Colfax council approves skate park construction contract after decade of effort; one member recuses

The Colfax City Council on April 16 approved the staff recommendation to award a construction contract and authorize the city manager to execute construction, testing and inspection agreements for the proposed Colfax skate park, after more than an hour of public comment and council discussion.

Public supporters — including longtime proponents, parents and teenagers — called the project a needed recreational asset and economic draw. “A skate park would give us something positive to do and a place where we actually want to be,” said Madden Dion in remarks delivered by his mother, Jamie Henricks. Several other youth speakers said a local park would keep kids active and reduce the need to travel to Auburn or Grass Valley.

Opponents and some nearby residents raised questions about cost and local impacts. Will Stockton, a Colfax resident, said proponents originally promised “no further cost to the city” and pressed the council to explain whether the $100,000 figure in the staff report includes an $84,000 shortfall and who will pay for 16–17 items the bid might not cover. A longtime neighbor who spoke near the end of the public comment period said the project has shifted from a privately run Green Machine project to a city project and asserted that Colfax would contribute roughly $186,000; he also referenced county and state contributions.

City staff and project representatives addressed several of those concerns. City Engineer Carl Morris and New Line representatives said the contract being considered is based on a Sourcewell fixed bid, but they warned that geotechnical unknowns discovered during earthwork could generate change orders. Morris said the staff request includes a 10% construction contingency to cover additional costs.

When asked whether the city could stop the project if a catastrophic condition were found during excavation, staff said the city could halt work and reassess, though Morris described such events as very unlikely based on his experience.

Ty Conners of the Green Machine and other proponents described roughly a decade of fundraising and volunteer effort and said private donors — including Teichert and local service groups — have contributed in‑kind materials and cash. Proponents acknowledged they were unable to fully fund the project and asked the council to finish the work.

A councilmember moved to adopt the staff recommendation and authorize the city manager to execute agreements for construction, testing and inspection; Trinity Burris seconded. The clerk recorded Aye votes from Council members Burris, Douglas and Lohman and the mayor, with Mayor pro tem Hilberg recused. The motion passed.

The council directed staff to begin contracting and to continue seeking grant opportunities to reduce the city’s exposure. The meeting ended after the vote and staff said contracting activity will start immediately.