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CONTRACT K-1920-21: A CONTRACT BY AND BETWEEN THE NORMAN MUNICIPAL AUTHORITY AND AMERICAN RAMP COMPANY IN THE AMOUNT OF $900,000 FOR THE ANDREWS PARK SKATE PARK CONSTRUCTION PROJECT AND APPROVAL OF PERFORMANCE BOND B-1920-21; STATUTORY BOND B-1920-22; AND MAINTENANCE BOND MB-1920-10.
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BACKGROUND: On October 13, 2015, Norman citizens passed the Norman Forward Initiative; which will fund various projects through a ½ % sales tax increase over 15 years. Included in the Norman Forward Initiative is a project to make improvements to Andrews Park. The majority of that project is to build a new skatepark. The old “Blake Baldwin Sk8park” was built in Andrews Park in the early 2000’s. It was an all-steel street course on a concrete slab poured specifically for the project. It served the skaters in Norman well; however, the re-alignment of James Garner Avenue to extend that street north of Acres and past the new Central Library and then on past Robinson Street to intersect with Flood Avenue required Garner Avenue to swing west into the old skatepark location. Fortunately, we were able to work with American Ramp Company (ARC), who constructed the original park; and they were able to send a crew of skilled skatepark builders to Norman to dis-assemble the features in Andrews Park and re-locate them to some neighborhood parks, creating “Skate Spots” in Colonial Commons, Adkins’ Crossing and Oak Tree South Parks. With Andrews Park having been recently removed from consideration for a new Senior Citizens Center, construction of a new concrete bowl and plaza-style skate park with different skill levels and features at Andrews Park can proceed.
DISCUSSION: The National Joint Powers Alliance (NJPA)/Sourcewell is a procurement source for governmental agencies, a subdivision or lead agency of which is the State of Oklahoma. All vendors contracted with NJPA/Sourcewell are those offering the best prices to governmental entities and who meet the criteria required of the City’s Codes for competitive bidding of purchases (City Code, Section 8-204.b.4). For the Action Sports Parks and Equipment industry, NJPA awarded a contract (#030117-ARC) to American Ramp Company (ARC) of Joplin, Missouri. ARC has performed satisfactory work for the City of Norman in the past, including the construction of the previous Blake Baldwin Sk8te Park in Andrews Park. The City’s Purchasing Division has reviewed and approved the use of the NJPA/Sourcewell agreement for purchases by the City of Norman. The contract for best pricing of such projects is valid through 2021.
We have met with representatives from ARC, and reviewed their portfolio of work throughout the region and across the country to see examples of the type of skate park proposed for Andrews Park. The preliminary skate park project idea has also been reviewed with the Baldwin family who have indicated that they have had good experiences with ARC, and that they would be honored to have the new park named in honor of their son. We currently have one feature from the old skatepark in storage at our Park Maintenance facility which we intend to re-install at Andrews Park as part of the new skate park.
The details of the NJPA/Sourcewell Contract attachment include information on the series of community meetings and design milestones that will take place once the project begins and continue through the construction of the new skatepark by ARC’s professional construction crews. A qualified engineering firm will be contracted with to produce those parts of the project not covered in this agreement with ARC, such as the site survey, geotechnical investigation, site grading plan around the skate park, utility and drainage design connecting to the new skate park and demolition and re-grading of the existing water clearwell/cistern in the vicinity of the new skate park site. A contract with the selected engineering firm will be awarded at an upcoming Council meeting.
The total NORMAN FORWARD project budget for the Andrews Park Renovation Project was $1,500,000. The project includes the new skate park; addition of shade structures in the seating area in the Andrews Park Amphitheater; replacement of damaged walking trail sections and any necessary feature updates; and additional shade and site furnishings around the splash pad. The skate park project was estimated at $1,000,000, including all design work and demolition of the water clear well.
At this time, we are proposing that the skate park construction contract with ARC, based off their best-pricing bid with NJPA/Sourcewell be set at $900,000. This cost will include the turnkey project to develop the final skatepark design based on local input and in-conjunction with our local engineering design team and construction of the new skate park. The current balance for all parts of the NORMAN FORWARD Andrews Park project is $1,298,000. The other paving, shade structure, and splash pad projects in the areas of the park not affected by the skate park project will be managed by Parks Department staff in the coming months. Funding for this contract is available in the Norman Forward Andrews Park Renovation project, Construction (account number 051-9050-452.61-01) and Design (account 051-9050-452.62-01; project NFB019).
RECOMMENDATION NO.1: It is recommended that the Norman Municipal Authority approve the attached Skate Park Construction Contract K-1920-21, with American Ramp Company to work with the NMA and engineering consultants to complete the design and construction of a new skate park in Andrews Park in the amount of $900,000. Funding is available in NORMAN FORWARD Andrews Park Renovation, Construction (account 051-9050-452.61-01; project NFB019). The total project budget is $1,500,000.
RECOMMENDATION NO.2: It is further recommended upon approval of Contract K-1920-21, that Maintenance Bond MB-1920-10, Performance Bond B-1920-21, and Statutory Bond B-1920-22 be approved.