La Croisée Park
Close to $10,000 in extra costs for La Croisée Park
Laurent Robillard-Cardinal
Gatineau’s executive committee authorized cost adjustments on February 4 reaching $9,400 for the development of La Croisée Park in the Impasse du Cadet. Initially awarded on July 8, the $61,900 contract included the construction of recreational paths, a sand play area, park furnishings, the laying of grass and tree planting. Bringing electricity and water to the park, as initially requested by La Croisée Community Association, was excluded.
The first cost adjustment transpired on November 4. A delegation of power, formed by civil servants, approved additional costs of $5,864. Technically city council has the power to spend public funds, but council delegates authority to the executive committee who delegates authority to certain civil servants, who can approve extra costs for a contract but only up to a certain amount, in this case 10%.
When the company requested, for the second time, that the city approve additional costs of $3,564 for work unexpected under the initial contract, the amounts exceeded the limit allowed for a delegation of power to authorize on behalf of the municipality. Therefore, the city’s executive committee needed to approve the additional amounts which it did on February 4 after the Infrastructure Service justified the amount and recommended its approval.“Both adjustments are related to site conditions which are difficult to predict. We notice extra work is required as it takes place,” said a city’s spokesperson. “The costs are for extra excavation work, additional rock and grass.” With the approval of extra costs, the contract’s value increased from $61,900 to $71,360.
As per procurement policies, the city awarded the contract to the lowest bidder. In this case, the lowest bid came in at $61,934 followed by four companies who bid over $63,000 but under $64,000. With the approved adjustments, the contract’s value is now more than $71,000; more expensive than the five initials bids.
