City Fires Juanita Beach Modernization Contractor

The City of Kirkland has fired DMSL Contruction of Arlington for failing to complete the modernization of Juanita Beach Park by June 1 as required in its contract.

“It’s not a good day,” Michael Cogle, the interim deputy director of the city’s Parks and Community Services Department, said Friday afternoon. “It’s extremely frustrating. We're in the parks business. Our goal is to create wonderful opportunities for citizens. The fact that has been jeopardized in this case due to non-compliance by this contractor is very frustrating.”

DMSL was hired in March 2010 with a $1.18 million contract to completely modernize the southern part of the park, including the beach area on Lake Washington. The beach has been a popular recreation spot since the 1920s, not long after the lake was lowered with the construction of the Lake Washington Ship Canal.

The contractor began work in May 2010 and expected to finish the job in 10 to 12 months. However, unusually wet weather since the work began hindered progress, and earlier this spring DMSL officials acknowledged difficulties as well due to the weak economy and poor loan market.

“That June 1 date included allowances for weather delays and additional work due to change orders,” Cogle said. “As we reached that date, their resources appeared to be lacking and they could not demonstrate they had the resources to assure us they could complete the project by this summer.”

Jenny Schroder, Kirkland parks director, said in a news release that “the city is as disappointed as the community about the lack of performance that has resulted in a family-favorite park not being opened yet. We were given plans and repeated assurances that the work would be completed in time and unfortunately the contractor did not deliver on its promises.”
 
Cogle said DMSL has been compensated only for actual work it completed in the park, and the project remains within budget. A new contractor will be hired as quickly as state law allows, but Cogle said it is not known when the work will be done and the beach reopened.

However the city news release stated that a new contractor would be brought on “to complete the remaining construction tasks required to reopen the park as quickly as possible this summer."

The project at the 30-acre park is completely renovating the beach portion of the park south of Juanita Drive, with a new wetlands area, landscaping, promenade, trails, and an amphitheater.

That part of the park was closed when work began in May 2010, and citizens began complaining by late winter about the lack of work force and the slow progress.

The north side of the park remains open, and Friday hosted not only the usual Juanita Friday Market, but also a celebration of the city's annexation of northern neighborhoods, which took effect on Wednesday.

Kirland Patch is attempting to reach officials of DMSL and will update this story as soon as possible.

For project updates, go to www.kirklandwa.gov/parks and select Park Planning & Development or contact Cogle at 425-587-3310 or mcogle@kirklandwa.gov.