City of Oak Creek

Common Council Report

Meeting Date: March 4, 2003

Recommendation: That the Common Council concur with the recommendation of the Department of Parks, Recreation & Forestry and approve the bid of $15,920.00 from Miller and Associates for the purchase of (5) five new transportable aluminum bleachers.

Background: On February 13, 2003, four (4) bids were opened in the office of the City Clerk. Miller and Associates is the recommended bidder. Although, Miller and Associates was not the low bidder, staff felt that the additional bracing design and hardware used to assemble the bleachers makes for a stronger bleacher than the low bidders product.

The new bleachers will replace existing bleachers located at the five softball diamonds used by the City for the youth baseball program (388 participants) and the adult softball program (587 participants). The bleachers will also be used for the fall youth soccer program (150 participants), the youth football program (129 participants) and the High School varsity boys and girls soccer programs in the spring and fall. See enclosed photographs of existing and proposed new bleachers.

The City owns 12 portable bleachers used by spectators in attendance at various City and School District athletic events, holiday celebrations, and special events. The bleachers provide a designated, safe location where spectators can have an accessible, elevated and unobstructed view of events and activities.

A bleacher inspection was performed on the City’s bleachers last fall. See enclosed inspection report and photographs.

The existing bleachers are over 25 years old and do not meet the current International Building Code (IBC), recently adopted by the State of Wisconsin, which require such items as aisle and seating enclosures, guard rail systems with fencing fabric, an aisle and hand rail. See enclosed photograph. Although the IBC code does not apply to our current bleachers, many of our current bleachers need frame painting, along with wooden seat/foot plank and hardware replacement at approximately $500 per bleacher and 96 hours of labor each.

The intent is to eliminate 7 existing larger wood planked bleachers (seating capacity of 96) that need the most maintenance and purchase 5 new aluminum bleachers (seating capacity of 58) that are safer and more accessible for spectators yet large enough to accommodate a sufficient number of spectators. The remaining 5 bleachers will be inspected periodically for general maintenance and eventually replaced.

Fiscal Impact: Monies needed for this purchase are available in the Parks, Recreation & Forestry approved 2003 Capital Equipment Budget.

Prepared & Approved by:

Douglas A. Schachtner

Director of Parks, Recreation & Forestry

Respectfully submitted,

Robert L. Kufrin

City Administrator

Fiscal Review by:

Beverly A. Buretta, CMC

City Clerk