Council approves $225,000 contract amendment to finish Reconnect Arcata planning deliverables

City staff and the project team updated the council on Reconnect Arcata, a multi-year planning effort to improve transportation connectivity across the city. Laura Kalicek, described as the lead for the Reconnect Arcata project, summarized public engagement activities, a digital whiteboard collaboration, and draft maps identifying six priority areas and a menu of short- and long-term improvements. "Today, we've spent about half of the funding that was originally approved," Kalicek said, and staff asked for an additional $75,000 to complete final deliverables and stakeholder coordination so the project can proceed to fundraising and design.

Staff said the requested supplemental $75,000 would bring the contract to $225,000 (the council had previously reduced the originally requested $300,000 to $150,000 during the budget process). The package presented included final map production, convening a joint stakeholder meeting with local transportation agencies, and producing conceptual drawings and a menu of opportunities for later phases. Councilmembers expressed support for the concept of a menu of prioritized projects and noted that connectivity investments support multiple goals including climate, transportation and economic development. One member said the additional $75,000 gives staff needed momentum to complete the planning deliverables.

A council member moved to approve the amendment to the contract with SmithGroup, Inc., for an amount not to exceed $225,000 for professional services for planning, outreach and preliminary concept design; another council member seconded the motion. The council voted in favor and the motion passed unanimously.

Staff said work funded by other grants and the forthcoming next-phase funding would follow this deliverable package; no additional conditions were attached to the approval.