The playground equipment at Optimist Park has reached the end of its useful life and needs to be replaced.  Since Optimist Park is in the South Billings Boulevard Urban Renewal District, the South Billings Urban Renewal Association (SBURA) has proposed funding for improvements to Optimist Park that will implement the recently adopted Optimist Park Master Plan.  The Optimist Park playground equipment replacement is the next element of this strategy.  Staff intends to use the State of Montana Cooperative Purchasing Program to purchase this equipment.  The Cooperative Purchasing Program obtains bids and allows municipalities to purchase items directly from approved vendors in lieu of the traditional bidding process. 

Staff solicited designs from 3 playground manufacturers that are members of cooperative purchasing organizations recognized by the State of Montana.  With a play equipment budget of $185,000 each manufacturer was tasked with submitting a maximum of 2 designs that met the design criteria, were ADA accessible and included play features that enable children to play together no matter their abilities or disabilities.  Designs were reviewed for initial evaluation and compliance to criteria.  On May 1st staff met with the SBURA Board and presented 2 proposals  for the 2 to 5 year old play area and 2 proposals for the 5 to 12 year old play area.  After a detailed discussion, the SBURA Board voted to recommend to Council, play equipment for the 2 to 5 year old play area provided by Gametime and play equipment for the 5 to 12 play area provided by Landscape Structures Inc. (See Attachment).  The Gametime equipment will cost $29,089.18 and the Landscape Structures Inc. equipment will cost $140,025.00 for a total cost of $169,114.18. The installation and fall protection elements of this project will be part of subsequent SBURA recommendation for funding. Given the lead time for this type of equipment, SBURA recommended moving forward with the purchase to ensure completion in this construction season. The Parks and Recreation Staff will remove the existing play equipment, prepare the site for the installation of new equipment and install the fall protection, saving approximately $40,000.   These vendors are manufacturers of play equipment nationally and internationally and meet all industry and federal standards.   Staff is seeking Council approval of the funding recommendation from SBURA and to purchase the Gametime and LSI equipment.

     
       

City Council may:

• Approve purchasing the Gametime playground equipment for $29,089.18 and the Landscape Structures, Inc. playground equipment for $140,025.00.00 utilizing South Billings TIF funds, or;
• Disapprove the purchase and SBBURD TIF funding source, and provide guidance to staff.

Funding for this project will be provided through the South Billings Blvd. Urban Renewal District. The recommendation to City Council for funding the purchase of the equipment was approved at the May 1st South Billings Urban Renewal Association board meeting.  There are sufficient cash reserves in this account to purchase the equipment. A future budget amendment will be needed as part of the 4Q FY18 budget amendment process.

Staff recommends that the City Council approve the recommendation from the SBURA to use SBBURD TIF Funds to purchase Optimist Park playground equipment and to instruct PRPL staff to purchase equipment from Gametime in the amount of $29,089.18 and from Landscape Structures, Inc. for $140,025.00, for a total purchase of $169,114.18.