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CITY MANAGER’S REPORT November 10, 2020 CAPITAL PROJECT UPDATES Update from Public Works Director Craig Workman: Baker Avenue Underpass The final section of the 12-segment underpass was placed on Monday, November 2, 2020. This allowed the contractor to begin construction of the wing walls on the west side of the project. It is anticipated that paving on top of the remainder of the structure will be completed the week of November 10th, which will allow normal vehicular and pedestrian traffic to resume. Plenty of work remains including concrete flatwork under the tunnel, path connections on either side of the structure, lighting, railings, and landscaping. It is anticipated that the contractor will get as far as they can before going into winter shutdown. To date we have paid LHC $730K of a $1.65M contract. ---PAGE BREAK--- State Park Road Reconstruction Paving on State Park Road took place the week of November 2nd and the roadway is now open to two-way traffic. City staff is optimistic that the contractor will be able to reach substantial completion before winter shutdown, but some significant items remain at the time of this update. This work includes approximately 1,500 feet of shared use path, fencing along the golf course, topsoil, and completion of the lighting system. To date we have paid LHC $1.96M of a $2.76M contract. ---PAGE BREAK--- Wastewater Facility Improvement Swank continues to make excellent progress on the wastewater treatment plant. The exterior shell of the building is now complete including the “grit building” which has now been erected. The site is a buzz with plumbers and electricians working inside the structure and many of the components within the reactors are being installed. I’m also happy to report the existing wastewater lagoons are performing well during the construction. Swank Enterprises is about 50% complete with the project and billed $12.1M of a $20.2M contract, which includes the purchase of the majority of the treatment equipment that has yet to be installed. ---PAGE BREAK--- ---PAGE BREAK--- Water Source & Treatment Capacity Expansion Construction is well underway at the water treatment plant. The largest inconvenience to the public is now complete as Northwestern Energy has finished the relocation of their natural gas facilities in Reservoir Road and the installation of the deep sanitary sewer is over. Additional work in Reservoir Road is required next spring to construct a large distribution watermain to handle the increased capacity of the plant, however this work is not expected to require the same delays as the construction that took place this fall. Temporary asphalt trench patches will be placed this fall and permanent roadway repairs will be completed next year upon completion of the watermain construction. The new contact adsorption clarifiers are expected to arrive later this month and the precast wall and roof panels are expected onsite next month. Installation of the clarifiers will allow the wall and roof panels to go up so Swank can continue work through the winter. Permanent stabilization of the slope has been completed with drilled soil anchors and the creek bypass work has been completed. Both of these tasks were required to allow for the expanded building footprint. To date, Swank has billed $1.1M of a $9.3M contract. ---PAGE BREAK--- ---PAGE BREAK--- Edgewood and Texas Reconstruction Project The next job in the Resort Tax lineup will consist of reconstructing Texas Avenue from Edgewood Place to the northern city limits and Edgewood Place from Colorado Avenue to the eastern city limits. The City has selected the engineering firm of Robert Peccia & Associates (RPA) to assist them with project management, public involvement, surveying, and civil engineering. The project will include roadway reconstruction, a bicycle/pedestrian path, decorative street lighting and drainage improvements. It is expected that the project will be phased with Edgewood Place being reconstructed in 2021 and Texas Avenue in 2022. Update from Parks & Recreation Director Maria Butts: Armory Park We have received two proposals from engineering firms (RPA and Jackola) for the Armory Park Master Plan. The committee will be reviewing the proposals and ranking them in accordance with our consultant selection policy. We plan to interview qualified applicants the week of November 16th and should have a recommendation for the City Council’s approval by the December 7th City Council meeting. The Armory Park playground has been installed and inspected by our certified playground inspector, Steve Bullemer. We have a bit of landscaping to complete in the spring, but otherwise the playground is complete. Depot Park – Whitefish Rising The finishing touches of the final phase of Depot Park Improvement Project were made with the installation of the bus stop near the O’Shaughnessy Center and the placement of the Whitefish Rising sculpture back near Depot Park in its new home on the west side of Central Avenue. ---PAGE BREAK--- ---PAGE BREAK--- COVID-19 PANDEMIC The Whitefish COVID-19 Task Force has met twice so far with a third meeting schedule for Thursday, November 14th. As you know, the purpose of this Task Force is to encourage community wide implementation of recommended and required health measures to slow the spread of COVID- 19, support our hospitals and clinics, keep our businesses and schools open, and support our first responders and front-line workers. A messaging campaign outline prepared by the communication and marketing professionals on the Task Force was approved last Thursday. Our first video is schedule for release on Friday, November 13th. The campaign includes paid advertising on social media, banners for downtown, takeout boxes for restaurants with messaging printed or affixed, and posters for businesses just to name a few. To ensure funding is available for the paid marketing, purchase of physical assets and supplies, and the contracting of professionals, a meeting has been scheduled with the Whitefish School District and North Valley Hospital, both of whom have offered support. However, today I received great news that the City is pre-approved from the State’s Budget Office that the campaign assets (physical and digital) and the costs for contracting with communications professionals working on this project are eligible for CARES Act reimbursement. As the Task Force continues to work diligently and with urgency, I will provide an update at the City Council meeting. MEETINGS On Wednesday, November 4th, Fire Chief Page and I met with the negotiating team for the Whitefish Fire Service Area (WFSA). We reached a verbal agreement that the WFSA negotiating team said they would take to the Board for consideration. If the WFSA agrees to our latest offer, we will prepare a written draft for official consideration by the WFSA Board and the City Council. It will likely be January before any City Council action can be taken since the WFSA does not meet in December. REMINDERS City Hall will be closed November 26th and 27th for Thanksgiving Day and Heritage Day, a City established holiday for employees on the Friday following Thanksgiving Day. NEXT CITY COUNCIL MEETING The next City Council meeting will be held remotely via WebEx on Monday, December 7th. For the work session, the City Council will interview applicants for board and committee openings. Staff will present for City Council discussion and direction, the draft request for proposals for recycling services at the new central recycling site location. Respectfully submitted, Dana M. Smith, CPA City Manager