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MINUTES/PUBLIC SERVICE COMMITTEE
Thursday, May 22, 1997 - 12:10 p.m.

Members present: Hagness, Beyer, Hafner, Klave.

3. Matter of A/E selection for various projects:
Dan Mehls, Mortenson, and Chuck Grotte, Asst. Dir. of Public Works, reported that as part of coordinating design teams for various facilities, received fees/rates ranges for FEMA reimburs- able, Fema recommends talking with original designer of facility, and presented listing of specific needs on various buildings, design firms and recommendations:
a) North fire station - EAPC (original design firm Wells- Denbrook).
b) City Hall addition - EAPC
c) Civic Auditorium - Johnson-Laffen, Architects
It was noted that EAPC did project but plans are public docu- ments and Mr. Vein stated he believes EAPC will make docu- ments available).
d) Police Department - EAPC
e) Sr. Citizens Center - Schoen & Associates
f) Water Plant buildings - Advanced Engineering
g) Infrastructures - Advanced Engineering (held to better define)
h) Wastewater System - WFW
i) Ruth Myer Bldg. (juvenile treatment fac. at S. 14th and 7th Ave.S. - bldg. acquired through HUD and Federal Govt.) - Schoen & Assoc.

It was noted that typically these projects on 75-25% (State 15%- City 10%) participation, however, may go 90-10%.

Mr. Vein reported that the item re. infrastructures project was a video imaging and street evaluation. Mr. Mehls reported they interviewed and reviewed proposals, they are putting other work aside to do this.

Moved by Beyer and Klave that we approve selection of engineer/
architects for various projects and authorize negotiation:
a) North End Fire Station - EAPC
b) City Hall - EAPC
c) Civic Auditorium - Johnson Laffen Architects
d) Police Building - EAPC
e) Senior citizens' Center - Schoen & Associates
f) Water Plant buildings - Advanced Engineering
g) Infrastructure (street evaluation) - Advanced Engineering
h) Wastewater System - Webster Foster & Weston; and
i) Ruth Myer Bldg. - Schoen & Associates
Upon call for the question and upon voice vote, the motion carried.

Hagness excused.

1. Matter of assigning current contracts with Duckstad Con-
tracting to a new entity.

MINUTES/PUBLIC SERVICE COMMITTEE
May 22, 1997 - Page 2

Laverne Babinchak, Duckstad Contracting, Inc. stated they are negotiating sale of the company and asked that two projects that had been awarded to Duckstad Contracting, Inc. be re-assigned to new owner, ownership changed but same people.

Mr. Swanson advised that this could be done, but that any bonding has to remain in place for any completed contracts; and any project where bid bond has not been released would have to stay in place until replaced by performance bond.

Moved by Hafner and Klave to authorize assignment of contracts with Duckstad Contracting, Inc. to the new entity. Motion carried. (Mrs. Babinchak stated she would have name of new entity for council Monday night)

2. Matter of S. Washington Street reconstruction project.
Mr. Vein reported that prior to this meeting, met with members of Strata Corp., Southside Business Assn. DOT staff and discussed merits of the project and impact to businesses, to the City and fact that City could lose the project and future funding and impact on large contractor, and that they had earlier discussions re. cancelling of the project, rebidding at future date.

Hagness reported back.

Mr. Vein stated that what they discussed was rather than doing in this year's time frame, would do first phase over two-year time period and next year do preliminary work, underground and service road work, whatever would be least disruptive this year and finish next year, give additional year to do project; that they would hold their prices for that time and would be no increased cost; and con- tractor would work with business owners to try to determine what would be least amount of disruption. He also stated that actual height of the street would drop from 12" to 18" and is not 3 or 4 feet. Mr. Swanson stated they were not asking for any action at this time.

Hagness reported that Strata Corporation, State and City will bring plan in at future meeting, but in the meantime wanted to update committee on the status of the project.

Jim Bradshaw, president of Strata Corp., stated their position is they will acquiesce to what is in the best long term interest of the city of Grand Forks, 2) they will in no way take a position contrary to the business people of South Grand Forks, and it was in this context they came to talk about project in generalities with City, State and South Forks reps. He stated it was mandated originally by the contract that they have a public relations person on the job and that as a company, they would appreciate the op- portunity to explore all of the options over a more flexible
scheduling that would allow some recovery that would allow them to
MINUTES/PUBLIC SERVICE COMMITTEE
May 22, 1997 - Page 3

get with the DOT to see if there were any flexibility within whole disaster which would a) attempt to alleviate some of the pain these folks would go through on the south end but yet allow their company to employ a lot of people on the job that will also be a betterment to the City of Grand Forks, and it was in this context that they came and wanted to talk, not about any type of legal recourse and part of that would be very close contact with the business repre-sentatives in the South Forks Development, that they would have to participate in all of it, once any changes, they would have to concur or reasonably understand what is happening. He stated they have listing of businesses who would be notified. He stated they are acutely aware of what disruption means and of business problems relating to the construction project. He stated they would meet with City and DOT to attempt to keep disruption to a minimum - what can adequately be done at a minimum of disruption that would allow project to proceed next year on an accelerated basis.

Mr. Vein reported that the big concern is funding, this was to be a two-year project, second phase could be started late next year to secure funding to make sure the whole project gets completed. Mr. Bradshaw stated that was an exploratory meeting only and not to be taken out of context - that states something has been decided; that this is strictly exploratory meeting of what potential changes, alterations, types of things can be done. Mr. Vein stated he thinks this is important because Strata Corporation is under con- tract to do a project this year. Mr. Bradshaw stated they were attempting to get into reasonable discussion on what could be done to minimize disruption, retain the integrity of the funding, and make the long term improvement. Hagness stated that 5 of the sub- contractors have agreed to hold their prices also.

Beyer questioned status of contract with Houston Engineering re. drainage (storm sewer design); Mark Walker, project engineer, reported they have received preliminary report, that they need to meet with Houston re. alternative proposals and for City to select alternative.

Mr. Bradshaw stated that what they have been talking about is speculative, that City and DOT have to concur with anything that would be agreed upon, don't want misinformation, that it will take time to formulate plan and they are at the discretion and direc-tion of the City and DOT, and they will do anything, anytime, any-where, to attempt to resolve it quickly and to the City's and State's satisfaction. The committee asked that they be included in these meetings.

Meeting adjourned at 12:45 p.m.

Alice Fontaine, City Clerk

Dated: 6/06/97.