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Council pulls Kimley‑Horn pedestrian master plan contract amid questions about cost, scope and selection
Summary
Council members asked staff to hold the Kimley‑Horn contract for a citywide pedestrian facilities master plan — including an ADA transition plan and Safe Routes to School — after questioning a roughly $621,000 contract tied to a $600,000 federal Transportation Alternatives grant and city 20% match.
Keller City Council delayed action Tuesday on a professional‑services contract with Kimley‑Horn for a citywide pedestrian facilities master plan, including an Americans with Disabilities Act transition plan and a Safe Routes to School plan. Staff had placed the item on consent but council pulled it for discussion and then tabled it for a future meeting to allow more information and review.
Public works staff told council the work would be funded primarily by a federal Transportation Alternatives grant that covers 80% of the project; the city’s share was described as about 20% of the overall award. Staff said the city won a $600,000 award but, due to an administrative state fee the contract price reflected an additional $21,000 charge from Texas, bringing the contract close to $621,000; the city’s cash match for the contract itself would be near $120,000.
Council members repeatedly asked for more detail about the selection process — professional services procurement under the federal rules is awarded on qualifications — and asked staff to provide the RFQ evaluation matrix and how Kimley‑Horn was chosen over the other respondent. "When we go out for a request for qualifications, which is a different process than an RFP...maybe include the evaluation matrix," one councilmember said. Staff said they would include the evaluation criteria in the next report.
Council members also questioned whether the contract amount was proportionate to the resulting built infrastructure and how the master plan would be used for future grant applications. Public works staff said the document would be a master plan and prioritization tool rather than a construction contract; future capital projects or sidewalk construction would be contracted separately. Staff said the ADA transition plan is a federal requirement and that updating it opens eligibility for multiple future grant programs.
After discussion, council voted to table the item to a subsequent meeting so staff could provide the evaluation matrix, clarify the cost breakdown and answer questions about the procurement and expected deliverables.
No contract was awarded at Tuesday’s meeting. Staff said the item will return once the requested materials and a brief staff briefing on procurement and scope are provided.
