Committee approves Alley Improvement bid and moves forward on sewer projects; sidewalk alternate left to council

SEH engineer Matt Reed told the Committee that alley project bids came in favorably and asked for authorization to award the contract to Utility Systems America using available grant funding including a $3 million Congressional earmark.

Councilor Johnson moved and Councilor Bach Schneider supported the resolution awarding the 2024 Alley Improvement Project to Utility Systems America; the motion carried. During discussion Reed said the bid included a sidewalk as a bid alternate for one short block (reported survey response: three resident responses — two favored removing the sidewalk, one favored retaining it). Staff said removing the sidewalk would save roughly $20,500 and reduce future maintenance; councilors asked whether removal would alter alley width for emergency access and were told alleys are not being widened by the current bid.

The Committee then approved a professional services agreement resolution for the 2024 Alley Project (moved by Councilor Friedland, supported by Councilor Motley) and accepted plans and specifications and authorized advertising for bids for the Rotary Park sanitary sewer and Seventh Street storm sewer projects (moved by Councilor Johnson, supported by Councilor Beyondich). The Committee also voted to relocate a basketball court from the Rotary Park site to the newly expanded park by Silver Lake’s west side.

Ending: With award and design authorizations approved, council still must decide whether to accept the sidewalk alternate in the alley bid; staff indicated that choice could be made at the next meeting.