Town Center Park renovation advancing but irrigation well bid forces council review

City staff reported progress and remaining obstacles Friday on the multi‑million‑dollar Town Center Park renovation, saying most grading, storm sewer and paving work is in place but the project cannot finish key features — including the pond and surrounding overlooks — until an 18/12‑inch water line is relocated and the city resolves an overpriced irrigation‑well bid.

The update to the Parks and Recreation Board focused on schedule milestones, utility conflicts and the city’s options for watering the new turf and landscaping. Board members were told that while much of the park’s underground storm and drainage work is installed, the pond area remains inaccessible to heavy equipment until a live water line that runs through the pond location is moved.

That water‑line discovery and separate bids for a permanent irrigation well have created a timing and budget problem that city staff will present to council. The well bid opened June 24 and returned a low alternative of about $8.6 million, with roughly $4 million attributed to drilling and more than $3 million for electrical work and temporary systems, staff said. Because the bid price is substantially higher than earlier expectations and because long electrical lead…