Woodland Park council approves $438,859.57 chip-seal contract with 10% contingency

The Woodland Park City Council voted unanimously on May 21 to approve a contract with A-1 Chip Seal Company for citywide pavement maintenance work, including chip seal, crack seal, fog seal and striping.

Staff (S5) told council the 2026 budget included $500,000 for pavement improvements and that the lowest responsive bidder for the work was A-1 Chip Seal Company. The contract amount presented to council was $438,859.57; staff requested authority for a 10% contingency to allow minor adjustments without returning to the council.

"This contract was put out to bid. We had one responsive bidder, and that's A-1 Chip Seal Company," staff said. Council members raised concerns about chip seal's effects on motorcyclists and vehicles and urged staff to limit chip sealing where feasible. Staff responded that chip seal extends the life of the roads and pointed to road-priority choices, including work on Evergreen Heights, Valley View and segments parallel to the American Discovery Trail.

Council moved to approve the contract with the requested contingency; the motion passed unanimously.

Why it matters: the contract funds routine pavement maintenance across several neighborhoods and along an important segment of the American Discovery Trail. Council discussion noted tradeoffs between longevity of pavement preservation and user experience (for motorcyclists and others). The contract award and contingency authority give staff flexibility to manage unforeseen adjustments while staying within the overall budget that was previously approved.