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Council approves Tuolumne River pavilion and 'Awesome Spot' playground contracts despite council concerns about contractor history
Summary
Modesto awarded two construction contracts to Westside Landscape & Concrete Inc. (Newman) for a Tuolumne River Regional Park pavilion ($597,159 cap) and the Awesome Spot playground Phase 1A ($812,755 cap); votes were 6–1 on each item after staff said prior state-filed violations had been resolved and prevailing-wage compliance verified.
The Modesto City Council voted to award two park construction contracts to Westside Landscape & Concrete Inc. at its Dec. 10 meeting.
Parks Director Jeremy Rogers presented Item 15, the Tuolumne River Regional Park Pavilion and Learning Theater project, and recommended awarding a construction contract not to exceed $597,159, including contingency. Council debate focused on the contractor's hiring record and use of skilled and trained local workers; Council Member Chris Rickey voted against the contract, saying he was "frustrated that we continue to recommend companies that ... have multiple violations" and that the city should encourage hiring a skilled local workforce.
On Item 16, the Awesome Spot Playground Phase 1A contract (not to exceed $812,755), Director Rogers and Toby Wells, director of engineering services, noted that a bid advisory referenced two state-filed violations in 2020 and 2022 that had since been resolved and that staff verified the contractor's prevailing-wage compliance. Wells said the matters "have both been resolved" and staff conducted additional due diligence before recommending the award.
Both items passed on roll call by a 6–1 vote with Council Member Rickey opposed. Staff will authorize the city manager to execute the agreements and proceed with project implementation; contingency amounts were authorized as described in the staff report.
