Laredo City Council on Oct. 6 accepted the near-complete Phase 1 of the Buena Vista Sports Complex and directed staff to return with estimates and funding options to restore items removed from the original Phase 1 scope and to begin design work for Phase 2.

The council’s votes followed a detailed presentation from the project design and construction team and a long public discussion about schedule, costs and which amenities remain unbuilt.

Why it matters: The Buena Vista complex was approved by voters in referendums in 2014 and 2018 as a major sports tourism venue. Accepting Phase 1 moves the city toward opening the complex for use, and the council’s direction to request costs and plan Phase 2 signals the city intends to expand amenities — including additional fields, parking and a multipurpose/concessions building — if funding allows.

What staff and designers told council
Architects from JHS presented the master plan and described what was included in the approved Phase 1: multiple synthetic turf baseball/softball fields, a multipurpose field, concession/restroom facilities and about 644 parking spaces. JHS project administrator Ed Quito told the council the full master plan had originally been priced at roughly $65–70 million; Phase 1 was budgeted at about $45 million.

Project presenters said work in place to date totaled roughly $39.5 million with an outstanding balance, including retainage and finish work, of roughly $7.4 million; the construction team estimated the site was about 90–92% complete and aiming for final completion in November, with a substantial-completion milestone discussed at the end of October.

Council direction and votes
Council approved three separate motions the mayor had proposed: (1) accept Phase 1 completion; (2) direct staff and the construction manager to provide a cost estimate to add back items that had been removed from Phase 1 (the family/play area, a multipurpose field, concessions and additional parking) and return with a financing plan; and (3) proceed with Phase 2 design plans. Council also approved an amendment to include consideration of $4.5 million (previously held in the capital improvement program for turf fields) as a potential funding source and asked staff to evaluate how and whether to use those funds.

Funding and schedule questions
Council members pressed staff for an explicit cost and schedule for the add-backs and for Phase 2. Staff said the sports-venue tax and existing bond proceeds funded Phase 1 and that sports-venue receipts continue to grow; management said a formal cost estimate for the add-back items would be obtained from the contractor within about 10 days and then returned to council with financing options. Staff warned that some contingency funding was still being held in the project and that additional features for Phase 2 would likely cost less than building from scratch because infrastructure is in place.

Quotes on the record
Architect Paramedo Sanchez summarized the master plan and the items that remain as add-backs. Project administrator Ed Quito said the full program initially was expected to cost “about 65 to $70 million” and that the Phase 1 contract was for about $45 million; the work-in-place total reported to council was roughly $39.5 million. Presenters noted horizontal work is sensitive to rain delays and that each rain day can translate to multiple lost working days for heavy equipment.

Ending
Council accepted Phase 1 and directed staff to seek firm pricing to finish the Phase 1 add-ons and to prepare design documents for Phase 2. Staff said the city will return with cost and financing options before committing funds for add-back work.