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Cotati approves Delano Park pathway replacement; council opts for asphalt now, leaves natural‑surface option open
Summary
The council approved an agreement with PJM Landscape to remove and replace a damaged 560‑foot pathway through Delano Park, choosing asphalt for reliability this winter while leaving the option of switching to a more natural surface later. The decision followed public comment and debate over durability, single‑bid procurement and warranty terms.
The Cotati City Council on Oct. 28 approved a resolution authorizing the city manager to execute an agreement with PJM Landscape to remove and replace the existing pathway through Delano Park and amend the budget to fund the work.
Public Works Director Craig Scott told council the path is "about 560 feet that connects Page Street to Valparaiso" and described two construction options: traditional asphalt and a decomposed‑granite (DG) product with a binder used elsewhere in town. Scott said the DG alternate could be the same or slightly less expensive for this short, stand‑alone project but noted Delano Park’s low, occasionally saturated soils make durability a concern.
Councilmembers and residents debated tradeoffs. Councilmember Harvey emphasized the site’s frequent winter flooding and called the current winter condition "a muddy mess," arguing for a surface that will hold up when water flows through the corridor. Councilmember Sparks said she preferred to investigate natural alternatives later but did not want to delay repairs this winter. Multiple Zoom commenters asked why only PJM submitted a bid and urged consideration of more natural, permeable surfaces.
Scott said California public contract law permits single‑contractor procurement under $75,000 and that PJM has done satisfactory work for the city before; he also said a typical minor construction contract includes a one‑year warranty provision. Councilmembers agreed the DG option remains a possible future approach once a longer design process can address raising the path and flood resilience. The council approved the PJM agreement unanimously and authorized change orders up to the contract’s authorized amount.
The contract instructs the contractor to remove the existing surface and install the replacement but does not change park layout; council directed staff to bring future options back for Laguna and other paths when a longer design process is completed.
