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Council asked to approve Poplar Street pedestrian bridge contract as grant deadline nears; $334,000 shortfall proposed to be covered by river fund
Summary
Staff said bids and contract adjustments left the Poplar Street (North Platte River) pedestrian bridge with an outstanding gap after securing additional grant funding; they asked the council to authorize a river‑fund contribution so the contract can be awarded before an impending grant deadline (July 21).
City staff told the council that the Poplar Street pedestrian bridge project (North Platte River crossing) came in above earlier cost estimates after the city moved from a construction-manager-at-risk approach to a design-bid-build procurement.
Krista Johnson, the public services director, said staff had secured an additional $1,354,000 in eligible grant funding but that total project expenses — including previous CM payments, contingency, permitting and construction — left a remaining deficit of $334,000 against a $6.44 million budget. Johnson told the council that staff are proposing to use river-fund dollars to cover that remaining shortfall and recommended council approval of a construction contract in the meeting packet.
“There is a deadline to award this contract of July 21 if we are going to meet the grant deadlines that will be applicable to the grant funding for this project,” a staff member told councilors; staff said missing that deadline could force a rebid and higher prices.
Staff also confirmed the Wyoming Outdoor Recreation grant funds must be expended by the end of the year and explained a phased procurement plan to purchase materials and perform reimbursable work now while completing construction in the next season so the city can meet reimbursement timelines.
Councilors pressed staff on eligibility and fund origin. Jill, a city finance official, said the river fund balance is built from 1¢ cycles and occasional foundation gifts and is intended to match grants. Staff noted that the Wyoming Outdoor Recreation grant is limited to eligible census tracts north of the river and cannot be used for other projects.
Staff said they were confident that, if the contract is awarded this month, they can meet procurement and reimbursement deadlines and expedite material procurement. Johnson told the council that approval of the contract on tonight’s agenda would result in the contract being awarded; if the council does not approve it, staff said the project would not proceed under those terms.
Next steps: staff requested authority to award the contract and to apply river funds to cover the $334,000 gap; council members signaled support to proceed but the transcript does not record a formal vote on the contract in the provided excerpt.
