Astoria Development Commission approves $379,280 contract to add bollard lights on West River Walk

The Astoria Development Commission voted to award a contract to Big River Construction to install bollard-style pathway lights on the West River Walk between Bay Street and Hamburg Avenue.

City Manager Spence told commissioners staff received a single bid and recommended approval. "We had one bid for this project," Spence said, adding the submitted price was roughly about $100,000 more than the engineer's estimate. Director Dart McLean told commissioners that practices vary but that the city had confidence in the bidder based on prior local work: "In this case, we do have a responsible bidder replying, and it's a known entity," McLean said.

Commissioner Brownson moved to award the contract in the amount of $379,280; Commissioner Adams seconded the motion. The chair called for public comment and none was raised. The motion carried and the commission approved the award; the transcript does not record a roll-call vote tally by name.

Staff and the director explained that changes in conduit and wiring and higher costs and lead times for switchgear and electrical components were among the reasons the bid exceeded the engineer's estimate. The commission did not direct staff to re-bid the project and accepted the recommendation to proceed with Big River Construction.

The contract award is expected to proceed to standard procurement implementation steps; no timeline for installation or final completion date was specified in the discussion.