Commission split on Arroyo Colorado trail phase 3 plan; proposal to advance top-ranked firm fails

The City Commission declined to authorize staff to negotiate an agreement with the top-ranked firm to perform environmental permitting and planning work for Phase 3 of the Arroyo Colorado hike-and-bike trail extension.

Parks and Recreation Director Javier Mendez presented the evaluation committee’s ranking after an RFQ process; Hansen Professional Services ranked highest. Mendez said the RFQ follows a prior procurement that needed revision after state review.

At least one commissioner strongly objected, saying the proposed alignment would require acquiring land from multiple private property owners and could result in eminent-domain actions. That commissioner and other speakers noted significant neighborhood opposition; one commissioner said bluntly, "no. Hell no," expressing repeated opposition to pursuing the project as currently conceived. Mendez and staff clarified that the current contract would fund planning and feasibility (not construction) and that any construction would require later steps and a matching grant requiring a 25 percent local match.

A motion to authorize negotiations passed initial procedural steps but failed on a subsequent voice vote after several commissioners voted against moving forward. City staff said the ranking and evaluation documentation would remain on file should the commission revisit the project.

The decision halts immediate work to secure environmental permitting and planning for the McKelvey-to-Hugh Ramsey extension; staff noted the grant is a matching grant with a 25 percent local match if the project proceeds to construction.