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HomeMy WebLinkAbout05092007CRAcmoF ~~~'T S r ,~ HOME OF PELICAN ISLAND COMMUNITY REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY (CRA) (CITY COUNCIL) MINUTES WEDNESDAY, MAY 9, 2007 - 5:00 P.M. CITY COUNCIL CHAMBERS 1225 MAIN STREET, SEBASTIAN, FLORIDA 1. Mayor Coy called the CommunityRedevelopment Agency Meeting to order at 5:00 p.m. 2. The Pledge of Allegiance was recited. 3. ROLL CALL Members Present: Mayor Andrea Coy Vice Mayor Sal Neglia Council Member AI Paternoster Council Member Dale Simchick Council Member Eugene Wolff Staff Present: City Manager, AI Minner City Attorney, Rich Stringer City Clerk, Sally Maio Deputy City Clerk, Jeanette Williams City Engineer, Dave Fisher Finance Director, Shai Francis Growth Management Director, Rebecca Grohall Police Chief, Jim Davis Airport Director, Joe Griffin 4. APPROVAL OF MINUTES - 3/28/07 Meeting On MOTION by Mr. Neglia and SECOND by Ms. Simchick, the 3/28/07 CRA Minutes were approved on a voice vote of 5-0. CRA Meeting May 9, 2007 Page Two 5. UNFINISHED BUSINESS A. The City Manager cited his prior approval from Council to begin negotiations with Schulke, Bittle and Stoddard, and briefly described two phases: $190,000 for design and $46,000 for professional design, permitting and construction services. He added the proposal does include $8,100 worth of services that may not be needed. He said these services have been matched to 10-15% of the project cost and he recommended approval of the proposal. Joseph Schulke stated it is a comprehensive proposal and the City Manager hit on the major items. Mr. Schulke confirmed for Mr. Paternoster that items may still be changed in the proposal with public input. Mr. Neglia asked about the use of thermal paint which was deferred by Council with a previous project because of cost. The City Attorney said this could be removed at a later date. Ms. Simchick stated she would like to preserve the Hardee tree, and asked Mr. Schulke if the price could be lowered. Mr. Schulke explained the proposal includes all possible necessities for the project and said he would save whenever possible. Mr. Neglia asked about the signal design on Main Street. Mr. Schulke said by going to four lanes, the control panel would need to be re-designed, and a mast arm system may be preferred at the intersection. The City Manager added the increase is because of anticipated transportation improvements that may be required at the intersection and the cost is at the high-end but may end up to be lower. Clive Beckwith, speaking on behalf of the Sebastian Property Owners Association (SPOA), said he was the only individual who is to act as liaison to the Council from SPOA, said he was assured that the concern for the bidding process was explained tonight, and requested that the public be more involved in the project by publishing the site plan in the newspaper. Mayor Coy responded that two public hearings with conceptual drawings have occurred, and Mr. Schulke is planning two workshops. Mr. Beckwith said the property owners hoped the vote would be tabled. 2 CRA Meeting May 9, 2007 Page Three Ms. Simchick clarified the property owners' concerns are major landscaping changes and holding a public workshop which have been addressed because this is conceptual at this point and workshops will take place. The City Attorney added that circle page 25 outlined "two public workshops, then the design of a conceptual plan." Mr. Beckwith said he would take the response back to the property owners. Joe Scozzari said as a roofing contractor by trade, profit is usually built into proposals and he has been told the project can be done for about $165,000. Mayor Coy stated the procurement for professional services is outlined in the Florida Statutes and this is not a bid for a contract, but a request for qualifications. Damien Gilliams stated the City can reject proposals if taxpayer money can be better spent and thanked Ms. Simchick for requesting a lower proposal. He said this should be further negotiated with a set price. Mr. Gilliams asked for it to go out to bid and Mayor Coy responded that it has been explained that this cannot go out to bid. He asked why it could not go out for bid and she asked him to have a seat. Mr. Gilliams asked for a point of order then a vote. Mayor Coy gave him a second and third warning. Ms. Simchick said it was made clear at the last meeting that if Council did not like this price they were to look at the second qualified engineer, not a bid. Mr. Gilliams said that is what he meant. Mayor Coy asked him to take his seat. Mayor Coy asked if anyone else would like to comment and there was no one. Mr. Wolff voiced his objection to the CCNA process which has staff members grading who is qualified. He stated staff members noted Mr. Schulke's ties to the community and they submitted a conceptual drawing. He asked how the City can get best value when the cost of the services are based on a drawing that no one has had any input on and compared it to the proverbial $500.00 government hammer. Mr. Wolff said funds will be extremely tight and every penny should be looked at. Mr. Neglia asked if Mr. Schulke could go above $236,000 in the recommended motion. The City Manager said Mr. Schulke can go up to $236,000 and staff will have the responsibility to manage the project. Mr. Neglia said he would like to add that in a motion. Mr. Paternoster said there should be public input on design. 3 CRA Meeting May 9, 2007 Page Four Mayor Coy reminded members that the other proposals were reviewed and commented on by the public; and Council directed the City Manager to pursue Mr. Schulke and if Council was not happy, the next engineer should be looked at. Mr. Wolff said staff chose Mr. Schulke and Council capitulated to staff; and none of the other proposals were discussed by Council. In response, Mr. Minner explained the City's retained engineering firm was hired to make some drawings and it was decided to retain an engineer to design a project that could be permitted and additional public input was sought. He further explained staff, with a comprehensive 70 years of experience, chose the most qualified engineer, a price was negotiated and he recommended either to accept the proposal or direct him to negotiate with the second engineer. Mr. Paternoster asked if drawings were included in the RFQ package. Mr. Schulke explained they were and his firm received points for improving upon those drawings and knowing what the City wanted. The City Manager added he is sensitive to Council's concern with the cost of capital improvement projects and he has been cognizant of this and made every effort to ensure the City is receiving the best for their dollar; and attempted to give all of the costs upfront to minimize change orders. Mayor Coy said there has been public input given to her and Mr. Neglia from the beginning. Mr. Gilliams stood and raised his hand to speak and Mayor Coy told him the public input was over, he continued to stand and raise his hand. He was warned to take his seat twice, and when he refused he was asked to leave the room. He did not sit down so Chief Davis escorted him out. Mr. Wolff explained he had trouble understanding how the City can write a check for $236,000, up to the cents on a conceptual drawing. Mayor Coy asked him what he would like to do. In response Mr. Wolff said he would like to have heard a ballpark figure or other options the City might have. He asked the City Manager for a benchmark. The City Manager said the money is going to be spent on a professional engineering firm to design and engineer a major capital improvement and it was benchmarked with experienced staff that reviewed the submitted plans and ranked them with the rule of thumb that professional services are 12% of overall cost. 4 CRA Meeting May 9, 2007 Page Five On MOTION by Ms. Simchick, and SECOND by Mr. Neglia, the Indian River Drive/Main Street Professional Services Agreement professional services agreement was awarded to Schulke, Bittle and Stoddard in the amount of $236,117, to include language on page 13, paragraph 2, task 2 -"not to exceed." Mr. Neglia said he was not happy with the process because it was not bid. He said perhaps some fat can be cut during construction. On a roll call vote of 3-2 the motion carried. (Paternoster, Wolff -nay) 6. NEW BUSINESS None. 7. Being no further business, Mayor Coy adjourned the CRA meeting at 6:19 p.m. Approved at the J U~ e ~ 7 ~o?~ ?CRA meeting. Andrea Coy, Mayor AT EST: u C, Clerk ~~" ally A. Maio, MMC -City Clerk 5