Committee approves paperwork fix and amendment for Lorraine Avenue rehabilitation contract

The Municipal Services and Properties Committee on April 6 approved Ordinance 351-2026 to update the project identification (PID) number for the Lorraine Avenue rehabilitation project and to continue a design contract with Michael Baker International.

City staff said the ordinance does not change the project scope or request new funding; rather it updates the PID because ODOT changed how the project is catalogued (new PID 105932). Staff said about $696,194 of design funding is associated with the contract and that the larger project has been funded in phases dating back to 2015, including federal NOACA CMAQ dollars and state urban paving funds.

Councilman Harsh proposed an amendment to strike language that could permit payments from future bond proceeds and to avoid relying on “any fund approved by the director of finance” that might use future bonds; Councilwoman Hudson seconded the amendment and the committee approved it. Staff said they will provide a detailed breakdown of which dollars are design, construction match and the year funds were allocated.

Katie Moore, special projects manager for the Office of Capital Projects, said the city continues to pursue external funding and has an active build application and earmark requests to help cover construction costs. The ordinance, as amended, was approved and signed.