Lorain moves forward with contract for Longfellow skate park

Lorain City Council approved a contract Monday evening that puts the city one step closer to building a skate park at Longfellow Park. During Monday's regular meeting, Council members voted 10-0 to enter into a contract with California Skateparks for a total bid of approximately $1.65 million -- $1.5 million for the contract itself and a 10 percent contingency added by the city. Council member Mitchell Fallis, D-at Large, was not present Monday. Dominic Jacobs, longtime skater and an advocate for the Lorain skatepark, celebrated the city's decision on Monday. "The whole way, we've had such great support in the city," Jacobs said. "We're ecstatic. We can't wait." Monday's action by Council is the latest step in the city's attempts to select a bidder for the skatepark project. Earlier in April, city officials debated how to proceed after an initial bidding process yielded two bids — neither of which came from California Skateparks. At that time, city officials said that the bid from California Skateparks arrived late. The bid was returned unopened, the city said. Slip in Concrete LLC and Newline Skateparks — which had both responded to the first bid process — also responded to Lorain's second bid process. However, neither was chosen. At the regular Council meeting on April 20, discussion revolved around whether to select a bid from Slip in Concrete, LLC, for approximately $1.5 million. Council voted 7-4 to send the matter to committee. Tony Dimacchia, D-at Large, Sabrina Gonzalez, D-Ward 5, Angel Arroyo, D-Ward 6, and Joshua Thornsberry, D-Ward 8, were the four votes that dissented. Following the April 20 meeting, Dimacchia expressed concerns that not confirming a contract at that time could delay the process — which is tied to time-sensitive funding from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. However, following Monday's vote, Dimacchia said he felt that the city was in a good position. In April, Matt Kusznir, director of Building, Housing and Planning, said a sufficient amount of the federal funds tied to the future skatepark must be spent by Nov. 1. He said Monday the city has been in communication with California Skateparks about expediting the process. "They plan on mobilizing as soon as humanly possible," Kusznir said, adding that the plan is to break ground within the next month. "It's a pretty aggressive timeline, but the completion date is also to near the end of October, so it has to be an aggressive timeline." Lorain Council passed the ordinance on an emergency measure Monday, which allows for it to go into immediate effect. Council's action Monday evening allows Safety/Service Director Rey Carrion to enter into the contract with California Skateparks, which is expected to address requirements for construction, drainage and mobilization, as well as civil requirements. California Skateparks will also conduct steel and concrete work, according to the bid tabulation. With this step, city officials noted that Lorain is moving closer to finalizing plans that have been in the works for years to develop a skate park. "It's right around my house, so I'll be keeping an eye on it," said Councilman Andy Drwal, D-Ward 1. "The safety is priority — helping some of the younger kids in our neighborhood to have something to do, it's going to be a great success." Contact Garrett Looker at glooker@chroniclet.com.