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Council approves stormwater inventory, citywide resurfacing contracts and speed-management study
Summary
Council authorized contracts to inventory stormwater assets, awarded citywide resurfacing work and approved a federally funded speed-management plan; council members discussed contractor diversity and project scales.
The Knoxville City Council approved a package of public-works contracts aimed at managing stormwater assets, resurfacing streets and studying citywide speed limits.
The council authorized the mayor to execute an agreement with CDM Smith Inc. for up to $2,206,000 for phase 2 of a stormwater asset management project. The work will inventory and assess roughly 20,000 additional stormwater features and create a mapped asset layer and condition assessments usable in the city's GIS, Director Clabo and Tom Cleggo said in staff remarks.
Council also approved a $5,365,594 contract with Rogers Group Inc. for the 2025 resurfacing program (phase 1). Engineering staff told council the program paints roughly 40–50 lane-miles a year; because single large projects historically attracted few bidders, the department split the work into two smaller packages to increase competition. Staff said the department routinely uses smaller paving contracts (alleys, facilities) as an opportunity for smaller contractors and that the purchasing office and engineering will coordinate outreach to improve Diverse Business Enterprise (DBE) participation.
The council approved an amendment to the city's agreement with Foundation Systems Engineering PC to provide asphalt testing and inspection services for the resurfacing program, not to exceed $45,000 annually.
Separately, the council approved a contract with Alta Planning & Design for up to $100,000 to develop a citywide speed-management plan as part of the city’s Vision Zero and SS4A (Safe Streets and Roads for All) grant work. Tom Cleggo said the federal grant covers 80% of the cost, with a 20% local match, and staff told the council the consultant will deliver the study within one year of contract execution. Councilmember Ryder asked whether the study could lead to lower posted speeds on neighborhood streets; staff said the plan will take pedestrian, bicycle and vehicle context into account rather than relying solely on the traffic 85th-percentile speed method.
Councilmembers discussed workforce and contracting opportunities tied to resurfacing, with Councilmember Parker urging the city to identify smaller project scopes where smaller and local contractors could participate and be trained.
All motions passed by voice vote during the meeting.
