Title
Recommendation to Authorize the City Manager to Execute an Agreement with Wickman Construction, Inc., in an Amount Not-to-Exceed $32,364,200, including Contingency, for Construction of the City Aquatic Center Located at 800 Atlantic Avenue; and
Adoption of Resolution Amending the Fiscal Year 2026-27 Capital Budget Reappropriating $4,998,747 from General Fund Unassigned Reserve to CIP C55400 Expenditure Appropriations by $4,998,747.
In July 2014, City Council by Resolution No. 14955 adopted the Jean Sweeney Open Space Park Mitigated Negative Declaration (MND) and Mitigation Measures in compliance with California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA). In accordance with Section 15164 of the CEQA Guidelines, an Addendum to the MND has been prepared in the manner required by and as authorized under CEQA. The Addendum and conditions of approval for the planning entitlements incorporate and will require compliance with all applicable mitigation measures from the 2014 MND. Accordingly, the Aquatic Center project does not raise important new issues about potentially significant impacts on the environment that have not been previously disclosed in the MND, and no further environmental review is required. (Recreation 10040005)
Body
To: Honorable Mayor and Members of the City Council
From: Gerry Beaudin, City Manager
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
The Aquatic Center project includes a 30-meter competition pool, activity pool, parking facilities, administrative offices, and supporting mechanical infrastructure. The project advances a long-standing City of Alameda (City) priority identified in the 2023-2026 Strategic Plan and follows prior City Council approvals related to project design, environmental review, funding, and parking management.
Following a competitive bidding process among seven pre-qualified aquatic facility contractors, the City received three bids. Wickman submitted the lowest responsive and responsible bid of $28,628,000. Staff recommends accepting four bid alternates that enhance long-term operations and programming, including a permanent dewatering well, competition timing and scoreboard systems, emergency radio infrastructure, and an Alameda Municipal Power (AMP)-funded video display. Staff also recommends implementing the City Council-approved reduction of 17 parking spaces through a deductive alternate.
BACKGROUND
The City Aquatic Center (Center) project includes a 30-meter competition pool, an activity pool, parking facilities, and supporting mechanical and administrative offices.
On September 12, 2024, City Council approved a design concept for the Center with a 30-meter pool and activity pool and provided direction on additional design features such as Lobby, Diving Well and Springboards, Community Room, Building Storage, and Building Electrification, all of which required further consideration for feasibility.
On June 23, 2025, the Planning Board adopted an addendum to the Jean Sweeney Open Space Park Mitigated Negative Declaration (MND) and held a public hearing for Design Review and Use Permit for the Center project.
On July 1, 2025, City Council approved the Center project and the recommended funding plan for a total project cost of $35.5 million.
On June 2, 2026, City Council approved the Parking Management Plan for the Center project reducing the parking from 67 spaces to 50 spaces.
DISCUSSION
The Center project budget of $35.5 million included the 30-meter pool, activity pool, supporting mechanical and administration buildings, full building electrification including heating equipment, parking lot, ground improvements, and all associated project development and management costs. Throughout the design development phase construction estimates were prepared by Mack5 cost estimators and verified by Griffin Structures, Inc. The final cost estimate for construction prior to bidding was estimated at $25.4 million and the existing budget was based on this cost estimate.
To secure qualified bids for the Center project, staff released a Contractor Pre-Qualification package in December 2025. The pre-qualification process developed a list of qualified contractors (shown below) with experience constructing aquatic centers of similar size and value. References for the qualified contractors were verified by the project manager, Griffin Structures, Inc.
Qualified Contractors List:
Bobo Construction, Inc.
Lathrop Construction Associates, Inc.
Level 10 Construction
C.Overa and Company
Swinerton Builders
Vance Brown Inc.
Wickman Development and Construction
The qualified contractors were issued the bid package on February 26, 2026 with bids due on April 21, 2026. The City received three bids from the Qualified Contractors list.
|
Bidder |
Location |
Base Bid |
|
Wickman Development and Construction |
San Francisco, CA |
$28,628,000 |
|
Lathrop Construction, Inc |
Benicia, CA |
$28,697,700 |
|
Swinerton Builders |
San Francisco, CA |
$29,990,000 |
The bid package included several Additional Alternates for consideration in addition to the base bid for the project. All Additional Alternates are listed below.
|
Alternate Item |
Wickman |
|
Add Alt #1: Thickened Pool Slabs |
$426,000 |
|
Add Alt #2: Permanent Dewatering Well |
$31,000 |
|
Add Alt #3: Timing System |
$47,000 |
|
Add Alt #4: Scoreboard Footings & Posts |
$189,000 |
|
Add Alt #5: Scoreboard & Timing System |
$594,000 |
|
Add Alt #6: ERRCS |
$132,000 |
|
Add Alt #7: AMP Video Display* |
$37,000 |
*AMP will reimburse the City for costs
Staff recommends Additional Alternates #2,5,6, and 7 to be included as part of the Center project. Alternate #2 provides a dewatering system that is necessary for long-term maintenance of the Center pool. This dewatering system replaces the option shown in Alternate #1 to thicken the pool slabs. Alternate #5 supports programming for aquatic competitions at the Center and already includes the costs for the footings and posts. Alternate #6 provides funding for emergency radio service at the Center if, during construction, it is determined that emergency radios do not work inside the building and require additional signal equipment. Alternate #7 is a 16’ x 9’ LCD video display wall by Alameda Municipal Power (AMP) for providing information about the Center electrification and AMP programs to reduce carbonization in Alameda. AMP will reimburse the City for all costs associated with purchase and installation of the LCD wall.
The bid package included several Deduction Alternates for consideration of removal from the base bid for the project. The deduction alternates would be subtracted from the base bid if selected. The deduction alternates are listed below.
|
Deduction Alternate Item |
Wickman |
|
Deduct Alt #1: Wind wall Structure |
($115,000) |
|
Deduct Alt #2: 17 Parking stalls |
($1) |
|
Deduct Alt #3: Remove Lane from Activity Pool |
($38,000) |
City Council approved the Parking Management Plan for the Center on June 2, 2026, and provided staff direction to accept Deduct Alternate #2, the reduction of 17 parking stalls. The other two Deduction Alternates are not recommended to accept.
Lastly, since the base construction cost increased and construction contingency is 10% of the base cost, the contingency increased as well. City staff will work closely with Griffin's construction manager to minimize the use of contingency during the project and any remaining funds will be returned to the General Fund. The total contingency is approximately $3.5 million.
|
Center Construction Cost with Alternates and Deductions |
Wickman |
|
Add Alt #2: Permanent Dewatering Well |
$31,000 |
|
Add Alt #5: Scoreboard & Timing System |
$594,000 |
|
Add Alt #6: Emergency Radio system |
$132,000 |
|
Add Alt #7: AMP Video Display |
$37,000 |
|
Deduct #2: 17 Parking Stalls |
($1) |
|
Subtotal |
$793,999 |
|
|
|
|
Construction Base Bid |
$28,628,000 |
|
Add Alt #2,5,6,7 |
$793,999 |
|
Subtotal |
$29,421,999 |
|
Contingency 10% |
$2,942,200 |
|
Construction Cost Subtotal |
$32,364,200 (rounded) |
*AMP will cover all costs associated with Video Display
Staff recommends awarding an agreement to Wickman Development and Construction, Inc. as the lowest responsive and responsible bidder, for a total amount of $32,364,200, which includes a 10% contingency in the amount of $2,942,200. The contractor is not guaranteed any of the contingency amount and use of the contingency will be at the sole discretion of the City for work not originally anticipated in the plans and specifications. The specifications also informed the successful bidder that they shall pay not less than the prevailing rate of per diem wages as determined by the Director of the California Department of Industrial Relations. The Agreement is attached as Exhibit 1.
ALTERNATIVES
• Award the agreement as presented.
• Adjust or modify scope within the agreement.
• Do not award the agreement and provide alternative direction to staff.
FINANCIAL IMPACT
The low bid and Add Alternates of $29,421,999 exceeds the project construction estimate of $25,350,000 by $4,071,999. The increase in base budget impacts the overall contingency budget by $407,200. The Center construction management budget for Griffin Structures increased by $519,548 for a total Center Project Budget increase of $4,998,747, being requested from General Fund unassigned reserve (10000001).
MUNICIPAL CODE/POLICY DOCUMENT CROSS REFERENCE
The 2023-2026 City Council Strategic Plan identifies the City Aquatic Center under the Priority to Enhance community Safety and Services Project CS10 to Design and Construct the City Aquatic Center. This action is subject to the Levine Act.
ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW
In July 2014, City Council by Resolution No. 14955 adopted the Jean Sweeney Open Space Park MND and Mitigation Measures in compliance with California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA). In accordance with Section 15164 of the CEQA Guidelines, an Addendum to the MND has been prepared in the manner required by and as authorized under CEQA. The Addendum and conditions of approval for the planning entitlements incorporate and will require compliance with all applicable mitigation measures from the 2014 MND. Accordingly, the Aquatic Center project does not raise important new issues about potentially significant impacts on the environment that have not been previously disclosed in the MND, and no further environmental review is required.
CLIMATE IMPACT
All buildings associated with the Center will meet a minimum LEED Silver certification pursuant to the City’s building ordinance. The Center will be fully electric and incorporate water efficient fixtures and landscaping to reduce water use supporting the CARP.
RECOMMENDATION
Authorize the City Manager to execute an Agreement with Wickman Construction, Inc., for a not-to-exceed amount of $32,952,639, including contingency, for construction of the City Aquatic Center located at 800 Atlantic Ave.
Respectfully submitted,
Justin Long, Recreation and Parks Department Director
Financial Impact section reviewed,
Ross McCarthy, Finance Director
Exhibit:
1. Wickman Agreement