HomeMy WebLinkAboutA032 - Ada Hayden Heritage Park Path Replacement Project - Harrison Road Parking Lot Path to Main TrailITEM #:34
DATE:10-14-25
DEPT:P&R
SUBJECT:ADA HAYDEN HERITAGE PARK PATH REPLACEMENT PROJECT -
HARRISON ROAD PARKING LOT PATH TO MAIN TRAIL
COUNCIL ACTION FORM
BACKGROUND:
On June 24, 2025, City Council awarded a contract to Caliber Construction, Adair, Iowa, to
complete the replacement of the ten-foot-wide asphalt path at Ada Hayden Heritage Park with
a twelve-foot-wide concrete path. Also awarded as part of the contract was the replacement of
the four connecting paths that enter the park from Edgewater Court, Fletcher Blvd., Stone
Brooke Road, and the Harrison Road Parking Lot. Caliber Concrete started the project the
week of August 11 and is anticipated to be completed with the project in late October.
The paths connecting Fletcher Blvd. and Stone Brooke Road were specified to remain
ten feet wide because of the lack of land available to increase these paths to twelve foot
wide. The path connecting Edgewater Court was specified to remain eight feet wide,
also due to the lack of space available to increase the width. The path connecting the
Harrison Road Parking Lot to the main trail, previously ten feet wide, was specified to
be increased to twelve feet wide in order to accommodate individuals that use the
parking lot as a hub to enter the park.
During project development, staff received feedback from users in favor of the increased path
width around the lake, as that was the main emphasis of the project. Staff did not receive
much, if any, feedback regarding the widths of the connecting paths.
During a project observation visit in late September, staff noticed that Caliber Concrete had
completed paths connecting Edgewater Court, Fletcher Blvd, Stone Brooke Road, and the
Harrison Parking Lot to the main trail. While at the park, staff measured the width of the
path that connects to the Harrison Road Parking Lot. The width was measured at ten
feet, instead of the specified twelve feet.
Staff communicated with representatives from Caliber Concrete about the path not being
constructed to the specified width. Caliber Concrete staff acknowledged its mistake and asked
how the City would like it rectified. Staff requested the path be removed and replaced with a
twelve-foot-wide path. Caliber responded by presenting other options instead of
removing the entire 564-foot-long path and replacing it in order to attain the twelve-foot-
wide path. These are detailed in the alternatives below.
ALTERNATIVES:
1. Leave the ten-foot-wide path as it is currently installed and authorize the Mayor to
sign a five-year agreement with the contractor allowing the City to require
replacement of the path with the specified width by the contractor at no cost to
the City, if the City determines the wider path is necessary.
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This option is presented because this section has been installed and was previously a
ten-foot-wide path. Additionally, staff did not receive any feedback stating that this
section of path was a safety concern, and staff does not have any reports of any
accidents occurring in the past.
Staff spoke with Caliber and they are willing to sign an agreement stating that they
would replace the path, at no cost to the City, with a twelve-foot-wide path if over
the next five years staff determines this section is a safety concern because of the
ten-foot-width.
If this option is taken, the City Attorney's Office will develop an agreement with
Caliber for the five-year period of which replacement could be required of the
contractor at no cost to the City, and the Council should also authorize the Mayor
to sign the agreement. This action would allow the project to continue moving forward
rather than potentially delaying it.
It is important to note that payments for this project are not based on lump sum,
but rather on quantities and a specified unit cost. Therefore, the City is only
responsible for paying for the quantities that are installed/constructed. If the Council
recommends this option, the City would not be charged approximately $5,761 for the
amount of concrete that was not poured.
2. Increase the width of the ten-foot-wide path to twelve feet by removing four feet of
the current path (leaving six feet in place) and adding a six-foot wide portion of
concrete along the entire length of the path.
This option was presented by Caliber Concrete as a way to meet the twelve-foot width
without having to remove the entire path that has been poured. Staff reviewed this option
and agrees it would meet the specified twelve-foot width. However, with this option
there would be a control joint that would run parallel to the trail edge the entire
length of the path. Over time control joints crack, become wider, and spall,
creating safety concerns for bicyclists, roller blades, scooters, etc. Also, control
joints will need sealing from time to time to prevent degradation from freezing and
thawing. Having a control joint that runs the length of the path increases the
amount of joints that will need to be maintained over the life of the concrete.
If Council recommends this option, there would be no additional construction cost to the
City, only added maintenance costs over the life of the concrete, and the project may
take longer to complete.
3. Increase the width of the ten-foot-wide path to twelve-feet by adding a two-foot-
wide portion of concrete along the entire length of the path.
Similar to option two, this was presented by Caliber Concrete as a way to meet the
specified twelve-foot width. The same issues apply with this option as they do for
Option 2. Also, another goal of the project is to ensure the path looks uniform and
constructed applying industry standards. This option is not ideal as the appearance
would obviously indicate that there was a mistake made with the necessary
addition of the two-foot swath of concrete to meet the specified twelve-foot-width.
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If Council recommends this option, there would be no additional construction cost to the
City, only added maintenance costs over the life of the concrete, and the project may
take longer to complete.
4. Remove the current ten-foot-wide concrete path and replace it with a twelve-foot-
wide concrete path.
This option is presented since a twelve-foot-wide path was intended and specified. This
option would more than likely delay final completion of the project.
If Council recommends this option, there may be an additional cost of $5,761 to the City
for the amount of concrete not included in the original pour.
CITY MANAGER'S RECOMMENDED ACTION:
Staff has evaluated all options for this situation and does not recommend Alternatives
2 or 3, since both options have an additional control joint that would run the length of
the path that will become a safety concern and require additional maintenance over the
life of the path. That leaves Alternatives 1 and 4, which staff feels are the most reasonable
solutions.
Alternative 4 would provide a path as it was specified and what was approved by
Council. However, based on a review of the feedback received during the pl anning
process, the lack of safety issues seen on that path previously at ten feet wide,
conversations with Caliber, and the fact that the remaining connecting paths are 10 feet
wide or less, it is the recommendation of the City Manager that Alternative 1 be
pursued.
If Council agrees with the recommendation of Alternative 1, the ten-foot-wide path
currently installed will remain. The City Attorney's Office will develop an agreement
with Caliber Concrete, stating that Caliber would be responsible for removing and
replacing the path currently in place with a twelve-foot-wide path if deemed unsafe by
City staff within the next five years, starting the first day after final completion of the
project, and Council should authorize the Mayor to sign the agreement.
ATTACHMENT(S):
Harrison_Parking_Path_Detail.pdf
Ada_Hayden_Heritage_Park_-_Park_Connecting_Paths_Map.jpg
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SHARED USE PATH PAVEMENT
Harrison Parking
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