Consent 1.C.
Regular City Council Meeting
- Meeting Date:
- 05/26/2020
- TITLE
- Consulting Agreement with Sanderson Stewart - 5th Ave N Corridor Feasibility Study
- PRESENTED BY:
- Scott Walker
- Department:
- Planning & Community Services
Presentation:
No
PROBLEM/ISSUE STATEMENT
The City Council is being asked to approve a contract with Sanderson Stewart to develop a 5th Avenue North Corridor Feasibility Study. The study was approved by the City Council and ultimately the Policy Coordinating Committee last fall as part of the 2020 Unified Planning Work Program (UPWP) for the Billings Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO).
The study will analyze opportunities to develop transportation connections to, from, and within the corridor for non-traditional motorized and non-motorized facilities and identify connectivity opportunities to the existing transportation system in the area. This project is located in downtown Billings along the 5th Avenue North Corridor between North 32nd Street and Main Street (approximately 2 miles), including the railroad spur at North 23rd extending southeast to Montana Avenue. Through a competitive RFP and selection process conducted in March 2020, five proposals were returned, one from Sanderson Stewart (Billings) for $97,000; KLJ (Billings) for $100,000; Burton Planning Services (Westerville, OH) for $90,784; Orion Planning + Design (Missoula) for $100,000; and Alta Planning + Design (Salt Lake City, UT) for $94,000 . Based on the Scope of Work advertised in the RFP, Sanderson Stewart was recommended by the selection committee to complete the 5th Avenue North Corridor Feasibility Study.
The full scope of work proposed by the Consultant is outlined in Exhibit A of the contract (Attachment 1). The contract requires the Scope of Work and Document package to be completed in draft form within 10-months of contract signing with a not to exceed amount of $97,000. This project is identified in the 2020 Billings UPWP. The UPWP is developed each year and identifies tasks to be completed through the use of Federal Planning dollars allocated to the MPO.
The study will analyze opportunities to develop transportation connections to, from, and within the corridor for non-traditional motorized and non-motorized facilities and identify connectivity opportunities to the existing transportation system in the area. This project is located in downtown Billings along the 5th Avenue North Corridor between North 32nd Street and Main Street (approximately 2 miles), including the railroad spur at North 23rd extending southeast to Montana Avenue. Through a competitive RFP and selection process conducted in March 2020, five proposals were returned, one from Sanderson Stewart (Billings) for $97,000; KLJ (Billings) for $100,000; Burton Planning Services (Westerville, OH) for $90,784; Orion Planning + Design (Missoula) for $100,000; and Alta Planning + Design (Salt Lake City, UT) for $94,000 . Based on the Scope of Work advertised in the RFP, Sanderson Stewart was recommended by the selection committee to complete the 5th Avenue North Corridor Feasibility Study.
The full scope of work proposed by the Consultant is outlined in Exhibit A of the contract (Attachment 1). The contract requires the Scope of Work and Document package to be completed in draft form within 10-months of contract signing with a not to exceed amount of $97,000. This project is identified in the 2020 Billings UPWP. The UPWP is developed each year and identifies tasks to be completed through the use of Federal Planning dollars allocated to the MPO.
ALTERNATIVES ANALYZED
The City Council may:
- Approve the consultant contract as proposed; or
- Not approve the consultant contract. Not approving the agreement means the City Council is not approving completion of a funded project in the 2020 UPWP that was approved by the Policy Coordinating Committee in September 2019; or
- Direct staff to negotiate specific changes with Sanderson Stewart and return a revised contract for approval.
- Approve the consultant contract as proposed; or
- Not approve the consultant contract. Not approving the agreement means the City Council is not approving completion of a funded project in the 2020 UPWP that was approved by the Policy Coordinating Committee in September 2019; or
- Direct staff to negotiate specific changes with Sanderson Stewart and return a revised contract for approval.
FINANCIAL IMPACT
The cost of the 5th Avenue Corridor Feasibility Study under the contract is in an amount not to exceed $97,000. The costs are detailed in Exhibit B of the consultant contract. The majority of the source of funding is through the Billings Urban Area Metropolitan Planning Organization's Federal PL (planning) funds. PL funds for this project require a 40% local match, which is planned for and provided through the Planning Division's FY20 and FY21 Budget utilizing its County-Wide Planning Mill Levy revenues.
RECOMMENDATION
Staff recommends the City Council approve the Consultant Agreement with Sanderson Stewart to complete the 5th Avenue North Corridor Feasibility Study.