Discussion:
The Windermere Neighborhood Park has been in the planning stages for more than three years and was part of the overall Parks Master Plan, creating a destination park for this neighborhood while also providing walking paths for users like the residents of BHS, which is directly across the street. The design was created from input from the surrounding neighbors, including BHS. Additional benches were added to the trail system to provide rest spots for walkers.
This is the final construction piece. Contractors will begin shortly after approval, with the goal of having much of the park completed this year.
Council has previously approved the tower element with Cre8play for $500,000 that will be installed by them as part of this overall project. Council has also previously approved a contract with St. Croix Recreation for the purchase and installation of the playground, hill slides and poured in place in an amount not to exceed $289,776.22. Council has also approved the procurement of benches and tables for this park from Anova.
The Council retained Loeffler Construction as the city's Construction Manager as Agent to build the project including soliciting all bids and managing the construction.
The bid tabs are attached. Items that are below $175,000 are procured with a Request for Quote (RFQ) process. Loeffler distributed the plans and specification to fifty potential contractors and received responses from fifteen.
The items that need to be publicly bid, were advertised and were also submitted to the Minnesota Builders Exchange, Bid Clerk and Dodge Plan Center. The sealed bid package yielded seven bids for earthwork, retaining walls, site removals and utilities scope. The lowest bidder, Miller Brothers Excavating, was was considered responsive and responsible in the amount of $324,000.
The total construction cost for this park, including previously acquired and contracted services and including these awards is $1.77 million. Developments in the Windermere area have contributed more than $5 million in park dedication.