Crescent City council approves contract for Beachfront Park Phase 1B, authorizes $100,000 in change orders

Crescent City — The Crescent City Council voted to award a construction contract for Beachfront Park Phase 1B to Tidewater Contractors and authorized the city manager to sign the agreement and approve change orders totaling up to $100,000, a council member moved at a special meeting.

City staff opened the presentation by calling the project “an exciting day” after years of planning and public input, and said the city must submit an application by May 1 to receive advance state funding that could cover up to 95% of the contract cost. “This grant will allow us to submit up to 95% of upfront money,” a staff member said during the presentation.

The contract covers the portion of the park that includes a redesigned Kidtown playground, a waterfront plaza and amphitheater, new parking behind the pool and vendor areas with electrical hookups. Staff described inclusive playground equipment — a wheelchair-accessible swing, an accessible merry-go-round and a sensory/music area — and said surfacing materials were chosen to meet Coastal Commission requirements.

Dave, who led the bid and construction explanation for staff, said local contractor Tidewater had advantages in the bidding because it supplies many materials and has crews already working on a related Front Street project. “Tidewater has some advantages because they also have materials,” he said, explaining why local experience and material sourcing produced a competitive bid.

Staff said the project is funded primarily by two state grants referenced in the staff report — roughly $5 million and $3 million — and reported about $5.6 million remained after earlier allocations. That balance, paired with the bid near $4.99 million, means staff does not expect the city to borrow to complete Phase 1B, they said. Staff also flagged a high estimate for proposed rain-garden plantings and proposed a reduced planting plan to keep the project within the funding envelope.

During public comment a resident requested more time for review and raised concerns about preserving local character and potential mental-health impacts, saying, “It seems like you’ve already decided,” and asking the council to bench the item for broader community input. Another resident stressed long-term maintenance costs and asked the council to weigh future operating expenses against new amenities.

Councilmember (speaker 5) moved to approve the contract and allow the city manager to sign change orders not to exceed $100,000; the motion was seconded and the council approved the motion by voice vote. The mayor adjourned the special meeting until the council’s next regular meeting on May 4.

What’s next: staff will submit the May 1 advance funding application, work with landscapers to refine rain-garden plantings and return to council with any required change orders or packages for additional elements such as a clamshell or gateway features if contingency funds permit.