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Board authorizes bids for Everest Park Phase 1 despite funding gap; $1,008 budget tweak approved
Summary
District staff told the board an updated Everest Park Phase 1 estimate exceeded available funds; the board authorized soliciting bids to obtain firm pricing and approved a $1,008 budget amendment to cover bid/permit costs, voting 5–0.
The Templeton Community Services District board voted unanimously to authorize staff to solicit bids for the Everest Park Phase 1 improvements and approved a $1,008 budget amendment to cover bidding and permit costs.
District engineer Laurie Azim told the board the project scope expanded after county plan checks required an accessible path from the roadway and additional drainage work. "The county required us to install a pathway all the way from Gibson all the way down," Azim said, and those additions triggered drainage and biofiltration requirements that added cost. Azim reported an updated cost estimate "about it's $11,728,900," while available capital plus a recently secured grant total $1,492,000; staff also noted the parks, recreation and solid-waste fund may show an estimated $507,000 balance at the end of the next fiscal year that could help close part of the gap.
Board members pressed staff on what could be removed from the base scope to stay within budget. Director (speaker 5) warned about maintenance trade-offs if less-expensive materials such as decomposed granite (DG) were used instead of concrete. "There's also with the rain... you still have to get the weeds," the director said, urging consideration of lifecycle maintenance costs when comparing DG with concrete.
Staff explained some items are bid alternates (add‑alts) and the base bid already includes the key elements that make the project permittable. Board Chair (speaker 1) framed the vote as a means to get real market prices: "If it comes back too high, we might change then we'll...we'll be" — the chair concluded the board should get bids to see whether the estimate holds.
The board authorized staff to solicit bids and by separate motion approved a one-time budget amendment of $1,008 to cover the remaining bid-preparation and county permit fees; both motions passed on roll call, 5–0. Staff will return with bid results and any recommendation for scope adjustments or funding options.
