HomeMy WebLinkAboutAcceleration of the Scheduled 2009 Water Main Replacement1
Commission Memorandum
REPORT TO: Honorable Mayor and City Commission
FROM: Bob Murray, P.E., Project Staff Engineer
Debbie Arkell, Director of Public Services
Chris Kukulski, City Manager
SUBJECT: Acceleration of the Scheduled 2009 Water Main Replacement in North
Willson Avenue from Main Street to Lamme Street in an Effort to Reduce the Impact on
Businesses and Citizens
MEETING DATE: August 17, 2009
AGENDA ITEM TYPE: Action
RECOMMENDATION: Consider a motion directing Staff to accelerate the scheduled water
main replacement in North Willson Avenue from Main Street to Lamme Street, and to process a
change order with Edstrom Construction, Inc. that stipulates the work is these two blocks will be
completed in a total of not more than seven (7) working days, at an increase in price not to
exceed $14,550.00, with the schedule to be established by the City Manager.
BACKGROUND: In light of the impact that various construction, utility, and emergency
work occurring in the downtown area in the past several years has had on downtown businesses,
in late spring the City Commission directed staff to avoid projects that would negatively impact
the downtown area. The 2009 Water Main Renovation project had been planned in the fall of
2008, and the design was put together in the winter/spring of 2009. This project includes water
main replacement in:
· Willson Avenue, from Main Street to Lamme Street
· Lamme Street from Grand Avenue to Fifth Avenue
· North 5th Avenue from Main Street to Lamme Street
· North 10th Avenue from Main Street to Lamme Street
· North 9th Avenue from Main Street to Lamme Street
· North 8th Avenue from Lamme Street to Beall Street
· Lamme Street from North 10th Avenue to North 8th Avenue
The subject water main in North Willson Avenue is a 4” cast iron water main that was installed
in 1917. This pipe is brittle and much of the volume is currently being taken up with
“Tuburculation” (i.e. mineral deposits). The new 8” main will provide more than double the
volume of water than is currently provided, which will mean superior water volumes for fire
protection. By making the replacement in a controlled fashion, we are able to provide businesses
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and residents with temporary water. In an emergency repair, these businesses and residents
would be without water. Sidewalks on North Willson Avenue will remain open for pedestrians
and access to properties. Main Street will not be closed due to this project.
Staff mis-interpreted the Commission’s direction to mean no construction on Main Street, and
because none of the 2009 Water Renovation work will require the closure of Main Street, staff
proceeded with the project. The project was put out to bid on April 26, 2009 and the contract
was awarded by the Commission on June 1, 2009.
At the Commission’s July 6, 2009 meeting, Staff provided the Commission with a copy of the
Notice to Property Owners that explained the project and listed the streets that would be
impacted by the work. The Commission then very clearly advised staff that their direction to
avoid construction work in the downtown area included more than just Main Street.
As a result, we worked with the businesses along Willson Avenue to find a schedule that would
likely have the least impact on them this year or next year. City Manager Kukulski spoke with
or left messages with the owners and or managers from Alara, Chalet Sports, The Canary, The
Yarn Shop, Ted’s Montana Grill, Earth’s Treasures, Rocky Mountain Pharmacy, and O’Reilly’s
Auto Parts. What was learned is that with the exception of home MSU football weekends, late
September and early October is slow for business. The time period between September 21 and
October 8 was the best time for most businesses, as there are no home MSU football games
during this period.
Staff then contacted the contractor to discuss the feasibility of completing the work in a
condensed time period, and was advised that the contractor could run a double shift. The
contractor indicated this acceleration would allow this two block section to be completed in
approximately seven days, and would cost an additional $14,550.00.
City Manager Kukulski then re-contacted as many business owners and/or managers that he
could reach to advise them the contractor committed to getting the project done in seven days
and that the City would be paying approximately $14,000 extra to expedite the work. Each
contact was told the project could easily be postponed until next fall, that he would share what he
learned from them with the Commission, and that the Commission would ultimately make the
decision whether to have the Willson water main replaced this year or to remove it from the
project. All but one of the businesses he spoke with supported getting the new water main
installed under these parameters. The Yarn Shop asked that the project be held off another year.
He was only able to leave messages at Earth’s Treasurers and the Rocky Mountain Pharmacy.
MSU has a home stretch that begins with Homecoming on October 10. If the contractor begins
work on the North Willson Avenue section the week of Sept 21, this should provide ample time
to accommodate minor weather and construction delays and complete this work prior to
Homecoming weekend.
FISCAL EFFECTS: The FY09 budget provides $1,000,000.00 for this project. The contract
price is $711,735.00 which is a cost savings of $288,265.00. The additional $14,550.00 to
accelerate the North Willson Avenue water main replacement will leave a balance of
$273,715.00 in the project fund.
ALTERNATIVES: As suggested by the City Commission.
Report compiled on: August 12, 2009
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