Council approves change order to complete Traverse Park phase 1; residents and councilors debate cost, contractors and next steps

The Sandpoint City Council on May 21 approved a change order (No. 8) to the Traverse Park renovations phase 1 construction contract to finish remaining concrete and landscaping work, but the vote followed extended questions from council members and public comment about costs and contractor selection.

Director Jason Welker, who presented parks updates, said the playground itself was funded in part by a Land and Water Conservation Fund grant that covered roughly half of that playground project and noted remaining park work includes four additional park benches, batting-cage repairs and foul‑ball safety nets. He said a change order in front of council covers concrete pads for benches and a picnic shelter pad and related work connected to the sports‑center excavation adjacent to the playground.

Council discussion and public comment: Councilman Kyle Schreiber and Councilman Trevor (as identified in the meeting) asked why portions of the park project had been delivered through multiple change orders rather than a single bid, and whether using a contractor already on-site saved money. Jason Welker said some items were value-engineered earlier and that credits on the project’s contingency had been applied; the change order before council totaled $23,188 and included work (topsoil, boulder placement, concrete pads) partially funded from contingency and the Parks CIP budget.

Resident Rebecca Holland used public comment to urge greater transparency about the project’s multiple change orders and use of out‑of‑area contractors, saying she had tracked many invoices and believed the project had grown in cost and scope. Council members pressed staff for detail on who would perform forthcoming work and whether local contractors could be used. Welker said White Diamond Concrete (Post Falls) had done prior concrete work and that contractor mobilization would occur after council approval.

Rotary shelter and funding: Staff said the Rotary Club has pledged funds toward a picnic shelter at the park; staff is awaiting a final design and bid from the general contractor for the shelter and does not yet have a final shelter price. Welker said he had requested a design without lighting to reduce costs and that some shelter elements (tables, lighting) might be procured later.

Budget context and vote: Welker said the city’s Parks Capital Improvement Program (CIP) balance for 2025 is about $180,000 and that the change order is within budget authority; the council approved the change order on a roll-call vote with five councilors in favor and one opposed. Councilors said they want future updates on remaining parks projects and encouraged staff to consider formal recommendations from the Parks & Recreation Commission on project priorities.

Other park actions reported by staff: Welker also updated the council that the splash pad at Traverse Park was turned on after a Land and Water Conservation Fund grant administrator visited; additional touch-up landscaping, four bench pads and batting‑cage and foul‑ball netting work are scheduled for the next weeks. He also said lifeguard stands at City Beach were removed because the city lacks lifeguard staffing and the presence of stands could give the public the mistaken impression of active supervision.