Consider Tinklenberg Group Proposal for Professional Services Contract Extension

Purpose:
Consider a proposal from the Tinklenberg Group for an extension to an existing professional services contract.  The purpose of this contract is to advance and promote the construction of improvements within the Trunk Highway 10 corridor within the City, and to minimize local contributions.

Background:
The current original contract with the Tinklenberg Group was signed in February 2013.  Since then, the City has approved several contract extensions by amendment.  The proposal before the Council is Amendment #5, to extend the  contract work as defined, to November 7, 2014.

The $35M Armstrong Project has been awarded several grant awards, including a $10M federal (TIGER) grant, a $10M state (CIMS) grant, and an $8M bonding allocation from the state.  In addition, the project is being considered for a $10.2M award from the Counties Transit Investment Board (CTIB), which would fully fund the project, and perhaps reduce the local share.  Also, BNSF Railroad contributions and MNDOT in-kind services will be part of the project.

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Attached to this case is the original contract with the Tinklenberg Group; and, the proposed contract extension (Amendment #5).  The attached contract extension includes four major objectives; which are summarized below:
1.  Work with county, regional, state and federal officials to maintain all funding commitments currently in place for the Armstrong Interchange project at their present levels. 
2.  Assist in assuring that the Armstrong Interchange project is positioned and defined in such a way as to effectively and responsibly utilize all of the funding resources currently designated for its construction for the benefit of the TH 10 corridor with in the City. 
3.  Help coordinate the planned Armstrong Interchange ground breaking event with the goals of effectively communicating the success of the broad partnership that supported it’s funding, building awareness of and confidence in the public sector’s commitment to future TH 10 improvements necessary to support economic development, and presenting a clear plan for additional improvements in the corridor that will capitalize on and sustain the momentum created by the Armstrong Interchange success. 
4.  Work with federal and state representatives to identify and prepare for opportunities to fund the next generation of city identified transportation improvements in the TH 10 corridor.

Public Improvement Revolving Fund.

Staff recommends approval of the proposed contract extension with the Tinklenberg Group (Amendment #5).  The Tinklenberg Group has played an instrumental role in this process thus far; and has provided exceptional service to-date.

The alternative direction the Council may take is NOT to approve the proposed contract.  Staff would not advise this alternative, as it would  increase the risk of dollars being reallocated to other projects, thereby increasing (or not reducing) the City's share.

Motion to approve an extension of  the original agreement the The Tinklenberg Group  through November 7, 2014, at a total cost of $6,700, in accordance with the attached proposal dated September 2014.