Council Communication Office of the City Manager	Date	June 9, 2008
	Agenda Item No. 6B Roll Call No. 08- Communication No. 08-348 Submitted by: Jeb E. Brewer, P.E. City Engineer

AGENDA HEADING:

Ordering construction of the following: Fleur Drive Planters at Gray's Lake Park - Receiving bids, (6-17-08), and Setting date of hearing, (7-14-08). (Construction Estimate - $317,776).

SYNOPSIS:

Recommend the City Council proceed with construction of the improvement and set dates to receive bids and hold a public hearing, as required by Iowa Code, utilizing the method of financing referenced below. This project provides for the construction of a planter in the median of Fleur Drive consistent with the other planters constructed along Fleur Drive. The project will complete the Fleur Drive Scenic Beautification project.

FISCAL IMPACT:

Amount: $317,776 City Engineer's Estimate

Funding Source: 2008-2009 CIP, Page Parks-10, Fleur Drive Planters, PKS170, Being: $254,220.80 in FHWA Surface Transportation (STP) Funds (80% of the total cost of eligible construction items not to exceed $300,000) and $63,555.20 in G. O. Bonds

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:

In 2003, Des Moines Water Works (DMWW) and Ruan Companies, (John Ruan III, Chairman and CEO, 3200 Ruan Center, 666 Grand Avenue, Des Moines, Iowa, 50309) began reconstructing medians along Fleur Drive with planter beds designed by Douglas Hoerr Landscape Architecture (Douglas Hoerr, President, 850 W Jackson, Ste 800, Chicago, IL 60607). Since that time all but one median between Army Post Road and the Martin Luther King intersection have been reconstructed. The final planter beds are to be located in the median between George Flagg Parkway and the north entrance to Gray’s Lake Park.

The Iowa Department of Transportation (IDOT) through the Des Moines Area Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) has allocated $300,000 of matching federal funds for these planters. These federal funds can only be expended on a project meeting the IDOT federal funds process. DMWW has asked the City of Des Moines to administer this final project given the City’s experience with the IDOT process. In order to follow IDOT procedures, the existing project documents must be written in standard format and content for IDOT project plans and specifications. The City of Des Moines has hired a consultant, Calhoun-Burns & Associates, Inc., (Michael A. VanderWert, President, 1801 Fuller Road, P.O. Box 65859, West Des Moines, Iowa 50265), to put together the project plans and specifications based on their past working experience with the City of Des Moines, Des Moines Water Works and IDOT on a similar project in the corridor. This experience has made Calhoun-Burns uniquely able to satisfy the requirements of all three entities.

The Engineering Department has prepared plans, specifications, form of contract documents, and City Engineer’s estimate for the construction of the Fleur Drive Planters at Gray's Lake Park, 04-2008-003. The planter design is consistent with the other planters that have been constructed along Fleur Drive. The improvement includes construction of median planters in the existing median which consist of cast-in-place or precast curbs and precast piers, colored concrete edging, sod, and other incidental items; in accordance with the contract documents, including Plans File Nos. 490-102/115, on Fleur Drive from George Flagg Parkway to the north entrance to Gray's Lake Park, Des Moines, Iowa.

The estimated construction cost is $317,776. 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: March 10, 2008

Roll Call Number: 08-367

Action: Approving execution of Iowa Department of Transportation (IDOT) Agreement for Fleur Drive planters at Gray’s Lake Park. (Council Communication No. 08-114) Moved by Hensley to adopt. Motion Carried 7-0.

Date: November 5, 2007

Roll Call Number: 07-2113

Action: Approving Professional Services Agreement with Calhoun-Burns & Associates for design of the Fleur Drive Planters, not to exceed $38,051.20. (Council Communication No. 07-660) Moved by Kiernan to adopt. Motion Carried 7-0.

BOARD/COMMISSION ACTION(S): NONE

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.