La Porte redevelopment commission awards $5.35M stormwater contract, designates Microsoft as a designated taxpayer and approves several project contracts

The La Porte Redevelopment Commission voted March 25 to award a $5,349,750 contract for the Boyd Boulevard stormwater improvement project and approved an amending resolution to the La Porte Consolidated Economic Development Plan that designates Microsoft Corporation as a designated taxpayer for the Boyd Boulevard allocation area.

Bert Cook, executive director of the La Porte Economic Advancement Partnership, told the commission staff received two bids for the stormwater project and that Glenn Peterson, the project engineer, recommended awarding the work to HRP Construction, the low bidder. Cook said the city has nearly $2.5 million in Economic Development Administration grant funds and $2.5 million in bonding set aside for the project but that the low bid exceeded the roughly $5 million currently allocated; staff said the city expects to cover the difference from an additional city source. The commission approved the award; the meeting record was later updated to show Commissioner JT McDermad abstained from the final tally.

In a lengthy reading of a declaratory resolution, Cook described an amendment to the city's economic development plan that adds projects to the Boyd Boulevard allocation area and "designates Microsoft Corporation and its successors or assigns or any affiliates of the company" as a designated taxpayer under Indiana Code 36-7-14. The resolution states that tax increments from depreciable personal property at the company's site would be used to pay debt service on bonds or make lease payments to finance local public improvements in the allocation area. The resolution passed and will move to the La Porte Plan Commission and City Council for the next statutory steps.

The commission also approved a set of routine procurement and design actions: authorization to have Baker Tilly prepare an annexation fiscal plan (not to exceed $8,500), authorization to solicit quotes for environmental remediation and grading at the Newport Landing site tied to the PinFusion development, an amendment to the contract with RVI Planning (formerly Hitchcock Design Group) for three preliminary alley design options totaling $24,000, and a contract with Aegis for preliminary roadway, water and wastewater design services at 39 North not to exceed $20,000.

Mr. Phillips, the city staff member who presented most of the items, described the Newport Landing remediation as a technique that "builds up from the ground" rather than excavating to avoid disturbing contaminated soils and said staff expects the work to remain below formal bid thresholds. On downtown alley designs, staff said the city is working with the Urban Enterprise Association and expects to receive parking-lot ownership transfers that will support future streetscape work.

The commission also approved up to $40,000 in matching funds to expand work on the city's comprehensive and transportation plan. Staff said the additional scope totals $229,200, of which roughly $162,400 is expected from regional, state and federal sources; the city asked the commission to cover the remaining local match.

Votes at a glance: the commission approved the meeting minutes and claims dockets, awarded the Boyd Boulevard contract to HRP Construction ($5,349,750) (recorded with one abstention), approved the amending resolution to the La Porte Consolidated Economic Development Plan (Microsoft designation), authorized the Baker Tilly fiscal plan ($8,500), authorized solicitation of quotes for Newport Landing remediation, approved the RVI Planning amendment ($24,000), approved the Aegis preliminary design contract (not to exceed $20,000), approved up to $40,000 in match funds for the comprehensive and transportation plan, and adjourned the meeting.

The commission said it expects pre-construction work on Boyd Boulevard to begin in late April or early May with substantial completion by year-end, and staff outlined the statutory and public hearing steps for the economic development plan amendment as it moves to the Plan Commission and City Council.