City Urged to Reject Tennis Court Bids

City Council members will be asked tonight to reject bids that are considerably higher than budgeted to build eight tennis courts at Arroyo Vista Community Park.

So far, proposals from two contractors to build the courts are more than double the $352,000 that the city of Moorpark and school district had committed to spend on the project.

The agencies would split the cost.

Mary Lindley, city director of community services, has recommended that the council reject the bids of $745,000 and $841,000, and scale back the project by changing its lighting and fencing designs.

Even with those changes, building eight tennis courts will likely cost $622,000, she said in a report.

The bidding process would take up to eight additional weeks, she said.

The city’s original estimate was made without consulting construction companies, according to Lindley, who added that schools Supt.

Thomas Duffy said the district would be willing to share any additionalcosts.

Councilman Clint Harper said he was surprised that the city’s estimates could be so far from the amounts that were bid.

“Perhaps they should have called some neighboring cities beforehand,” he said.

“In retrospect, that would have been prudent.”

Councilman Chris Evans has suggested starting the project, then asking a private organization, such as the Moorpark Tennis Club, to raise funds to finish the courts.

“Maybe we could start with two [courts] and then let them go to work to increase the facility,” he said.

But Donna Lucky, club treasurer, said her group--with about 250 members--is too small to raise that much money.

Lucky said the club has written letters to large companies and tennis professionals, asking for donations.

“We are not a big organization,” she said. “We need to find someone who has a lot of money.”