A divided Avalon City Council voted 2-3 to award the Joe Machado Field concession stand project to Dave Thompson Construction at the agency’s Tuesday, Dec. 3, meeting.
Opponents objected to the cost of the project, which Recreation Coordinator Jennifer Lavelle said would cost $177,478.
Lavelle’s staff report said the original estimate was $50,000.
Project supporters, such as Council Member Michael Ponce, said the city needed to get it done.
A divided Avalon City Council voted 2-3 to award the Joe Machado Field concession stand project to Dave Thompson Construction at the agency’s Tuesday, Dec. 3, meeting.
Opponents objected to the cost of the project, which Recreation Coordinator Jennifer Lavelle said would cost $177,478.
Lavelle’s staff report said the original estimate was $50,000.
Project supporters, such as Council Member Michael Ponce, said the city needed to get it done.
Mayor Bob Kennedy and Council Member Oley Olsen cast the dissenting votes.
Kennedy asked how much of the difference between original estimate and the new estimate was due to Los Angeles County Health Department regulations.
“I would say that some of it is,” Lavelle said. She said there is not much wriggle room between installing a vending machine and a full kitchen. She said the kitchen would have to be up to code.
Her staff report said the original estimate did not take into account the scope of work required to meet standards.
Lavelle’s staff report also said the city only received one bid on the project, $139,018. The rest of the new cost estimate included a 20 percent contingency for building materials, administrative costs and the possible need to add another cushion for fire suppression. Contractor Dave Thompson said he did not think the project would ultimately cost as much as projected.
However, he also said he would not be making much profit on the project.
Olsen said it seemed like overkill. He said he wondered what would happen if Avalon contracted with Long Beach for health enforcement services.
Ponce said it was time to “bite the bullet” and approve the project.
Olsen disagreed. “It’s not time to bite the bullet—we don’t have the money to bite the bullet,” he said.
Ponce, however, argued that delays had added to the costs. “We have been trying to do this since I have been on the City Council,” Ponce said. According to Ponce, each time the city delayed making a decision, the costs increased.
“This is one of the few areas in this town that the public has to use,” he said.
Ponce expressed frustration with what he said was the city’s tendency to do everything piecemeal.
“At some point, the paperclips break,” he said.
“We expect everybody else to get things done,” he said.
Ponce described the the project as an investment in the town.
Olsen asked where the funding would come from.
Ponce argued that as council took time to find funding for the project, the cost of the project would go up.
Kennedy said he was not against the project, but he was not sure it was a wise expenditure of money at that time. However, he also said he was looking forward to having a hamburger at the concession stand.
In response to a suggestion from the public, Council Member Ralph Morrow moved to approve the contract and work order change, but suggested the community raise funds to reimburse the city for the cost.
