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Council weighs $111,000 purchase of reusable mats to aid 68th Street reconstruction access
Summary
Staff proposed buying 30–40 interlocking rubber mats (estimated cost $111,000) to provide smoother temporary walkways during 68th Street reconstruction; council asked staff to meet one-on-one with residents before deciding and to report back before bids go out.
Windsor Heights staff on Oct. 21 outlined options to improve temporary pedestrian access during 68th Street reconstruction and proposed purchasing interlocking 4x8 textured rubber mats for reuse on future projects.
Public Works staff said the city would likely need about 30 to 40 mats to span the middle of a construction phase to the end of a reconstruction site and estimated the purchase cost at about $111,000. The mats are interlocking, low profile and intended to provide a smoother surface than gravel for residents with accessibility needs.
Council members urged staff to first complete one-on-one meetings with affected residents to determine specific accessibility needs before committing public funds. One council member noted uncertainty about whether the mats would solve the problem and raised concerns about storage, contractor willingness to install and the risk of adding complexity to the bid package. Another council member suggested alternatives including a city-owned golf cart or a leveled temporary surface.
Staff said the mats should be reusable if successful and that the city could include installation and removal requirements in the project bid package if council decides to proceed. Council took no vote and asked staff to return with findings from resident meetings and additional research before making a funding decision.
