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Independence City Council endorses First Street West BUILD grant application; approves consultant amendment
Summary
Council voted unanimously Feb. 9 to endorse a BUILD grant application for First Street West, a roughly $19 million corridor rebuild; the council also approved a $19,900 amendment to the Ritland & Cooper contract to support grant and design work. City’s projected outlay is estimated at $700,000–$800,000, with $1.3 million in STBG funds to be used toward the match.
The Independence City Council on Feb. 9 authorized the mayor to sign a resolution endorsing the city’s application to the federal BUILD program for the First Street West corridor reconstruction and approved an amendment to the city’s consultant agreement for project work.
Staff told the council the overall project is roughly $19 million. The city has $1.3 million in Surface Transportation Block Grant (STBG) funds identified to contribute toward the local match, and staff estimated the city’s outlay would be approximately $700,000 to $800,000 if the grant is awarded. Council members and staff emphasized that the endorsement is to submit the application; detailed design and any property-level changes would be determined later, if the city receives funding.
Council discussed proposed multimodal elements included in the concept — an 8-foot trail on one side and a 5-foot sidewalk on the other — and concerns from some council members that certain businesses along the corridor may not have the space to accommodate those elements. Staff and consultants said design limitations and right-of-way constraints would be addressed during the engineering and design phase after a successful award, and warned that removing pedestrian/mobility elements could lower the project’s competitive score or risk grant clawback. The city is working with county partners, economic development organizations, the school district and grant writers to strengthen the application.
Separately, the council approved Amendment No. 1 to the Ritland & Cooper Landscape Architects agreement to support the corridor work. Packet materials show an original contract of $159,000; the amendment adds $19,900 and raises the total to about $178,900. Council approved the amendment by roll call.
Staff said the application is due later in the month and that notification on awards would likely come in the summer. If the city secures BUILD funding, detailed design and outreach to affected businesses and property owners would follow as part of the implementation process.
