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The spirit of a project that is described by most City Council members as “important” and “historical” was dampened somewhat by an accounting error that one Spokane Valley citizen as a “screw-up.”
Spokane Valley Parks and Recreation Director Mike Stone was forced to paw through this year’s and next’s department budget to find $576,000 to close up the difference between a Colorado-based consultant’s estimate and the lowest construction bid for the new Discovery Playground near CenterPlace at Mirabeau Point.
Ginno Construction’s bid came in at $1.4 million, a half-million dollars over what city officials thought they would have to pay for the new park area, which will provide accessible amenities for children of all physical abilities. The difference, Stone said, came down to the consultant not being familiar with union-mandated “prevailing wages” in Washington state for such construction work.
“We were asked to go back and look at the budget,” Stone said.
City officials were able to locate $405,000 that was not used in the construction of CenterPlace, and that money had been set aside in a rainy-day fund for possible emergency repairs. Another $171,000 was culled from this year’s and next’s parks budgets for capital improvements, Stone said, adding that no projects would be greatly affected.
All the council members agreed that the solution was a good one.
“You’ve done a very good job,” said Council Member Diana Wilhite. “It’s important to do this park. I like the way we’ve laid this out.”
Council Member Dick Denenny said he remembered how former – and now deceased – Council Member Mike Flanigan was an advocate for park space that would be accessible to those in wheelchairs or otherwise unable to make use of the usual slides, swings and other recreational devices typically found.
“I really commend Mr. Stone for his diligence on this,” Denenny said. “This is the frosting on the cake at Mirabeau Point that has been talked about since Day 1.”
Discovery Playground – which had for years been dubbed a “universal park” – was a feature that was envisioned by Mirabeau Point catalysts Denny Ashlock and Greg Bever, and it is their dream that is being made reality, said Mayor Richard Munson. He also praised Wilhite for her efforts to secure $800,000 from the state Legislature during her tenure as mayor.
“I commend you for helping us get this done,” he said.
Still, Dick Behm, a Spokane Valley businessman, said the mistake should not have been made.
“I think this is a wonderful project,” he said. “But the consultants…they screwed up and it ended up costing the city money. I think you should reprimand them. Even though they’re out of state, they should know the rules in the state of Washington.”
The council voted unanimously to move forward, and construction is expected to begin soon.
In other action, the council:
- unanimously agreed for the city attorney to continue work on an agreement between Spokane Valley and Spokane County regarding wastewater treatment services. Spokane Valley will be the majority user of the new county facility, and county officials have expressed concern that the city has yet to commit, in writing, to not seeking services elsewhere.
- said their final goodbyes to colleague Steve Taylor, who started Wednesday as the new city administrator in Connell. Taylor was treated to a plaque, a few jesting (and somewhat barbed) comments and a sticker with “6-1” printed on it: an indication of how many of the council’s votes went with Taylor on the losing end.
“It’s a sign of your strength and convictions,” Denenny told Taylor. “It says a great deal about your character.”
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By
Mike Huffman
