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Council approves Good Parkway South trail design contract after debate; watershed evaluation funded separately
Summary
After debate about sequencing, the council approved a $89,462 design contract with George Butler Associates for Good Parkway South trail and separately authorized a $86,316 Good Ranch watershed evaluation; a motion to postpone the trail design until the watershed study was complete failed.
The Raymore City Council voted June 8 to award a design contract to George Butler Associates (GBA) for the Good Parkway South trail while also authorizing a separate watershed evaluation of the Good Ranch watershed.
The first reading of Bill 4034 awards George Butler Associates a contract for $89,462 to redesign the southern section of the trail system, including surveying, redesign of a low‑water crossing and recommendations to address repeated flooding of the trail corridor. Jim Schuessler, a landscape architect with GBA, told the council the firm can sequence work "in many different ways" and emphasized the importance of securing a favorable bidding window for construction.
Council member McDonald moved to postpone the trail design contract until the Good Ranch watershed evaluation (Bill 4040) had been completed and presented, saying the motion was intended "not to oppose the trail project" but to ensure the design reflected watershed findings and avoided unnecessary redesign. The motion failed on the floor after council discussion.
Separately, the council approved Bill 4040 to hire George Butler Associates for an $86,316 watershed evaluation covering the area from 58 Highway to Hubach Hill Road. Salisbury told the council the watershed study will assess existing flooding conditions, predict the effects of future land‑use changes and identify mitigation options; staff also said they will revise the contract schedule from 90 to 180 days before second reading.
The trail design first reading passed on a 5‑yes, 3‑no vote; the watershed evaluation first reading passed unanimously (8‑0). Council members who expressed caution said they wanted to ensure the study examines past, present and future development influences on drainage and that deliverables be useful to residents in affected neighborhoods.
Next steps: staff will finalize contract language and timing for the watershed study and return the trail and watershed ordinances for second readings.
