Council authorizes $355,553 in change orders for Duval Field Phase II after staff review and questions about scope

City staff asked the council on Jan. 27 to authorize five construction change orders totaling $355,553 for the Duval Field Phase II renovation, and the council approved the authorization after discussion about causes, oversight and future avoidance measures.

Project staff described the five change orders as follows: a guardrail and treatment; Flexipave pathway sections along a walk to preserve trees; infrastructure to support CCTV near concessions and band-shell buildings; restoration of approximately 1,300 square yards of driveway and parking areas in front of the concession plaza; and sod installation as an alternate to athletic-field surfacing.

"Staff are requesting authorization for the city manager to execute five construction change orders totaling $355,553 for the Duval Field phase two renovation project," the presenter said. Council members pressed staff on whether the acceleration of planning and design in 2022–23 increased change-order risk and what measures would reduce future change orders. Staff responded that peer review, value engineering and utility conflict analysis would be used going forward and that a closeout report with lessons learned would be prepared.

Councilmember discussion acknowledged the project’s long timeline and that some delays and permitting needs raised costs; staff noted the city has about 22 potential change orders in the project lifecycle, many small, some rejected and some approved administratively. After discussion, a motion to authorize the manager to execute the five change orders passed by voice vote.

What happens next: the city manager may execute the approved change orders and staff will include lessons-learned and possible peer-review recommendations in the project closeout; remaining small change orders may be processed under manager authority where allowed.