Agenda Item Wording:
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Approve Change Order For Riverway Sports Park Fencing Project – Approve a change order for the upgrade of galvanized chain-link fencing materials to vinyl coated chain-link fencing materials and reduced height of the inside fences.
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Prepared by: Daryl Tillman, Park Maintenance Supervisor 713-4435; daryl.tillman@visalia.city Alvin Dias, Parks and Facilities Manager 713-4564; alvin.dias@visalia.city Jason Glick, Community Services Director 713-4042; jason.glick@visalia.city
Department Recommendation: Staff recommends the City Council approve a change order to Marko Construction Group Inc. of Fresno, CA, in the amount of and not to exceed $150,000.00 from the Riverway Sports Park fencing project’s 10% construction contingency for the change in materials from 7’ galvanized chain-link fencing to 6’ vinyl coated chain-link fencing.
Summary:
During the project pre-bid meetings city staff discussed and answered various questions by potential bidders. There was a large volume of potential bidders with several questions. One of these questions pertained to the existing vinyl coated chain-link fencing at the Saputo, CR Shannon, and Phase V facilities. Staff answered verbally that the new chain-link fencing should match. Unfortunately, when the addendum was issued, the coated chain-link was omitted and was not identified by city staff before the addendum was published. Staff were unaware of the oversight until the awarded bidder submitted their project material submittals. The submittal contained galvanized chain-link and not the vinyl coated chain-link fencing.
Marko Construction submitted the attached change order request for the vinyl coated fencing. In this request, Marko Construction credited the original amount for the galvanized fencing and added the cost for the vinyl coated fencing. Marko Construction also included a $6,342.00 discount and did not add any markups for the change in materials. Staff also negotiated the use of 6’ chain-link instead of the original 7’ material. The 6’ fencing is a standard size and dramatically reduces the cost per linear foot ($98+) for the vinyl coated 7’ chain-link. The 6’ fencing will still give staff the ability to control access to the soccer fields and the iron fencing will remain at 7’ to control access to the facility.
Staff also reviewed the bids submitted by the other two contractors and with the proposed cost increase, Marko Construction remains the low bidder for the project. The total cost of the change order is $150,000.00 for the 6’ vinyl coated chain-link fencing (please see attached contractor’s request).
The City’s Change Order Review Committee reviewed and approved the Riverway Sports Park fencing project change order #1 during their regular committee meeting on September 10, 2025.
Background Discussion:
Request for Bid #24-25-53 was advertised on May 07, 2025, and May 13, 2025, for the installation of perimeter iron fencing, soccer field chain-link fencing, pedestrian gates, and automatic vehicle gates. Two mandatory pre-bid meetings were conducted on May 14, 2025, and May 15, 2025, where staff answered questions and toured the project site with several contractors.
On Thursday, June 26, 2025, the City received bids from three (3) contractors in the Bid Summary below. Marko Construction Group Inc. of Fresno, CA was the qualified low bidder for RFB 24-25-53 Construction of Riverway Sports Park Fencing Project.
• Marko Construction Group Inc., Fresno, CA $3,041,826.07
• Red Hawk Services Inc., Perris, CA $3,486,890.43
• United Field Services Corporation, Bakersfield, CA $4,221,559.00
This is considered a Public Works contract and therefore, is subject to State of California prevailing wages, registration with the Department of Industrial Relations and submission on certified payroll to the Labor Commissioner as well as other requirements outlined in the City’s Labor Compliance Manual which was a part of the specifications.
Riverway Sports Park began construction in 2006 and completed over five (5) phases of construction ending in 2020. During phase I of the project the ten (10) soccer fields, with three (3) of the fields being lit, were completed. This area was developed with no fencing to control access to the soccer fields. As construction continued of Riverway Sports Park several amenities were added, including playgrounds, picnic arbors, additional soccer field lighting, and baseball and softball facilities. With the CR Shannon Baseball Facility and phase V softball facility having perimeter fencing installed to protect the playing fields.
Over the years, as the community and user groups have continued to grow, the demand for field space has grown exponentially. Staff identified the need for maintenance and rest periods for the soccer fields to keep the turf in a safe and usable condition. With no fencing to control access to fields this has made it difficult to limit access. Staff, over the years, have had to spend several days posting signs, installing temporary fencing, and maintaining the fencing that was cut in the evenings by individuals to play on the fields. The combination of the high usage for approved user groups and the inability to keep foot traffic off the turf during maintenance/rest periods has led to the deterioration of the soccer fields.
Staff have also seen an influx of the unhoused population in the park, staying in the arbors, and restrooms. This has made it difficult to keep the park clean and the restrooms sanitary for users. There have also been increases in drug use and illegal activity in the late evenings at the park. This has brought forth major concerns by residents, park staff, Visalia Police Department, and the City Council, all wanting to find ways to remove these issues from one of the City’s most popular and heavily used parks.
During the City’s budget process for Fiscal Year 2024-25, staff presented a fencing project within the Parks and Recreation Department’s Capital Improvement Project (CIP) budget request. The project proposed fencing around the perimeter of the soccer fields at Riverway Sports Park in year three (3) of the six-year plan. Upon Council’s review of the proposed budget a recommendation was made by Council to move the project to year one (1) of the six-year plan and to fund the project to not only fence the soccer fields, but to fence off the entire perimeter of Riverway Sports Park. The intention of the fencing is to resolve the illegal activity at the park and make a safe environment for families and user groups at Riverway Sports Park.
With direction from Council on the fencing project, staff began meeting internally to discuss the location, materials, and process on how to make the project happen. Once staff was able to meet with public safety on requirements for emergency exits, security, and access for calls for services, staff determined that iron heavy gauge fencing would be best for the perimeter of the park to deter vandalism, automated vehicle gates would be needed to meet the needs of public safety, and black vinyl coated chain-link fencing would be used for the interior soccer fields. The chain-link fencing will help to reduce costs to the project and match the other chain-link fencing that is currently within the park, at the CR Shannon Baseball, Phase V Softball, and Saputo Fields. The project was then placed on the Site Plan Review agenda for review.
During the December 11, 2024, Site Plan Committee review, the committee reviewed the proposed plan, making comments on the fencing location to remain compliant with City and building codes. The committee also made recommendations to the proposed design to keep access to the park compliant with ADA requirements. Some of these recommendations were the addition of sidewalks to the field pedestrian gates, reduced gate sizes from eight feet to two four-foot gates and moving the vehicle gate on Shannon Parkway back into the park to meet the minimum requirement of twenty feet from the City street.
The fencing project was then presented to the user groups that use Riverway Sports Park each year for youth and adult sports on December 17, 2024. Staff answered questions from the user groups and explained how access would be made for groups during their reservation times. One of the ways staff have tested access to locked facilities was by using combination locks at both the CR Shannon facility and Phase V facility. The lock combination is easily provided to league board members and changed at the end of the league’s reservation/season. This eliminates the need to hand out and collect keys with each group. The combination is changed at the end of each maintenance period and reservation period. The system has been working well at these two facilities and staff believes it will also work for the rest of the facilities at Riverway Sports Park. At the conclusion of the meeting the user groups accepted the fencing project and understood the benefits of securing the park.
Staff took all the requirements and recommendations from public safety, the Site Plan Review Committee, and user groups, and created the fencing overview which was presented to the Parks and Recreation Commission at the January 14, 2025, regular meeting. During the presentation staff received a few questions from the public. The first question was how soccer groups would be able to retrieve soccer balls that could be kicked over the fence along Shannon Parkway. To address this, staff will install maintenance gates so that users will have access for ingress and egress to the facility but will remain locked and only be used for retrieving equipment. The second question was with the fencing of the soccer fields, how could residents or user groups access facilities during maintenance periods? Staff identified areas that would be available for use and removed these areas from the winter maintenance period. Staff also staggered summer maintenance closure periods throughout the parks to allow users to have facilities available for use. The final question for the public comment was whether user groups would have the ability to move their soccer goals between fields. Staff responded with, yes, user groups will be provided access to the service gates to allow them to move soccer goals to their reserved field space. Once staff completed the fencing presentation and addressed the above questions, the Parks and Recreation Commission motioned unanimously 4-0 to recommend to council the fencing location and materials as presented.
Staff then presented the proposed location, materials, and design for the Riverway Sports Park Fencing Project to Council during the 2/3/25 Council Work Session. Council approved the project as presented and instructed staff to complete a Request for Bids (RFB).
During the mandatory meetings of the RFB process many of the proposed bidders expressed concern over the project budget, stating material costs have increased considerably and that the project may be under funded. With this information staff requested additional funding during the Fiscal Year Mid-Cycle Financial Report at the 6/16/25 City Council Work Session. The City Council approved the appropriation of an additional $1,000,000 in anticipation of the bids we may receive at the close of the RFB process. Unfortunately, all three bids were over the budgeted amount, even with additional appropriation. City Council approved an additional $849,010 to complete the project. The additional funding included a 10% percent construction contingency for any unforeseen issues that may arise during construction and permit fees.
Change order #1 will be funded by the 10% construction contingency.
Fiscal Impact: Riverway Sports Park Fencing Project (CP0695) was appropriated for $1,500,000 with the FY 24/25 budget adoption. An additional $1,000,000 was approved by Council on June 16, 2025, bringing the total project budget to $2,500,000. And, the $849,010 appropriation approved by Council on July 21,2025 brought the budget to a current total of $3,349,010.00. Funding for this change order will come from the project contingency, leaving a contingency balance of $154,183 (shown below). No additional appropriation is requested in this item.
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Riverway Sports Park Fencing Project (CIP 1010-72000/CP0695-999) |
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Budget Summary |
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General Fund Project Budget |
$3,349,010.00 |
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Estimated COV Permit Fees |
$ 3,000.00 |
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Marko Construction Group Bid |
$3,041,827.00 |
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Cont. (est. 10%) |
$ 304,183.00 |
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Total Project Cost |
$3,346,010.00 |
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Cont. (est. 10%) |
$ 304,183.00 |
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Marko Construction Change Order #1 |
$ 150,000.00 |
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Remaining Contingency Balance |
$ 154,183.00 |
Prior Council Action:
4/15/2024, Work Session, Council reviewed the proposed Parks and Recreation Department 6-year Capital Improvement Plan (CIP) and recommended the Riverway Sports Park Fencing Project be moved from year 2 to year 1 of the plan and to include fencing the entire perimeter of the park.
6/17/2024, Public Hearing, City Council approved the FY24/25 and FY25/26 multi-year budget. 2/3/2025, Council approved the proposed location and materials for the fencing project at Riverway Sports Park.
6/16/2025, Council approved the appropriation of an additional $1,000,000 from the end of fiscal FY24/25 General Fund Surplus.
7/21/25, Council approved the appropriation of an additional $849,010 from the General Fund and awarded a construction contract to Marko Construction Group Inc.
Other: 9/10/2025, Reviewed and approved by the Change Order Review Committee
Alternatives: Reject the proposed change order and install the galvanized chain-link fencing.
Recommended Motion (and Alternative Motions if expected):
recommendation
I move to approve change order #1 in the amount of $150,000 to Marko Construction Group Inc. of Fresno, CA, for the removal of 7’ galvanized chain-link fencing and the addition of 6’ vinyl coated chain-link fencing.
Environmental Assessment Status: N/A
CEQA Review: N/A
Deadline for Action: 9/15/2025
Attachments: Marko Construction Group Change Order Request, Exhibit M