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Council reviews sidewalk repairs, bond and CIP funding; staff outlines prioritization and procurement issues
Summary
City staff described sidewalk prioritization arising from a 2021 survey and equity mapping, explained funding from bond and CIP sources for curb ramp upgrades and professional services, and detailed procurement reviews including a good‑faith effort appeal that led to selecting a lower bidder.
Council members pressed staff on three sidewalk contracts pulled from the consent agenda, seeking detail on prioritization, cost estimates, procurement and standards for accessibility.
Environmental and street services staff explained the city completed a 2021 sidewalk survey and created a GIS‑based defect score and a safety/equity prioritization map (FIP zones) used to rank repairs. Staff said the original survey informed a long‑term program and that the next full survey is scheduled for 2027 to assess progress and identify new defects.
On funding, staff said bond dollars are being directed to a pre‑listed set of sidewalk projects identified when the bond was proposed and that CIP funds target required curb ramp upgrades tied to street resurfacing projects. The professional services items cover inspection and contract administration for bond‑funded work.
Council questioned unit costs and alternatives. Staff provided an estimate for new sidewalk construction of about $1,000 per linear foot, which they said translates to roughly $5.28 million per mile depending on complexity and right‑of‑way constraints; staff cautioned that costs vary with tree removal, utility work and other factors.
Procurement questions focused on a bidder that did not meet UBE (underutilized business enterprise) good‑faith criteria for two contracts and withdrew an appeal for one of them. Staff described the appeals path: finance reviews good‑faith efforts, and firms can appeal to the city manager's office; in one case the appellant withdrew and the city awarded to the next responsive bidder.
Council asked staff to provide project‑specific AMI breakdowns for created and preserved affordable units and details on periods of affordability in loan agreements; staff said those are project specific but typically include 30‑year terms and sometimes longer covenants for mission‑driven partners such as the Durham Housing Authority. Staff committed to returning with more detailed financial and unit‑level information and clarified the city's leverage mechanisms (restrictive covenants, loan agreements and follow‑up refinancing) to preserve long‑term affordability.
No formal contract awards were decided during the discussion; the items had been pulled for council questions and staff promised additional documentation and clarifications.
