Lodi council approves Fair Street change orders; $46,400 wall cost may use parks fund

The City of Lodi Common Council approved Change Order 1 and Change Order 2 for the Fair Street reconstruction project at its Sept. 9 meeting, with council members saying they were voting to approve the scope of work rather than immediate payment. City staff member Christian Reid reviewed the changes and told the council, "This is approving a scope of work, not the pay for this project."

Council discussion noted that most additional costs would be covered under planned borrowing, but a particular retaining wall could cost about $46,400 and, "If the borrowing does not cover the cost of this wall, money may be sought from the parks development fund," Reid said. MOTIONS to approve the change orders (Stevenson/Kutz and Stevenson/Flanagan) carried by voice vote. The council did not set a final assessment number at the meeting; Reid said a final assessment report is likely to be prepared around the end of the project.

The approvals move the Fair Street project forward by clarifying scope and potential funding pathways but do not finalize how the city will pay for the added work. The council’s action authorizes staff to proceed with the specified changes and for financing to be resolved through borrowing and, if needed, the parks development fund. A timeline for the final assessment report was not given at the meeting.