Proposal to Vancouver City Council June 24th 2013

Good Evening Mayor and Council.  I would like to discuss the Old Evergreen Highway Neighborhood Association and the federal grant we received for building a sidewalk.  With $925,000 ready to go, we are only short the $140,000 for engineering.  We have raised about $70,000 and still need another $70,000 and its looking bleak.

Two weeks ago I listened to the council commend local groups working together to cut costs and save money.  I would like to take that a step forward with the proposed sidewalk project.  I’m wondering if the City will support OEHNA working with Washington State Civil Engineering department to help with the required studies.  Additionally oversight review and stamp from the chosen PE firm Berger ABAM who have done extensive studies already.  David Sacamamo and I are meeting tomorrow to move this forward and give Professor Dave Pallack the requested information.  Professor Pallack stated as long as we meet three of the four required criteria they would fit this project into the Fall schedule for a 4 student senior project.  The proposed trail will meet all 4 of the requirements according to ABAM.

Will the city support this proposal, and will the city please help outline any requirements to fulfill.

I would also like to understand if the approved design can have an extended vesting from City planning so that if we can not complete 100% of it in 5 years, that we do not have to come back to the drawing board like the last time design was planned and engineered prior to 1996.   I would like to propose a 20 year vesting period so that we can limit use of resources required the future as we try and complete the trail.

Thank you in advance for the consideration, this will save us around $100,000 or more and we can use the excess revenue towards the trail project in other ways or help fund a program at WSU. 

Lets take advantage of WSU, ABAM and hopefully the City generosity and move this project forward.

Thank you, and I hope to have an answer by next Monday to make sure I do not affect Professor Pallacks timeline to make sure our project gets fit in.

_____

Update from City Council meeting - Funding for the initial build is 100% complete with the federal contribution and City contribution to help with Engineering and permits in kind.  We only need to find an in kind solution for the Engineering of 3 miles more of trail...

More to come