Council approves $2.67 million to keep Piedmont Community Pool project moving

The Piedmont City Council on Nov. 30 approved a $2.67 million amendment to the authorized project budget for the Piedmont Community Pool project, saying the funds are necessary to address outstanding change orders, site conditions and contingency needs.

"We have gone through the issues log and put a dollar amount to every conceivable change that we have on our radar right now," said John, a project representative from Griffin Structures, explaining the methodology behind the requested allocation. Staff and consultants told the council the package includes $250,000 earmarked for possible schedule acceleration and another $250,000 for unanticipated conditions, with the remainder tied to identified cost items and negotiated change orders.

Public Works Director Daniel Gonzalez summarized construction progress and risk drivers for the council, saying the project is roughly "82% complete at this point." He and project staff warned that final dates depend heavily on winter weather and a set of remaining site tasks, including working around utility work on Magnolia Avenue. The city's motion to approve the allocation was moved by Vice Mayor Anderson and seconded by Council Member McCarthy; the motion carried unanimously.

Council members pressed staff about how the allocation would be financed and whether it represented a recurring pattern of overruns. Finance Director Mike Scheck told the council staff will re-prioritize other capital projects to make room in the facilities capital fund and reported bond proceeds and interest earnings from Measure UU remain a major source of pool funding. "We have not expended all of the funds yet," Scheck said, adding the city had expended about $21,000,000 of roughly $24,418,577 in Measure UU proceeds and that the total project budget is $28,967,550.