As City Council is aware, this project included the combination and improvements to the existing City owned parking lot and the County owned parking lot to the west, south of Nebraska Ave. and east of Lafayette St. The combination of both parking lots has resulted in the construction of a single parking lot to improve efficiencies and increased the amount of available parking spaces. ADA upgrades, asphalt improvements, landscape, hardscape, stormwater retention, and lighting improvements were included in the project as well.
On January 22, 2021 sealed bids were opened up by the City Clerk for this project. Right of Way Contracting, LLC submitted the lowest bid in the amount of $721,942.50. Subsequent to City Council’s approval, discussions commenced between the City staff and the Contractor about reduction in the project time frame from 180 days to 120 days. As City Council may recall, pandemic restrictions were relaxed as vaccinations of the public increased. As a result, an increase of patrons visiting Downtown establishments such as the Social, Kazu’s Sushi, Bourbon on Main, the Suncoast Theatre, Sip’s, and finally the opening of the Hacienda Hotel warranted the need for the project’s completion acceleration.
Under the terms of the contract agreement, the City had the ability to write a change order/work change directive for the reduction in time by compensating the contractor. Subsequent to negotiations with the contractor, a proposed change order/work change directive in the amount not to exceed $90,000 was presented and approved by City Council at its regular meeting held on April 20, 2020. The dollar amount was a 12.5% increase to the original bid submitted of $721,942.50 and resulted in a project cost estimate in the amount of $811,942.50, or $30,000 less than the next lowest bid submitted with the original 180 project time frame. For the contractor to receive the bonus, the substantial completion needed to be met in 120 days subsequent to the notice to proceed dated May 10, 2021. This made the substantial completion deadline September 7, 2021. The substantial completion was defined as full parking access, painted striping, irrigation, and landscape elements. On September 7th the site was inspected by City staff and determined that the contractor had completed all of the requirements included in the substantial completion agreement. In addition, all punch list items have been completed and all documentation required in accordance with the contract has been received from the contractor resulting in the project’s close out.