*Authorize competitive solicitation and contracting with the lowest responsive and responsible bidder for construction of the Columbia Children’s Arboretum Improvement Project for an estimated cost of $2,250,000

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. Columbia Children’s Arboretum, located in the East Columbia Neighborhood, accessed from NE Sixth Drive and NE Meadow Lane, is a 28-acre hybrid nature park which currently includes a non-ADA accessible linear wood chip and gravel path from one end to the other, pedestrian bridges crossing over waterways, small gravel parking area, picnic tables, portable restrooms, and a bench. The City purchased the property from Portland Public Schools (PPS) in 1999 through Ordinance No. 173252, in which PPS retained for itself a perpetual 3.67-acre easement for its bus parking facility off NE Sixth Drive. In 2004, PP&R engaged the community and completed a Management Plan for the property that outlined a long-term vision for the park: to protect the site’s natural resources while providing needed recreational opportunities. The 2015 ADA Title II Transition Plan Update: Parks Facilities Supplement identified 16 barriers to access in this park. In 2016 some initial project funding was committed, and in 2018 PP&R engaged the public to set community-supported priorities for the design and construction of park improvements. PP&R and its design consultants engaged the public through three Open Houses and four Project Advisory Committee (PAC) meetings. The PAC was comprised of representatives from a number of organizations representing a variety of interests and park users. The Columbia Children’s Arboretum Improvement Project (“Project”) will include several elements identified in the 2004 Management Plan and will address 15 out of 16 barriers identified in the 2015 ADA Transition Plan Update. Improvements will include an ADA-accessible linear trail through the park, bus drop-off and turnaround, ADA parking, bike parking, planting and temporary irrigation, and site amenities such as accessible portable restrooms in enclosures, drinking fountain, benches, picnic areas, trash receptacles, and nature exploration spots. Funding for the Project consists of Parks System Development Charges (SDC). SDC funds, collected from new development, are used to add essential new park system capacity needed to accommodate new growth. SDC funding was committed over several fiscal years, beginning in 2016, for a total project budget of $3,385,000: $100,000 FY 16-17; $1,035,000 FY 17-18; $750,000 FY 18-19; $1,500,000 FY 19-20. The construction cost estimate for the Project provided by the consultant team led by NNA Landscape Architects is $2.25 million. PP&R’s confidence level in the cost estimate is medium-low 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 construction of the Project. NOW, THEREFORE, the Council directs: That the Chief Procurement Officer is authorized to facilitate the use of the competitive solicitation process to obtain the most responsible and responsive bid for the construction of the Columbia Children’s Arboretum Improvement 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 Auditor are hereby authorized to draw and deliver checks chargeable to the Parks System Development Charge funds when demand is presented and approved by the proper authorities. Section 2. The Council declares that an emergency exists to bid and construct the project during the 2022 dry season due to the site’s seasonal high-water table and very poor soil conditions; therefore, this Ordinance shall be in full force and effect from and after its passage by the Council.