City of Menifee solicits bids for construction of amphitheater

An artist's rendering shows the design concept for the City of Menifee's amphitheater.

By Doug Spoon, Editor

Two years after a design contract was approved for the proposed amphitheater in Menifee’s Central Park, the City is soliciting bids for the construction contract.

A notice sent out by the City this week gives contractors until Aug. 11 to submit bids for the project, which has a total cost estimate of $3.9 million, according to June 2, 2021 City Council documents. That includes $445,000 that was approved for TY Lin to design the structure, which will include an arching cover for the current stage, with lighting and sound system and a separate back room for storage.

Discussion at the June 2021 meeting centered around the cost of the design contract, which originally was discussed as being in the $100,000 range. The proposed $445,000 contract was ultimately approved, following defense of the project by council member Lesa Sobek, a member of an ad hoc committee on the project formed after council members requested an expansion of the original plans.

“They [TY Lin] brought back a premier concept,” Sobek said at that time. "My thought going into this was, as a city, who are we? What are we known for? This gives us an opportunity to have a signature piece, a special venue for the arts.”

According to figures released by city staff at the June 2021 meeting, $850,000 of the project will be funded by two Developer Impact Fee accounts that can only be used for park amenities. Another $2 million will come from funds gifted to the city by Waste Management as part of a renegotiated services contract. Remaining funds were to come from the general budget.

The City’s request for bids lists an estimated timeline of 260 days for completion of the project, once a contractor is secured.