Council approves multi-contractor sidewalk and ADA ramp contracts with $965,000 cap after public questions

The Davenport City Council on March 26 adopted a resolution awarding one-year contracts (with a one-year extension option) for the 2025 sidewalk and Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) ramp program to three contractors and authorized the director of Engineering and Capital Projects to increase contract funding based on performance and need, not to exceed a cumulative total of $965,000.

The awards specified initial contract ceilings of $200,000 to Leverage Services LLC (Bettendorf, Iowa), $200,000 to Feldman Concrete (Dyersville, Iowa), and $300,000 to Kelly Construction (Davenport, Iowa). Clay Merritt, Engineering and Capital Projects, told the council the contracts are “time and materials. This is line item based.” He said the city is using multiple-award, quantity-based contracts—an approach the department has used successfully on the city’s lateral repair and contract sewer repair programs—to allow several contractors to work concurrently within an approved budget.

Several members of the public raised questions before the vote. William Bamford said the resolution left too much uncertainty and asked, “Let’s give a dollar amount,” questioning why the document used initial ceiling amounts rather than fixed bid totals and expressing concern over accountability and past ADA compliance issues at specific locations.

Mike Bickel, operations director for Leverage Services, spoke in favor of the multiple-award approach and said his company employs roughly 23 people, with more than half living in Davenport. “We buy all our material in Davenport, all our concrete, all our tools, everything is bought locally,” he told the council, and urged that local firms be allowed to compete.

Merritt said the $965,000 figure represents the total program cap that combines the three contracts and any additional awards; he said the city would not exceed that cap without returning to the council. Alderwoman McGuire asked for clarification on the difference between the initial combined total ($700,000) and the $965,000 cap; Merritt explained the higher figure covers additional allocations up to the overall program limit if contractors perform successfully and budgeted funds remain available.

Council approved the resolution by roll call, with nine affirmative votes and no opposition. The resolution requires Engineering and Capital Projects staff to manage allocations within the stated cap and report to council if the combined total would be exceeded.

Votes at this meeting recorded the award of the contracts under the program budget and the authorization for staff to allocate funding not to exceed the cumulative $965,000 total.