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HomeMy WebLinkAbout01-30-2009t TO: Members of the Sebastian Council FROM: AI Minner, City Manager RE: CURRENT TOPICS U D DATE: Friday, January 30, 2 9 COLLIER CREEK CANAL This project continues to move closer to "ground breaking". In short, as of this writing actual construction activities are scheduled to start sometime by mid -late February. Below are the issues staff has been managing: 1. SJRWMD/ARMY CORP OF ENGINEERS REQUEST FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION (RAI) — Upon review of the City's re -design of the Collier Creek Canal Project to bulkheads, RAIs were received by the City on approximately December 26, 2008. City response to the RAIs were returned on January 161h. The RAI issues were: a} PROJECT TURBIDITY CONTROL - SJRWMD wants to insure that a turbidity curtain is installed between the Canal and Hardee Lake. City forces will be building the littoral shelf in Hardee Park— S.E. Cline the wallstdredging. b) MAINTENANCE PLAN — SJRWMD requested a maintenance plan for the littoral shelf. City response was that we will maintained the shelf as directed by SJRWMD. SJRWMD has 30 days to review our responses to the RAI, making potential SJRWMD permit issuance sometime in mid -February. Indication is that these issues are not significant and SJRWMD officials stated that response will be expedited. 2. FINAL BULKHEAD DESIGN APPROVAL — S.E. Cline has submitted to Dave Fisher the final design on bulkhead construction. As part of the design/build contract, Cline was required to provide more details on themodified cross sections and bulkhead specifications. Those plans took some time produce as other data such as ground survey, soil sampling and other permitting had to first transpire. Dave Fisher is now in the process of reviewing plans. It is anticipated that acceptance of final design should occur in the next few weeks. Once items #1 and #2 are complete, notice to proceed with construction will be issued, providing 365 days to substantially complete the project. 3. LOT PREPARATION — In December, Council approved six lot leases for construction support. Activities to clear the lots and stage equipment have begun. More effort is being made to secure a staging lot in the middle portion of the Canal, along Layport Drive. If no lot can be secured, side and backyard easements will have to be used in these areas. 4. CITIZEN MEETING — Because of the magnitude of this project, a citizen meeting is targeted for Tuesday, February 17, 2009. The purpose of the meeting will be to advise of work scope, construction scheduling and answer questions. Key personnel at the meeting will be the contractor, Dave Fisher, and I. PEDESTRIAN BRIDGES Since the change in the galvanized steel issue, Gregod Construction is moving on the bridge project The first bridge is scheduled for delivery on Friday, February 131h at the Hardee location. The other bridges will be delivered in week intervals with the Periwinkle bridge being on February 201h and the Barber (Concha/Joy Haven) delivery date set for February 27'h. Weather in Virginia, where the bridges are being manufactured, has been cold and icy. These temperatures are affecting the ability to paint the bridges, potentially delaying delivery date. INDIAN RIVER DRIVE/MAIN STREET H&D Construction was issued noticed to proceed on Tuesday, January 20rh, after Bob Ginsburg reviewed and approved their insurance information and performance bond, The company has been provided 180 days to substantially complete the project, making the final completion date July 20, 2009. As reported by Joe Schulke, the project will be broken into phases, with some traffic pattern implications. Below is the street closing schedule: LOCATION Boat Ramp Main Street Indian River Drive (Project Limits Only) CLOSE REOPEN 5 February 25 June 5 February 20 April 19 March 20 April This information has been advertised and placed on the City's web -site. SCHUMANN PARK IMPROVEMENT After the Parks and Recreation Committee meeting on Monday, January 261h, i received information that the Parks and Recreation Committee would like to review the park improvement plans prior to review by the Planning and Zoning Commission. A Parks and Recreation meeting is now set for Monday, February 9, at 5:30 PM. On their agenda will be an update on (1) Schumann Park; (2) Dog Park; and, (3) 512/Flag Pole Project. With regard to Schumann Park, the Parks and Recreation Committee wanted to insure the construction of a Basketball Court. If you recall, Council had a discussion on this matter during our CIP planning in June 2008. Council decided to remove handball courts, but add new tennis courts and a basketball court. As staff moved forward with design, we found that the park would only accommodate either (1) 2 new tennis courts; or, (2) one new tennis court and one basketball court. This issue is routed in the SJRWMD requirement for stormwater retention and impervious surface. Therefore, prior to review of the site plan by Planning and Zoning scheduled for February 1911, the Parks and Recreation Committee would like to provide input on the design. Scheduling for the project appears to be moving forward as follows: ITEM ESTIMATED COMPLETION DATE Design January 2009 — February 2009 Permit Approvals February — March 2009 PiZ Review February 19, 2009 Bidding March —April Contract Award (Council) April — May 2009 Construction May — August 1 Completion August 1, 2009 DOG PARK Staff has continued the search for Dog Park locations. Another location has been identified along Empress Terrance. However, upon an environmental review there are several gopher tortoises occupying this area. With this issue now identified, at their meeting on February 9, 2009, 1 will present both the Empress location and the Keen Terrace location to the Parks and Recreation Committee for consideration. I am aware that residents in both areas have concerns about location of the park in their neighborhood. After review by the P/Z on March 5, 2009, and based on comments l have received from Council, I will bring this issue back to you for final direction. Should Council not move forward with one of these sites, I would recommend not constructing the park and de -allocating the budget of $20,000. FLAG POLE PROJECT Public Works is now managing this project. To date staff has conducted a survey of the 512-point area and is preparing a landscape plan for the County's permitting requirements. The plan shows a 25' high nautical flag pole for a 4' x 6' flag. Around the flag pole base, will be ornamental type vegetation such as Indian Hawthorne. The remainder of the ROW will be filled with St. Augustine turf grass. Irrigation will be provided. Please keep in mind, that because this area is in the 512 ROW, the County has jurisdiction on planting materials. The next phase of this project is County permitting. It is anticipated that a ROW improvement permit will be required though the road division. This process reviews the improvements for safety. Additionally, the County Attorney's Office is preparing a lease and maintenance agreement that will require Board of County Commission and City Council approval. At that time these items will be ready for Council review. I hope to have these items to Council at the 2n' February or 1" March meeting. 512 BEAUTIFICATION With the MPO grant funds in the amount of $176,102, the City has been working with Schulke, Bittle and Stoddard to complete landscaping plans for the 512 project. As previously reported the plan will fill approximately 100 feet of the 512 median with underground storm drains; thereby, providing area for landscape plantings. A typical section which provide turf grass, mulch beds, Indian Hawthorne and decorative Dwarf Fakahatcee Grass. Irrigation will also be installed. Crosswalks are also being improved. You will also note that ligustrum trees have been scheduled. However, I anticipate that due to line -of -sight issues, the County will not permit the Iigustrum. Trees and other taller objects can be installed in the ROW, but they must be in areas away from intersections. You may notice that in the 512 improvements the County completed on the western edge of town. Upon permit issuance from the County, the project will be bid and contract documents brought to Council for approval. Anticipate contract documents to Council in late March to early April. Project budget $103,426 City; $176,102 County for a total of $279,528. UP COMING REQUEST FOR PROPOSALSIQUALIFICATIONS At the end of this fiscal year two major maintenance contracts and our retained engineering service contract will be expiring. Those being: 1. GOLF COURSE MAINTENANCE — One Source currently maintains the golf course ground facilities. Greg Gardner has been very pleased with One Source's performance and the grounds have steadily improved during their contract. In the next few weeks' staff will be considering alternatives and ultimately preparing a formal RFP for the market place. This is a major expenditure of $522,100 annually. The goal will be to have the RFP out over spring so that an agreement can be approved by Council over the summer; thereby providing a seamless transition for October 1, 2009; if required. 2. DITCH AND SWALE MAINTENANCE -- Conlon Landscaping ditch and swale maintenance agreement will be ending on October 1, 2009. In similar fashion to the golf course agreement, Public Works Staff wili be starting this procurement process. 3. REQUEST FOR QUALIFICATIONS (RFQ) will be requested for retained engineering services. Currently the City has retained service agreements with Neel -Schafer; CDM; Schulke, Bittle and Stoddard; and, The LPA Group (Airport). All these agreements will be expiring this summer and Dave Fisher is currently starting the procurement process for retained services. Our goal is to have 2-3 firms that can represent the City on administrative and small matters. Pursuant to the CCNA, major projects of over $1,000,000 or professional service fees in excess of $50,000, will continue to receive formal RFQs on a project by project basis. As always of you have questions about these or any other projects, please feel free to contact me at your earliest convenience.