09-08-86 Public Works Comm MinutesSeptember 8, 1986 PUBLIC WORKS COMMITTEE 4:00 P.M.
Chairman Ruiz and Councilmen Palmer, Schindler and Hafferman in attendance.
Mayor Kennedy, DPW Hammer, Surveyor Zavodny, Construction Inspector Van Dyke,
Sewer and Water Superintendent Hyde, Parks Director Drent, Police Chief Stefanic
and Roger Hopkins of the Daily Inter Lake also present.
EXCAVATION BIDS - The Committee considered the three bids received for
excavation. Four alternates were asked for to give the City the ability
to choose the best alternate for the particular job. The size of the excavators
used by the various bidders was discussed. Alternate 3 is the safest for
the City because it is by cubic yard but the alternates can be used at the
City's discretion. Again, all the alternates were listed so that the City,
after award of the bid, would not be caught in a no -bid situation. The Public
Works Director will choose the alternate to be used based upon the projects
in progress and the availability of City trucks. The Committee approved
awarding the bid to LHC, Inc.
3RD AVENUE EAST MATERIALS BID - S/W Supt. Hyde explained his memo concerning
the bids and added clarification from Attorney Neier that it is "the duty"
of the Committee to give the bid to a Montana firm if that firm is within
3% of the low, out-of-state bid. C. Schindler stated that for the $300+
difference he would prefer going out-of-state. C. Palmer asked if they had
any right to accept an altered bid. Attorney Neier had told W/S Supt. Hyde
he felt it was permissible even though in this case "or equal" was nto included
in the bid specifications. DPW Hammer stated that Attorney Neier also said
• that the Committee could throw out the altered bid and that as Director of
Public Works he prefered to do that. C. Schindler pointed out that the other
bidders had been given the opportunity to bid on the Mueller valves as well
and he would prefer saving as much money as possible. C. Ruiz felt the mistake
was in changing the specifications and calling for altered bids over the
telephone and that the Committee should go by what was asked for in the beginning
or start over and re -bid the project. DPW Hammer pointed out that the problem
with re -bidding is that everyone knows everyone else's bid. The Committee
asked that in the future "or equal" be added to the specifications, and approved
awarding the bid to the lowest original bidder that met the stated specifications:
Waterworks from Missoula.
1ST ALLEY WEST - The Committee asked what was stopping this project.
S/W Supt. Hyde explained that it was delayed because of a request to put
the overhead wiring underground, and funding. It does not look like it will
be done this fall. The Water Quality Bureau has approved both sets of plans
submitted by Billmayer Engineering - for both the deep and shallower methods.
MISSION WAY ABANDONMENT - The area involved here is 18,000 square feet
or approximately .41 acres. The Committee felt that if abandoned Austin
Miller would end up with 90% of it as the major adjacent landowner. Parks
Director Drent was asked what he needed for the park there and he stated
that access from all four sides would be best. To obtain this Mr. Miller
would need to work out a 10' walkway easement on the north side. He has
several lots in this area that have not been sold. It was determined that
• the City could not use this portion of Mission Way for anything at the present
and abandoning it would put it back on the tax rolls. Vehicle access is
available at another point so 10' here would be sufficient. DPW Hammer and
Parks Director Drent are to meet with Mr. Austin to try to work out an agreement
for a 10' easement in exchange for the requested abandonment.
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PUBLIC WORKS COMMITTEE
• September 8, 1986
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GARBAGE DEPARTMENT - The Committee asked who was paying for the alley
clean-up being done presently and DPW Hammer said the Garbage Department
was paying. The problem of containers and bad odors was addressed and DPW
Hammer said the City would take care of that problem as it occurred.
DPW Hammer asked for the approval of the Committee to require that leaves
be bagged instead of being raked into the street as they have in years past.
They can be picked up by the extra garbage men. His reasons were that the
City never manages to complete pick-up before the leaves freeze, use of the
front end loader damages curbs, sewer lids and gate valves, the leaves plug
drains, and parked cars make it impossible to do a clean job of picking up
the leaves. C. Hafferman stated that people needed to realize that many
cities don't pick up the leaves at all. C. Schindler pointed out that there
must be some teeth to this change or citizens will not cooperate. The ordinance
must be changed so that the AI's can give warning tickets for those who will
not cooperate. A massive publicity campaign is needed to inform and convince
the residents to bag the leaves. For the leaves that fall on the street
the sweeper will work. In the end the Committee agreed that either the City
needed to purchase a leaf -vac ($10-12,000) or have the people bag the leaves,
and since there is no budget for a leaf -vac they approved the bagging proposal.
BURGER KING - Surveyor Zavodny reminded the Committee that all the Council
members present at the former meetings agreed that the lights, sign, etc.
• should be removed from the ROW. Mr. Atherton, attorney for Art Weaver, came
to the Council and for some reason the Council referred it back to the committee.
An answer is needed before the curb work can be done. The portion the City
is concerned about is on 2nd Avenue W.N. Mr. Atherton's comments about the
items in question being "just barely in the ROW" was discussed over pictures
showing their actual location, which showed them well into the ROW. When
the sidewalk work (which they have agreed to) begins it will tear up the
conduit within the ROW.
Consistency was discussed and the Committee agreed that it was necessary
to be consistent, as well as to stay with their original decision that the
items must be removed. It was pointed out that similar requests from Super
8 and others were turned down in the name of consistency.
A letter will be written to Mr. Atherton stating when the work will
begin, the status of the items in the ROW and what will happen to them when
the curbing and sidewalk work begins. It will also state that the conduit
will be in jeopardy. C. Palmer would like to see the letter before it is
sent. There will be an on -site meeting September 9 at 9:00 A.M. to clarify
any questions.
SIGNS BLOCKING VISION - Approximately 1i years ago the then Street and
Alley Committee gave permission to Flathead Industries For the Handicapped
to erect several signs on the condition that the permission could be revoked
at any time. The Safety Committee recommends removal of the signs. DPW
• Hammer is to write F.I.F.T.H. a letter requesting removal of the signs.
Checker Auto Exit poses a similar problem. The reader sign appears
to be infringing and is a hazard. This is to be checked out and removed
if warranted.
PUBLIC WORKS COMMITTEE
doSeptember 8, 1986
Page 3
Town Pump Sign is encroaching in the ROW. No one seems to know why
Alan Peterson, the Building Official at the time it was erected, allowed
it to be built. The City is responsible for enforcing the ROW for the Highway
Department on Idaho and there is a 3'-4' encroachment here. It is not a
safety problem because of it's height. The Committee asked that this be
researched and if it is allowed to remain at least there should be a variance
so that there is consistency. Construction Inspector Van Dyke has a list
of other older signs that would fall under a non -conforming status, and permits
could at least be issued as non -conforming so that they are all dealt with.
Ewings Satellite Dishes may also be a problem.
YELLOWSTONE EXTENSION - The City paid the back taxes on this piece and
ended up with the property because it felt that the area would be developed
in the future and this parcel would be needed.
KINSHELLA AND HUSKY - The Mayor has written the Postal Service to see
if they would be willing to participate in the SID. At this point Husky
cannot be done because we don't know where the curb cuts for the post office
will be located because we do not as yet have a site plan.
• CROSSWALKS TO KALISPELL CENTER MALL - There have been requests from
elderly residents for crosswalks on Center Street to make getting to the
Mall easier. DPW Hammer explained that there were crosswalks at 1st and
4th Avenues but that they didn't go anywhere past the curb. During the construction
he attempted to get the engineers to include interior design for foot traffic
but was unsuccessful. Merchants in the Mall are also requesting that something
be done. Everything on the backside of the curb belongs to Burlington Northern
and the City has no jurisdiction. DPW Hammer will contact BN and ask that
access be made available at the crosswalks.
SIDEWALK ON MAIN STREET BETWEEN CENTER AND GODFATHER'S - This is also
Burlington Northern property and the City cannot do anything without a permit.
Jerry Withim of BN will be asked to address this before winter.
PAINTING OF CROSSWALKS - The school ones have been done but nothing
else because the Sign and Signal crew has been very busy with the signals.
It was agreed they needed to be done both spring and fall.
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