Council
Communication

Office of the City Manager

 
NewCityLogo-August2008 

Date

May 4, 2009

 

Agenda Item No.       6A

Roll Call No.              09-

Communication No.  09-287

Submitted by:  Jeb E. Brewer, P.E.

                         City Engineer

 

 

AGENDA HEADING:

 

Ordering construction of the following:  Cownie Soccer Fields Improvements - Phase 3 - Receiving bids, (5-19-09), and Setting date of hearing, (6-8-09).  (Construction Estimate - $758,500).

 

 

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.  The improvement includes repair of flood damage and upgrading five soccer fields, including: grading, subdrain installation, drainage improvements, sodding, irrigation and restoration.  These proposed improvements will complete the flood repair work and upgrading of all the fields.

 

 

FISCAL IMPACT:

 

Amount:  $758,500, City Engineer's Estimate

 

Funding Source:  2009-2010 CIP, Page Park-25, Soccer Complex, PKS159, G. O. Bonds.

 

 

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:

 

The Parks and Recreation Department has placed a high priority on maintenance and improvements at the Cownie Soccer Complex.  The Engineering Department has designed a subdrainage system that would allow the playing fields to recover more quickly from wet conditions, minimizing delays during tournaments.  Cancellations of tournaments due to wet fields and turf reestablishment have been a growing concern with Parks staff.  For the first time since the complex was opened in 1998, this concern became a reality when a spring 2008 tournament was canceled.  Now that the soccer complex is over 10 years old, other issues also need to be evaluated, including the hydraulic irrigation system, cross-slope of fields and settling of playing surface.  With the extensive damage to the turf from the 2008 floods, staff recommended upgrading the soccer fields to today’s standards, including: upgrading the irrigation controls with a low-voltage system, grading the playing fields to lessen the cross-slope and installation of a new subdrainage system prior to the restoration of the sod. 

 

On September 8, 2008, under Roll Call 08-1618, the City Council awarded a contract for these upgrades on fields 1-5.  The Parks Department also reseeded fields 9-12 in fall 2008 for use next spring during tournaments, as those fields sustained the least amount of flood damage to the turf.  Spring tournaments can typically be hosted on eight fields.  On March 23, 2009, under Roll Call 09-498, the City Council awarded a contract for these upgrades on fields 6 and 7. 

 

Fields 8-12 are included in this proposed contract.  Work will include grading, subdrain installation, drainage improvements, sodding, irrigation and restoration, and will be similar to the recent upgrades

 

on fields 1-7.  These proposed improvements on the five soccer fields will complete the flood repair work and upgrading of all the fields.

 

In 2009, the Iowa Soccer Association, in conjunction with the City of Des Moines, Greater Des Moines Convention and Visitors Bureau and West Des Moines Soccer Club, will bid to host the 2011 U.S. Youth Soccer Regional Championships.  This event, which has been hosted previously by Des Moines in 2003 and 2007, draws over 212 teams, 15,000 players and fans from 14 states.  It provides an estimated $7 million of financial impact to the Greater Des Moines economy.

 

The Engineering Department has prepared plans, specifications, form of contract documents and the City Engineer’s estimate for the construction of the Cownie Soccer Fields Improvements - Phase 3, 11-2009-010.  The improvement includes earthwork, sodding, subdrain installation, drainage improvements and restoration; all in accordance with the contract documents, including Plan File Nos. 504-001/008 at the Cownie Soccer Complex, 2200 E. Hartford Avenue, Des Moines, Iowa.

 

The estimated construction cost is $758,500.  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 23, 2009

 

Roll Call Number:  09-497

Action:  On Cownie Soccer Fields Improvements – Phase 2:  Resolution approving plans, specifications, form of contract documents, Engineer’s Estimate and designating lowest responsible

bidder as Elder Corporation, (Jared Elder, President), $391,999.99.  (Council Communication No.  09-177

)  Moved by Coleman to adopt.  Motion Carried 5-2.

 

Date:  March 23, 2009

 

Roll Call Number:  09-498

Action:  Approving contract and bond and permission to sublet.  Moved by Coleman to adopt.  Motion Carried 5-2.

 

Date:  September 8, 2008

 

Roll Call Number:  08-1617

 

Action:  On Cownie Soccer Fields Improvements – Phase 1:  Resolution approving plans, specifications, form of contract documents, Engineer’s Estimate and designating lowest responsible

bidder as Smith Seeding, Inc., (John E. Smith, President), $684,930.  (Council Communication No. 08-555)  Moved by Meyer to adopt.  Motion Carried 6-1.  Absent: Coleman.

 

Date:  September 8, 2008

 

Roll Call Number:  08-1618

 

Action:  Approving contract and bond and permission to sublet.  Moved by Meyer to adopt.  Motion Carried 6-1.  Absent:  Coleman.

 

 

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.