Agenda Date: 05/19/2026
Subject:
Title
Resolution 30-2026: approving a Professional Services Agreement with Consor North America, Inc. for Design Services for the Main Street Improvements Project
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From: |
James L. Becklenberg, City Manager |
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Prepared by: |
Adrienne Burton, Director of Major Projects |
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Presentations: |
Adrienne Burton, Director of Major Projects |
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Jason Rutt, Consor North America, Inc. |
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Rachel Roberts, Consor North America, Inc. |
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Meredith Wenskoski, Livable Cities Studio |
PURPOSE:
The purpose of this item is to request City Council approval of a Professional Services Agreement for Design Consultant Services for Project Downtown Phase I - Main Street Improvements. This action represents a key milestone in advancing the project from planning into implementation, consistent with the delivery framework presented to Council on February 10, 2026. Approval of this contract authorizes the project to move into Preliminary Design, where the adopted Project Downtown Concept Plan is translated into coordinated, implementable design solutions.
During this phase, the City will refine the preferred concept, evaluate feasibility, and align scope with cost, phasing, and operational considerations-ensuring that future decisions are informed, deliberate, and grounded in validated project conditions prior to any advancement to final design or construction.
LONG-TERM OUTCOME(S) SERVED:
Vibrant Community with a Rich Culture; Sustainable Community with Natural Beauty; Robust and Resilient Economy; Safe Community
DISCUSSION:
Consor North America, Inc. (“Design Consultant”) serves as the Engineer of Record and is responsible for advancing the technical design of the Main Street Improvements project. This role is critical to translating the adopted Project Downtown Concept Plan into integrated design solutions that align with City objectives, operational needs, and financial parameters.
The Design Consultant was selected through a competitive procurement process in accordance with the City’s purchasing requirements. A multi-disciplinary evaluation committee reviewed proposals based on qualifications, relevant experience with comparable corridor and downtown infrastructure projects, and demonstrated ability to deliver within a phased, CM/GC delivery framework. Based on this evaluation, Consor North America, Inc. was determined to be the most qualified to advance the City’s vision into a deliverable design approach.
Key responsibilities include:
• Advancing preliminary and schematic design aligned with the adopted Concept Plan
• Refining corridor layout, cross-sections, and technical design elements
• Coordinating utilities, drainage, streetscape, and multimodal systems
• Leading the Parking and Curbside Management Strategy to evaluate district-wide parking supply, demand, and operations; define curbside use and access priorities; and develop a long-term management and implementation framework
• Supporting development of the Business Access & Continuity Plan
• Integrating stakeholder input and operational considerations into design
• Coordinating with the CM/GC and Independent Cost Estimator to align design with cost and constructability
The Design Consultant retains full professional responsibility and liability for all design and engineering deliverables.
Project Delivery Alignment
The Design Consultant role is central to the City’s delivery approach, which emphasizes:
• Early validation of design feasibility and constructability
• Integration of cost, schedule, and technical design
• Alignment of design decisions with operational realities
• Structured advancement of design through defined decision points
This approach ensures that design is developed with clear visibility into cost, risk, and implementation considerations prior to advancing to final design or construction.
BACKGROUND:
Project Downtown
Project Downtown is the City’s long-term initiative to guide coordinated reinvestment in historic Downtown Littleton, focused on improving infrastructure, mobility, and the overall functionality of Main Street. Main Street Improvements represent Phase I of this effort and serve as the initial step in implementing the adopted Project Downtown Concept Plan.
The Concept Plan establishes the vision and policy direction for the corridor, reflecting prior community engagement, technical analysis, and City Council input. This phase of work advances that foundation by translating the adopted vision into a comprehensive design approach that addresses aging infrastructure while enhancing placemaking and the public realm. The design will be evaluated, refined, and prepared for implementation through this phase.
Effective management of parking and curbside space is a critical component of how downtown functions, directly influencing access, mobility, business activity, and overall user experience. The Parking and Curbside Management Strategy is being advanced in parallel with design to establish a coordinated, district-wide approach to parking supply, curbside use, and access. This work builds on the Littleton Downtown Development Authority (LDDA) Plan of Development, which identifies parking and access as core elements of downtown vitality, and will provide the operational and policy framework needed to support both near-term implementation and long-term management.
Consistent with the roles and responsibilities outlined in the LDDA Plan of Development, the City will lead the design and implementation of the Main Street Improvements project, with the LDDA serving as a strategic partner focused on stakeholder engagement and alignment with downtown priorities. The LDDA will play a key role in engaging downtown businesses and property owners to inform design and support development of the Business Access and Continuity Plan. This engagement role expands further for the Parking and Curbside Management Strategy, where the LDDA will help shape recommendations by providing stakeholder input on downtown access, parking operations, and curbside use-ensuring strategies reflect business and user needs.
On February 10, 2026, City Council confirmed the framework for advancing the project into design, emphasizing a disciplined, phased approach that integrates design development with cost validation, constructability, and risk management. Council reaffirmed the importance of maintaining clear decision points as the project progresses, ensuring that scope, schedule, and budget are aligned prior to any advancement to construction.
To support this effort, the City has assembled a multidisciplinary project delivery team to advance design, cost validation, and project coordination in a structured and integrated manner, including:
• Consor North America, Inc. (Design Consultant) serving as Engineer of Record
• Ames Construction, Inc. (CM/GC) for preconstruction and potential construction services
• AtkinsRéalis (Owner’s Representative) providing project management and coordination support
• Stanton Constructability Services (Independent Cost Estimator) providing third-party cost validation
All members of the project delivery team were selected through a competitive procurement process in accordance with City requirements.
Within this framework, Preliminary Design focuses on advancing a preferred concept through iterative refinement, evaluation of alternatives, and coordination with technical disciplines and project partners. This includes developing design solutions that are technically feasible, informed by cost, and responsive to operational and corridor-specific constraint, while balancing infrastructure performance with the character and function of the downtown environment.
The Design Consultant contract supports this effort by advancing technical design, coordinating across disciplines, and ensuring the adopted vision is realized within project-specific conditions, cost parameters, and implementation requirements.
Long-Term Capital Financing
The City continues to face increasing pressure on its capital program, driven by aging infrastructure, deferred maintenance, escalating construction costs, and evolving service delivery needs. These factors are widening the gap between identified capital projects and the funding available through traditional pay-as-you-go sources, reinforcing the need for disciplined planning, prioritization, and sequencing of major investments.
Through prior discussions, including the March 2025 City Council Retreat and the September 9, 2025 Study Session, Council established a consistent set of guiding principles that continue to shape the City’s capital strategy. These include a focus on fiscal stewardship, maintaining flexibility within the City’s long-term financial capacity, and balancing near-term infrastructure needs with long-term affordability and debt capacity. Council also emphasized the importance of transparency in engagement, ensuring that residents and stakeholders clearly understand the benefits, tradeoffs, and implications associated with major capital investments.
Within this context, Main Street Improvements have been identified as a catalytic driver of downtown reinvestment. This phase of work positions the City to make informed, transparent decisions regarding the timing, scale, and funding of major investments-while maintaining alignment with established fiscal guardrails and preserving long-term capacity.
Prior Actions or Discussions
City Council Study Session (Certificates of Participation Overview) - March 2026
City Council Study Session (Project Delivery Team Overview) - February 2026
City Council Study Session (Project Downtown Economic Impact Analysis) - December 2025
City Council Study Session (Long-Term Capital Financing) - September 2025
City Council Study Session (Council Retreat Update) - May 2025
City Council Retreat - March 2025
FISCAL IMPACT:
Contract Structure and Phasing
• Total Not-to-Exceed (NTE): $3.7 million (Preliminary + Final Design)
• Initial Authorization (Preliminary Design): $1,555,924
The Not-to-Exceed (NTE) structure establishes an upper limit on contract expenditures while allowing scope to be refined as the project advances through defined phases, supporting cost control and alignment with City authorization.
This phased approach reduces risk by providing visibility into cost, schedule, and constructability as design progresses. Advancement to Final Design will:
• Occur only after schematic design is reviewed and accepted
• Require separate authorization
• Be subject to negotiated scope and fee
Design advancement is tied to defined decision points, maintaining Council oversight throughout. No work beyond the Preliminary Design phase will proceed without explicit City authorization.
Project Budget
Funding for Design services is included within the overall Project Downtown - Main Street Improvements budget and aligns with the City’s capital planning and financing strategy.
STAFF RECOMMENDATION:
Staff recommends approval of the Professional Services Agreement for Design Services to support advancement of the Main Street Improvements project into Preliminary Design.
ALTERNATIVES:
Staff does not have any recommended alternatives at this time.
PROPOSED MOTION:
Proposed Motion
I move to approve Resolution 30-2026 approving a Professional Services Agreement with Consor North America, Inc. for Design Services for the Main Street Improvements Project.