Memorandum

City of Lawrence

Parks & Recreation Department

TO:	Thomas M. Markus, City Manager Diane Stoddard, Assistant City Manager
	Casey Toomay, Assistant City Manager
	Ernie Shaw, Interim Director Parks & Recreation
FROM:	Mark Hecker, Assistant Director, Parks and Recreation
DATE:	March 23, 2016
RE:	Baldwin Creek Trail Project

Project Description

A Federal Recreational Trails Program grant was awarded to the Parks & Recreation Department to assist in funding a .7-mile recreation path which will start at Rock Chalk Park and heads northeast along the Baldwin Creek until it meets Queens Road. This segment of trail is part of the Lawrence Loop trail.

A $400,000 project was submitted and approved for grant funding. The City will fund the entire amount of construction project. The 80/20 grant, will reimburse expenses up to $320,000 at completion. The remaining project costs with be paid from the Sales Tax Reserve fund.

Property Acquisition

In order to construct the trail, two easements that were originally obtained in 2007 with the installation of the Baldwin Creek sanitary sewer interceptor project, are being modified (Finney Map, Compton Farms Map).  The two property owners have executed revised pedestrian and recreation path easements.  Authorization is needed for the Mayor to also execute the dedication of the easement on the Finney tract.  The City will also need to file a vacation petition with the county to vacate the prior pedestrian and recreation path easements on these two tracts.  The sanitary sewer portion of the 2007 easements will remain and will not be vacated.

Bids Received on March 15, 2016

R.D. Johnson Excavating	$335,561.55
Crossland Heavy Contractors Inc.	$513,000.00
Kansas Heavy Construction LLC	$516,862.60
Amino Brothers Co. Inc.	$600,077.10

Staff Recommendation

Accept the low bid provided by R.D. Johnson Excavating for $335,561.55 to construct the Baldwin Creek Trail Project with funding coming from the Sales Tax Reserve Fund. Once completed, the anticipated funding spilt for construction of this project would end up being approximately $268,450 (80%) being funded with grant funds, and $67,111.55 (20%) being City funded. Since construction costs have not reached the $400,000 funding limit available with this grant, other project costs may be able to be applied to this grant funding source as the project approaches completion.   

Action Requested

Accept the low bid of $335,561.55 provided by R.D. Johnson Excavation for the construction of the Baldwin Creek Trail Project, with the project funding coming from the Sales Tax Reserve Fund.

Authorize the Mayor to execute the Greenspace, Pedestrian and Recreational Path Easement granted by Rebecca J. Finney, Trustee.

Authorize the Mayor to execute a Petition to be filed before the Board of Douglas County Commissioners, to vacate certain Greenspace, Pedestrian and Recreational Path Easements on tracts owned by Rebecca J. Finney, Trustee and Compton Farms, LLC.