RDC acknowledges $1.188M design estimate for Sudbury Drive and South Adams; commissioner abstains

The Bloomington City Redevelopment Commission on July 20 voted to acknowledge the estimated public-infrastructure design cost for Sudbury Drive and South Adams Street in the Summit District PUD. Legal counsel presented an estimate of $1,188,000 for the design work and described engineering staff—fforts to separate public infrastructure from private improvements.

"The estimated project cost for that design work, is $1,188,000," counsel said. Commissioners probed the proposed contract structure: one commissioner said they were not a fan of time-and-materials contracts and asked if the work would be subject to a not-to-exceed cap. Legal counsel and engineering staff said the current engagement is being scoped as a not-to-exceed arrangement to cover the public-design work and that engineering has separated public items to ensure public dollars are used only for public infrastructure. One commissioner disclosed they own adjoining property and abstained from the vote. The chair recorded four votes in favor and one abstention and declared the motion passed.

Staff described the design contract as the step that will allow engineers to produce construction-cost estimates and move toward construction planning for connector roadways and intersection improvements in that area. The item was framed as an acknowledgment for the record and staff noted additional contract details and a more granular private-design estimate will follow. Commissioners asked for clarity on scope and timing; staff estimated the design timeline would be about a year for the work under discussion.