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79 around the I -35E construction area, and the School District to accommodate school <br />80 schedules while still accomplishing the work within one construction season. <br />81 <br />82 At the request of Chair Stenlund, Mr. Culver reviewed proposals received and <br />83 reviewed as part of the Best Value process versus typical bidding, and variables <br />84 from one contractor to another. In the current bidding climate, Mr. Culver reported <br />85 that contractors are bidding higher to increase their profit and/or employ more <br />86 workers as they're busier now than during the economic downturn several years <br />87 ago. Mr. Culver reported, unfortunately, that increased costs to the City as well as <br />88 limiting the number of proposals as some contractors simply didn't have time to <br />89 submit a proposal that took more time to do than submitting a bid. Mr. Culver <br />90 opined that one solution was to make sure the Request for Proposals (RFP) was <br />91 very clear as to the project itself. <br />92 <br />93 At the request of Chair Stenlund in the increased number of water meters being <br />94 installed now compared to when the contractor becomes fully operational, Mr. <br />95 Culver clarified that he didn't see any concern with less quality in the work, since <br />96 those technicians performing the work were very qualified and that was why they <br />97 could perform the work more efficiently, as well as due to their supp staff. Mr. <br />98 Culver noted that Ferguson has been performing this type of work fo"' many years, <br />99 and have up to three technicians working on any given day; and there should be no <br />100 concern that just because they're doing more replacements on any given day, the <br />101 quality of their work was being impacted. Mr. Culver noted that City staff would <br />102 continue installing meters as time allowed, but also as they performed their other <br />103 daily work responsibilities. Mr. Culver advised that if a homeowner sees any <br />104 indication of water around the floor by the meter after meter replacement, to be on <br />105 the safe side, they should call the City or the number left by Ferguson Contractors <br />106 to double-check the connections. <br />107 <br />108 request of Chair tenlund ver advised that the Victoria Street Project <br />109 fw7as little behind schedule due to the land acquisition just approved by the City <br />110 Council last week. Mr. Culver noted that this slowed down the contractor's ability <br />111 to excavate the pond for the stormwater system until the property had been legally <br />112 acquired. However, Mr. Culver advised they were still well within the specified <br />113 timeline irements. <br />114 <br />115 5. Community Solar Update and Discussion <br />116 Mr. Culver introduced Trevor Drake from Great Plains Institute, also a <br />117 representative from the Clean Energy Resource Teams (CERTs) to provide an <br />118 update on the options for community solar garden participation. <br />119 <br />120 Mr. Drake provided a summary of the eighteen -year-old Great Plains Institute and <br />121 their mission to transform the way energy is produced, distributed and consumed <br />122 for economic and environmental sustainability. Mr. Drake noted the four <br />123 organizations partnering in the CERT's, one of seven regions across the State of <br />124 MN. <br />Page 3 of 16 <br />