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Court Street resurfacing draws split council views over brick, stamped concrete and pedestrian design
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Summary
Staff briefed council on a $180,000 resurfacing contract for Court Street and three options for the brick block: proceed with asphalt, defer to future streetscape, or change order to stamped/dyed concrete (estimated +$200,000). Several council members urged preserving downtown character; council gave staff direction to seek stamped‑concrete and bollard pricing before construction.
City project staff led by Paul presented options for restoring Court Street’s two blocks of brick roadway and answered council questions on cost, longevity and impacts to downtown businesses.
“There's a lot of discussion regarding the brick roadway,” Paul said, describing the section as showing signs of base failure and noting that the current contractor contract calls for asphalt resurfacing rather than new brick pavers. He told the council the project was advertised in December 2025, awarded in February and is scheduled for a roughly four‑month construction window with a contract price reported close to $180,000.
Paul outlined three staff options: proceed with the contract as advertised (asphalt); defer brick work to a future streetscape project and do minimal interim repairs now; or issue a change order to install stamped and dyed concrete that mimics bricks. He said the stamped/dyed concrete quote would add roughly $200,000 to the project total, with about $55,000 of that for substrate preparation.
Council members pushed back on the asphalt option because of downtown character. One council member said the brick pavers are “charming and aesthetically pleasing” and urged the council to consider pedestrian‑first ideas, including the idea of a pedestrian mall or temporary street closures to support businesses.
Paul and staff explained technical constraints: some overhead transmission lines are expensive to underground, the brick sections have variable base and brick thickness, and stabilizing the subsurface requires targeted repairs before resurfacing. Staff also noted that stamped concrete is structurally sound but will crack over time like other concrete surfaces.
After extended discussion about costs, construction timing and festival planning, council signaled consensus for staff to pursue a change‑order price for stamped/dyed concrete and to obtain pricing for removable bollards to allow temporary pedestrian closures. Staff cautioned that delaying the project could trigger contractor time‑extension claims and possible change‑order costs, but staff said a change order could be executed within purchasing policy without rebidding if the council directs it.
Outcome: Council indicated by raised hands that it preferred staff to move forward with obtaining firm prices for stamped/dyed concrete and for bollards to support pedestrian events; staff will return with final pricing and a recommended contract amendment for formal council action.
