AGENDA TITLE:
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Accept Improvements Under Contract for 2024 Lodi Lake Improvement Project (PW)
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MEETING DATE:
October 15, 2025
PREPARED BY:
Public Works Director
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RECOMMENDED ACTION:
Accept improvements under contract for 2024 Lodi Lake Improvement Project.
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BACKGROUND INFORMATION:
As part of the one-time General Fund surplus realized during FY20-21, on April 20, 2022, Council approved $2.4M to improve the Southside areas of Lodi Lake (“Improvements”). The Public Works Department, in coordination with the Parks, Recreation and Cultural Services Department, completed the Improvements design between 2022 and 2023.
The Improvements included the replacement of the south side restroom and playground equipment, the reconstruction of the south east parking lot and east side access road, reconstruction of the Hughes Beach (“nature area” entrance) shade structure and parking lot, and construction of a new restroom at the Hughes Beach parking area.
On October 18, 2023, Council provided direction to staff to proceed with the Improvements as quickly as possible (starting construction in the winter), with the goal of having the parking lot open before the July 4, 2024 Independence Day celebration. On November 15, 2023, Council approved the plans and specifications and authorized the advertisement for bids for the Improvements. On December 20, 2023, the City received eleven (11) bids (attached as Exhibit A), with the lowest bidder being A.M. Stephens Construction Company from Lodi, CA. A.M. Stephens’ base bid totaled $2,350,184.87, with the bid alternates totaling $915,315.86, for a total combined base bid and alternates of $3,265,500.73.
Also on December 20, 2023, Council authorized the City Manager to award the contract for the Improvements (not to exceed $3,400,000), execute change orders (not to exceed $360,000) and appropriate / reallocate funds. The contract was executed with all of the Bid Alternate Items except A4 (Beach Area Trash Enclosure) and A6 (Boat Launch Parking Lot Restriping). Item A6 was added back in later (by change order) once staff knew adequate funding would be available.
The contractor started work on the Improvements on January 30, 2024. The parking lot, walkways, and landscaping was substantially completed on July 3, 2024. Due to long equipment lead times, and additional building permits required, the specialty components were anticipated to be completed later than the parking lot. The playground was completed on August 12, 2024. The Hughes Beach (Nature Area parking lot) shade structure was completed on October 29, 2024. The restroom buildings were installed on May 1, 2025, with final adjustments and plumbing modifications completed on September 19, 2025.
All work on the Improvements was completed in conformance with the specifications approved by City Council. The original contract was $3,179,522.88, with the final contract amount being $3,453,211.79. This increase (through five change orders) was primarily due to a combination of Lodi Electric Utility requirements, unforeseen conditions, and additional work requested by the City. A breakdown of each change order is as follows:
Change Order No. 1 ($57,325): Included removing and reconstructing the two (2) old / cracked tree wells in the southern parking lot as well as repairing settlement issues and adding rip rap to the lake’s perimeter.
Change Order No. 2 ($129,015): Lodi Electric Utility required the project to relocate all of the existing electric meters coming from that single service line (the office, restroom, boat house, and Discovery Center meters) to a single location. This required an increase in the project’s number of meters, main disconnect size, and number of conduits.
Change Order No. 3 ($85,095): During the grading operation the contractor needed to remove unstable soil and replace it with aggregate base rock. The contractor also needed to remove some existing (buried) concrete anchors within the access roadway. This change order also included increasing the height of the Hughes Beach Shade Structure from 7-foot to 10-foot tall, as well as adding in the re-striping of the Boat Launch parking lot.
Change Order No. 4 ($61,686): The City requested this change order for the contractor to improve the Nature Area Amphitheater sitting area and ADA pathway with decomposed granite.
Change Order No. 5 (-$59,432.09): Includes the minor adjustments for the actual quantities used for the Improvements project compared to the original bid quantities, an additional retaining wall near the Hughes Beach restroom, and a change at the fishing dock from the original metal panel replacement to the full repainting of the fishing dock. This change order also includes a credit for costs that the City incurred as a result of the delay in project completion. These costs were associated with the rental of temporary restrooms, and continued project stormwater inspections and reporting.
Photos of the completed Improvements are attached as Exhibit B.
Following acceptance by the City Council, as required by law, the City Engineer will file a Notice of Completion with the County Recorder’s office. The notice serves to notify vendors and subcontractors that the Improvements project is complete and begins their 30-day period to file a stop notice requiring the City to withhold payments from the prime contractor in the event of a payment dispute.
STRATEGIC VISION:
6B. Parks: Expand, develop, and maintain Lodi Lake to meet or exceed industry standards.
FISCAL IMPACT:
There will be a slight increase in ongoing maintenance costs associated with the additional landscaping and the new Hughes Beach restroom, however there will be a cost savings associated with maintaining the old bathroom, the old playground, the old parking lot, and no-longer needing a rented portable restroom at Hughes Beach.
FUNDING AVAILABLE:
This project was funded through Parks Capital, Parks Impact Mitigation Fees, and Lodi Electric Utility (EV Charger).