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Council rejects sidewalk bids, removes Deats Elkhorn project from CIP
Summary
Council rejected all bids for the Deats Elkhorn Road sidewalk project and voted to remove the project from the roadway CIP after members questioned need, connectivity, and outstanding developer donations.
The Fair Oaks Ranch City Council on Thursday voted to reject all bids for the planned Deats Elkhorn Road sidewalk improvement project and remove the project from the city’s roadway capital-improvement program (CIP).
City staff had presented the project as a roughly 1,300-linear-foot sidewalk on the north side of Deats Elkhorn between the Vantage Apartments and the Elkhorn Ridge Square Gate intersection. Procurement Manager Clayton Holcher told council the city budgeted funds for the project and that the low bid, received Feb. 5, came from Bueno Pro Services LLC at $264,298.71; adding a 5% contingency produced a project total of $277,513.65. Holcher also reported developer donations to partially offset cost, including $42,000 that had already been accepted by resolution; additional pledged donations totaling about $20,000 were still pending.
Several council members raised concerns about whether the sidewalk would serve its original purpose after recent school-district redistricting, which moved the Vantage Apartments out of Van Raab Elementary’s attendance zone. Council members also questioned pedestrian counts, connectivity (portions of the route abut mixed-use lots and some land outside city limits), and whether building a short segment would create a “sidewalk to nowhere.” Some members suggested saving the funds for a broader multimodal plan.
After extended discussion and questions about donated funds — staff indicated portions of the $42,000 were allocated to tree mitigation and the remainder might need to be returned if the project is cancelled — Council member Laura Kerner moved to reject all bids and remove the project from the roadway CIP. The motion carried by voice vote.
With the motion approved, staff will return any restricted developer funds consistent with the donation resolution if the city elects not to proceed. Council members thanked staff for the analysis and said the door remained open to revisit a sidewalk project as part of a future, more comprehensive multimodal plan.
