Council approves $728,555 change order for neighborhood street reconstruction package 1B; members expressed concern about delays and defects

The Pflugerville City Council approved a change order totaling $728,555 for Neighborhood Street Reconstruction Package 1B with Patton Construction LLC and authorized the city manager to execute the change order.

A councilmember said the project has been delayed and expressed concern that prior defects on similar projects led the city and its engineering consultant to revise specifications, which increased estimated construction costs. The councilmember said the contract award occurred in January 2024, utilities were relocated in August, and she questioned why construction did not begin earlier after utilities were cleared.

Public works and engineering staff responded that the project had gone through the usual phases: design, bid, award and utility relocation. Staff confirmed that minor defects in related projects prompted specification updates by the city’s engineering consultant; staff said the revised specifications initially increased costs substantially but that further refinement led to the current change order figure of $728,555 and that Patton Construction had held pricing where possible.

Council approved the change order by motion. Multiple council members emphasized a desire to avoid repeated delays and to ensure the city does not accept defective work. Staff said they would clarify future scheduling and provide status updates to council.

The change order was recorded on the consent agenda as item 5E; council member discussion focused on project timing, the relationship between design/specification revisions and the contractor’s price, and the need for clearer expectations about when projects funded in the city’s capital program will start and finish.