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Council member questions repeated change orders on city remodel contract
Summary
Councilmember Klein pressed staff about recurring change orders on the Phase 2 remodel with NAI Electric; staff described three unforeseen conditions — transfer‑switch trenching, severed wiring during demo, and ceiling/electrical clearance adjustments — and committed to provide full documentation.
Councilmember Klein pressed staff during the March 12 meeting about a pattern of monthly change orders on the city remodel Phase 2 contract with NAI Electric, saying repeated small and moderate change orders raised questions about the bidding and oversight process.
"It just seems like change order after change order on a monthly basis," Klein said, pointing to multiple adjustments that together have raised the project cost and asking how the original bid compared to subsequent change orders.
A member of city staff responded that three change orders explained most of the additional cost: (1) a decision to add a transfer switch to bring the library onto backup generation required trenching a new electrical run around the building because the internal path lacked clearance; (2) demolition for new lobby steps severed a parking‑lot wire that had been shallower than plans indicated, requiring rerunning the circuit; and (3) during ceiling modifications staff discovered insufficient clearance and had to relocate some ceiling elements and associated electrical work. The staff member said the third change‑order detail would be provided to Klein after the meeting.
Staff emphasized that some items were genuine unforeseen conditions that only appeared once work began and that full documentation of all change orders would be provided to the council. Councilmember Weaver then moved to approve the consent item after the explanation; the motion passed 4–0.
