CITY OF GROVER BEACH
CITY COUNCIL STAFF REPORT
Agenda Item No. 8
Placement:
Meeting Date: October 14, 2025
TO: Honorable Mayor and City Council
FROM: Matthew Bronson, City Manager
PREPARED BY: Erin Wiggin, CIP Manager
SUBJECT: Ramona Garden Park Rehabilitation Project Design Services Contract Amendment
RECOMMENDATION
Approve a budget augmentation in the amount of $30,000 from the Parks Construction Fund to increase appropriation for the Ramona Garden Park Rehabilitation Project (CIP 1259); and authorize the City Manager to execute an amendment to the contract with Wallace Group to increase the total amount by $76,000.
BACKGROUND
Ramona Garden Park is approximately two acres bounded by North 9th and 10th streets to the west and the east and Ramona and Brighton Avenues to the south and north. Ramona Garden Park is the focal point for events in Grover Beach including the Stone Soup Music faire, Concerts in the Park, the Halloween Carnival, the tree lighting and Santa’s workshop. The park is centrally located with access to downtown businesses, retail shops, restaurants, and the post office.
After an extensive community outreach effort beginning in 2019, the Council adopted the Ramona Garden Park Master Plan (“Master Plan”) in November 2020, which provides a “road map” for the City to guide future park improvements over a multi-year period along with implementation and construction of these improvements. These improvements have long been envisioned at Ramona Park including a playground facility. The Master Plan has been further refined with a consultantled effort on the design and construction phasing of this project. The Master Plan is divided into four phases with Phase 1 of the project being the playground and restroom while Phase 2 features the amphitheater and bandshell, Phase 3 is the park entrance and plaza and Phase 4 originally included outdoor classroom space.
On May 9, 2022, the Council approved an agreement with Wallace Group for design services in the amount of $459,655 and authorized the City Manager to approve change orders up to $46,000.
The scope of work included producing four individual bid packages for each phase of the project.
The original agreement only included engineering support during construction for Phase 1 whereas in 2024 the City applied for and was awarded Community Development Block Grant funds for both Phases 1 and 2. The resulting broader project funding required redesign of the construction documents to combine those two phases into one bid package. In addition, there were significant changes in electric utility connections from PG&E affecting the park that required redesign work. As a result, change orders for this design agreement will exceed the $46,000 originally allocated.
Staff Report: Contract Amendment for Ramona Garden Park Design Services Page 2 October 14, 2025
Multi-Year Goals
☐ Public Safety and Community Services ☐ Economic Development and Housing ☒ Community Infrastructure ☒ Financial and Organization Sustainability Council Priorities
☐ Water & Wastewater Infrastructure ☐ Community Engagement Staff is therefore recommending the Council approve a budget adjustment of $30,000 to increase the appropriation for the project to cover these additional costs and authorize for the City Manager to amend to the contract to allow for change orders not to exceed $76,000 to finalize the design work for these phases of the project.
FISCAL IMPACT
This action will be funded with the Parks Construction Fund.
ALTERNATIVES
The Council has the following alternatives to consider:
1. Approve a budget augmentation in the amount of $30,000 from the Parks Construction Fund to increase appropriation for the Ramona Garden Park Rehabilitation Project (CIP 1259); and authorize the City Manager to execute an amendment to the contract with Wallace Group to increase the total amount by $76,000; or
2. Provide staff with alternative direction.
PUBLIC NOTIFICATION
The agenda was posted in accordance with the Brown Act.