Title
Authorization of a Task Assignment under a Professional Architectural and Engineering Consulting Services Continuing Services Agreement (B)
This item is a request for the City Commission to approve a Task Assignment in the amount of $116,738 for professional design services for the Wild Spaces & Public Places (WSPP) Multiuse Trail and the Gainesville Regional Utilities (GRU) Solids Handling Facility Access Roadway (SE Williston Road to Sweetwater Branch Creek) with Jones, Edmunds & Associates, Inc.
Explanation
In 2012, the City Commission approved the Parks, Recreational and Cultural Affairs Vision 2020 Master Plan. This plan brought to light the need for additional multiuse trails and better connectivity between parks. In April of 2017 the City entered into a $3,000,000 interlocal agreement with the County for projects of mutual interest to the County and the City. The Sweetwater Recreational Trail is the first priority project under this agreement. WSPP Staff worked with the DRMP, Inc. design team in 2019 to develop a schematic layout of the entire trail project to better identify the constraints, design challenges, and gather stakeholder input.
The schematic trail layout showed the multiuse trail running parallel to an existing GRU dirt access road. The GRU dirt access road is currently used by GRU to access their transmission lines and sanitary sewer infrastructure. It will be used in the future to access a GRU Water/Wastewater Solids Handling Facility, which will be constructed on the old Compost Plant property.
The grading, stormwater design, and permitting required for the GRU access road improvements and the construction of the multiuse trail are tightly intertwined; therefore GRU and WSPP agreed that it would be in the best interest of the City for Jones, Edmunds & Associates, Inc. to design the multiuse trail in conjunction with the GRU access road improvements from SE Williston Road to Sweetwater Branch Creek.
The GRU access road begins at a driveway off SE Williston Road at GRU’s Lift Station No. 40 and continues approximately 1,600 feet northwest through a GRU utility easement. The existing dirt access road is not currently suitable for the vehicle traffic and loading expected to enter the proposed GRU Solids Handling Facility and therefore requires improvement and stabilization. Work performed under this Task Assignment will include developing Contract Documents and preparing Permit Applications for the WSPP Multiuse Trail and the improved GRU Solids Handling Facility Access Roadway as described in the Scope of Services. GRU and WSPP have a MOU in place formalizing the joint project and the cost sharing partnership.
Jones, Edmunds & Associates, Inc. is an approved vendor under the Professional Architectural and Engineering Consulting Services continuing services agreements to help facilitate City projects. They have experience facilitating similar projects.
Strategic Connection: This item is connected to Goal 3: A Great Place to Live and Experience in the City's Strategic Plan and is a high priority.
Fiscal Note
Funds in the amount of $116,738 are available for professional design services for the WSPP Multiuse Trail and the improved GRU Solids Handling Facility Access Roadway: $71,894.53 from the Sweetwater Recreational Trail WSPP ½ cent sales tax project account and $44,843.47 from the GRU W/WW Capital Improvement account. GRU agrees to transfer funds to WSPP in the amount of $44,843.47 upon City Commission approval of the task assignment with Jones, Edmunds & Associates, Inc.
Recommendation
The City Commission: 1) authorize the City Manager or designee to execute all contract documents and other necessary documents, subject to approval by the City Attorney as to form and legality.