Council approves sewer easement change and $2.9 million guaranteed maximum price for Flora Cross Country Complex

The Spokane Valley City Council authorized the city manager to finalize a termination and replacement of a county sewer easement on the Flora property and approved a guaranteed maximum price amendment for the Flora Cross Country Complex on April 8, 2025.

The actions clear a real‑estate housekeeping issue and advance the cross‑country course into construction. City staff told council the existing county sewer and access easement crosses the site where the new starting chute will be built and must be modified to allow construction and continued maintenance access.

Parks and Recreation Director John Vitale and project manager Glenn Ritter described the easement change as a termination of the current document followed by a replacement easement. The council made a formal motion authorizing the city manager to sign the termination and replacement documents; the motion passed unanimously.

City staff also presented a progressive design‑build update and a recommended GMP Amendment No. 2 with Walker Construction for $2,900,000 to complete the base scope of the course. Economic Development and Planning Director Mike Basinger and Project Manager Glenn Ritter said recent dry weather accelerated work and that major elements already installed include rough grading, a 6‑inch irrigation main, extended sewer and restroom power, and preparatory work to bore under the Union Pacific Railroad tracks. Biesinger said the team received Bureau of Reclamation and Union Pacific permit approvals and intends to begin boring in May.

Ritter told council the GMP amendment covers the core course construction — railroad boring/jack, extension of waterline, parking, frontage improvements, a prefabricated restroom, irrigation laterals and heads, and topsoil and sod installation. Under state procurement rules for progressive design‑build, staff said they will retain roughly 5% of the project budget (about $400,000) for contingency tied to high‑risk items such as the railroad boring. Once those risks are reduced, staff said some contingency may be used to add previously removed enhancements ("betterments") such as conduit sleeves for a future timing system, pedestrian pathways for ADA access, a food‑truck area, fencing and additional site amenities.

Council asked about budget and schedule. Staff said the amendment keeps the project within the previously established $7,050,000 project budget and that they are recommending authorization for the city manager to finalize the $2.9 million GMP amendment and to permit future buyback betterments using contingency up to a total Walker contract value not to exceed $6,000,000. Council voted unanimously to approve the GMP amendment and the manager authorization.

Council votes at a glance: the easement termination/replacement authorization and the GMP Amendment No. 2 authorization each passed unanimously. The motions were made and seconded on the record and approved by voice vote.

City staff said additional scope decisions and pricing for betterments will be brought back for council review as risks are resolved.

A photograph and project updates were noted in the meeting packet; staff said construction activities will continue through irrigation installation and course surfacing and that some work will require coordination with Union Pacific and the Bureau of Reclamation.