Council seeks cheaper, faster bids for LC Stevens Park band shell amid engineering concerns

City staff asked the council to authorize MSA to prepare bid documents for phase 3A of LC Stevens Park, including a band shelter and a dance floor, but councillors pressed for alternatives after concerns about design cost and timing.

The staff presentation noted the existing stage slab is about 6 inches thick and insufficient for the support footings required by state code; “the snow loading requirement by state building code of 40 pounds a square foot” must be accommodated, staff said, which will drive piling and footing design and require soil borings before finalizing plans.

Several council members said the schedule and the $53,000 scope in the MSA proposal felt slow and high; one council member said, “I am not willing to give it to MSA for $53,000 because I think that number is asinine,” and asked staff to solicit two or three additional civil‑engineer quotes and to ask MSA for a pared‑down proposal. Staff agreed to seek additional quotes and to bring refined cost and schedule options back to the council at its March 10 meeting.

Council discussion also covered construction timing to avoid disruption of summer events at the park, engineering approaches (pilings outside the existing slab versus raising the slab), and whether to use a request‑for‑proposals (RFP) process. Staff warned an RFP could add about two months to the schedule but said they would try to present competitive options without unnecessary delay.

What’s next: Staff will gather two to three additional engineering quotes, ask MSA for a pared‑down proposal, and return to council on March 10 with updated scope, costs and schedule options.