Spokane Valley awards Green Acres Park Phase 2 construction contract; project funded largely by state and federal grants

The Spokane Valley City Council voted Jan. 21 to award the Green Acres Park Phase 2 construction contract to Cameron Riley LLC for the base bid and alternates 1 and 3, with a staff-recommended contract amount of $1,177,500 plus applicable sales tax.

Parks and Recreation Director John Vitale and Senior Engineer Glenn Ritter told council the total project budget is $2,000,000 and relies on two grant awards: a Washington State WRRP local parks grant for $500,000 and a federal Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF) grant for $1,000,000. Vitale said the grants together covered roughly 75% of the project cost, with the city providing the remaining match from Fund 312, the city’s capital reserve fund comprised of excess general fund balance the council has previously allocated for capital projects.

Ritter said staff opened bids on Dec. 20, 2024, and received four responsive bids. The low responsive and responsible bidder for the base and selected alternates was Cameron Riley LLC. Ritter noted the apparent bid came in about $118,800 above the engineer’s estimate. Alternate 2—a proposed mini soccer pitch the RAVE Foundation has indicated it may fund—was bid separately; staff recommended awarding only the base and alternates 1 and 3 at this time and returning later if the foundation confirmed funding.

Council members asked about bidder qualification criteria and whether local preference factored into selection. Ritter noted the bid contained disqualification specifications for specialty work (splash pad, resilient surfacing, playground surfacing); the low bidder met qualifications and had performed nearby work (Balfour Park). Council Member Merkle asked staff to explain Fund 312; Finance staff explained it is the capital reserve funded from excess general fund balance above the 50% policy that council allocates to projects.

Council discussed grant timelines; staff said typical grant agreements provide roughly three years from award to project completion and reimbursement. Council Member Merkle asked whether the grants required specific match percentages; staff explained the federal LWCF grant required a 50% match and the city used a combination of the state and city funds to meet that requirement.

Council then voted to award the contract. The transcript records aye and opposed responses during voting and the mayor announced the motion passes; the meeting record does not include a full roll-call tally in the verbatim transcript.