The city is getting closer to making some progress at the site of the former Rising Star Elementary School, now Rising Star Park.
During the board of aldermen meeting last month, Platte County aldermen voted to approve two contracts tied to the redevelopment of the area.
SFS Architecture of Kansas City was given a $60,200 contract for design and professional service project management for Phase I of the project.
Subcontract work with Confluence Landscape Architects and Waters Edge Aquatic Design is included in the cost for construction plans to occur this summer or fall.
In November, the city forged ahead with master plan A which consists of three phases of construction, though Phase II and III are contingent on funding, but are 20 years down the road.
The improvements in phase I includes a flow through splash pad, inclusive playground area, shelter house, bathroom and parking, roadway and sidewalk improvements.
SFS was one of four candidates the city interviewed and was awarded the master plan agreement in January 2019. In November, the board and SFS amended its previous contract to add design and project management to the list instead of going out for bids again that could push the project into 2021.
SFS and the city agreed to have a separate civil engineer for the project and that is where Bartlett and West Engineering entered the picture.
The estimated cost for them will be $38,600 plus up to $1,400 in direct expenses.
Both resolutions were passed by the board.
PARKING SPOTS
The city addressed disabled access parking on a public street within residential districts. The public safety committee agreed during its December meeting that a guideline needed to be established to set an ordinance going forward
There are several requirements, which include written request delivered to the city clerk; pay a non-refundable $50 application fee; verification of residency and ADA status; limits to certain zoning districts (single family/duplex/residential conservation district); limits eligibility if area is available on private property for loading/unloading handicapped persons; city administrator will make the decision; conditions on use and applicant consent is needed in writing which includes the access space expiring after one year with request for extensions submitted to the clerk.
NOTES
City administrator DJ Gehrt had his contract extended through another year, meaning he will have that job until Oct. 31, 2022. He had a 24-month term agreed to in March 2019 that was set to expire on Oct. 31, 2021. He joined the city in November 2011.
The city extended its franchise agreement with Platte-Clay Electric for 20 years or through Jan. 31, 2040, whichever comes first, according to paperwork filed. The original agreement was made in 2007. The current expected annual revenue generated from the deal is $49,000 — a five percent cut. The vote was 5-0.
Two budget amendments were approved. The first was transferring $75,000 from the capital improvement sales tax fund to transportation capital improvement project for the Kentucky Avenue/Platte Falls Road intersection improvement project. Another budget amendment was for a 2020 Ford Police Interceptor SUV, originally ordered in Feb. 2019 but the delivery didn’t occur until last month. As it was delivered after the fiscal year, an amendment was needed for the 2019-2020 budget at the cost of $38,088. The new vehicle will replace a 2016 model with more than 112,000 miles.
In the 2019 year-to-date numbers presented at the January board meeting, police chief Joe Wellington noted a decrease in crime numbers compared to 2018 year-to-date numbers in stealing/larceny/theft (47 in 2018/40 in 2019), burglary (6/5) and aggravated assault (6/5), while motor vehicle thefts were the same (9/9) and there was a robbery this year, but none in 2018.