Council approves $382,123 change order for Forest Road project to stabilize excavation at Uptown parking garage

Sedona — The City Council approved a $382,123 construction change order (No. 15) to the Forest Road Connection contract to support additional excavation and soil‑nailing slope stabilization at the Uptown parking garage site.

Public Works Director Kurt Harris and project manager Bob Welch told council the unexpected subsurface conditions discovered during excavation required additional stabilization work. Harris said the cost will be charged to the project contingency and that approving the change order keeps the parking garage schedule moving.

Councilors asked about contingency use and remaining funds. Project staff said the change order represents roughly 40% of the construction contingency for this scope and that ongoing value engineering has returned approximately $200,000 in credits to the city so far. Council members asked the project team to continue value‑engineering reviews and to report any further contingency risks.

The council motion to approve change order No. 15 with Fan Contracting, Inc., for $382,123 passed with a unanimous voice vote.

Why it matters

The change order addresses geotechnical conditions encountered during excavation. Approving the work avoids construction delays on a high‑profile downtown parking and circulation project but reduces the contingency available for future unknowns.

Details

- Contract amendment: Change Order No. 15 to Fan Contracting, Inc., amount $382,123. - Purpose: Additional rock excavation and soil‑nailing slope stabilization for the Uptown parking garage excavation cut. - Budget treatment: Charge to existing project contingency; staff reported prior value‑engineering credits of roughly $200,000 returned to the city.

Speakers quoted in this story are identified by their roles as recorded at the meeting: Kurt Harris, public works director; Bob Welch, project manager.