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Council awards $10.01 million street reconstruction contract, rejects sidewalk on 110th Avenue in 5-2 vote
Summary
The Coon Rapids City Council awarded a $10,008,268.16 contract for Project 26-1 but voted 5-2 to exclude an alternate bid for a sidewalk on 110th Avenue after debate over cost, safety and resident preference.
The Coon Rapids City Council on April 21 awarded a $10,008,268.16 contract for Street Reconstruction Project 26-1 and voted to omit a proposed sidewalk on 110th Avenue.
Councilmember Brian Armstrong moved to award the contract to DOUGLASKERR UNDERGROUND, LLC while excluding the alternate sidewalk bid; Councilmember Pat Carlson seconded. The motion carried 5-2, with Councilmembers Christopher Geisler and Peter Butler recorded as the dissenting votes.
The vote followed an extended discussion. Armstrong said he supported completing the overdue street reconstruction but opposed adding the 110th Avenue sidewalk as an inefficient use of taxpayer funds, saying the sidewalk would cost “about $103,000” and that the area has limited foot traffic. Councilmember Pat Carlson and Councilmember Sean Novack said existing sidewalks already provide access and reported resident opposition. The Police Chief told the council he did not recall any significant accidents on the stretch in question.
Councilmember Peter Butler and Councilmember Christopher Geisler countered that sidewalks improve safety, create pedestrian usage and provide critical connections to nearby parks. Director Hanson told the council the sidewalk was recommended to improve connectivity and that, based on materials and design, it would last more than 50 years with minimal maintenance.
The council’s decision separates the street reconstruction work from the sidewalk alternate; the contract award funds the reconstruction portion only. The motion’s mover and seconder (Armstrong and Carlson) and the two recorded dissenters (Geisler and Butler) are noted in the public record. The city will move forward with Project 26-1 reconstruction under the awarded contract amount; the excluded sidewalk may be revisited in future projects or budget cycles if the council chooses to pursue it.
Next steps: staff will proceed to execute contract documents with the awarded bidder and begin the procurement-to-construction schedule for Project 26-1. No immediate additional action on the 110th Avenue sidewalk was recorded at the meeting.
