Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Parks And Rec topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Council opts for low-cost interim plan for Friendship Square after high bids
Summary
Facing a single construction bid well above the CDBG allocation, the council directed staff to convert the empty fountain pit into planted planters as an interim redesign, approving up to $10,000 and instructing staff to relinquish the CDBG funds for future reprogramming.
Staff told the council that an RFP for the Friendship Square redesign produced a single responsive bid — $813,000 from Zoom Recreation — far above the $407,000 Community Development Block Grant allocation and the engineer's estimate of $469,000. Len Gorecki explained utility constraints beneath the plaza and the limited contractor interest for small federally funded projects.
Faced with the funding gap, the council weighed options including borrowing from other CIP projects, using general-fund reserves, or simplifying the scope. Councilmember Coops and others warned about tapping funds earmarked for park projects; Mayor Pro Tem Sanchez proposed an interim change. The council voted to approve a low-cost interim solution: blow out the bottom of the fountain to add planters and irrigation and spend up to $10,000 (in-house) to make the plaza functional while staff returns with a more comprehensive redesign and funding plan. Staff said returning federal CDBG funds to reprogram them will require an amendment to program documentation.
The short-term change aims to remove the nonfunctional fountain and create a pedestrian-friendly planter area, while giving staff time to secure appropriate funding and rebid the full redesign.
