Council
Communication

Office of the City Manager

 
 

Date

April 7, 2008

 

Agenda Item No.       7A

Roll Call No.              08-

Communication No.  08-191

Submitted by:  Jeb E. Brewer, P.E.

                          City Engineer

 

 

AGENDA HEADING:

 

Ordering construction of the following:  American Discovery Trail - Segment 4 - Receiving bids, (4-15-08), and Setting date of hearing, (5-5-08).  (Construction Estimate - $715,000).

 

 

SYNOPSIS:

 

Recommend the City Council proceed with construction of this improvement and set dates to receive bids and hold a public hearing, as required by Iowa Code, utilizing the method of financing as referenced below. This project provides for the construction of a 12’ wide trail from the south side of Gray’s Lake along the abandoned railroad right-of-way to S.W. 30th Street.  At S.W. 30th Street the trail changes to 10’ in width and continues northerly along the west side of S.W. 30th Street to Water Works Park.  The trail will then continue through Water Works Park to connect to the Bill Riley Trail at the bridge over the Raccoon River.  This project will provide an important connection in the City’s trail system.

 

 

FISCAL IMPACT:

 

Amount:  $715,000 City Engineer's Estimate

 

Funding Source:  2007-2008 CIP, Page Parks-22, Recreation Trails, PKS045, Being:  $143,000 in G. O. Bonds and $572,000 in Federal Surface Transportation Program (STP) Transportation Enhancement (TE) funds for 80% of eligible construction cost (Maximum $573,090)

 

 

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:

 

On June 20, 2005, under Roll Call 05-1577, the City Council approved and authorized the execution of an agreement between the City of Des Moines and the Iowa Department of Transportation (IDOT) for the Fleur Trail Connector, and a Chapter 28E agreement between the City of Des Moines and the Board of Water Works Trustees of the City of Des Moines for construction and funding of the Fleur Trail Underpass project.  Bids for this project were received by the IDOT on October 18, 2005.  On December 5, 2005, under Roll Call 05-2421, the City Council rejected all bids because the low bid of $1,032,017.20 exceeded the project budget and Des Moines Water Works was unable to obtain sufficient donations to fund the local share of the project.

 

On February 7, 2007, under Roll Call 07-178, the City Council authorized the City Manager to negotiate a Termination Agreement of the Chapter 28E Agreement between the City of Des Moines and the Board of Water Works Trustees of the City of Des Moines for the construction and funding of the Fleur Trail Underpass project.  This roll call also authorized the Mayor to submit a request to the IDOT to terminate the Fleur Trail Connector project and reallocate the project funding.

 

On June 4, 2007, the City Council approved a revised IDOT Agreement to reallocate funding from the Fleur Trail Connector Project to the American Discovery Trail – Segment 4 Project.  IDOT agreed to reallocate the project funding to a recreation trail project that accomplishes the same goal as originally envisioned.  The American Discovery Trail – Segment 4 project will connect the Meredith Trail at the southeast corner of Gray’s Lake to the Bill Riley Trail in Water Works Park.  The City has purchased the abandoned railroad right-of-way north of Thomas Beck Road and Bell Avenue for the future Southwest Connector project.  Segment 4 of the American Discovery Trail is proposed to be located on the northern edge of the abandoned railroad right-of-way and will be able to go under Fleur Drive, utilizing the existing viaduct over the railroad tracks.  The trail will extend from the existing Meredith Trail westerly to S.W. 30th Street, and then proceed northerly along S.W. 30th Street to Water Works Park.  This project would link Gray’s Lake Park and Water Works Park as originally intended. 

 

The Engineering Department has prepared plans, specifications, form of contract documents, and City Engineer’s estimate for the construction of the American Discovery Trail - Segment 4, 11-2007-015.  The improvement includes constructing a 10-foot-wide hot mix asphalt trail 6-inches thick on 4-inches of modified subbase, and also a 12-foot-wide hot mix asphalt trail 4-inches thick on 4-inches of treated recycled asphalt millings, earthwork, clearing and grubbing, and other incidental items; in accordance with the contract documents, including Plan File Nos. 486-014/081, on the American Discovery Trail Segment 4 - from the existing Bill Riley Bridge over the Raccoon River to the Meredith Trail on the southeast side of Gray's Lake, Des Moines, Iowa.

 

The estimated construction cost is $715,000.  The proposed plans, specifications, and form of contract documents are available for public inspection in the City Engineer's Office.

 

 

PREVIOUS COUNCIL ACTION(S): 

 

Date:  June 4, 2007

 

Roll Call Number:  07-1044

 

Action:  Approving the revised Iowa Department of Transportation Agreement to reallocate funding from the Fleur Trail Connector Project to the American Discovery Trail – Segment 4 Project.  (Council Communication No. 07-323)  Moved by Hensley to adopt.  Motion Carried 7-0.       

 

Date:  February 7, 2007

 

Roll Call Number:  07-178

 

Action:   Authorizing request to IDOT to terminate IDOT Agreement for Fleur Underpass Project, and reallocation of funding; and authorizing negotiations and termination of 28E Agreement with Water Works for the same project.  (Council Communication No. 07-075)  Moved by Coleman adopt, and refer to City Manager to review alternatives to this project.  Motion Carried 4-3.

 

Date:  December 5, 2005

 

Roll Call Number:  05-2927

 

Action:   Resolution to REJECT all bids on Fleur Trail Connector (deferred from November 21 meeting).  Moved by Kiernan to adopt.  Motion Carried 5-1-1.  Pass:  Coleman.  Absent:  Hensley.

 

Date:  June 20, 2005

 

Roll Call Number:  05-1577

 

Action:   Iowa Department of Transportation Agreement for Fleur Trail Connector/Underpass and Intergovernmental 28E Agreement with Des Moines Water Works.  (Council Communication No. 05‑349)  Moved by Hensley to adopt.  Motion Carried 6-1.

 

 

BOARD/COMMISSION ACTION(S): 

 

Date:  September 10, 2007

 

Roll Call Number:  N/A

 

Action:   The Des Moines Water Works Board of Trustees approved the termination of the Intergovernmental 28E Agreement between the City of Des Moines and the Des Moines Water Works for Fleur Trail Connector/Underpass. 

 

 

ANTICIPATED ACTIONS AND FUTURE COMMITMENTS:

 

Anticipated actions include public hearing, receive and file bids, designate lowest bidder, and approve contract and bond; also partial payments to the contractor and final acceptance of work.

 

 

 

 

For more information on this and other agenda items, please call the City Clerk’s Office at 515-283-4209 or visit the Clerk’s Office on the second floor of City Hall, 400 Robert D. Ray Drive.  Council agendas are available to the public at the City Clerk’s Office on Thursday afternoon preceding Monday’s Council meeting.  Citizens can also request to receive meeting notices and agendas by email by calling the Clerk’s Office or sending their request via email to cityclerk@dmgov.org.