Downtown infrastructure project moves to bid; city outlines outreach and event plans during construction

City staff and engineering consultants told the Municipal Services, Facilities & Infrastructure Committee that the downtown infrastructure project remains on schedule for bidding and that staff are working to mitigate impacts to downtown businesses and events during construction.

City Engineer and project staff reported that the project was advertised Nov. 6 and that bids are due Dec. 18; a remote pre-bid meeting drew about a dozen attendees and Stantec and DES reviewed scope and federal funding requirements. Dave McNamara of Stantec said a permitting portal issue earlier in the review process has been resolved and that DES reopened its public-comment portal; staff confirmed any public comments were answered and that the bid schedule remains intact.

Staff described three event-footprint templates for organizers to use during construction — large, medium and small — and said they will work with the city clerk and event sponsors to accommodate events while trying to avoid raising sponsors’ costs. Project ombudsman George Downing reported visiting nearly every downtown business to gather operating times, delivery needs and concerns about parking and noise, and said staff will produce FAQs, business binders and targeted outreach as construction phasing becomes available.

Committee members asked about scheduling, contractor selection and business support; staff said they will continue outreach, consider expedited review for event permits during construction, and may absorb certain incremental city staffing costs to avoid increasing event sponsors’ expenses. The committee accepted the report as informational.