Cotati City Council
Agenda Staff Report
Item type: CONSENT CALENDAR (ACTION)
To: City Council
Subject: CONSIDER ACCEPTANCE OF THE SUNFLOWER PARK
CONSTRUCTION IMPROVEMENTS
Date: April 28, 2026
Written by: Craig Scott, Director of Public Works/City Engineer Recommendation
It is recommended the City Council of the City of Cotati adopt a resolution accepting the Sunflower Park Construction Improvements, authorizing the City Clerk to file the Notice of Completion with the County Recorder, and after 35 days with no protests, release the construction contract retention
Background
In late 2019, the City of Cotati (City) approved the Parks Capital Plan for all parks in Cotati. The plan includes concepts for amenities, improvements, and upgrades to Cotati parks based on community input, with planning level cost estimates and relative priorities. In 2023, the City completed capital improvements for Kotate Park and is nearing completion on improvements at Helen Putnam Park. In 2025, the design was completed for the Sunflower Park Improvements and, on July 9, 2025, City Council awarded the construction contract. Contract work has been completed, and the improvements are to be considered for acceptance by the City.
Analysis/Discussion
The City was awarded a Proposition 68 Parks Grant for the Sunflower Park Improvements Project which includes the construction improvements and the restroom mural. The construction improvements are now complete and ready for City acceptance and the mural is underway.
Acceptance of the full project scope, as defined in the Proposition 68 Grant, will happen after completion of the mural.
The construction contract for the Sunflower Park Improvements Project was awarded to M3 Integrated Services, Inc, and City issued the Notice to Proceed with a start date of August 4, 2025. The work consisted of new pathways through the park, a fenced playground, several picnic areas, park furniture including bike racks and drinking fountains, resurfacing the pickleball courts, bollard and parking lot lights, repaved parking lot, curved stone covered walls and a sitting area with stone tiles forming a sunflower plant.
On March 25, 2026, a final inspection was conducted by the contract Construction Manager and City Engineer. The City Engineer has determined that the work has been completed in accordance with the project documents. Construction Management was conducted by Integra Landscape + Planning Inc. Accounting for wet weather delays, the work was completed within the contract allotted working days.
The City Engineer is recommending the Sunflower Construction Improvements for acceptance by the City. Following City Council action, a Notice of Completion is to be filed with the County Recorder and after thirty-five days, provided there are no protests (would be by subcontractors or material suppliers not having been paid), the City is to release the retention to the Contractor.
Financial Considerations
On July 9, 2025, City Council authorized an amended project budget of $1,514,215 (reduced from original budget of $2,055,000) for this project. The total construction contract, accounting for Change Orders, was $1,451,905 and the Construction Management contract was $104,300 for a total expended project amount of $1,556,205. Total expenditure exceeds the amended budget by $41,990 which requires additional transfer of funds from the General Fund.
Additionally, staff require an additional $14,000 to complete the mural on the restroom exterior walls and to install park rules and parking restriction signage, which were inadvertently excluded during prior budget reductions. Accordingly, staff are requesting a total budget amendment of $55,990, to be funded with unappropriated General Fund resources. This adjustment results in a revised project budget of $1,570,205, reduced from the original $2,055,000.
Environmental Issues
This action is found to qualify for a Class 1 Categorical Exemption under CEQA Section 15301 in that the project consists of the operation, repair, maintenance, permitting, leasing, licensing, or minor alteration of existing public or private structures, facilities, mechanical equipment, or topographical features, involving negligible or no expansion of the existing or former use.