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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1980-10-03 - City Commission Special Meeting Minutesi C I 5811 NORTHWEST 88TH AVENUE TAMARAC, FLORIDA 33321 TELEPHONE (305) 722-5900 September 25, 1980 NOTICE OF SPECIAL MEETING CITY COUNCIL TAMARAC, FLORIDA Please be advised of a Special Meeting of the City Council to be held on Friday, October 3, 1980, at 1:30 P.M. in the West Conference Room. The purpose of the meeting is for architect interviews for the addition to City Hall at the following approximate times: Peabody & Childs 1:30 P.M. Howard, Needles, Tammen & Bergendoff 2:15 F.M. Michael A. Shiff and Associates, Inc. 3:00 P.M. Council may consider such other business as may come before it. The public is invited to attend. Carol A. Evans Assistant City Clerk CITY OF TAMARAC, FLORIDA SPECIAL MEETING ARCHITECT INTERVIEWS CALL TO ORDER: Mayor Falck called the Special Meeting to Order on Friday, Octo er 3, 1980 at 1:30 F.M. in the West Conference Room at City Hall. ROLL CALL: PRESENT: Mayor Walter W. Falck Councilwoman Marjorie Ketch Councilman Irving Zemel ALSO PRESENT: Ass't City Clerk, Carol Evans ABSENT AND EXCUSED: Vice Mayor Helen Massaro Councilman Irving M. Disraelly Mayor Falck read the official Notice of the Special Meeting, including the items to be discussed. Mr. George Peabody, Architect, addressed the Council. He said his office is located in Pompano Beach and is a very large office with a staff of 45 people. He said they perform all of the services in-house with the exception of electrical and plumbing, and Civil Engineering, which they do not do and use outside consultants. Occasionally they use outside consultants on structural work, he said, depending on the size and scope of the project. Mr. Peabody stated they have been in business six and three-quarter years and have been quite successful, doing work all over the area. At the present time they are doing quite a bit of work in Tamarac, he said. Mr. Peabody exhibited slides showing their work, he said they have had as much work remodeling as any other firm in the area - he said in the beginning they took every kind of work they could get and they still go after the smaller jobs and not just the "plums". He explained that showing the slides is the only opportunity an architect gets to show his work since they are not allowed to advertise. Mr. Peabody described the various work that his firm had done as he showed the slides of the work. Mayor Falck explained to Mr. Peabody the type of work involved in the City remodeling in order to give the City some much needed space and he said the City is in the stage of approaching before too long the building of anew City Hall complex, he said the City does not know what form or shape that will take, however something must be done to alleviate the pressures in the present City Hall and the only thing they could think of was using the space between the bulges of the City Manager's and the Council's offices to house some of the operations in the interim. Mr. Peabody said at the present time his firm is doing a couple of very large jobs in Tamarac, including Toll Development. He also said they would be doing a couple more projects at Woodmont for Toll Development. Mayor Falck asked if it was practical for the City to be thinking in the terms a:3 described with reference to the remodeling, Mr. Peabody said he thought it was a good possibility, but he would like to see a little money in the budget for some superficial treatment on the outside of the building; however he knew they had to solve the immediate needs and this would be the fastest way to take some of the load off since the City is short of space. Mr Peabody said he thought that would be the most practical way to do it since it would give the space the quickest way and then the City would have time to plan its new buildings and how it would be done. Mayor Falck inquired whether Mr. Peabody had any idea what the cost per square foot would be for the remodeling, Mr. Peabody said it was hard to guess - but it would be more than the cost per square foot for a new building, but he would guess around $50.00 per square foot for the type of remodeling being discussed. Councilman Zemel asked what the cost per square foot would run for new construction - Mr. Peabody said their own building, which he had shown them, was built two and one-half years ago and cost $26.00 per square foot. It would probably be about $34.00 right now. me 10/3/80 /lc Mr Peabody said he would say the City could build a new building and do a nice job somewhere in the $35.00 - $40.00 per square foot range. Councilwoman Kelch inquired if that would be just structural and not include mechanics or anything else - Mr. Peabody said it would be the building, it would include the dry wall, the ceilings, the paint - it would include the insulation, heating and cooling and the plumbing and electrical, elevators, etc.. However, it would not include carpeting and that sort of thing. Mr. Peabody inquired what type building the City was planning, Councilwoman Kelch said they did not know at the present time. Right now the City is looking for temporary relief. She explained to Mr. Peabody that the main floor of the present City Hall would be expanded for the police and that would require special security measures which should be figured into the price. Mr. Peabody said the cheapest way is to build a new building, but the quickest way is to remodel the present building. Mayor Falck said his own personal feelings are that they will have to do the remodeling and at the same time get busy on the other since it takes so long to get the project through. Also, he said he was trying to encourage the City Manager to do something in the way of grants, even if it were a grant on a contributory basis. Mayor Falck indicated he did want to get the job done since the City is so short of space. The Mayor stated again, it was his personal feeling they would have to get something done in the present building and immediately start to get going with a building for the future. Mayor Falck explained the present growth in the City is in the neighborhood of 30,000 and it is projected to somewhere in the 75,000 range. He dis- cussed the need for a new building to house the City offices. Councilwoman Kelch brought up the question of whether it would be less expensive to have an annex on the present property rather than adding on to the present building. Mr. Peabody said that was something the City would have to think out, it was not something he could pull out of the air. Councilwoman Kelch said being laymen, they would need an opinion. Mr. Peabody explained he has two licensed contractors he uses for that type of analysis of costs. He pointed out that costs are going up in all areas and it will not be any less expensive next year. Councilman Zemel said he was interested in the possibility of building over the second parking lot, with a bridge across to it. He said he wondered if it would be economically feasible. Mr. Peabody said they can get a preliminary - then run some numbers on it -to see what it would cost as compared to the new building. Mr. Zemel indicated he was referring to the fact the City has a double parking lot and he was thinking of the feasibility and economics of having a building on stilts over the parking lot with a bridge coming over to the existing building. Mr. Peabody said it would be an expensive way of doing it. Further, he said in most instances he would not recommend it. The next interview was with Michael Shiff and Associates, Michael Docsh and Robert A. Sayers appeared for the Firm. Mr. Robert A. Sayers, representing Michael Shiff and Associates introduced Mr. Docsh, Senior Architect for the Firm. Mr. Sayers explained Mr. Docsh would direct the design effort and manage that exercise in the office, should their Firm be selected. Mr. Sayers said in 1977 their Firm had been selected to do three concepts for a Police Facility, Fire Station and a Civic Center. He said although they were not selected to do the one building that has been constructed which is the fire facility, they are delighted to see some of the concepts they proposed are used in that building. Mr. Sayers stated they are Broward County's leading institutional and municipal architect in terms of gross volume, construction and design; comments coming back suggest their design is innovative and refreshing and that their buildings work well in South Florida, he said. -2- 10/3/80 /lc Mr. Sayers also pointed out they have learned to work well with local units of government and have learned that working with government is different than working in the private sector. Also, he said they have learned to work well with local contractors in leading the contractors to produce the product desired according to the plans and specifications. Michael Docsh presented a collection of slides he had brought with him and explained them as they were shown. He showed a broad range of work the firm had done in the last several years and discussed the scope of services they offer, illustrating the fact that in many cases they have very large budgets and in other cases low budgets. Mr. Docsh said many of the things they do are innovative, however he stressed the majority - 110% - are almost within the budget. Mr. Docsch talked about architecture in general as he presented the slided for Council's viewing. Mr. Sayers stated the architect's primary mission is not design. The existing building mandates the design style. He said as he understands it, they will be enclosing a space - therefore, they see their mission primarily as a builder and manager. The City has only so much space to enclose, and they know whatever they have will be used. Mr. Sayers explained they would like to help make certain the space will be impacted in the best possible use. As a builder, he stated they would call upon all of their experience in renovation work - which is very extensive. As a manager, they would organize the resources of labor and materials in a way that would be a minimum of interference to the daily conduct of business in City Hall, and they would look to an early occupancy of the space as it is available. Mr. Sayers noted the severely limited budget, and the enclosure of the building itself and said they would like to propose a way of closing it in that would be the least expense to the City. He said they would look for a structural system that would adopt the new to the old with a minimum of discomfort and with the least possible impact upon the daily conduct of the City's business. Mr. Sayers said if the architect has the vision to look at the matter in the light of a builder and manager, he felt sure the space could be enclosed and used very successfully. He said he thinks that is the kind of vision his firm has and they can make the space successful for the City. Mayor Falck asked what the cost per square foot would be. Mr. Sayers said the square feet could run in a range from $30.00 to $50.00 - he said $30.00 would be rock bottom figures and he is not sure that would be a realistic figure, he would like to move up to at least $35.00 per square foot. Depending upon the kind of structural system, $50.00 is the top range. Mr. Sayers said it is his understanding the existing building is approaching a stop -gap position with the planned building of a new City Hall so he said it would seem to him they would want to spend the least amount of money to enclose the space. The first need would be to look at how the structural system can work, because the greatest amount of dollars will go into the structural components of enclosure. Councilwoman Kelch inquired as to the feasibility of the suggestion that the space be enclosed. Mr. Sayers replied that it is imminently feasible. Councilwoman Kelch questioned the possibility of an auxiliary structure, she asked if they are looking at the least possible expendi- ture of money by suggesting the addition. Mr. Sayers told the Council the best way to construct space is to determine the need, and determine the cost. Mr. Sayers noted the space is pre -determined and seems to be the most logical, rather than building an independant structure or an appendage. He stated the least possible expense to give the greatest number of usable square feet is precisely what is proposed. Mr. Sayers suggested the architect look into the various options that are available in the design of the enclosure and bring them to the City for them to make the decisions. Councilwoman Kelch inquired how much of the initial study would be included in the final cost - Mr. Sayers stated 60 to 70% of the architects value, however it is measured, in the project is "all .up front". From that point on, he said, every- thing is the work of technicians. -3- 10/3/80 /lc Mr. Sayers explained where the problem can exist is if the client is billed for that type of preliminary study. Councilwoman questioned if they are in a position to ask the firm at the presentation time to bring something in that will be easily understood, without their having to incur a large portion of their budget by doing so. Mr. Sayers said once a contract is negotiated and the architect is instructed to proceed, historically and typically they develop schematic design and as many concepts as they feel are feasible are put together. He explained the architect has to make some decisions, but the number of concepts are based upon his ability to conceive them and he will come in with the concepts and discuss them with the City and determination will be made what is the best concept. After that, the architect goes back to develop what is desired and comes back again for further discussion. Councilman Zemel questioned what the architects share of a $170,000. budget would be. Mr. Sayers said fees can not be discussed according to the Competitive Negotiation Act, The Mayor agreed they should not discuss fees. Mr. Sayers stated the architects and engineers, and the clients, have been distressed over the inability to discuss the fee. Mr. Sayers said all of the firms in South Florida are close in fees so it would not be the determining factor in the selection of architect. Mayor Falck said one of the determining factors is the statement made by Mr. Sayers to the effect the proposed enclosure of space is not only feasible, but he had looked at the budget and it is a practical way to proceed. Further, the Mayor said he knew Mr. Sayers realized the City is looking toward a new City Hall, and is looking at what the space will do for the City in the interim. Mayor Falck thanked Mr. Sayers and Mr. Docsh for their presentation. The Meeting was adjourned at 3:00 PM, ATTEST: �2W� Carol A. Evans Asst. City Clerk i Wa ter W. Fa I yo APPROVED ClT CON r This public document was promulgated at a cost of $ or per copy, to inform the general public and public officers and employees about recent opinions and consideration by the City Council of the City of Tamarac. -4- 10/3/80 /lc