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Council approves design contract for West Loveland streetscape, seeks grant funding
Summary
Loveland City Council authorized Choice 1 Engineering to design phase 1a/1b of the West Loveland Avenue Streetscape Improvement Project and voted to pursue multiple grants while coordinating with the Metropolitan Sewer District on sewer work.
City Manager David Kennedy told Loveland City Council the city will advance engineering for the West Loveland Avenue Streetscape Improvement Project and seek grant funding to pay for construction. Council voted to authorize a professional design, bidding and construction supervision agreement with Choice 1 Engineering for phases 1a and 1b.
The work covered in the contract includes sidewalks, curbs, storm-drain upgrades, sanitary sewer coordination and new street lighting along West Loveland Avenue, Kennedy said. He told council the city has applied to several funding sources — the Ohio Public Works Commission, the Appalachian Regional Commission and a congressional appropriation — and that having design work under way increases the city's readiness score on grant applications.
"This particular phase, we want to get moving on now ... because this is the one phase the Metropolitan Sewer District will be participating in," City Manager David Kennedy said, explaining MSD will replace sanitary mains through the corridor and reimburse the city for part of the design cost.
The engineering contract is for $116,300; Kennedy said MSD will reimburse $43,200 of that amount. Council discussed whether the design would become obsolete if the city failed to secure grants; Kennedy said the sidewalk, drainage and related work will carry forward and the design includes construction administration so the city can go to bid when funding is secured.
Councilmember Hart asked whether the city was funding design to improve chances for grants. "Yes," Kennedy replied, noting the ODOT solicitation and other applications that require a project to be at least under design.
Vice Mayor Phelps pressed for tree-canopy clarity after noting the project documents call for removing existing trees and installing 12 tree wells. Kennedy said some trees will be removed because of utility work but the streetscape plan calls for better long-term tree selection, protection of some trees and an overall increase in canopy where feasible.
Kennedy also said the plan will remove some parking in front of a downtown building to create a plaza and that detailed tree-protection and replacement plans are part of the streetscape design.
The council approved Resolution 36, authorizing the city manager to execute the agreement with Choice 1 Engineering, by roll call vote.
The council will continue pursuing grants while moving forward with the design so the project is "ready to proceed" when funding is secured.
