Title
RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING A CONTRACT WITH RACHEL CONTRACTING INC. FOR LINCOLN PARK SITE IMPROVEMENTS FOR AN AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED $2,695,841.00.
Body
CITY PROPOSAL:
RESOLVED, that the proper city officials are authorized to contract with Rachel Contracting Inc. for the Lincoln Park site improvements for a total amount not to exceed $2,695,841.00, payable from fund 452-030-5530-HANDHTAX-1510 (tourism and recreational projects, finance, improvements other than buildings, half and half tax projects, Lincoln Park).
Statement of Purpose
STATEMENT OF PURPOSE: This resolution authorizes a contract with Rachel Contracting Inc. for Lincoln Park site improvements for an amount not to exceed $2,695,841. The contracted work encompasses much, but not all, of a broader project to comprehensively restore the heavily used lower portion of Lincoln Park so as to increase accessibility, renew or replace deteriorated infrastructure, foster increased park use and enjoyment, and better protect the impaired cold-water trout stream at the center of the park.
The planned improvements are consistent with the Lincoln Park Mini-Master Plan approved by City Council Resolution 16-0125R, an inter-agency Memorandum of Agreement approved by City Council Resolution 22-0490R, and ten separate Council-approved resolutions authorizing acceptance of various state, federal, and private grants for the project.
When complete, the restored lower portion of the park will include a new ballfield and sport-court, comprehensive renewal and improvement of bike/pedestrian infrastructure including pathways and lighting, a new destination playground and nature-based playground, appropriate restoration of historic park elements such as the event pavilion, improved stormwater retention and treatment using green infrastructure concepts, new parking areas, installation of wayfinding and interpretive signage, and resurfacing of the road.
Pursuant to the larger park restoration project, the contract with Rachel Contracting specifically covers site excavation, bituminous and concrete work, retaining wall, fencing, lighting and electrical, a timber pedestrian bridge, three parking lot areas with traffic signage, curb and gutter, a turfed play field, green stormwater management infrastructure and landscape restoration.
Rachel Contracting’s work also includes site grading and drain tile connections for a new playground area that will be installed by a separate company.
The broader park restoration project of which this is contract is a part is anticipated to cost roughly $4.1 million to be funded from the following major sources:
• A $750,000 National Park Service Outdoor Recreation Legacy Partnership grant program secured in close partnership with Minnesota DNR.
• A $42,501 federal CDBG grant for accessibility improvements.
• A $300,000 State of Minnesota Clean Water Fund grant to improve water quality in Miller Creek.
• $186,000 of private contributions from US Bank, the Minnesota Power Foundation, Essentia Health, Maurices, the Minnesota Community Foundation, and St Luke’s.
• $1 million of the $2 million of ARPA-associated funds that City Council put aside in 2021 to improve outdoor spaces that serve low-income Duluth neighborhoods. As much as possible of the remaining $1 million in ARPA-associated funds will be prioritized for parks serving the Hillside neighborhood.
• $300,000 from the City of Duluth Sustainability Fund to support those portions of the project that advance the aims of the City’s Climate Action Plan.
• $810,000 from a portion of the proceeds of a one-half of one percent increment in Duluth’s tourism taxes that, per state law, may only be used for improvements to outdoor recreation facilities in western Duluth.
• $537,500 from the Park Fund capital budget.
• $57,000 from the City of Duluth Street Fund to contribute to the cost of resurfacing the city street that runs through the park.
Purchasing issued an Invitation to Bid on July 8th, 2022 and received four bids as listed below. Rachel Contracting LLC submitted the lowest responsive bid.
Contractor Bid
Rachel Contracting, LLC. $2,597,571.00
Veit & Company, Inc. $3,383,000.00
Northland Constructors of Duluth, Inc. $3,394,500.00
KTM Paving $3,010,500.00