LTC 256-2005 Washington Avenue Streetscape Improvement Project Status Report
CITY OF MIAMI BEACH
Office of the City Manager
Letter to Commission No. 256-2005
m
From:
Mayor David Dermer and Date: October 3, 2005
Members of the City ~o;rmiSSion
Jorge M. Gonzalez ~
City Manager
WASHINGTON A ENUE STREETSCAPE IMPROVEMENT PROJECT
STATUS REPORT
To:
Subject:
BACKGROUND
The City has been pursuing the improvement of Washington Avenue in recognition of its
status as one of the City's significant pedestrian and vehicular thoroughfares. A Master
Plan consisting of five phases of improvements was previously developed and partially
implemented. The phases are as follows:
. Phase 1 - The area from 6th to 11 th Streets which consisted of sidewalk,
roadway and drainage improvements, and the planting of coconut trees.
This construction was completed several years ago.
. Phase 2 - The area from 11th to 16th Streets which includes curb, gutter and
sidewalk replacement, drainage and paving improvements, new street
lighting and the planting of coconut trees.
. Phase 3 - The area from 6th to 16th Streets which consisted of the
reconstruction of the medians and the installation of shade trees,
landscaping, ir~igation, and pavers. This work was completed.
. Phase 4 - The area from 6th to 11th Streets which includes roadway and
drainage improvements, and new street lighting.
.
Phase 5 - The area from 5th to 6th Streets which includes curb, gutter and
sidewalk replacement, roadway and drainage improvements, street lighting,
planting of coconut trees and median landscaping.
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Planning/Design for the remaining phases 2, 4 and 5 has been underway for sO[le time.::O
The City determined that a design-build approach would be the best method for ~e&ang:.-n
the completion of these remaining phases of the project. The City's typical proc~ b~ins:;2
with the City hiring an AlE firm to plan and design a project and then a construct~ fij:Q1 teL::
build the project. Under the design-build approach, one project consultant tearn;wit~otJ1<
design and construction expertise and qualifications prepares construction dOCUFt\ents=an~
constructs the project. Ff.~ ;; -
Letter to Commission
October 3, 2005
Washington Avenue Streetscape Improvement Project Status Report
Page 2 of 3
A Design Criteria Package (DCP), required by State Statute in a design / build process, for
the Project was prepared by the City's ROW Improvements Program Manager, Hazen &
Sawyer. The DCP included conceptual construction drawings and technical specifications
for the civil, electrical, and landscaping disciplines. For the Washington Avenue
Improvement Project, the Design Build Firm (DBF) is responsible for the design,
construction and construction management of the above noted improvements for Phases
2,4 and 5 of the Washington Avenue Master Plan. The City Commission authorized the
Administration on October 15, 2003 to initiate negotiations with the DBF of Ric-Man
International, Inc. (RMI) since the submitted price by RMI was approximately 26% over the
City's available funding to perform the project.
It is important to note that the base bid also included the necessary effort to plan, design
and permit signature landscape improvements within the medians between 5th and 6th
Streets and between 16th Street and Lincoln Road, the latter of which was not originally
included in the Master Plan for the project. The base bid did not include the cost to
construct the proposed improvements. The DBF obtained an Order from the Historic
Preservation Board for the signature median improvements; the City will negotiate a
change order for the implementation of the signature landscape median improvements with
the DBF. Approximately $125,000 in signature median improvements is anticipated at both
ends of Washington Avenue. However, funding for these prospective change orders was
not in the base bid.
CURRENT STATUS
To date, the DBF has completed engineering plans to support its water main, sanitary
sewer, stormwater collection and disposal, street lighting, hardscape and landscape
improvements. The DBF has completed water main construction from 5th to 16th Streets.
Sanitary sewer construction along 6th and 8th Streets was completed and placed into
operation.
The DBF has com~leted the installation of street light conduit, electrical pull boxes and
pedestals from 11 to 16th Streets along the northbound parking lane and along the
southbound parking lane from 16th to 12th Streets. The installation of conductor (wire) and
the pedestrian light fixtures is complete along the east side of Washington Avenue from
11 th to 16th Street.. The DBF also completed the sidewalk demolition and sidewalk
replacement along the east side of Washington Avenue from 11 th Street to just south of
16th Street and along the west side of Washington Avenue from 16th to Espanola Way.
The next activities contemplated along the 16th to 13th Street west Work Zone consists of
the street light conductor (wire) installation, street light fixture installation and landscaping
installation.
The initiation of the main work along the Washington Avenue corridor including certain
stormwater infrastructure and gravity disposal wells was initiated upon receipt of the State
of Florida Department of Environmental Protection (FDEP) Class V, Group 6 Well
Construction Permit. The vast majority of the stormwater drainage associated work has
been completed along the east side of Washington Avenue from 8th to 16th Streets and
Letter to Commission
October 3. 2005
Washington Avenue Streetscape Improvement Project Status Report
Page 3 of 3
along the west side of Washington Avenue from 16th Street to 13th Street, 11 th t010th
Streets and 9th to 8th Streets. A few gravity disposal wells remain to be completed at this
time. Upon completion and authorization to place into service by the State of Florida
Department of Environmental Protection, the DBF shall place the drainage system into
operation.
Landscaping activities have not progressed since the DBF has not been able to secure the
specified palm tree material. It appears that the previous season's storms have decreased
the availability of the specified palm tree materials. Discussions are ongoing between the
DBF and City staff to resolve this item. Also, progress on the electrical service point
installation / FPL connection has not progressed to the City's satisfaction. The DBF is
addressing this concern with its specialty subcontractor and it is anticipated that FPL's
resources have been re-directed to assist with damage recovery efforts in the Gulf coast
states.
Final planning efforts forthe median landscaping proposed along Washington Avenue from
5th to 6th Streets and between 16th Street and Lincoln Road have been completed. A
Community Design Workshop to present the DBF's concepts and obtain community input
took place in March 2005. HPB approval was granted in June 2005. Final design plans
have been prepared by the DBF and submitted to the Planning Department for review /
input. The businesses and residents are being kept informed of all activities by a full time
public information officer (PIO) who has an office on Washington Avenue. Also, the City's
Highway Advisory Radio (HAR) system was placed into service. The HAR is being utilized
to advise motorists of the project's current maintenance of traffic.
JM~CH\klm
c: Tim Hemstreet, Assistant City Manager
Jorge E. Chartrand, Acting CIP Office Direct
F:\CAPI\$aIl\chartrand\Washington Ave. LTC 10-03-05.doc