Agenda Date: 05/19/2026
Subject:
Title
Resolution 31-2026: Approving a Professional Services Agreement with AtkinsRéalis for Owner’s Representative Services for the Main Street Improvements Project
Body
|
From: |
James L. Becklenberg, City Manager |
|
Prepared by: |
Adrienne Burton, Director of Major Projects |
|
Presentations: |
Adrienne Burton, Director of Major Projects |
|
|
Stephen Harris, AtkinsRéalis |
PURPOSE:
The purpose of this item is to request City Council approval of a Professional Services Agreement for Owner’s Representative (Owner’s Rep) Services for Phase I - Main Street Improvements as part of Project Downtown. This contract supports advancement of the project from the adopted Concept Plan into Preliminary Design by establishing supplemental owner-side project management support coordination and controls that augment City staff capacity to manage scope, schedule, budget, and risk throughout design and preconstruction. This action aligns with the delivery framework presented to Council on February 10, 2026, and represents a key step in transitioning the project from planning into implementation.
LONG-TERM OUTCOME(S) SERVED:
Vibrant Community with a Rich Culture; Sustainable Community with Natural Beauty; Robust and Resilient Economy; Safe Community
DISCUSSION:
The Owner’s Representative serves as an extension of City staff, providing day-to-day project management support and acting as a primary coordination resource across the full project team. This role is designed to supplement internal capacity and bring specialized expertise to support delivery of a complex, multi-phase capital project. It is critical for reinforcing alignment between the City’s objectives, consultant work, and overall project delivery, while ensuring City leadership remains central to decision-making.
The Owner’s Representative 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 project experience, and demonstrated ability to support complex, phased project delivery. Based on this evaluation, AtkinsRéalis was determined to be the most qualified to provide the coordination, controls, and governance support required for this project.
Key responsibilities include:
• Supporting coordination between the City, Design Consultant, CM/GC, and Independent Cost Estimator
• Tracking and reporting on scope, schedule, budget, and risk performance
• Supporting governance and decision-making through structured reporting and controls
• Assisting with facilitation of Technical Working Group coordination and project team integration
• Helping maintain alignment between design progression, cost validation, and project objectives
• Supporting development of phasing strategies and preparation for Construction Agreed Price (CAP) negotiations
The Owner’s Rep provides supplemental oversight and coordination in support of City staff, but does not assume design responsibility, which remains with the Design Consultant.
Project Delivery Alignment
• The Owner’s Rep role is a key supporting component of the City’s delivery approach, reinforcing the City’s emphasis on:
• Early coordination across disciplines
• Independent validation of cost and risk
• Structured decision-making prior to construction
• Clear governance and accountability
This approach ensures that City-led design advancement is aligned with Council priorities, financial guardrails, and operational considerations before any construction commitment is made.
BACKGROUND:
Project Downtown
Project Downtown represents the City’s long-term framework for reinvestment in Downtown Littleton, addressing mobility, connectivity, safety, parking, utilities, streetscape, and public-realm improvements in a coordinated and intentional manner. Rather than advancing isolated projects, Project Downtown establishes a comprehensive approach to improving how the downtown functions-both operationally and experientially-over multiple phases and funding cycles.
The program originates from the voter-approved Capital Improvement Sales Tax measure adopted in 2021, which was intended to support transformational, multi-generational improvements to the City’s infrastructure. Main Street Improvements constitute Phase I of Project Downtown and serve as the foundational step toward implementation. The adopted Project Downtown Concept Plan (November 2024) reflects extensive community engagement, technical analysis, and Council direction, and establishes the vision, priorities, and character for downtown revitalization. The plan provides the policy framework that guides subsequent design and improvement efforts.
On February 10, 2026, City Council participated in a study session that provided an overview of the project and confirmed the framework for advancing Main Street from planning into design. That discussion focused on the transition from concept planning to implementation and outlined a structured, phased approach to project delivery. Council reaffirmed that the adopted Concept Plan would guide design, with the current phase focused on refinement and implementation-not reconsideration of the approved vision.
The February 10 discussion also emphasized key Council priorities that continue to guide the project, including fiscal discipline, project readiness, and transparent governance. Council reviewed the sequencing of Early Design, Schematic Design, and Final Design, along with defined decision points to ensure that cost, scope, and risk are validated prior to any construction commitment.
To support this effort, the City has assembled a multidisciplinary project delivery team to provide coordinated oversight, technical expertise, and independent validation as the project advances through design and preconstruction, including:
• AtkinsRéalis (Owner’s Representative) providing project management and coordination support
• Ames Construction, Inc. (CM/GC) for preconstruction and potential construction services
• Consor North America, Inc. (Design Consultant) serving as Engineer of Record
• Stanton Constructability Services (Independent Cost Estimator) providing third-party cost validation
Each member of the project delivery team was selected through a competitive procurement process consistent with the City’s purchasing requirements.
The Owner’s Representative contract supports this framework by providing the City with supplemental project management support, coordination, and oversight to augment internal resources and implement the Council-approved delivery approach and maintain alignment with project objectives throughout design and preconstruction. This structure allows the City to retain control of project direction and decision-making, while leveraging external expertise to strengthen delivery, manage risk, and maintain consistency across a complex project team.
Long-Term Capital Financing
The City faces a widening gap between its growing portfolio of capital needs and the funding available through traditional pay-as-you-go sources. Aging infrastructure, deferred maintenance, escalating construction costs, and evolving service expectations continue to place pressure on limited revenues, underscoring the importance of disciplined planning, prioritization, and sequencing of major investments.
At the March 2025 City Council Retreat and the September 9, 2025 Study Session, City Council reinforced a consistent set of guiding principles that continue to shape the City’s capital strategy and approach to Project Downtown. Across these discussions, Council emphasized the importance of fiscal stewardship, balancing near-term infrastructure needs with long-term affordability and debt capacity. Council also underscored the need for transparency in engagement, ensuring residents and stakeholders clearly understand both the benefits and tradeoffs associated with major infrastructure decisions. Within this framework, Council recognized Main Street as a catalytic component of downtown reinvestment and provided direction to proceed with advancing the project into design-within established fiscal guardrails-while preserving future 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
The contract is structured to support phased authorization and maintain Council oversight at key decision points.
• Total Not-to-Exceed (NTE): $1,400,000 (all phases)
• Initial Authorization (Early Design Phase): $117,390
The Not-to-Exceed (NTE) amount establishes an upper limit on total contract expenditures while allowing scope and level of effort to be refined as the project advances through defined phases. This approach supports cost control and aligns expenditures with project progression and City authorization.
Upon approval, the City will issue a Notice to Proceed (NTP) for Early Design services only.
Advancement to Final Design and Construction phases will:
• Require future City Council authorization
• Be subject to negotiated scope and fee
• Remain within the approved total NTE
This phased structure provides control over expenditures, maintains alignment with design progression and decision milestones, and allows scope to be refined based on validated project information.
No work beyond the Early Design phase will proceed without explicit City authorization.
Project Budget
Funding for Owner’s Representative 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 Owner’s Representative 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 -2026 a Professional Services Agreement with AtkinsRéalis for Owner’s Representative Services for the Main Street Improvements Project.