A map of the proposed layout of the Rock Chalk Park sports complex, proposed for about 90 acres north of the northeast intersection of Sixth Street and the South Lawrence Trafficway. Note that north on the map is to the right.

Lawrence city officials are getting closer to striking a deal with Kansas University Endowment leaders on a proposed sports complex in northwest Lawrence.

But the terms of the deal, parties on both sides said Thursday, likely will involve allowing controversial Lawrence contractor Thomas Fritzel to build the city’s $25 million recreation center without going through the city’s standard bidding process.

KU Endowment’s top official confirmed his organization is in discussions with Fritzel to build both the KU portion and the city’s portion of the sports complex, which is proposed for about 100 acres north of the northeast intersection of Sixth Street and the South Lawrence Trafficway.

Dale Seuferling, president of the KU Endowment Association, said allowing the city to use a contractor that is different from the contractor for the KU facilities — which include a softball stadium and a track and field stadium — would ruin the economies of scale related to the project and would make it more likely the city and university facilities wouldn’t mesh well.

“If the city feels like it has to be done in a different way, they probably would have to look for a different site,” Seuferling said.

Thus far, Mayor Bob Schumm said the city is still very interested in partnering with KU Endowment on the project. But Schumm said the lack of a formal bidding process is concerning.

“Would I prefer to have the city run an official bona fide bid process? Yes, I would,” Schumm said. “But we don’t currently own the land, and this is a condition KU Endowment has put forward.”

The process is further complicated by the fact the city currently is involved in a dispute with Fritzel. The city is trying to figure out a way to force Fritzel to pay some sort of restitution related to the Varsity House project at 11th and Indiana streets in the Oread Neighborhood.

The city contends Fritzel did not hold up his end of an agreement to properly move the old Varsity House in order to make way for a new apartment complex. Fritzel disagrees with the city’s assessment, and the matter remains unresolved.

“Obviously, I wish the Varsity House was playing out in a better fashion,” Schumm said. “It does cause us to take concern about the outcome of this much larger facility.”

But Schumm said the city will take precautions to ensure the city is getting a good deal. He said the city will instruct architects to write the specifications of the facility “very, very tightly.” He also said a construction manager would be hired by the city to report back on activities taking place on the site. Before construction begins on the project, at least one outside contractor would be paid to provide the city an independent cost estimate for the project.

“That is not a perfect process,” Schumm said of receiving a mock bid on the work, “but it will provide us information that we think will be useful.”

At the moment, Schumm said the city believes it is poised to get a “true value” on the project. Several new details of the proposed deal between the city and KU Endowment have been released. They include:

• The city’s total cost for the project would be capped at $25 million. The $25 million cost would pay for all construction and design fees for a 181,000 square-foot recreation center/youth fieldhouse, eight lighted tennis courts, five miles of walking trails, landscaping, onsite utilities and interior roads to serve the site.

• The city has a preliminary report that estimates that for its $25 million payment the city will receive facilities that have a market value of about $33.5 million.

• Once the city makes its one-time $25 million payment to KU Endowment, the city will own both the structures and the real estate related to the recreation center, the tennis courts and the walking trails. KU would continue to own the property associated with its track and field stadium, softball stadium and soccer field.

• The approximately 1,400 to 1,500 parking spaces on the property would be owned by KU Endowment, but the city would have use of the spaces. Since KU would not use the sports complex often during the winter season, KU Endowment is proposing the city be responsible for snow removal and would set aside an annual amount for parking lot and street maintenance.

• Kansas Athletics would purchase water from the city for restrooms, locker rooms, concession stands and irrigation of athletic fields. But the city would provide water for general landscaping of the complex free of charge. KU, however, would maintain the lawns and landscaping of the property around the city’s recreation center and tennis courts at no charge.

The city will host a public meeting to discuss details of the project from 7 p.m. to 8 p.m. on Nov. 8 at Free State High School, 4700 Overland Drive.

Schumm said the City Commission may begin reviewing specific contracts to move the project forward at its Nov. 13 meeting.

Commissioners said they will be looking forward to hearing more comments from the public, particularly about whether community members are on board with trying to build a recreation complex that serves a regional area.

“We really need to figure out how the public wishes to invest in recreation facilities,” City Commissioner Mike Amyx said. “There is still a lot of discussion I hear on a daily basis that questions what it is we’re trying to accomplish with the bigger facility.”