splash pad piping and concrete work complete; testing scheduled, liquidated damages accruing

Project Engineer Patrick Fry told the Parks and Public Works Committee on Jan. 7 that piping and most underground work for the city’s new splash pad are complete, the concrete has been poured and staff plan to begin testing and balancing by the end of February.

"We're just letting the concrete cure, and then we're gonna be putting the features up," Patrick Fry said. The feature set includes about 48 water-play elements; once concrete curing and feature installation are complete, staff estimate 2–4 weeks of commissioning before the system is tested and balanced.

Fry said the contractor’s workforce was thin for much of the project, making progress slow despite close oversight by staff and project engineers. He said the work completed to date appears to be "built to spec" and that the city is tracking liquidated damages for the schedule slip. As of Jan. 7, liquidated damages totaled approximately $14,900; the contract calls for additional liquidated-damage assessments for each working day the project remains late.

Staff estimated the splash pad could be functional for internal testing by April 1, though the typical public season historically begins around Memorial Day and runs through Labor Day; staff said the city will set hours and seasonal rules in a future action. Committee members and residents asked about the magnitude of damages; staff noted the liquidated-damages schedule is negotiated in each contract and tends to reflect the relative public-safety or economic impact of a delayed project.

A resident who spoke during public comment thanked staff and suggested the committee prioritize projects that most affect rates; the committee discussed both the splash pad progress and the broader CIP and rate context in the same meeting.

Ending: Staff will continue commissioning and will report final completion and the final liquidated-damages calculation when the contractor submits its final invoice.