Memorandum

City of Lawrence

Parks & Recreation Department

DATE:           June 21, 2012

TO:              Dave Corliss, City Manager,

Cynthia Wagner, Assistant City Manager

                             Diane Stoddard, Assistant City Manager

                   Ernie Shaw, Interim Director Parks & Recreation

FROM:          Mark Hecker, Assistant Director, Parks and Recreation

RE:               Watson Park Playground Surfacing

Please include the following item on the next available City Commission agenda:

Approve the purchase of recycled rubber to be used as playground surfacing in Watson Park.

Project Description

The City of Lawrence Parks and Recreation Department submitted, and was awarded, a KDHE Waste Tire Product Grant. The submitted application was for a $31,660 project to purchase 56 tons of rubber playground surfacing for Watson Park. This is a 50/50 grant program where the City purchases the total amount of product needed and the State will reimburse they City 50% of the total ($15,830). As a condition of the funding, the rubber playground surfacing must be purchased from a list of State approved companies that recycles Kansas tires. Over the past four years ABCreative out of Desoto has been the approved provider that has provided the best product at the lowest price. Staff’s preference is to stay with this product on all City playgrounds to maintain a similar appearance and for ease of maintenance (surfacing needs to be topped-off occasionally).  

Project Funding

Funding for the City’s half of the project $15,830 will come from the Sales Tax Reserve Fund. A purchase order for the total amount of the project ($31,660) will need to be cut from this budget to purchase the product. The $15,830 from the State will be redistributed to this account when received.

Action Request

The City of Lawrence Parks and Recreation Department staff requests approval from the City Commission to waive the formal bidding process and authorize the City Manager to purchase rubber playground surfacing in accordance with KDHE Waste Tire Product Grant program rules. The total amount of the purchase will not exceed $31,660.

Thank you for your assistance.  Please advise if you have any questions.