Authorizing execution of a Professional Services Agreement with Bolton & Menk, Inc. in the amount of $1,194,370 to complete the professional design services for the Reconstruction of 3rd and 4th Ave NW from Civic Center Drive to Center Street W and adjacent side connections to be known as Central Loop at 3rd and 4th Avenues.

The City, in partnership with Destination Medical Center (DMC) and Mayo Clinic, is undertaking approximately $38 million in coordinated downtown infrastructure and public realm improvements over the coming years. Central Loop at 3rd and 4th Avenues is one of the key projects identified.

To accommodate Mayo Clinic's new clinical building expansions, the City vacated portions of 3rd and 4th Avenues between 2nd St SW and W Center St. These previously continuous one-way arterials now terminate at W Center St and the future drop off loop for the Waterman Building.

The design envisioned will establish a welcoming arrival and departure corridor connecting Civic Center Dr to Mayo Clinic's new Waterman Building. The reconstructed 3rd and 4th Avenues NW must support multimodal travel demands and incorporate enhanced streetscaping, landscaping, pedestrian amenities, and dedicated bicycle facilities. In addition to surface improvements, significant public utility upgrades are required. Watermain, storm sewer, and sanitary sewer systems will generally be replaced. Traffic Signal replacements are also planned as part of this project.

This corridor is identified as a Tier 1 pedestrian and streetscaping priority within the City's Enhanced Public Realm Plan, emphasizing its importance as a high-quality, walkable, and visually cohesive downtown route. These avenues will be design meeting the Procession vision of the City's Enhanced Public Realm Plan.

A Request for Proposals (RFP) was issued on August 28, 2026, soliciting qualified professional design firms to complete preliminary and final design for the corridor. Four (4) proposals were received and evaluated using a qualifications-based selection process, including scoring of team experience, project understanding, work plan and approach, and cost. Proposals received ranged in fees between $1,194,370 and $2,128,249.

The scoring committee included members from Public Works, Community Development and DMC. Bolton & Menk, Inc. submitted the highest scoring proposal and demonstrated strong understanding of the public realm vision, stakeholder coordination requirements, Mayo interface considerations, and multimodal design needs. Their proposal was also the lowest in design fee.

Public Works recommends contracting with Bolton & Menk for professional design services in the amount of $1,194,370.

City Staff will continue to closely coordinate with Mayo’s construction management team to ensure design details, staging, and schedules minimize community disruption and follow the City’s “dig once” approach to project delivery in the downtown area over the next 5 years. This project will upgrade utility infrastructure in a way that supports a redeveloping community for generations. It will reimagine our street corridors through complete streets, including enhancing safety, accessibility, and mobility for all users, preparing our City for the future.

October 6, 2025: Council Meeting - Approval of 2026 and 2027 Destination Medical Center Corporation Budget - Operating and Capital.

Project funding will be provided primarily through DMC funds, with additional contributions made through a cost-sharing agreement with Mayo Clinic. The sanitary sewer replacement along 2nd Street NW will be funded through utility reserves.

This professional services agreement will be funded by $30,764 in sewer utility funds for the 2nd Street NW sanitary sewer replacement, with the remaining $1,163,606 covered by DMC funds.

The very preliminary construction cost estimate for this project is $8,500,000, which will be refined and updated as the design progresses.

No alternative actions suggested at this time.