Council authorizes change order and contingency for reservoir cover repairs, raising total to ~$182,381

Astoria City Council authorized a change order to repair reservoir covers after staff discovered degraded panels during an inspection. City Manager Spence said the original 2010 installation carried a 20-year material warranty covering the polyethylene geomembrane panels; however, labor and additional disinfection work are not covered. Public Works Director Jeff Harrington said staff found five panels degraded and recommended replacing them and performing specialized disinfection that requires inflation of the cover and a high-concentration chlorine spray.

Harrington described the warranty as covering parts, not labor: "The material has a warranty... the material, which came from a different company, came with a warranty. But the company that did all the labor isn't under the obligation through that warranty to do all the labor again for free," he said. Staff described the additional disinfection and specialized equipment as part of a roughly $50,000 line item; with mobilization and contingencies, staff explained the revised contract amount would be $174,502 with a potential not-to-exceed total of $182,381. Councilor Lum moved the change order; the motion carried.

Councilors pressed staff on what the additional equipment line covers and whether the city supplies disinfectant materials; staff said blowers, ladders and other access equipment and the disinfectant supplier costs are included in that $50,000 line item. The council approved the change order and contingency to complete repairs and ensure water quality before refilling the reservoir.