Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Sidewalks Infrastructure topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Council gives staff consensus to include South Avenue sidewalk in DOT-funded project; cost noted at $109,000
Summary
Council members signaled consensus to include a five-foot sidewalk on the west side of the South Avenue extension despite an estimated $109,000 scope cost; staff said the project is FDOT-funded but the city could cover the sidewalk scope or pursue pending Pasco funding.
The Zephyrhills City Council on Oct. 13 gave staff a work-direction consensus to include a five-foot sidewalk on the west side of the South Avenue extension project, which will connect to Sixth Avenue and the armory.
Public Works Director Shane LeBlanc told the council the South Avenue extension project is funded through FDOT and has encountered utility conflicts and unsuitable roadbed requiring extra work. He presented two options: remove $109,000 of sidewalk work from the current contract or keep the sidewalk scope and cover the $109,000 with city sidewalk funds (or with $700,000 in pending Pasco funding). Staff warned that if the sidewalk scope is removed and added later it will likely cost more due to loss of bid economy of scale.
Council members debated expected pedestrian demand, future connectivity to Sixth Avenue and the prospect of incremental development north of the project area. Several members said that although immediate pedestrian counts may be low, the long-term connectivity and the fact that Sixth Avenue work will link to the South Avenue sidewalk argued for building it now. One council member suggested splitting the two segments (keep Sixth Avenue and remove a short South Avenue portion) as an alternative.
LeBlanc said 100 percent construction plans are ready and the project has already been bid. After discussion, council members indicated a consensus in favor of funding the sidewalk now so the city would not incur higher costs later.
Provenance Discussion and staff memo: transcript blocks 2929.395–3064.17 and consensus recorded at 3376.965–3383.3.
