San Leandro awards Steven Taylor memorial pavilion contract after redesign, approves $140,000 supplemental appropriation
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Summary
After earlier bids exceeded budget, the council approved a reduced‑scope design and awarded a $349,842 construction contract for the Steven Taylor ‘Sanctity of Life’ pavilion. The council also approved an additional appropriation of roughly $140,000 to cover the project shortfall.
San Leandro’s City Council on Monday unanimously approved awarding a contract to construct a reduced‑scope memorial pavilion for Steven Taylor and authorized a supplemental appropriation to close the remaining funding gap.
City staff said the original design would have included more concrete, extensive landscaping, three seat walls and a labyrinth, but the initial bids came in far above the available funds. The council directed staff to rework the design to fit the city’s remaining budget.
“Originally the design had a labyrinth, three seat walls, and a lot of landscaping,” Jason Amai, city engineer, said during the presentation. After bids came back higher than the budget, the city scaled back the scope: colored concrete was replaced by decomposed granite, one of the seat walls was removed, landscaping was significantly reduced, and the labyrinth was offered only as an alternate bid item.
Staff reported they received a single bid for the revised scope. The low base bid for the revised design was $349,842; staff compared that with a prior low bid of $598,933 for the larger scope. The council approved the award on a 7–0 vote and approved a request for an additional appropriation of about $140,000 so the project can be awarded and constructed.
Public speakers at the meeting — including family members and advocates for Steven Taylor — urged the council to move the project forward. Addie Kitchen, identified as Steven Taylor’s grandmother, told council members the pavilion is “a symbol to the family” and urged prompt action. Derek Benson of the Anti Police Terror Project also spoke in support.
Staff said the recommended contract does not include certain alternates due to budget constraints, and noted the city had undertaken outreach to encourage bidding but received only one responsive bid this round. The pavilion will include the selected art installation; staff said the art will be installed as directed by prior council action.
Ending: The contract award clears the way for construction on the reduced‑scope memorial pavilion; staff will proceed with the awarded bid and use the additional appropriation to fund the project.