Memorandum

City of Lawrence

Information Technology

TO:	Diane Stoddard, Interim City Manager
FROM:	Micah Seybold, GIS Coordinator
DATE:	November 11, 2015
RE:	2016 Color Aerial Photography project

Background

Aerial photography is a valuable resource used daily by city staff to help accomplish tasks and answer questions that are specific to their jobs.  The information is also accessed frequently by citizens, students and engineering/landscape/architecture firms via the City’s interactive GIS webpage.  The aerial photography to be collected is known as orthophotography.  Orthophotography is aerial photography from which camera tilt and ground relief distortions have been removed.  It has the same scale throughout and can be used as a map.  The last orthophotography update was done in 2013.  The City and County have jointly purchased aerial photography previously in 2006, 2009 and 2013.

Project Description

On August 17, 2015 the City of Lawrence in cooperation with the neighboring government bodies of Douglas County, Jefferson County, Shawnee County and the City of Topeka, released a request for proposals through the Douglas County purchasing process for new half foot resolution color aerial photography for the entire three county area of 1,586 square miles to be captured in early 2016.

Project Funding

The 2016 Aerial Photography project is funded 66% by the Utilities Department and 34% by Public Works/Stormwater Division.  This project was budgeted in 2016 for $20,000.00.

Utilities Department		$10,167.30
Public Works / Stormwater		$5,237.70
	TOTAL:	$15,405.00

Staff Recommendation

On September 9, 2015 Douglas County received sealed bids on behalf of the five entity group.  Nine proposals were received (see attached).  A selection committee consisting of one GIS staff from each entity reviewed the proposals and narrowed the field down to three vendors to interview; Sanborn ($101,512.48), Kucera ($103,090.00) and Quantum Spatial ($104,676.00).  The committee selected Kucera based on multiple factors including references, project priority, and technology proposed.  The City will be responsible for $15,405.00 of the $103,090.00 total.  The City’s cost is based on square area by county and then approximately a 50/50 split of that cost with Douglas County.  Information Technology Department recommends partnering with Douglas County, Jefferson County, Shawnee County and the City of Topeka in sharing the costs, authorizing payment of $15,405.00 to Kucera International Inc.

Action

Authorize the Interim City Manager to sign a contract with Kucera International Inc. for 2016 countywide color aerial photography and approve payment in the amount of $15,405.00.