*Authorize a competitive solicitation and contract with the lowest responsive and responsible bidder for construction of the Forest Park Entry Project

The City of Portland ordains: Section 1. The Council finds: Portland Parks & Recreation (PP&R) promotes health, livability, and economic vitality through the effective management of the City’s award-winning parks and recreation system. Forest Park is a 5,200-acre natural area located in northwest Portland, a ten-minute drive from downtown Portland, on the eastern slope of the Tualatin Mountains, a small range connected to the Oregon Coast Range. Bounded by NW Newberry Road to the north, Highway 30 to the east, Skyline Boulevard to the west and W. Burnside to the south, Forest Park forms the green “backbone” of the city of Portland and provides an unparalleled resource for stewardship, recreation, and education. The Forest Park Natural Resources Management Plan (NRMP), adopted by the City Council in 1995, guides land use decisions and Park management through conservation, recreation and education goals that are the foundation for all actions in Forest Park. The City, through PP&R, purchased a 3.9-acre property located at the intersection of NW Yeon/Highway 30 and NW Kittridge to provide an entrance point to the Forest Park, as identified in the Natural Resources Management Plan. The Forest Park Entry Project (“Project”) will provide the public with access to Forest Park by constructing an access point, a bus drop off, vehicular parking, trailhead with signage, landscape improvements, and Fire Lane 1 repairs. In addition, construction of the Project’s stormwater and erosion control measures will meet the requirements of the Department of Environmental Quality for the site. PP&R and its design consultants conducted ten Initial Key Stakeholder Interviews with non-profit organizations, government agencies, bike activist, runners and neighbors. A Public Advisory Committee (PAC) was assembled that helped inform the Project design process over the course of six PAC meetings. The PAC was made up of the following stakeholders: State Representative, residents of adjacent neighborhoods, Forest Park interest groups, cultural non-profits and staff support. Intercept surveys/interviews at Forest Park, Latino Family Night, the Jade Night Market, Montavilla & Peninsula Free Swim, and Blue Lake Regional Park provided the Project Team with additional input, along with targeted New User/Underrepresented Community Outreach to 20 different groups for a short conversation and in-depth Focus Groups with the African American Outdoor Association, Mujeres Movemiento, Camp ELSO, and the African Community Council of Oregon. Three Open House general public outreach events rounded out the public outreach efforts for this Project to solicit and discuss public feedback for conceptual design and gain support for preferred design of proposed improvements. Funding for this Project is included in the FY21-22 budget through a combination of funds from PP&R System Development Charges and State of Oregon Grant funds. The construction cost estimate for the Project provided by the consultant team led by Walker Macy Landscape Architects and its cost estimator DCW Cost Management is $2.4 million. The total project budget is $4.3 million. PP&R’s confidence level in the cost estimate is medium due to the current bidding and construction market, low contractor availability, and pricing risk from uncertainties in material supply chains for estimates and project bids. PP&R seeks Council’s authorization for Procurement Services to issue a competitive solicitation and execute a contract for the Project. NOW, THEREFORE, the Council directs: That the Chief Procurement Officer is authorized to facilitate the use of the competitive solicitation process in order to obtain the most responsible and responsive bid for the construction of the Forest Park Entry Project. Upon Council acceptance of the Chief Procurement Officer’s Report, Procurement Services is authorized to negotiate and execute a contract, provided the contract has been approved as to form by the City Attorney’s Office. The Mayor and City Auditor are hereby authorized to draw and deliver checks chargeable to the PP&R System Development Charge funds and State of Oregon Grant funds when demand is presented and approved by the proper authorities. Section 2. The Council declares that an emergency exists to ensure meeting the requirements of the Department of Environmental Quality for the site by year end; therefore, this Ordinance shall be in full force and effect from and after its passage by the Council.