LTC 62-2003 CITY OF MIAMI BEACH
Office of the City Manager
Letter to Commission No.
To:
From:
Subject:
Mayor David Dermer and
Members of the City Commission
Jorge M. Gonzalez~
City Manager
Date: March 6, 2003
STATUS REPORT ON THE GENERAL OBLIGATION BOND FUNDED
PROJECT FOR THE REHABILITATION OF FIRE STATION NO. 4
On February 26, 2003, to comply with a previous City Commission's request, the
Administration submitted to the Mayor and City Commission a Project Status Report
(attached), that included a comprehensive breakdown of the project budget per
components, as well as a breakdown by task of the recently approved additional services
fees of $64,791, for MC Harry and Associates, the City's consultant. The additional
services were authorized to perform work for the Project not included in the original
Agreement. The additional work includes splitting the project and preparation of contract
documents by the consultant for two (2) bid packages composed of Bid Package 1:
relocation of the existing building to a southwesterly location on the site, and Bid Package
2: performance of all design, construction documentation, and contract administration work
associated with the new state-of-the-art Fire Station. The additional engineering work
necessary to re-grade a portion of the 69th Street street-end is also included in the new
services to be rendered by MC Harry and Associates.
Moreover, the Status Report included a synopsis of the project's current schedule for
completion, and the delays anticipated in the event the Administration was directed by the
City Commission to pursue the demolition of the existing building in lieu of its relocation to
a westerly position on the project site. It appears that a primary issue of concern to the
City Commission is the latest NE estimate of probable cost, which includes a probable
shortfall of $213,000 for the project as currently configured. Discussion has included
references to the cost of the relocation of the historic building, currently estimated to cost
$504,702. If the historic facility were to be demolished, the project would probably be
within budget with the surplus funds being made available to cover FFE (furniture, fixtures
and equipment) items that currently are not budgeted. Alternatively, a portion, or all of the
funds, could be used to offset the estimated shortfall on Fire Station No. 2. Therefore, on
February 26, 2003, the item was referred by the Mayor and City Commission to the
Finance and Citywide Projects Committee to formulate a recommendation as to whether or
not the existing building should be relocated or demolished.
Another issue of discussion was that the current project has neither a programmatic use for
the relocated building, nor funding to pay for the interior renovation. Therefore after the
relocation, the building will remain closed to the public.
Letter to Commission
Status Report on GO Bond Funded Fire Station No. 4 Rehabilitation Project
March 6, 2003
Page 2 of 2
The Project was also discussed at the General Obligation (GO) Bond Oversight Committee
meeting of March 3, 2003. The general consensus expressed bythe Committee reflects a
support for the building not to be relocated, but to be demolished instead. Members of the
Committee requested that the Administration seek a legal opinion from the City Attorney
and/or Bond Counsel as to whether the demolition of the existing building would be
compatible with the expressed intention of the community when it approved the 1999
General Obligation Bond. Alternatively, the Committee also requested that the City
Attorney/Bond Counsel advise as to the appropriateness of using GO Bond proceeds to
relocate and stabilize the historic structure.
In an effort to minimize future delays to the project, the Administration directed MC Harry
and Associates to finalize the documents for Bid Package 1 (relocation of histodc building).
The effort to design the relocated facility and to demolish the 1960's addition was
authorized on July 9, 2002, when the Historic Preservation Board approved the concept
plan. The formal amendment for this portion of the scope was not presented to the City
Commission until February 5~ due to a desire to include the 69~ Street streetend design
portion with the amendment.
On March 4, 2003, MC Harry and Associates submitted a complete set of documents for
Bid Package 1 for City staff and URS' review. The documents submitted include the
selective demolition specifications as well as the complementary drawings and
specifications for prospective bidders to issue proposals for the first phase of the Project.
While waiting for the fate of the existing building to be decided, the ClP Office has
instructed the consultant to proceed with the necessary building permit approval process of
Bid Package 1. These documents, if all goes well, should be ready to bid in April.
Concurrently, construction documents for Bid Package 2 are also being developed by the
consultant, Completion is anticipated for May 2003. The Building Department review is
expected to last about eight (8) weeks on Bid Package 2, with a projected bid date of late
July 2003.
Attachment
JMG\RCM~T~M
F:\CAPi~$ali~NIAGMIC\GOBOND\ST4STATU 03-19-03.doc