City of Lawrence

Utilities Department 

MEMORANDUM

 

TO:              David Corliss, ACM, Administrative Services;

                        Debbie Van Saun, ACM, Community Development Services

 

FROM:         Chris Stewart

 

CC:                        Roger Coffey, Michael Tubbs, Bob Skinner

 

DATE:           September 7, 2005

 

RE:                  2006  Downtown Waterline Improvements

 

Please include the following item on the consent agenda for the September 13, 2005 City Commission meeting.

 

2006 Downtown Water line Improvements - Engineer Services:

Project Description:   The  project includes the second phase of waterline improvements along  Massachusetts, 7th to 9th Street  and 9th Street, Kentucky to Vermont .  In addition to the waterline work, the Public Works and Park and Recreation Departments have included electrical, street crosswalks, handicap ramps and irrigation improvements. The project will include a mill and overlay of phase I (2005) and Phase II   waterline improvements. 

 

Project History:  The Utilities Department received engineering proposals in July 2004 to complete the preliminary design for Downtown Waterline improvements and subsequently retained BG Consultants for the preliminary and final design work. The  preliminary design report (http://www.lawrenceutilities.org/downtown.shtml) describes the  waterline improvements.  The final report recommended a three phase construction schedule that included the following work:  The first phase completed in 2005 included work along 6th StreetTennessee to Massachusetts  and Massachusetts street,   6th to  7th street and 7th street, Massachusetts to New Hampshire.  The second phase as described above will include waterline work on both the east and west side of Massachusetts with associated improvements to the electrical, irrigation and crosswalks. The third phase of waterline improvements in 2007 will include Massachusetts from 9th to North Park.

 

Project Status:     BG Consultants submitted a contract proposal to complete the final design for Phase II and department staff reviewed the Scope of Work and associated design fee.  A meeting was held with representatives of the respective City Departments and the City Managers office to review the work scope and discuss any concerns.

Project  Details:   A previous presentation to the City Commission for Phase I improvements  provided an overview of the project and some of the specific details of the work.  Phase II will include similar discussions and procedures to complete the work and ensure the downtown business owners understand the project and have input on project concerns.  Work tasks by the engineer and City staff will include presentations to the City Commission,  business owners and neighborhood associations concerning traffic / pedestrian control; schedule for completion; liquidated damage clauses; working days; routing and location of the waterlines and general overview of the project.

 

Project Funding:    Funding for this project will come from the non-bonded construction fund for 2006 waterline improvements.  This fund provides approximately $1,000,000 per year for improvements for replacement of aging waterlines in the Distribution system.

 

Action Request.  Utility Department staff requests approval from the City Commission to authorize the City Manager to enter into an engineering contract for the final design of the 2006 Phase II Downtown Waterline Improvements in the amount of $115,936.21.