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Public Works: bids for Lake/Monastery/Kincaid utility project come in about $4 million over estimate; city to explore re-bid and phasing
Summary
Interim Public Works director Mark Stevie told the Sitka Assembly that bids for a Lake/Monastery/Kincaid utility replacement project returned at about $11.2 million versus an engineering estimate of $7 million, and staff will explore rebidding, phasing, waivers or negotiation to bring the project within budget.
Interim Public Works director and asset manager Mark Stevie reported to the Assembly that bids for the Lake, Monastery and Kincaid Road utility project significantly exceeded the engineering estimate.
Stevie said the project had been designed and budgeted with an engineering construction estimate of about $7,000,000, but the bids returned at approximately $11.2 million and $11.4 million. He told the Assembly the disparity is driven in part by new requirements for trenching and road reconstruction that did not exist when the original utilities were installed.
“We may look into waivers being able to replace the utilities in place that might require some concrete damming between the utilities,” Stevie said, describing potential options to reduce cost. He said staff would work with engineering and legal to evaluate whether to close the bid and re-scope, negotiate with bidders to lower costs, or phase the project so it can proceed within budget constraints.
Stevie said other major Public Works projects remain on schedule: a prefabricated Crescent Harbor restroom replacement is nearing utility-connection completion and a vessel travel-lift and phase-completion milestones for the boat-haul facility are expected in coming weeks. He also reported the biosolids expansion permits extend through the end of the year, with construction anticipated in May–July and contract completion in September.
Stevie said the department is staffing at about 87 percent of authorized positions and that seasonal temporary positions are being pursued to support summer operations. He said the department is spending roughly 64 percent of its budget to date and expects to expend more as projects proceed.
The Assembly asked several clarifying questions about accessibility improvements around the Crescent Harbor restroom and potential CPV funding for exterior site work; staff said those items could be considered as supplemental appropriations if needed.
