The scope of the project includes maintenance of Alkali Creek Road, relocation of the Alkali Creek stream channel, corresponding slope work required due to existing slope stability problems, construction of a multi-use path, and all appurtenant work from Black Pine Street to a point between Morningside Lane and Aronson Avenue.  After the stream relocation, the creek bed will be revegetated to control erosion, maintain the creek slopes, and return the area to its preconstruction state. 

The plan for the project, and as negotiated with Morningside Owners Assoc., was to install the highest feasible level of landscaping.  The bids for the landscaping came in low, so there is budget available to increase the size of trees to be replanted, resulting in quicker restoration to the preconstruction state.  The change order for this has already been processed.  However, this initial change order is nearly 10% of the total contract, which nearly exhausts the City Administrator's approval authority.  Due to the short duration of the project, the deadline associated with the ARRA funding and predicted additional change order(s) in the near future, staff requests that Council increase the City Administrator's authority for change orders on this project an additional $100,000 to a maximum of $233,655.80.

The Council may:

• Approve the request to increase the City Administrator’s signing authority; or
• Do not approve the request to increase the City Administrator’s signing authority.

There is no financical impact to increasing the City Administrator's authority to approve change orders by $100,000.  The additional City Administrator signing authority will allow staff to respond quickly to change orders for this fast paced project, instead of processing the change orders through Council, which often has a three (3) week lead time.   

Staff recommends that Council approve expanding the City Administrator’s authority to approve change orders totaling up to $233,655.80 for this project.