First Saskatoon council meeting of 2014

SASKATOON – The first city council meeting of 2014 includes Kinsmen Park renovations, pothole services in 2013 and a new heritage property on Monday.

Council will be asked to award a contract for phase one construction at Kinsmen Park to PCL Construction.

The original tender closed on May 2013 with only one bid received. It was significantly over-budget and rejected.

In October 2013, council approved the contract amendment with Space2Piace Design for around $952,700 to work on cost-saving strategies and the project was re-tendered.

Tender packages for Phase One closed on Dec. 2, 2013 and eight bids were received and evaluated.

PCL had the lowest bid at $6.3 million, even with the addition of an alternate item, the double cable ride.

Construction is expected to start in the spring once the contract is awarded.

The city is being asked to approve a change order for almost $200,000 to asphalt supplier ASL Paving.

This covers the cost of increased asphalt material used to fill potholes during 2013.

The original contract supplying civic pothole crews was estimated at 3,500 tonnes.

A substantial number of potholes equated to an increased utilization of hot mix asphalt, and administration increased the quantity to 6,329 tonnes.

If approved, the net cost to the city for the contract would be around $601,500.

Also on the agenda, City Gardner’s Site in Victoria Park is up for designation as a municipal heritage property.

The bylaw will designate the property under The Heritage Property Act and $2,500 would be allocated to install a recognition plaque.

Early settlers passed through the site on their way to the city transporting bison bones on what would be known as The Old Bone Trail.

The first two city gardeners also resided in a house at this location for many years. Much of Saskatoon’s urban forest can be attributed to them.