Council authorizes city manager to finalize Cove Park planning contract for up to $82,553

Ingleside — The City Council authorized the city manager to negotiate and execute a contract with 6S Engineering Inc. not to exceed $82,553 for planning services for Cove Park improvements, a project the council previously budgeted with $250,000 for the planning phase.

City staff said the contract covers a planning and feasibility phase: conceptual layouts, environmental research, parking and access planning, and coordination with the Cove Park advisory group. "This will give us a mock up of what would be proposed to get the best use out of that facility, and then it would go to a bid for the construction then," a city staff member explained during the discussion.

Staff clarified the work being authorized is the planning phase only; detailed engineering and construction documents would come later if the council approves moving forward and allocates further funding. Council members asked that the contract be revised to clarify a few small items before execution; staff said the amount is within the $250,000 line item the council previously budgeted.

Council voted to authorize the city manager to negotiate and enter into the contract and approved the negotiated amount not to exceed $82,553. The action allows staff to proceed with planning work that will be used to develop bid-ready construction documents and to pursue grants and additional funding as needed.

Why it matters: The planning work will shape design and later construction of Cove Park improvements and guide grant-seeking and budgeting for the project.

Next steps: Staff will finalize contract language, proceed with environmental review and concept planning, present recommended designs to the Cove Park advisory group and return to council with recommended construction plans and funding requests.