Laserfiche WebLink
Timothy Wold <br />SRF Consulting Group, Inc. <br />May 6, 2022 <br />Page 2 <br />The east -west drainage pattern with the crown between courts 1 and 2 is inconsistent with <br />the Manual and is therefore a design defect. However, the City Council has indicated a willingness <br />to contribute $11,750 towards regrading the pickleball courts, provided that the drainage pattern <br />is changed to a north -south orientation and the final slope of the courts is between 0.83% and <br />1.00%, as provided in the Manual standards. <br />The contractor has pointed out that regardless of whether the existing courts were installed <br />at 1.25% or 1.4%, they need to be removed and reinstalled in order to achieve the Manual standard <br />of 0.83% to 1.00% slope. We agree with this point, but after extensive discussions New Look has <br />agreed to contribute $5,000 towards reconstruction of the pickleball courts. <br />Section 7 of SRF's Agreement with the City provides that SRF shall exercise the same <br />degree of care, skill and diligence in the performance of the work it performs as is ordinarily <br />exercised by members of the profession under similar circumstances in Minnesota, and that SRF <br />shall be liable to the fullest extent permitted under applicable law, without limitation, for injuries, <br />loss or damages proximately caused by SRF's breach of their standard of care. The City is aware <br />of several pickleball court installations in the Elk River area that comply with the 0.83% to 1.00% <br />Manual standard, and there are numerous others around the state that similarly comply with the <br />standard. It is clear that compliance with this standard is required for SRF to meet its obligation <br />under the Agreement to exercise the same degree of care as is ordinarily exercised by members of <br />the profession under similar circumstances in the state of Minnesota. <br />Therefore, this letter is to demand that SRF confirm it will remove the existing <br />noncompliant pickleball court surfaces and concrete maintenance strip and replace them with <br />four (4) pickleball courts that slope north to south or south to north, at a grade between 0.83% and <br />1.00%. The City and New Look will contribute $16,750 towards the cost to reconstruct the courts <br />to comply with the Manual standards, but all other costs will be the responsibility of SRF. <br />Section 19 of the Agreement specifically obligates SRF to indemnify the City from any costs, <br />losses, and expenses, including attorney fees, resulting from SRF's negligent acts or omissions <br />(including, without limitation, professional errors or omissions) in the performance of the services <br />provided for in the Agreement. Failure to design the pickleball courts consistent with the Manual <br />standards falls well within this indemnification requirement. <br />Reconstruction and completion of the Orono Park pickleball courts cannot be delayed any <br />further. It is imperative that this project proceed immediately and that the courts be completed and <br />playable as early as possible. If we do not receive confirmation within ten (10) days that SRF <br />will proceed with reconstruction of the pickleball courts under these terms, the City will proceed <br />with the project on its own and, pursuant to the terms of the Agreement, hold SRF responsible to <br />the fullest extent for all damages caused by SRF's breach of its standard of care, including damages <br />for the delay caused by installation of the defective pickleball courts. <br />In addition to the defective pickleball courts, a second issue has arisen regarding SRF's <br />performance under the Agreement. SRF's April 4, 2020, proposal, incorporated in the Agreement, <br />provides for construction services and states that, "... staff assigned to the project will stay <br />