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Grand Oak Park construction delayed; staff outlines sidewalk redesign and options for Grant Street
Summary
City staff reported construction timeline adjustments for Grand Oak Park, discovered air‑duct voids under a foundation that require remediation, proposed a meandering paver sidewalk to remove wheel stops, and said a two‑way conversion for Grant Street will be brought to the commission as a standalone decision.
City staff provided a detailed update on June 18 about Grand Oak Park construction and related downtown improvements, saying contractor schedules now show park construction complete by mid‑August while the restroom facility may be finished later.
Staff described an unforeseen condition discovered during construction: former air‑ducts under the restroom foundation created voids in the slab. The project team presented two remediation quotes (fill versus remove and replace) and said the original contract included a contingency amount (roughly $75,000) intended for such changes. A third‑party structural engineer has been engaged by the contractor to evaluate differences in footer designs and ensure the correct structural approach.
As part of downtown coordination, staff recommended changing a four‑foot concrete sidewalk to a meandering paver sidewalk along Grant Street and Main Street to eliminate wheel stops and known trip hazards. The change would be handled within the contract contingency and is not expected to require a new appropriation. A bid alternate of $770,000 to refresh brick pavers on Main Street was discussed separately.
On the question of converting Grant Street from one‑way to two‑way, staff said that proposed change is a separate, staff‑initiated initiative and that the commission would see the two‑way conversion as a standalone agenda item (workshop discussion and later vote). Several commissioners expressed concern about perceived loss of green space, project costs and timing; staff said the curblines and parking are not being widened and that the sidewalk modification primarily shifts where pedestrians and landscaping occur.
Staff committed to sending the construction timeline and any liquidated‑damages exposure to commissioners and said temporary restroom facilities could be used if needed. The commission did not take a formal vote on the two‑way proposal at this meeting; it approved change orders that fit within the existing contract contingency and asked for additional timeline and engineering information.
