Agenda Item Wording:
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Change Order Committee Approval Limits - Recommendation to increase the City of Visalia Change Order Committee approval limits for large construction projects.
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Deadline for Action: 4/7/2025
Submitting Department: Community Development
Contact Name and Phone Number:
Christopher Crawford, City Engineer, 713-4331; chris.crawford@visalia.city
Jason Huckleberry, Eng & Bldg Director, 713-4495; jason.huckleberry@visalia.city
Department Recommendation:
Staff recommends that the City Council give the City of Visalia Change Order Committee (COC) authority to approve change orders up to the following limits: $200,000 per change order for projects with construction costs of $10 million to $50 million, and $300,000 per change order for projects with construction costs over $50 million.
Background Discussion:
Approximately 20 years ago, the City of Visalia established a Change Order Committee, also referred to as the COC, compromised of five (5) city staff members who are responsible for providing an independent review of change orders for consultant contracts and construction projects. The COC was established to provide oversight and guidance to staff members dealing with change order related issues and to keep all parties accountable for additional costs the City incurred. The COC has also proved very beneficial on grant-funded and federally funded projects due to the added layer of review and the high level of confidence this has given to outside agencies auditing these funds.
Since the COC was established, it was given authority to approve change orders up to $100,000 per change order. Currently, if the change order is higher than this amount, it would have to be reviewed and approved by the COC and then it would have to be sent to City Council for final approval. These processes are supposed to be completed prior to proceeding with the change order work. The COC meets every week so it is relatively quick for staff members to...
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