An accident on May 8, 2010, caused extensive damage to the fence, railing and field at Dehler Park, the City-owned Minor League Baseball field.  The damage is estimated in excess of $20,000, and it needs to be repaired before an American Legion tournament the weekend of May 14, 2010.

MCA 7-5-4303 allows a City Council to meet an emergency in the way that best serves the public interest, if approved by a three-quarters vote of the Council and recorded in the Council minutes.  Further, Purchasing Procedure VII.7. Emergency Purchases waives the requirements for sealed bids for emergency purchases over $20,000, and allows the City to make the purchase in the fastest possible manner.

The Council may:

• Add an emergency purchase process for the Dehler Park repairs to the agenda by a three-quarters vote and then approve the process by a three-quarters vote so repairs can be made;
• Add the emergency purchase process for Dehler Park to the agenda by a three-quarters vote and then not approve the process by a three-quarters vote, which will mean the American Legion tournament will be moved to another site or canceled.
• Do not add the emergency purchase and allow the repairs to be bid and made on the normal schedule, which will mean the American Legion tournament will be moved to another site or canceled.

Some additional cost may be incurred by not bidding the project.

Staff recommends that the Council add the emergency purchase resolution to the agenda by a three-quarters vote and approve it by a three-quarters vote.