Memorandum

City of Lawrence

Utilities

TO:	David Corliss, Interim City Manager  Debbie Van Saun, ACM, Community Development Services
FROM:	Mary Baker, Project Engineer, Utilities
CC:	Chris Stewart, Assistant Director, Utilities Philip Ciesielski, Utilities Engineer Michael Tubbs, Management Analyst
Date:	March 21, 2006
RE:	Kaw Water Plant Building Rehabilitation Study Consultant Selection - Utilities Project #1CP-206

Please include the following item on the consent agenda for the March 28, 2006 City Commission meeting.

Negotiate an Engineering Services Agreement with Walter P. Moore Engineers to assess the condition of  buildings at the Kaw Water Treatment plant.  

Project Description/History: The buildings at the Kaw Water Treatment Plant were constructed between 1916 and 1954.  The west wall of the Filter Building is bowed with cracks appearing on the interior and exterior surfaces.  The west wall of the Ammonia Building exhibits spalling brick and has lost a portion of its protective coating.  The Intake Pump Building has lost an appreciable amount of mortar near its roof line.

The City of Lawrence Utilities Department performs routine maintenance such as brick repointing, painting, and joint sealing on its buildings.  Staff is concerned that removal of mortar in order to repoint certain areas at the Kaw Water Treatment Plant may result in loss of the brick facing because of the damage present.  Staff is also concerned that, although the roof of the 1954 structure has been sealed within the last five years, there are additional problems that have not been addressed.  The study phase of the project is intended to determine whether the buildings require more than normal maintenance.

If structural modifications or other specialized remediation is found to be necessary, the Utilities Department intends to extend the contract to complete design work for the repairs.

Project Status/ Details:

February/March 2006: The Utilities Department requested proposals and received responses from the following firms:

1. BG Consultants, Inc.

2. Finney & Turnipseed, P.A.

3. Linscott Haylett Wheat Architects

4. RTE Technologies, Inc.

5. Walter P. Moore Engineers

Utilities staff evaluated the proposals and selected Walter P. Moore based on the project team qualifications and the well documented examples of similar building assessment projects.

We expect that the study phase of the project will be completed in June 2006.

Project Funding: Funding is through the Utilities Capital Improvement Program funds.

Action Request.  The Utilities Department seeks approval from the City Commission to negotiate an Engineering Services Agreement with Walter P. Moore Engineers for a building assessment.