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EDC reviews $1.4M phase-one plan and options to phase Macau downtown street improvements
Summary
Staff presented revised designs and preliminary cost estimates for Macau Street downtown improvements: phase one estimated at $1.4 million (down from $1.9M previously scoped), additional northern-lot costs and repaving estimates were discussed, and staff recommended coordinating subsurface work and phasing with nearby developer timelines.
City staff presented an updated scope and preliminary cost estimates for the Macau Street downtown improvement project at the March 17 Economic Development Corporation meeting, urging the board to weigh bidding the full project against phasing to match available funds and developer timelines.
Zack, the presenting staff member, told the board packet exhibits (page 6–10) summarize the revised scope. Staff said phase one currently tracks to about $1.4 million, down from an earlier $1.9 million estimate, and that the figure includes landscaping. Additional northern-lot work was estimated roughly at $250,000 for landscape architecture and $320,000 for civil work; repaving and combined street/sidewalk/parking work for parts of the site were estimated at about $700,000.
Staff emphasized infrastructure sequencing: underground electrical and drainage work should be installed before paving, and staff noted the advantage of bidding a single, full project if the budget allows because unit costs and mobilization can be lower. The packet noted pavement thickness and geotechnical decisions will drive final quantities; staff said the previous design called for an 11-inch pavement section that could be reduced for the downtown street context.
Board members discussed phasing the project to prioritize the northern lot (including parking near the Montgomery Historical Society), retain some design work for the southern lot, and coordinate with a nearby private developer (referred to in the transcript as Mr. Cheetum/Cheetah) whose schedule and proposed work could affect required detention and staging. Staff reported the downtown sanitary sewer was replaced in 2022 and has an expected 15–20 years of service life; upsizing the water main from 6-inch to 8-inch was discussed as a beneficial capacity upgrade.
The board also reviewed a related schedule and the Raven Pulling House relocation, which staff said is budgeted at $80,000 and is expected to be moved and set by October under the developer contract (with August–October discussed as possible time frames). Staff will return with final “add services” design documents and phased bid alternatives for the board to consider once engineering drawings reach 90% and updated cost estimates are available.
Next steps: staff to finalize add-service scopes, provide a consolidated cost or phased cost options, and present recommendations tied to available reserves and the municipal budget schedule.
