City Manager Matthews advised the City Council that James F. Knott Construction continues to address punch list items. The contractor expects to call for a re-inspection of the second and third floors by the architect during the week of January 23rd. A meeting will be held on Wednesday, January 18th to discuss the city’s concerns regarding the tile workmanship in the lobby area of the Public Safety Level of the Community Center. City Manager Matthews noted that the project architect is scheduled to deliver the exterior punch list to the contractor on January 18th.
As indicated in a prior report, the City met with representatives of James F. Knott Construction on January 4th to discuss the “outstanding” Proposed Change Orders (PCOs). The City Manager informed the City Council that a number of items had been agreed upon, as noted in her memo of January 17, 2006. These PCOs will be processed as Change Order No. 25. Additional items may be included in the change order depending on the outcome of further review and discussion.
City Manager Matthews updated the City Council on the status of the contract with TRG Construction for Phase Two of the project. She noted that the initial contract between the City and TRG Construction provided for a not-to-exceed amount for library site work. As indicated in a prior report, the contractor subsequently submitted a less costly proposal after contract execution. The City Manager informed the City Council that TRG Construction recently advised the City that it was not comfortable proceeding with the firm previously identified to perform the library site work. As a result, the cost of the library site work would be deducted from the contract value pending submission of a new proposal by TRG Construction.
As mentioned by the City Manager during her report of November 28, 2006, TRG Construction brought to the City’s attention certain integration issues between old and new construction as its demolition work proceeded. City Manager Matthews informed the City Council that the project management team had negotiated reasonable pricing for work to address these issues, which would be processed as Change Order No. 2.
The City Manager updated the City Council on the status of certain technical studies related to the proposed construction of a gym. She noted that a budget amendment approved by the City Council on September 19, 2005 authorized funding for the studies. City Manager Matthews informed the City Council that she had executed a contract with So Deep for utility location work. The firm was waiting on information from PEPCO. Work was expected to get underway in the near future. In regard to the soil borings, the City Manager stated that ECS would begin its work once So Deep had completed its utility location work.
City Manager Matthews noted that a discussion had taken place at the prior Council meeting regarding the addition of an elevator in the front of the Community Center. She wanted to clarify the changes that had occurred during the value engineering process to alleviate potential concerns on the part of the City Council and the community. The City Manager stated that, as an initial cost saving measure, the contractor had proposed a change from a hydraulic elevator system to a screw jack system. The screw jack elevator system offered the same functionality at a lower cost than the hydraulic system called for in the bid specifications. As a further cost saving measure, the City made a decision to install the elevator shaft but to defer purchase of the cab. In talking to a representative of James F. Knott Construction about this matter, the city learned that it may be possible to compile enough information from the bid specifications and the building plans to obtain pricing information without incurring additional design fees. Staff was in the process of gathering this information to provide to TRG Construction. If TRG Construction did not feel the information was sufficient to provide the City with a cost estimate for the additional elevator, additional design work may be necessary.