City Manager Matthews informed the City Council that the project architect had completed the reference checks for the three firms that bid on the Community Plaza Level phase of the project. Efforts to resolve the outstanding Proposed Change Orders (PCOs) with James F. Knott Construction Company continue. The City Manager stated that the resolution of these PCOs would have a significant impact on the available funding for the Community Plaza Level phase of the project.
The City Manager advised the City Council that staff is finalizing the list of furniture and equipment required for Phase One (i.e., the portion of the project that is already under construction) and obtaining current pricing for the items. The list will be submitted to the grants review committee of the Takoma Foundation for its review and approval.
City Manager Matthews then updated the City Council on the chair rail issue that had been discussed on July 5th. As discussed by the City Council, she had discussed with the contractor the possibility of deleting the chair rail and substituting the wood base board for the vinyl base board. James F. Knott Construction Company suggested that the city select a stock wood base board so that pricing could be obtained. The City Manager stated that she had walked through the atrium area with Councilmember Williams earlier in the day to get his advice on the type of wood base board that should be considered.
Councilmember Williams recommended to the City Council that the chair rail be deleted from the atrium area. He informed the other members of the City Council that he had provided the City Manager with two wood base board options that he felt would work in the space. Councilmember Williams recommended that the wood base boards be installed throughout the atrium area, including along the curved brick wall, with the doorways off the atrium serving as the transition point for the vinyl base boards.
Upon receiving concurrence from the City Council to pursue Councilmember Williams' recommendation, City Manager Matthews stated that she would advise James F. Knott Construction Company accordingly. If the impact of this change resulted in a net increase in cost, she would advise the City Council accordingly.