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March 9, 2009 Item No. 7D <br />Page 4 <br />Once the economic slowdown ends, construction costs are likely to <br />rise. If this happens by the start of 2011, then inclusion of Area C with <br />the bids taken for Area B in January 2010 would have achieved a real <br />construction cost savings compared to if the project for Area C were <br />bid in 2011. <br />2. Savings On Maintenance Costs <br />The streets in Area C are currently aged and in relatively poor <br />condition. In 2006 the City Public Works Department estimated the <br />annual expenditure for street maintenance, which primarily is spent on <br />the streets included in the overall Street and Utility Improvement <br />Program. Adjusting the 2006 estimate to current value and allocating it <br />over the length of streets within the Program, the proportionate <br />maintenance costs for the length of streets in Area C would be in <br />excess of $10,000 for 2010. <br />Reconstruction of the Area C streets in 2010 would not only eliminate <br />those maintenance cost for that year, but for subsequent years as well. <br />The reconstructed streets should be relatively maintenance free until <br />their first seal coat approximately 5 years after construction. <br />3. Savings on Engineering Cost <br />A combined project for Areas B and C would also result in a savings on <br />engineering costs for the project. This is due to the fact that a set of <br />construction plans and specifications can be prepared more <br />economically for a larger project. In addition, other activities common <br />to both areas would be done only once, rather than having to be done <br />twice if the projects were separate. This would include items such as <br />permit applications and the cost of advertising for the bids. <br />Based on the current professional services agreement between <br />Bonestroo and the City, we estimate the saving on engineering costs <br />for a combined project to be approximately $20,000. <br />In order for the Area B and C projects to be successfully combined, their <br />schedules must also be compatible. A brief review of the status for each area is <br />given below, followed by review of a potential combined schedule <br />Area B – Status <br />The feasibility report for Area B was completed in early 2005. A public hearing <br />was held on the project, however the project was never ordered. At this point, it <br />is recommended that a neighborhood meeting be held to reintroduce the specific <br />elements of the project to the affected property owners. Once a successful <br />neighborhood meeting was held, the next step would be to hold a public hearing <br />to consider officially ordering the project and authorizing the preparation of the <br />construction documents.