Fiscal Note
The 2018 Parks Division adopted Capital Budget includes $1,345,000 for Playground/Accessibility Improvements (Munis project 17436) funded by GO Borrowing ($745,000), Impact Fees ($565,000), and Private Contributions ($35,000). This resolution authorizes the sole source purchase of materials from Gerber Leisure Products, Inc. for playground border timbers to maintain playground surfacing within the parks system. The Parks Division estimates spending $45,000 for playground border timbers in 2018. The costs associated with purchasing border timbers are included in the Playground/Accessibility Improvements project.
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Authorizing the sole source purchase of materials from Gerber Leisure Products, Inc. for playground border timbers to maintain playground surfacing within the parks system.
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Playground border timbers help to hold playground surfacing in place, minimizing tracking of surfacing outside of the playground and maintaining the correct level of playground surfacing beneath equipment. The correct level of surfacing is required to meet current U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission guidelines, ASTM standards and requirements for accessibility.
The Parks Division is standardizing playground products and manufacturers to streamline maintenance by utilizing products that have a proven record of durability. The Parks Division’s Certified Playground Safety Inspector evaluated field applications of the top three playground border timber manufacturers: Landscape Structures® TuffTimbers™, Playworld Systems® Border Timbers, and Childforms® Funtimbers™.
It was determined that Landscape Structures TuffTimbers™ from Gerber Leisure Products, Inc. is the only product that meets the Parks Division’s requirements for construction and durability. Gerber Leisure Products, Inc. is the sole vendor for Landscape Structures products in the State of Wisconsin.
WHEREAS, the Parks Division seeks to efficiently maintain playground surfacing materials in over 175 playground sites; and
WHEREAS, the Parks Division has field evaluated multiple border timber products; and
WHEREAS, the only border timber product that meets the Parks Division’s requirements for construction and durability is Landscape Structures® TuffTimbers™; and
WHEREAS, Gerber Leisure Products, Inc. is the sole vendor that can provide the specific border timber product in the state of Wisconsin; and
WHEREAS, City Purchasing will not approve a Purchase Order for a non-competitive purchase of goods that exceeds $25,000 without Common Council approval; and
WHEREAS, the Parks Division is now seeking such approval so that the necessary border timber products may be purchased for playground improvements in 2018.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Mayor and City Clerk or Designee of the Finance Director, as appropriate, are hereby authorized to execute document(s) as necessary in a form approved by the City Attorney, with Gerber Leisure Products, Inc. for the purchase of Landscape Structures® TuffTimbers™ for playground improvements in 2018.