DEPARTMENT: Parks
FILE TYPE: Consent Action
TITLE
title
Authorization To Execute Contract Amendment With Bolton & Menk, Inc., For Construction Management Services For Minnesota River Greenway Fort Snelling Segment, In Cities Of Burnsville And Eagan, County Project P00127
end
PURPOSE/ACTION REQUESTED
Authorize a contract amendment with Bolton & Menk, Inc., (Bolton & Menk) for construction management services for the Minnesota River Greenway, Fort Snelling Segment, to account for additional management and inspection tasks.
SUMMARY
Dakota County is proceeding with the Minnesota River Greenway, Fort Snelling Segment (P00127) to construct 3.7 miles of the Minnesota River Greenway between trailheads located near Nicols Road and Lone Oak Road in Burnsville and Eagan, including a bridge to cross over railroad owned by Union Pacific (Attachment: Project Map).
By Resolution No. 25-044 (January 21, 2025), the County executed a contract with Bolton & Menk for $666,423.00 for construction management and inspection services of the bridge portion of the project. The bridge construction process has experienced delays due to permitting and utility coordination challenges, requiring an amendment to address the difference between the construction timeline and level of effort anticipated during bidding versus what has been required to keep the project on schedule and budget.
The delays were caused by a required Xcel structure replacement within the project area and compliance issues with Union Pacific Railroad (UPRR) safety protocol, UPRR approval of construction of a temporary roadway within UPRR property required for power line clearance, revision of temporary wetland permits requested by the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources due to the change in project area, approval of a US Fish and Wildlife Service variance for removal of additional trees within the bat-related restriction time, delay of a requested transmission line outage, and implementation of a fen contingency plan and minimization of risks. Also, issues were encountered during pile drilling due to underground conditions, resulting in slow progress, more intensive decision-making processes, and more frequent surveying and geotechnical testing needs.
Bolton & Menk has estimated additional incurred and anticipated costs beyond the contract scope (Attachment: Amendment Request):
• Construction Project Management: $185,814.50
• Construction Inspection: $395,243.50
• Construction Surveying: $46,602.50
• Materials Testing: $16,715.40
The Contractor’s schedule anticipates full-time work until the end of December 2025. Most of the concrete girders, the prefabricated truss, and the steel beams will be set in 2025. The Contractor plans to begin full-time work again in early March 2026 and has until mid-October 2026 to reach substantial completion. Additional design and/or environmental support efforts, surveying, and materials testing are expected in 2026.
RECOMMENDATION
recommendation
Staff recommends execution of a contract amendment with Bolton & Menk in the amount of $644,375.90 for additional and expanded scope tasks occurring during construction of the Minnesota River Greenway, Fort Snelling Segment.
end
EXPLANATION OF FISCAL/FTE IMPACTS
The Parks Capital Improvement Program includes a total project budget of $24,447,800. The breakdown of the fundings sources in the Parks CIP is provided below. The Parks funds balance includes Federal funds awarded through the 2018 Regional Solicitation and Environmental Legacy and General funds balances. There is an uncommitted balance of $2,467,660 for the project which is sufficient budget for the proposed contract amendment.
|
Funding Source |
Amount |
|
Sales and Use Tax |
$2,184,226 |
|
Regional Railroad Authority Fund |
$2,610,131 |
|
State and County Parks Funds |
$5,003,126 |
|
Metropolitan Council |
$4,090,569 |
|
Parks Fund Balance |
$10,559,748 |
|
Total |
$24,447,800 |
☐ None ☒ Current budget ☐ Other
☐ Amendment Requested ☐ New FTE(s) requested
RESOLUTION
body
WHEREAS, the Minnesota River Greenway runs along the south side of the Minnesota River in Dakota County, extending from I-35W in Burnsville to Lilydale Regional Park in St. Paul; and
WHEREAS, by Resolution No. 11-516 (October 18, 2011), the Dakota County Board of Commissioners adopted the Minnesota River Greenway Plan; and
WHEREAS, the rapidly developing and robust recreational network that has developed in the area has created increased demand for completion of the trail connection between the recently constructed Loan Oak Trail Head, the Cedar Nicols Trailhead, and the Minnesota River Greenway Black Dog Segment to the west; and
WHEREAS, by Resolution No. 25-044 (January 21, 2025), the Dakota County Board of Commissioners authorized execution of a contract with Bolton & Menk, Inc., for construction administration and inspection services for the bridge portion of the Fort Snelling segment of the Minnesota River Greenway in an amount not to exceed $666,423.00; and
WHEREAS, construction of the bridge began in June 2025, a month later than scheduled, due to delays in the Xcel structure replacement; and
WHEREAS, in June, the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources denied access to the west side until the temporary wetland permit was revised and an additional permit for the access road was approved; and
WHEREAS, progress towards construction of the bridge was further set back due to US Fish and Wildlife Service variance to remove trees within bat restriction time, delayed Xcel power outage, risk mitigation of fen impacts during pile driving, and encountering rock during drilling; and
WHEREAS, these incidents and additional challenges related to the construction process have resulted in an expanded scope of work for Bolton & Menk, Inc., to oversee the construction process; and
WHEREAS, staff recommends execution of a contract amendment with Bolton & Menk, Inc., in the amount of $644,375.90 for additional and expanded scope tasks occurring during construction of the Minnesota River Greenway, Fort Snelling Segment.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, That the Dakota County Board of Commissioners hereby authorizes the Parks Director to amend the contract with Bolton & Menk, Inc., by $644,375.90 to an amended amount not to exceed $1,310,798.90, subject to approval by the County Attorney’s Office.
end
PREVIOUS BOARD ACTION
11-516; 10/18/11
25-044; 01/21/25
ATTACHMENTS
Attachment: Project Map
Attachment: Amendment Request
BOARD GOALS
☒ Thriving People ☐ A Healthy Environment with Quality Natural Resources
☐ A Successful Place for Business and Jobs ☐ Excellence in Public Service
CONTACT
Department Head: Niki Geisler
Author: Luisa Torres