Committee: City cleared special procurement to award Sankey Park bandstand to Timber Framers Guild

The Park and Tree and Beautification Committee was told July 16 that City Council approved a special procurement to allow the bandstand portion of Sankey Park Phase 3 to be awarded directly to the Timber Framers Guild. That decision lets the city separate the bandstand work from the trail work for procurement while keeping the grant covering both pieces, staff said. Committee members were told the next steps are design coordination with the guild's architect, a contract cost proposal and then a return to council for contract approval. The process matters because the Timber Framers Guild will lead a community build in which volunteers, donated materials and professional oversight are coordinated; staff said the guild will provide a timeline and a list of tasks the public can help with. City staff told the committee the project already has 100% complete construction drawings for the trail and that the trail portion will be put out to bid. The committee was also told that the grant funding currently runs to Dec. 31 and that staff may file an extension in December to push the deadline to June, provided progress is demonstrated. Committee members raised schedule and weather concerns: winter months may slow on-site work but other tasks can proceed off-site, staff said. Members asked whether public-works personnel and licensed volunteers could participate; staff said the guild will specify which tasks require licensed professionals and which the community can assist with. No formal committee motion or vote on the bandstand procurement was recorded during the meeting; the committee discussed outreach and in-kind donation coordination as the next steps. Looking ahead, staff said they will work with the guild on the build schedule, public outreach about donations and materials, and the subsequent council contract approval needed to start construction.