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OUR INTERIM CITY SECRETARY, LEANN GALLMAN, IF SHE WOULD BE WILLING TO OPEN US WITH A WORD
[INVOCATION]
OF PRAYER, PLEASE.WOULD YOU PRAY WITH ME? FATHER, WE COME TO YOU TODAY WITH GRATEFUL HEARTS, THANKING YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO TEND TO THE BUSINESS OF THE CITIZENS OF AMARILLO.
LORD I THANK YOU TODAY FOR THESE ELECTED OFFICIALS, FOR THEIR WILLINGNESS TO SERVE, FOR THEIR COMMITMENT AND FOR THE RESPONSIBILITY THAT THEY CARRY.
I'D ASK THAT YOU POUR OUT YOUR FAVOR ON THEM AND ON THEIR FAMILIES.
THANK YOU, LORD, FOR THE APPOINTED OFFICIALS OF THE CITY, FOR THEIR INTEGRITY AND FOR THE PASSION WITH WHICH THEY SERVE, BLESS THEM AND PROTECT THEM AND THEIR FAMILIES.
I PRAY THAT YOU BLESS THIS MEETING OF THE CITY COUNCIL.
THERE ARE IMPORTANT DECISIONS TO BE MADE TODAY.
I PRAY THAT YOU WOULD BE IN OUR MIDST, THAT YOU WILL GUIDE THE DECISIONS THAT ARE MADE AND THAT ALL THAT IS DONE BEFORE YOU TODAY WILL GLORIFY YOU.
WE GIVE YOU ALL PRAISE, HONOR AND GLORY IN THE NAME OF JESUS.
WOULD YOU JOIN US IN THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE PLEASE.
THIS IS A SPECIALLY CALLED MEETING TODAY, AND WE ONLY HAVE LET'S SEE.
WE ONLY HAVE A FEW ITEMS ON OUR AGENDA.
[PUBLIC ADDRESS]
WE ARE GOING TO START FIRST WITH PUBLIC ADDRESS.SO AT THIS TIME, I'M GOING TO PASS THE MEETING TO OUR PUBLIC ADDRESS MODERATOR JENNIFER RAMIREZ.
THANK YOU FOR PARTICIPATING IN TODAY'S CITY COUNCIL MEETING.
YOUR INPUT AND YOUR OPINIONS ARE IMPORTANT TO US, AND WE ARE GLAD YOU'RE HERE TO SHARE THEM. AT EACH POSTED MEETING, WE INVITE OUR FELLOW COMMUNITY MEMBERS TO ADDRESS CITY COUNCIL REGARDING POSTED AGENDA ITEMS. TO ENSURE ALL WHO WISH TO SPEAK ARE ABLE TO.
WE LIMIT EACH SPEAKER'S TIME TO THREE MINUTES AT THE END OF TWO AND A HALF MINUTES, A WARNING BEEP WILL SOUND TO ALERT YOU THAT YOU HAVE 30 SECONDS TO WRAP UP YOUR THOUGHTS.
IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE OPEN MEETINGS ACT AND STATE LAW SPEAKERS ARE ASKED TO LIMIT THEIR COMMENTS TO ITEMS ON THE POSTED AGENDA.
DOING SO WILL ENSURE WE ARE ALL FOLLOWING THE GUIDELINES AND ARE ABLE TO HAVE AN EFFECTIVE AND BENEFICIAL MEETING FOR ALL.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION FOR THIS PROCESS AND FOR YOUR VALUABLE INPUT.
THE FIRST SPEAKER TODAY WILL BE JAMES [INAUDIBLE] AND UP NEXT WILL BE MICHAEL FORD.
OK, I STAND CORRECTED ON CALIFORNIA ARCHITECTS, I SAW MR. JENKINS LAST NIGHT AND I DIDN'T REALIZE THEY CHANGE THEIR NAME TO SIMS AND I DID REALIZE THAT I READ IN HERE THAT THERE WAS SOMETHING RELATED TO CALIFORNIA WITH THAT GROUP.
ANYWAY, PERSPECTIVE ON URGENT AND IMPORTANT THINGS LIKE URGENT IS REPLACE A BOILER, REPLACE THE CHILLER.
YOU KNOW, AND I REALIZE A LOT OF THIS DOESN'T FALL ON THIS COUNCIL.
WE'VE BEEN DEALING WITH THIS KIND OF DELAY AND OVERLOOK OF THE CIVIC CENTER, OF THIS BUILDING FOR, I'VE BEEN COMING DOWN HERE A LONG TIME.
AND THESE THINGS THAT STEPS OUT THERE HAS BEEN CRACKED FOR A DECADE AND IT'S JUST NOW FALLEN APART. AND THEN TO LEAVE IT CRACKED WHEN I'M NOT SURE EXACTLY WHAT DEPARTMENT IS IN CHARGE OF. BUT THERE ARE SOME GUYS IN TOWN THAT WOULD HAVE THAT FIXED IN A COUPLE OF DAYS, IN MY OPINION, BECAUSE I KNOW SOME OF THE CONTRACTORS AROUND.
THOSE THINGS ARE THINGS THAT CONCERN ME ABOUT EVEN TAKING ON A NEW OLDER STRUCTURE AND.
DETERMINING WHETHER OR NOT THAT WILL BE SOMETHING THAT WOULD SERVE OUR PURPOSE, AS Y'ALL SAY, ON INTO THE FUTURE.
ONE OF THE THINGS THAT IS CONCERNING TO ME IS THAT WE'RE PUSHING SO FAST ON THIS RIGHT
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NOW AND REALISTICALLY.YOU HAD ABOUT YOU FOLKS MAY FEEL LIKE YOU HAVE SOME SORT OF A MANDATE BECAUSE YOU'RE BACK IN EXCEPT FOR COAL.
AND JUST REALIZING THAT 40 SOMETHING THOUSAND PEOPLE VOTED AGAINST DOING THIS, Y'ALL HAD ABOUT 10,000 VOTES APIECE.
I GO BACK TO THE MAY, NOVEMBER ELECTION TIMES, WHICH SORT OF STALES OUR TURNOUT AND THAT HAS BEEN FOR A LONG TIME.
BUT AS I GO DOWN THIS LIST, BACK TO BACK TO SIDEBAR ON THIS, WHEN THESE THINGS, YOU KNOW, WHEN YOU'RE ACTUALLY TALKING, THE TIME GOES FAST.
WE ONLY GET THE THREE MINUTES.
BUT ON THESE THINGS THAT YOU LAID OUT, THESE PROBLEMS. EACH ONE OF THEM NEEDED TO BE ADDRESSED.
WHEN IT HAPPENED AND DO SOMETHING WITH IT WHEN IT HAPPENS.
THAT'S THE WAY YOU TAKE CARE OF THE PROPERTIES AND STUFF, YOU KNOW.
UP NEXT IS MICHAEL FORD AND AFTER THAT IS ALAN FINEGOLD.
MICHAEL FORD HERE TODAY? I DON'T SEE HIM, I DON'T SEE.
I THINK YOU SHOULD KEEP THIS BUILDING AS CITY HALL, IT WAS DESIGNED AND BUILT WITH A REMARKABLE DEGREE OF SKILL.
AMONG OTHER THINGS, YOU CAN SEE IF YOU WALK THE HALLS, THERE ARE NO BUMPS, WHATEVER, WHEN YOU POUR CONCRETE AND THERE ARE NO BUMPS, WHATEVER, FOR MORE THAN 100 FEET, YOU'VE GOT ONE HECK OF A GOOD CREW.
AND THE GUY WHO DESIGNED THIS BUILDING REALLY KNEW WHAT HE WAS DOING.
THERE HAS NEVER BEEN A WINDOW DISLODGED FROM THIS BUILDING, DESPITE THE FACT THAT THIS IS THE PANHANDLE AND WE GET WINDS OF 70 MILES PER HOUR.
AND TO THE BEST OF MY KNOWLEDGE, NONE OF THOSE WINDOWS ANYWHERE IN THE BUILDING HAS EVER LEAKED. THIS IS JUST A SMALL INDICATION OF HOW SOUND THIS BUILDING IS.
NOW YOU MAY NEED TO APPROPRIATE MONEY FOR THE PLUMBING AND ELECTRICAL SYSTEMS OR RENOVATION, ESPECIALLY OF PLUMBING, BUT I THINK THIS IS SOMETHING YOU COULD DISCUSS WITH MR. DANFORTH. NOW, THAT DOESN'T MEAN THAT YOU GUYS DIDN'T GET A GOOD DEAL ON THAT AMARILLO HARDWARE COMPANY BUILDING.
AND IT DOESN'T MEAN THAT YOU SHOULDN'T DEVELOP IT.
IT'S NOT NECESSARY TO CALL THAT CITY HALL IN ORDER TO HAVE A LITTLE BIT OF BACKUP ON THE FACILITIES THAT ARE ESSENTIAL FOR THIS CITY HALL.
MOREOVER, IF YOU DO A PROPER JOB ON RENOVATION OF THE ELECTRICAL AND PLUMBING SYSTEMS OF THE AMARILLO HARDWARE COMPANY, YOU CAN CREATE A COMMERCIAL CENTER THAT WOULD BE VERY ATTRACTIVE FOR BUSINESSES THAT DO WHOLESALE GOODS, ESPECIALLY IF THEY ARE RELATIVELY HEAVY, LIKE PIECES OF EQUIPMENT, COMPRESSORS OR RELATIVELY HEAVY FURNITURE.
THEY WOULD HAVE A PLACE THAT THEY COULD USE FOR DISPLAY TO MAJOR CUSTOMERS, NOT ONLY IN AMARILLO, BUT IN THE REST OF THE PANHANDLE AND PERHAPS WITHIN A RADIUS OF 200 MILES OR MORE. AND YOU COULD ALSO HAVE A PREPARATORY CENTER FOR COMMERCIAL DISPLAY THAT THEY WOULD WISH TO MAKE IN ONE OF THE EXHIBIT HALLS UP HERE IN OUR PRINCIPAL FACILITY FOR SUCH, WHENEVER IT WAS APPROPRIATE FOR A COMMERCIAL CONVENTION.
THEY COULD TAKE WHATEVER THEY'VE GOT IN THE AMARILLO HARDWARE BUILDING AND BRING IT UP TO ONE OF THE EXHIBIT HALLS.
YOU COULD DEVELOP OR REDEVELOP THE AMARILLO HARDWARE COMPANY BUILDING A FLOOR AT A TIME JUST SO LONG AS INITIALLY YOU DID SUFFICIENT RESEARCH AND WORK WITH EXCEL, AMONG OTHERS, TO GET THE PROPER DEGREE OF ELECTRICAL SERVICE THAT YOU WILL NEED FOR ALL FLOORS ONCE YOU GET THEM DEVELOPED. IT IS NOT NECESSARY TO DEVELOP THAT BUILDING ALL AT ONCE.
IT CAN BE REDEVELOPED FLOOR BY FLOOR.
THANK YOU. THANK YOU, MR. FINEGOLD. THAT'S ALL THAT WE HAVE TODAY.
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THANK YOU, JENNY. WE DID RECEIVE A WRITTEN COMMENT FROM MICHAEL FORD.WE'LL PASS THAT OUT TO COUNCIL SO THEY HAVE IT.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH. ITEM AGENDA ITEM ONE A IS TO CONSIDER AN AWARD WITH REGARD TO AN
[1A. CONSIDER AWARD]
ARCHITECT AND ALSO ENGINEERING SERVICES FOR A DESIGN OF CITY HALL.SO MR. CITY MANAGER, I'LL HAND THAT ITEM TO YOU.
ALL RIGHT. WE'VE GOT JERRY DANFORTH TO PRESENT THE ITEM.
IN SUMMARY, THOUGH, IN ACCORDANCE WITH PURCHASING PROCEDURES FOR SOLICITING PROFESSIONAL SERVICES, WE DID AN RFQ SUBMITTED THAT WAS SENT OUT TO EVERYONE ON OUR APPROVED BIDDERS LIST OR OUR APPROVED VENDORS LIST.
RATHER, WE WENT THROUGH A SCORING PROCESS WITH THOSE PROPOSALS.
AND THE WINNING PROPOSAL WAS SIM'S, WHICH IS A LOCAL ARCHITECTURAL, AS MR. [INAUDIBLE] MENTIONED, IS A LOCAL LOCAL COMPANY THAT HAS RECENTLY CHANGED NAMES.
BUT IT IS HAS DONE A LOT OF WORK ON CITY FACILITIES, INCLUDING ALL OF OUR RECENT FIRE STATIONS AND THE SIMS BUILDING, IRONICALLY, SAME NAME AS THE COMPANY.
JERRY, IS THERE ANYTHING TO ADD TO THAT? NO. AS YOU AS YOU MENTIONED, WE DID GO THROUGH THE SCORING PROCESS, LOOKED AT HISTORICAL CONSTRUCTION WITHIN THE MUNICIPALITY, ALSO LOOKED AT HISTORICAL MUNICIPAL PROJECTS AND SIM'S ARCHITECTURAL RECEIVED THE HIGHEST SCORE.
I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO NOTE ON THIS THAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT DESIGN OF CITY HALL, NOT A. MAYBE THAT MICROPHONE IS NOT WORKING.
IS IT? ALL RIGHT, WE'RE TALKING ABOUT DESIGNS OF THE CITY HALL.
WE DO HAVE FLEXIBILITY IN THAT CONTRACT TO MOVE AND DO DIFFERENT THINGS WITHIN THAT CONTRACT. AND WE DO HAVE A GUARANTEED MAXIMUM PRICE ON THAT CONTRACT.
COUNCIL, DO YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS FOR JERRY ABOUT THE INFORMATION ON THE BID ? WE MAY HAVE CONVERSATION AND QUESTIONS FOR JERRY, EVEN JUST GETTING BACK INTO WHETHER OR NOT WE WANT TO MOVE FORWARD WITH THIS.
YES, MA'AM. THANK YOU. SO THE RFQS.
CAN YOU TELL ME, IS IT PUBLIC? CAN YOU TELL ME WHO WHO THE OTHER ARCHITECTS WERE AND IF THEY QUOTED HARD BIDS OR HOW THAT WAS DECIDED ON FOR? AND CAN I SAY LAVIN AND ASSOCIATES? I THINK IT'S HELPFUL. THAT'S HOW WE KNOW WHO THEY ARE.
SO I WAS ALSO LOOKING AT THAT SAME CALIFORNIA ADDRESS, AND I DIDN'T UNDERSTAND THAT SIM'S WASN'T A LOCAL ARCHITECT.
SO I THINK THAT'S HELPFUL FOR US TO KNOW.
WE'RE USING A LOCAL ARCHITECT.
I DON'T HAVE THAT LIST WITH ME CURRENTLY.
WE DO HAVE THROUGH THE PURCHASING DEPARTMENT, A BIDDERS LIST, WE ACTUALLY HAD MULTIPLE ARCHITECTURAL FIRMS THAT WERE DOING THE ONSITE WALKTHROUGHS, LOOKING AT THE FACILITIES, LOOKING AT WHAT OUR POTENTIAL WERE, AND THEN WE RECEIVED PROPOSALS FROM THEM ON IF THEY WERE ACTUALLY INTERESTED OR SIZED ADEQUATELY TO BE ABLE TO DO A PROJECT OF THIS SIZE WITHIN THE TIMEFRAMES THAT WE WERE LOOKING AT.
AND SO CAN YOU TELL ME WHEN THE RFQS WERE WERE PUT OUT AND WHEN THIS WAS AWARDED? I CAN'T GIVE YOU EXACT DATES OFF THE TOP OF MY HEAD.
I'M SORRY. I DON'T HAVE THAT INFORMATION IN FRONT OF ME.
TRENT CAN YOU GET THAT? WE CAN WE CAN YOU BE GRABBING THAT INFORMATION.
WE'LL HAVE IT BEFORE WE GET THROUGH, TOO FAR DOWN THE ROAD.
YEAH, JUST CURIOUS TO KIND OF GET CAUGHT UP TO SPEED.
YOU KNOW, THAT PROCESS THAT WAS FOLLOWED.
I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO BE ABLE TO SPEAK TO THAT, THAT WE ARE GOING THROUGH OUR NORMAL PROCESS, NOT IN NOT IN A HURRY TO TO AWARD A LARGE PROJECT TO AN ARCHITECT.
CORRECT. AND THIS THIS CONTRACT IS BASICALLY THE COUNCIL'S ALLOWING JARED, OR CITY MANAGER, TO GO INTO NEGOTIATIONS WITH THE ARCHITECT ON THE SCOPE.
AND THE AIA DOCUMENTS THAT WOULD REPRESENT THIS CONTRACT ARE STILL BEING NEGOTIATED.
AND ONCE THOSE ARE COMPLETED TO THE SATISFACTION OF THE CITY MANAGER AND TO THE ARCHITECT, THAT'S WHEN WE WOULD EXECUTE THE CONTRACT.
CAN YOU TELL ME THE TWO MILLION DOLLARS THAT WE'VE ASSESSED HERE AS A PRICE TAG, IS THAT BASED ON THE OVERALL SCOPE OF WORK SPECIFIC TO A CERTAIN SCOPE, OR IS THAT A COST? IS THIS A COST PLUS A PERCENTAGE? HOW DID WE ARRIVE AT THAT TWO MILLION? NO, IT'S A TOTAL COMPLETION, A FULL SCOPE.
ALL ARCHITECTURAL AND ENGINEERING SERVICES ARE INCLUDED IN THAT SCOPE, FROM CIVIL TO MECHANICAL TO STRUCTURAL TO ARCHITECTURAL TO LANDSCAPE.
ALL OF THOSE SERVICES ARE IN THERE.
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SO SPECIFICALLY, IF WE WERE TO LOOK AT NEW CONSTRUCTION, YOU FEEL LIKE THIS IS ADEQUATE TO COVER A NEW CONSTRUCTION DESIGN? OR IF WE WERE LOOKING AT THE AMARILLO HARDWARE, THIS WOULD COVER AN AMARILLO HARDWARE BUILDING DESIGN? ABSOLUTELY. IF THE SCOPE AND THE ONLY CAVEAT THERE AND I WOULD NOT ANTICIPATE US TO ALLOW SCOPE TO GO BEYOND WHAT WE HAVE IN THE RENOVATION PROPOSED WITH AMARILLO HARDWARE, BUT IT WOULDN'T HAVE TO MAKE WE WOULD HAVE TO BE ABLE TO.THE ONLY CAVEAT WOULD BE THAT WHATEVER WE DID IF WE WERE TO LOOK AT NEW CONSTRUCTION WOULD NEED TO FALL WITHIN THE SCOPE REQUIREMENT OR THE SCOPE PARAMETERS THAT WE HAVE OUTLINED FOR AMARILLO HARDWARE.
OTHERWISE, IT WOULD LOGICALLY BE MORE EXPENSIVE.
BUT I DON'T ANTICIPATE THAT WOULD BE THE CASE BASED ON WHAT YOU AND JERRY ARE SAYING.
YES, SIR, I'D AGREE WITH THAT, YOU AGREE WITH THAT, JERRY? I DO. OK.
ANY OTHER QUESTIONS FROM COUNCIL ABOUT THE BID OR THE BID PROCESS? THERE WAS SORT OF A QUESTION IN THAT AND WE JERRY HAVE WE FOLLOWED OR DEVIATED FROM OUR TYPICAL BID PROCESS, EITHER IN TIMELINE OR PROCEDURE OR? NO, MA'AM. WE BASICALLY HAVE FOLLOWED THE SAME PROCEDURE FOR THE LAST FIVE YEARS ON ALL OF OUR CONSTRUCTION PROJECTS, WHETHER THEY WERE PROP TWO PROJECTS, THE [INAUDIBLE] PROJECT, ALL OF THOSE PROJECTS WOULD FOLLOW THE SAME PROCESS.
OK. ANY OTHER QUESTIONS FROM COUNCIL ABOUT THAT? YES, COUNCIL MEMBER SMITH.
AND ONE OF THE CRITERIA IS THAT THEY HAVE MUNICIPAL EXPERIENCE.
I THINK THAT COULD I'M FINE WITH SIM'S.
I'M GOING TO APPROVE THAT, BUT I THINK WE OUGHT TO CONSIDER.
JUST BECAUSE THEY DON'T HAVE CITY EXPERIENCE.
THEY SHOULDN'T DO YOU HAVE IT WAS PART OF THE SCORING CRITERIA, BUT IT WAS NOT YOU DIDN'T HAVE TO HAVE MUNICIPAL EXPERIENCE, BUT IF YOU HAD MUNICIPAL EXPERIENCE, YOU GAINED EXTRA POINTS IN THE SCORING CRITERIA FOR THAT.
PROCESS, AND WHEN YOU'RE NOT ABLE TO GET POINTS ON SOMETHING, IT DOES MAKE IT VERY DIFFICULT TO BE SELECTED.
I RECOGNIZE THAT. AND IT'S A VERY VALID POINT THAT COUNCIL MEMBER SMITH IS MAKING.
WE'RE GOING TO THERE WAS ONE ARCHITECT WE TALKED TO THAT THIS WAS A CONCERN FOR THEM, NOT THE ONLY REASON WHY THEY DID NOT SUBMIT A PROPOSAL, BUT IT WAS A CONCERN.
WE'RE GOING TO WORK WITH THEM TO WORK THEM IN ON A SMALL PROJECT SOMEWHERE WHERE THEY WILL BE ABLE TO CHECK THE BOX THAT THAT THEY DO HAVE MUNICIPAL EXPERIENCE.
THERE IS A NUMBER OF REASONS WHY WE HAVE THAT.
BUT WE CAN ABSOLUTELY TWEAK THE PERCENTAGES OR THE VALUES OF THOSE THE VALUES THAT WE HAVE OR ARE BASED ON, YOU KNOW, RESEARCHING HOW AND I DON'T WANT TO SAY JUST DOING WHAT OTHER OTHER PEOPLE DO. THERE ARE REASONS WHY THOSE PERCENTAGES ARE ASSIGNED TO CERTAIN SCORING CRITERIA. BUT WE CAN DEFINITELY EVALUATE THAT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE NOT RULING ANYBODY OUT FOR A REASON THAT WE CAN REASONABLY CONTROL THROUGH OTHER MEANS OR REASONABLY BE ASSURED OF THEIR KNOWLEDGE AND FAMILIARITY WITH PUBLIC BIDDING, WITH PUBLIC PRICING, WITH ALL OF THE OTHER THINGS THAT ARE UNIQUE TO NOT JUST MUNICIPAL BUT COUNTY AND OTHER PUBLIC CONSTRUCTION PROJECTS AND PUBLIC DESIGN PROJECTS.
SO WE DEFINITELY DON'T WANT TO BE RULING OUT ANY ANY QUALIFIED LOCAL BIDDERS FOR UNNECESSARY OR UNNECESSARY REASONS.
SO WE'LL DEFINITELY LOOK AT THAT AND HAVE ADDITIONAL CONVERSATION WITH YOU TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE BEING AS AS ACCOMMODATING AS WE CAN BE ON THAT.
AT THIS TIME, DO WE HAVE A MOTION WITH REGARD TO ITEM ONE A? YES MAYOR. WE DO.
I MOVE TO AUTHORIZE THE CITY MANAGER TO NEGOTIATE AND ENTER INTO AN AGREEMENT WITH SIM'S ARCHITECT FOR PROFESSIONAL SERVICES, FOR ARCHITECTURAL AND ENGINEERING SERVICES REGARDING THE DESIGN OF CITY HALL, WITH SAID FEES NOT TO EXCEED TWO MILLION DOLLARS.
IT'S BEEN MOVED BY COUNCIL MEMBER POWELL AND SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER SAUER TO APPROVE THIS CONTRACT FOR ARCHITECTURAL AND ENGINEERING SERVICES.
DO WE HAVE DISCUSSION ON THIS MOTION COUNCIL? YOU WANT TO START COUNCIL MEMBER STANLEY?
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SURE. SO JUST DISCUSSING THIS IN THE WAY OF I FELT LIKE THE MEETING LAST NIGHT WAS PRODUCTIVE. I DID GET SOME GOOD FEEDBACK, I THINK, FROM FROM THOSE THAT SPOKE THAT, YOU KNOW, I DON'T KNOW HOW LONG AGO IT WAS THAT YOU GUYS KIND OF VEERED AWAY FROM NEW CONSTRUCTION BECAUSE THE COST WAS OUTWEIGHING THE THE, YOU KNOW, RENOVATION OF AN EXISTING BUILDING. I ALSO SEE THE BENEFIT IN RECLAIMING AN OLD BUILDING.AND WHEN WE TALK ABOUT THAT, WE TALK ABOUT HIGHEST AND BEST USAGE.
AND SO I THINK THE AMARILLO HARDWARE BUILDING IS A IS A REALLY GOOD LOOKING BUILDING.
I THINK IT HAS A LOT OF REALLY GOOD CURB APPEAL.
I THINK IT SITS IN A GOOD PART OF TOWN, YOU KNOW, OLD BRICK ROADS.
I'M NOT SAYING THAT I THINK THE HIGHEST AND BEST USAGE OF THAT BUILDING WOULD BE A CITY HALL. I THINK THAT WOULD MAKE A NICE FLAGSHIP.
BUT IT'S AN ASSET, YOU KNOW, IT'S NOT A LIABILITY IN ANY FORM.
AND SO IF WE RETAINED THAT ASSET AND WE DID LOOK HARD AT NEW CONSTRUCTION, NOT ONLY COULD WE OFFSET IF NEW CONSTRUCTION WAS MORE AFFORDABLE COST EFFECTIVE, THE SAVINGS THERE UP FRONT, YOU WOULD ALSO HAVE THAT ASSET STILL ON YOUR BOOKS.
SO I LIKE BOTH OF THOSE LONG TERM LOOKING AND STEWARDING THIS MONEY.
I DIDN'T WANT TO SPEAK OUT OF TURN.
AND I KNOW LAST WEEK I DID THROW OUT SOME NUMBERS OF SOME AVERAGES OF WHAT I THOUGHT NEW CONSTRUCTION MIGHT RUN.
AND SO I DID A LITTLE HOMEWORK.
I DID DO A COST ANALYSIS JUST MYSELF.
AND I DON'T CLAIM TO BE THIS CALIBER OF CONTRACTOR.
THIS IS WHAT I DO FOR A LIVING.
BUT THIS IS NOT WHAT I DO FOR A LIVING.
THESE GUYS ARE DIFFERENT TIER.
AND SO I'M NOT GOING TO TELL YOU THAT I CAN SPEAK AS AN EXPERT ON THEIR COST, BUT I DO HAVE A FIRM GRASP ON WHAT CONSTRUCTION COSTS AND DESIGNS ARE.
AND I RAN THE NUMBERS AND I GAVE JERRY A SMALL BREAKOUT THAT'S JUST BROKEN DOWN SO THAT WE'RE NOT BASING EVERYTHING ON A PRICE PER SQUARE FOOT.
WHAT I LOOKED AT WAS 75,000 SQUARE FEET, TWO STORY THIRTY SEVEN FIVE FIRST FLOOR, THIRTY SEVEN THOUSAND FIVE HUNDRED SQUARE FOOT SECOND FLOOR.
THAT BRINGS YOUR ELEVATOR COSTS DOWN A LITTLE BIT.
THAT GETS YOU A COUPLE OF SHORT STAIRWELLS TO GET IN AND OUT.
THAT GIVES YOU A REALLY BIG OPEN FLOOR PLAN AND A GOOD LOOKING CONCEPT WITH KIND OF SOME MODERN INDUSTRIAL LOOKS.
EVERYTHING CAME BACK AT TWENTY ONE MILLION, YOU KNOW, 500,000 DOLLARS.
AND SO I RERAN SOME OF THE NUMBERS, JUST PRICE COMPARING WHAT WE SEE OUT THERE ON A ON A LITTLE BIT SMALLER SCALE, YOU KNOW, TWENTY, THIRTY THOUSAND SQUARE FOOT PROJECTS.
SO I COULD BE OFF A LITTLE BIT, BUT I'M PRETTY CONFIDENT IN THESE NUMBERS.
JUST COMING BACK WHEN YOU START BREAKING THEM DOWN, THIS WAS SIX INCH CONCRETE PAVING PARKING LOTS, NOT ASPHALT.
THIS WAS HIGH END LANDSCAPE DESIGN, STRUCTURAL STEEL BUILDING.
SECOND FLOOR WOULD BE A CONCRETE FLOOR ON TOP OF THE SUBSTRUCTURE.
THIS WOULD HAVE THE BIGGEST ISSUE THIS WOULD HAVE IS WHERE DO YOU PUT IT? I WOULDN'T BEGIN TO TELL YOU THAT I KNOW WHERE WE HAVE A SPOT FOR THIS RIGHT AROUND DOWNTOWN. I WOULD BE IN FAVOR OF LOOKING AT NEW CONSTRUCTION DOWNTOWN.
OBVIOUSLY, I DON'T THINK WE HAVE THE ABILITIES OR THE WANT TO MOVE IT.
SO LOOKING AT ALL THIS, IF WE WERE TO SAY RIGHT NOW THAT WE AT LEAST HAVE SOMEBODY THAT'S DIGGING IN AND LOOKING AT THE CONSTRUCTION COSTS OF THIS, WE COULD POTENTIALLY HAVE TWELVE, THIRTEEN MILLION DOLLARS WORTH OF SAVINGS.
I SAW ON MY AGENDA THAT WE HAVE A PARKS AND REC MEETING COMING UP.
WE ALSO HAVE SOME OTHER THINGS THAT ARE LOOKING AT US.
I REALLY WANT TO DIG IN AND KNOW THAT WE COULDN'T HAVE SAVED EVEN TEN MILLION DOLLARS ON THIS MOVE. AND I'M NOT PUSHING SAYING THAT MY MY STANCE IS THAT WE HAVE TO STAY IN THIS BUILDING. OBVIOUSLY, I FEEL LIKE A PLAN COULD BE DEVELOPED FOR THAT AS WELL.
I'M JUST PUSHING FOR IF IF WE AS A COUNCIL ARE GOING TO MOVE.
ARE WE AT THE POINT WHERE WE'RE READY TO HIRE AN ARCHITECT? SO IN THE PROCESS OF NEGOTIATING, I THINK OUR TIME WOULD BE BETTER SPENT IN LOOKING AT THESE OPTIONS, IDENTIFYING OTHER LOCATIONS THAT COULD BE NEW CONSTRUCTION BEFORE WE VOTE AND BEFORE WE GO OUT TO AWARD THIS TO AN ARCHITECT, THE SCOPE OF WORK IS GOING TO CHANGE.
YOUR ARCHITECTURE FEE WOULD BE ONE POINT TWO MILLION ON THIS, NOT TWO MILLION.
FIVE PERCENT IS KIND OF A GOING AVERAGE FOR AN ARCHITECTURE FEE, INCLUDING ME&PS WITH MINIMAL SUPERVISION AND OVERSIGHT ON SITE.
I BUDGETED 15 PERCENT ON THAT FOR A GENERAL CONTRACTOR FEE, WHICH WOULD COVER, YOU KNOW, FULL TIME ONSITE PROJECT MANAGER OR SUPERINTENDENT.
AND SO ALL OF THESE THINGS KIND OF PLAY INTO WHEN DO WE NEED TO HIRE THIS ARCHITECT? SO IT'S KIND OF TO JAMES'S POINT, I FEEL LIKE WE'RE MOVING A LITTLE FAST AND PUTTING THE
[00:25:01]
AWARD OUT FOR TWO MILLION DOLLARS AND THEN WORKING BACKWARDS.WHY NOT GO FORWARD? WE HAVE PLENTY OF TIME BEFORE THIS VOTE COMES UP IN AUGUST.
WE COULD GO AHEAD AND DEVELOP ANOTHER HARD LOOK, ANOTHER DESIGN WITHOUT PLANS AND THEN BE ABLE TO LOOK AT THIS WITH A PARTICULAR ARCHITECT BEFORE YOU GO INTO A PRELIMINARY DESIGN PHASE. I GUESS KIND OF THE LAST POINT OF ALL THIS IS THIS IS JUST ONE LOOK AT IT FROM LAST NIGHT.
I PROBABLY DON'T HAVE THE BEST IDEA, I DON'T HAVE THE BEST DESIGN, I DON'T HAVE THE BEST LOOK AT COSTS.
THIS IS JUST KIND OF A KNEE JERK.
AND IF I'M WRONG, I WILL GLADLY SIT UP HERE AND SAY, WELL, THAT'S WHY I DON'T DO THAT FOR A LIVING. BUT I'M GLAD TO TAKE THE TWO WEEKS, FOUR WEEKS, TWO MONTHS, HOWEVER MUCH TIME IT TAKES FOR THOSE WHO CAN AND WOULD BE ON THE HOOK FOR THIS TO GET AN OPPORTUNITY TO SEE HOW THEY CAN HELP STEWARD THE CITY'S MONEY AS WELL.
IT'S NOT JUST US, IT'S YOU GUYS AS WELL.
THANK YOU. ANY OTHER COMMENTS FROM THE COUNCIL? I GUESS MY FIRST QUESTION IS GOING TO BE THIS, ARE THIS WOULD BE DIRECTED TO THE CITY MANAGER, HAVE WE OUTGROWN THIS BUILDING? WE'RE IN THE PROCESS. I DON'T I DON'T WANT TO SAY DEFINITIVELY, YES, WE'RE USING IT AND WE'RE USING IT. WELL, WE BUILT SIM'S AND NOT LONG AFTER WE BUILT SIM'S, I MEAN, WE LITERALLY HAD EVERYONE SITTING ON TOP OF EACH OTHER INSIDE THE BUILDING.
SO WE ARE FULLY UTILIZING THE BUILDING.
WE ARE WE DO HAVE SOME TIME LEFT IN THE BUILDING, BUT WE'RE WE'RE FULL.
I MEAN, JERRY, DO YOU HAVE ANYTHING TO ADD TO THAT OR? SORRY, JERRY, BUT FOLKS AT HOME CAN'T HEAR IF YOU'RE NOT AT THE PODIUM.
TO ACTUALLY DEVELOP SOME ADDITIONAL SPACE, WE JUST MOVED PARKS AND RECREATION OUT OF THIS BUILDING AND INTO THE [INAUDIBLE] BUILDING THAT WE PURCHASED, WE CREATED SOME MORE SPACE THERE. THAT SPACE IS ALREADY ALLOCATED.
SO TO ANSWER YOUR QUESTION, MR. CITY MANAGER, WE WILL BE FULL WITHIN THE NEXT TWO MONTHS.
YET WE TEMPORARILY UTILIZED I'M SORRY, JARED.
WE TEMPORARILY UTILIZED [INAUDIBLE] KNOWING THAT PARKS IS ONE OF THE ONE OF THE DEPARTMENTS THAT WILL GO INTO CITY HALL AND UNDERSTANDING THAT NOT BASED ON THE GUIDANCE WE'D BEEN GIVEN PREVIOUSLY, WE WERE GOING TO HAVE THEM TEMPORARILY LOCATE TO [INAUDIBLE], TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THE OFFICE SPACE THAT WAS OVER THERE UNTIL WE HAD NEW CITY HALL, UNTIL WE HAD AMARILLO HARDWARE COMPLETED THAT PROJECT COMPLETED.
UNDERSTANDING THAT [INAUDIBLE] IS A COMPONENT OF A FUTURE PROJECT THAT WILL REQUIRE IT TO BE DEMOLISHED POTENTIALLY.
SO THAT IS THE KIND OF MOVING, SHUFFLING PIECES AROUND THAT WE'VE BEEN DOING.
IT DOES CREATE THE ABILITY FOR US TO HAVE MORE FLEXIBILITY HERE IN THIS BUILDING.
SO I WAS KIND OF A QUALIFIED ANSWER DR.
SAUER'S QUESTION. I DIDN'T WANT TO ANSWER INCORRECTLY, BUT I DEFINITELY DIDN'T WANT TO MISLEAD EITHER.
OK, SO AND NOW THEN HERE'S MY NEXT QUESTION.
AND THERE'S PROBABLY NOT ANYBODY IN THE ROOM WHO REALLY CAN PROBABLY ANSWER THAT QUESTION. WHEN THIS BUILDING WAS OPENED IN 1966, DID WE FILL THE BUILDING? MY GUESS IS GOING TO BE, NO, WE DID NOT, WE BUILT THIS BUILDING WITH THE IDEA THAT WE WOULD BE ADDING SERVICES, WE WOULD BE EXPANDING, THERE WOULD BE A THERE WOULD NEED TO BE MORE ROOM THAT WOULD BE MADE.
SO GOING FORWARD, I WOULD NOT ONE OF THE REASONS THAT I AM STILL WAY MORE INTERESTED IN LOOKING AT AMARILLO HARDWARE IS BECAUSE THAT BUILDING'S GOT A ONE HUNDRED AND FORTY TWO THOUSAND SQUARE FEET. THAT GIVES US A SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT OF GROWTH OPPORTUNITY, WHETHER WE START OUT WITH IT BEING COMMERCIALLY COMMERCIAL REAL ESTATE THAT CAN BE LEASED AND DEVELOPED FOR OTHER PEOPLE.
BUT AT THE SAME TIME AS WE CONTINUE TO GROW, AND THE CITY IS GOING TO GROW AND IT'S GOING TO GROW AT A PRETTY EXPONENTIAL RATE.
WE CAN RECLAIM THOSE SPOTS AS WE NEED THEM, AND IT GIVES US THAT ABILITY TO.
TO EXPAND THE CITY AS THE CITY BEGINS TO GROW, SO THAT'S ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I THINK IS REAL IMPORTANT ABOUT THIS, IS I DON'T WANT TO BE SHORTSIGHTED AND BUILD ANOTHER BUILDING THAT'S BASICALLY THE SAME SIZE AS THIS BUILDING.
AND THIS BUILDING'S ALREADY FULL.
AND WE'RE ALREADY SHIPPING OFF PEOPLE TO SIM'S AND WE'RE ALREADY SHIPPING OFF PEOPLE TO [INAUDIBLE]. AND WE'RE GOING TO BE FULL AGAIN IN TWO MONTHS.
I THINK IT WOULD BEHOOVE US TO BE VERY THOUGHTFUL ABOUT.
WE'RE MAKING THIS LONG WALK IN THE SAME DIRECTION THAT WE NEED TO CONSIDER.
DO WE ARE WE PLANNING FOR THE FUTURE OF AMARILLO OR ARE WE JUST GOING TO BUILD ANOTHER
[00:30:03]
BUILDING THAT'S GOING TO GIVE US.THE SAME THING? WE NEED TO HAVE THAT ABILITY TO MOVE FORWARD, SO I STILL THINK THAT EVEN CONSIDERING THAT WE HAVE TO CONSIDER WHAT DO WE HAVE AVAILABLE TO US? IT'S STILL BETTER TO KEEP AS MUCH OF YOUR STUFF CENTRALIZED AS POSSIBLE AND NOT SPREADING OUT DEPARTMENTS ALL OVER THE PLACE THAT THEY'RE HAVING TO GO TO DIFFERENT PLACES.
IT WOULD BE VERY MUCH BETTER TO SET THEM IN ONE PARTICULAR LOCATION.
AND SO I THINK THAT'S GOT TO BE A BIG PORTION OF WHAT WE CONSIDER GOING FORWARD.
IS, IS ARE WE PLANNING FOR THE FUTURE OR ARE WE JUST ANSWERING THE QUESTION FOR TODAY? MR. CITY MANAGER, WHEN WE DID THIS ANALYSIS, COULD YOU AND JERRY JUST HAVE A DIALOG REMINDING US ON WHAT LAND WAS AVAILABLE DOWNTOWN TO DO NEW CONSTRUCTION AND.
EXACTLY. WHAT KIND OF ANALYSIS DID WE DO ON WHETHER WE NEEDED A CITY HALL TO BE DOWNTOWN OR LOOKING AT OTHER LOCATIONS AND AND WHAT THE THE CITY DEPARTMENTS IN THE CITY STAFF'S FEEDBACK WAS ON OPERATIONALLY HOW HAVING CITY HALL LOCATED IN A DIFFERENT PLACE THAN NEXT TO PD, NEXT TO SIM'S, HOW THAT WOULD AFFECT CITY OPERATIONS.
SO THE KIND OF TWO QUESTIONS THERE IT IS THERE? DO WE NEED TO DO IT DOWNTOWN? AND WE DID DO AN ANALYSIS ON THAT.
AND IS THERE LAND AVAILABLE TO DO IT DOWNTOWN AS NEW CONSTRUCTION? JUST TALK ABOUT HOW WE ANALYZE THAT IN THE IN THE PAST IN THE LAST TWO YEARS.
SURE. THE FIRST IS MUCH MORE STRAIGHTFORWARD FROM AN OPERATIONAL STANDPOINT.
FOR EXAMPLE, WHEN WE LOOKED AT ZACHERY, IT IS NOT DOWNTOWN.
THERE IS. AND WE CAN ALL DISCUSS THE THE DRIVETIME AT DIFFERENT TIMES OF DAY, EITHER TO GET THERE FROM DOWNTOWN OR TO GET DOWNTOWN FROM THERE.
BUT THERE'S, YOU KNOW, DEPENDING ON HOW MANY MEETINGS YOU HAVE WITH WITH DIFFERENT GROUPS, WITH DIFFERENT CITIZENS, WITH ME AND OTHERS, THERE'S FREQUENTLY, I WOULD SAY ALMOST DAILY, PROBABLY MANY TIMES A DAY WHERE PEOPLE ARE MOVING BACK AND FORTH FROM SIMS TO HERE OR THE OTHER WAY.
THERE'S GOING TO BE A LOT OF LOSS.
YOU LOSE LOST PRODUCTIVITY WHEN YOU DISTRIBUTE YOUR YOUR PERSONNEL TO A VARIETY OF DIFFERENT PLACES. NOW, DISTRIBUTING PERSONNEL THAT HAVE LIKE THE SERVICE CENTER, THERE ARE PERSONNEL THAT DO HAVE TO COME HERE, BUT THERE'S MUCH FEWER.
MOST OF THOSE PEOPLE ARE WORKING THERE BECAUSE THEY'RE IN OUR EITHER SOLID WASTE OR OTHER OPERATIONAL DIVISION STREETS, PUBLIC WORKS, WATER, WASTEWATER, THINGS LIKE THAT.
AND THEY DO NOT DO THE ADMINISTRATIVE MEETINGS THAT THAT WE HAVE TO DO FREQUENTLY THROUGHOUT THE DAY OR MEETINGS WITH THE CITIZENS.
BUT WHEN YOU PUT ADMINISTRATIVE PERSONNEL AT DISTRIBUTED LOCATIONS THROUGHOUT THE CITY, YOU DO LOSE PRODUCTIVITY, YOU DO LOSE TIME TO TRANSPORT, TO TRAVEL.
SO THAT IS A MAJOR CONSIDERATION OF WHERE YOU PUT YOUR ASSETS, WHERE YOU PUT YOUR PERSONNEL, IN MY OPINION.
AND AGAIN, THAT'S ONE PERSON, NOT ONE OF THE COUNCIL MEMBERS.
SO NO VOTE. BUT MY OPINION AND MY RECOMMENDATION IS THAT WE NEED TO BE AS CENTRALLY LOCATED AS WE CAN WITH REGARD TO OUR ADMINISTRATIVE PERSONNEL SO THAT WE CAN HAVE FLEXIBILITY OF MEETINGS, FLEXIBILITY OF DECISION MAKING AND AND OTHER THINGS.
WE DO HAVE SOME ADDITIONAL FLEXIBILITY THAT WE'VE LEARNED THROUGH THIS LAST YEAR THROUGH ZOOM AND OTHER VIRTUAL MEETING METHODS.
BUT IT DOES NOT REPLACE TO PUT THE FACE TO FACE MEETINGS WHERE YOU CAN ACTUALLY ACTUALLY MAKE CHANGES TO PLANS IN REAL TIME.
SO FROM AN OPERATIONAL STANDPOINT, WE DID REVIEW THE PRODUCTIVITY LOSSES IN TRANSPORTATION AND TRAVEL TIMES FROM DIFFERENT LOCATIONS.
THE FARTHER AWAY FROM DOWNTOWN YOU ARE FARTHER AWAY FROM OUR CENTRAL ADMINISTRATIVE ASSETS. YOU ARE, THE MORE COSTLY THAT IS.
AND WE WOULD BE MOVING OUR CENTRAL ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICE AND THEN HAVING PEOPLE FROM SIMS, PD AND OTHER PLACES DOWNTOWN GOING TO THAT LOCATION.
IF WE WERE TO BE OUTSIDE OF DOWNTOWN, THAT'S THE EXAMPLE THAT WE USED.
THAT WAS THE ONE OF THE ONE OF THE DECISION VARIABLES THAT WE DISCUSSED WHEN WE WERE EVALUATING THE ZACHERY BUILDING.
BEFORE YOU MOVE OFF OF THAT, I ALSO REMEMBER THERE WAS A LOT OF DIALOG, EVEN FROM THE VIEWPOINT OF CHIP WHARTON AND KEVIN STARBUCK, WHO HAVE EMERGENCY SERVICES BACKGROUND, THAT, YOU KNOW, THE OTHER SIDE OF THE COIN IS THAT OFF SITING, YOU KNOW, FOR EMERGENCY OPERATIONS, IF A TORNADO HITS DOWNTOWN AND TAKES OUT EVERYTHING THE CITY HAS DOWNTOWN, THAT AT LEAST WE WOULD HAVE A SECONDARY PLACE WHERE WE COULD CONDUCT OPERATIONS IF CITY HALL WASN'T DOWNTOWN.
BUT IN IN WEIGHING THAT WHAT IF SCENARIO AGAINST THE ACTUAL DAY TO DAY PRODUCTIVITY CHALLENGES. MY RECOLLECTION WAS THAT COUNCIL GAVE GUIDANCE TOWARD CHOOSING A CITY HALL THAT WAS DOWNTOWN. AND THERE WAS.
BUT I JUST WHAT I WANT FOR CITIZENS IS THERE'S DIALOG.
THERE WAS A LOT OF CONVERSATION ABOUT THAT.
THERE WAS. AND I WOULD SAY ALSO FROM AN EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT STANDPOINT, WE HAVE PLANS IN PLACE TO BE ABLE TO HAVE A SEAMLESS CONTINUATION OF EMERGENCY OPERATION MANAGEMENT IN THE EVENT OF LOSS OF FACILITIES DOWNTOWN.
SO WHILE THAT'S A VALID CONCERN, IT WASN'T SOMETHING THAT WOULD DRIVE US AWAY FROM
[00:35:07]
CENTRALIZING ASSETS DOWNTOWN.BECAUSE WE DO HAVE PLANS IN PLACE TO BE ABLE TO MITIGATE FOR THAT.
OK. THE SECOND QUESTION WAS WITH REGARD TO WHETHER OR NOT WE HAD VACANT LAND OR LAND THAT WE COULD TEAR DOWN AND MAKE VACANT TO BUILD NEW CONSTRUCTION FOR A DOWNTOWN CITY HALL.
WE DO HAVE PROPERTY DOWNTOWN THAT WE COULD MAKE VACANT AND BUILD NEW CITY HALL.
AND I DON'T THINK ANYONE'S PROPOSED PROPOSING THAT WE DEMOLISH AMARILLO HARDWARE TO BE ABLE TO BUILD A NEW BUILDING THERE. WE DO HAVE THERE ARE PROPERTIES AVAILABLE THAT WE OWN. EACH ONE OF THEM HAS THEIR OWN CHALLENGES, COSTS THAT HAVE NOT BEEN INCORPORATED OR ACCOUNTED FOR.
JERRY ANYTHING TO ADD TO THAT? IT'S KIND OF IT'S VERY OPEN ENDED.
SO, YES, THERE IS OPPORTUNITIES.
THE COSTS HAVE NOT BEEN ACCOUNTED FOR.
THERE ARE THERE ARE SIGNIFICANT AS FAR AS SITE ASSEMBLED PROPERTIES THAT ARE CONTIGUOUS.
THE ONE THAT STICKS OUT TO ME THAT WE OWN IS WHERE AMARILLO HARDWARE IS.
BUT I'M SURE WE HAVE OTHER OPTIONS THAT WE COULD LOOK AT TOO.
YEAH. AND WE WERE ALWAYS COGNIZANT OF THE DOWNTOWN PLAN, THE DOWNTOWN STRATEGIES.
WE STATED WE TRIED TO STAY WITHIN THE DOWNTOWN PLAN, THE DOWNTOWN DEVELOPMENT THAT WAS IN PLACE INITIALLY BECAUSE THAT ENERGY WAS WORKING WITH THE DEVELOPMENT BUCHANAN IS SO MUCH DIFFERENT THAN WHAT IT USED TO BE.
PIERCE IS SO MUCH DIFFERENT THAN WHAT IT USED TO BE.
SO WHEN WE LOOKED AT PROPERTIES THAT SPECIFICALLY THE ONLY PROPERTY, YOU KNOW, CENTRAL LIBRARY CAME UP LAST NIGHT, CENTRAL LIBRARY WASN'T A VIABLE OPTION BECAUSE OF THE SQUARE FOOTAGE AND THE WAY THE BUILDING IS CONSTRUCTED.
THE ONLY OPEN LOT THAT THE CITY CURRENTLY OWNS DOWNTOWN THAT WOULD HOUSE A NEW STRUCTURE.
AND MR. STANLEY AND I DISCUSSED IT A LITTLE BIT, WAS ACTUALLY THERE WERE THE LIBERTY THEATER SETS. WE HAVE THAT CITY BLOCK.
BUT IF WE WERE TO DEVELOP A STRUCTURE WITH NEW CONSTRUCTION CODES, WE HAVE A TWENTY FIVE FOOT SET BACKS THAT ARE REQUIRED.
SO WHAT WE BUILD ON A SITE LIKE THAT, WE LOSE BASICALLY ALMOST 20 PERCENT OF THE SIZE OF THE FACILITY WE COULD BUILD, WHICH MAKES US GO HIGHER INSTEAD OF FLATTER, LIKE WHAT MR. STANLEY'S PROPOSAL WAS.
I UNDERSTAND EXACTLY WHERE HE'S COMING FROM ON THAT.
IT'S ALSO ONE OF THE REASONS WHY WE LOOKED AT THE [INAUDIBLE], BECAUSE IT WAS A LARGE BUILDING THAT WAS ALREADY IN EXISTENCE.
WE LOOKED AT SITE ASSEMBLY TO THE NORTH OF THE NORTH LOT SO THAT WE COULD PUT IN A WHOLE BLOCK INSTEAD OF A HALF BLOCK.
BUT WHERE, REGARDLESS OF WHAT WE LOOK AT IT AS A NEW CITY HALL, YOU WOULD HAVE TO HAVE TWO CITY BLOCKS CONNECTED TO EACH OTHER IN ORDER TO ACCOMMODATE PARKING AS WELL AS A NEW CITY HALL STRUCTURE. BUT WE DID LOOK AT THOSE OPTIONS.
THOSE OPTIONS JUST DIDN'T PLAY OUT FOR WHAT WE CURRENTLY OWN WITHOUT HAVING TO DO DEMOLITION OF EXISTING STRUCTURES, AS WAS WHAT WE LOOKED AT.
WE DID LOOK AT LIKE I SAID, THE DOWNTOWN STRATEGY WAS A BIG PART OF IT.
THE OTHER THING WE WANTED, AS DR.
SAUER POINTED OUT, THE ADDITIONAL FLOOR SPACE WE WERE ALWAYS LOOKING AT WHEN WE DO DEVELOPMENT AND WHEN WE HAVE THESE CONVERSATIONS, WE'RE TRYING TO LOOK TWENTY YEARS AHEAD. NOBODY KNOWS WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN.
BUT WE ANY OF OUR CONSTRUCTION PROJECTS FROM OUR PROP TWO PROJECTS THAT WE DID, WE'RE LOOKING AT CONSTRUCTION OF FIRE STATIONS THAT LET'S LET'S BE HONEST, THE FIRE STATION, AS WE TORE DOWN AND REPLACE WITH THESE WERE OVER 60 YEARS OLD.
SO WE KNEW THAT AS WE CONTINUE TO GROW AND CONTINUE TO DEVELOP AND AS TECHNOLOGY CHANGES, ALL OF THIS, ALL OF THIS CHANGES, YOU KNOW, THE REPRESENTATION THAT WE HAD HERE ON CITY HALL, REPLACEMENT OF THE CHILLER.
IN ALL HONESTY, WHEN WE GET TO THAT POINT, IF WE STAY IN THIS STRUCTURE, I WILL BE HONEST WITH YOU. I WOULD PROPOSE DOING SOMETHING OTHER THAN A CHILLER SYSTEM HERE, BECAUSE IF THE CHILLER GOES DOWN THAT ONE PIECE OF EQUIPMENT TAKES DOWN THE ENTIRE CITY HALL, WHY WOULDN'T WE GO WITH THE NEW TECHNOLOGY THAT'S MORE ENERGY, ENERGY EFFICIENT, ALL OF THOSE ALL OF THOSE QUESTIONS WE WOULD DEAL WITH AS WE'RE GOING FORWARD IN THOSE THOSE COSTS ARE REPRESENTED IN THOSE CONVERSATIONS.
SO WE MAKE CERTAIN ASSUMPTIONS WITH, AS DR.
SAUER SAID, WITH WHAT WE CURRENTLY HAVE.
BUT IT IS SHORTSIGHTED NOT TO LOOK AT WHERE WE'RE GOING, WHERE WE INTEND TO BE IN THE FUTURE. THE OTHER THING THAT WE LOOKED AT WAS CUSTOMER SERVICE WAS WAS A BIG, BIG ITEM FOR US. WE LOOKED AT THE WAY CURRENT CURRENTLY CITY HALL OPERATES.
THOSE THAT COME TO PAY THEIR WATER BILLS OR THOSE THAT COME FOR A BIRTH CERTIFICATE.
THEY'RE HAVING TO COME IN THE FRONT STEPS OF CITY HALL, ALL OF THOSE TRYING TO DO BUSINESS HAVE TO WALK THROUGH THOSE PEOPLE THAT ARE LINED UP TO GET TO THE ELEVATORS, TO COME TO THE OTHER FLOORS, TO DO THEIR WORK.
BACK IN THE DAY. THAT WAS PROBABLY A GOOD IDEA.
THAT'S NOT THE WAY CURRENT BUSINESSES OPERATE.
SO HOW DO WE CHANGE THAT DYNAMIC? AND WE'VE LOOKED AT HOW WE COULD CHANGE THOSE DYNAMICS IN THIS BUILDING ITSELF.
[00:40:05]
THERE'S ACTUALLY DESIGNS IN PLACE FOR REDOING THE UTILITY BILLING AREA TO MAKE IT MORE CUSTOMER FRIENDLY, TO MAKE IT MORE USABLE, BUT THAT THAT TAKES UP SQUARE FOOTAGE TO MAKE THOSE CHANGES. SO AS WE LOOKED AT IT, CUSTOMER SERVICE WAS ABSOLUTELY A KEY COMPONENT OF THIS PLAN AND THESE DISCUSSIONS THAT WE'VE BEEN HAVING TO DATE.THE OTHER THING WE LOOKED AT FROM THE DEVELOPMENT POINT IS WHAT COULD WE DO WITH THE REAL ESTATE AND THE VALUE THAT WE CURRENTLY HAD TO ENHANCE IT TO ITS MAXIMUM POTENTIAL.
AND THAT WAS ANOTHER BIG PART OF THE CONVERSATION.
WHAT COULD WE DO TO INVENT, ADVANCE OUR CURRENT ASSETS TO THEIR MAXIMUM POTENTIAL? ALWAYS CONSIDER IN THE 20 YEAR LOOK AHEAD.
SO THOSE WERE THE KEY COMPONENTS OF OUR LOOK AT THE STRUCTURES THAT WE CURRENTLY HAVE, THE LAND THAT WE CURRENTLY HAVE, THE ASSETS THAT WE CURRENTLY HAD.
WE DID NOT SPEND A LOT OF TIME LOOKING AT STRUCTURES THAT WE INTENDED TO RAISE OR TEAR DOWN TO BUILD NEW CONSTRUCTION IN THOSE AREAS.
I WILL BE HONEST WITH YOU, MR. STANLEY. WE HAVE NOT DONE THAT.
I DID NOT LOOK AT ADDITIONAL BUILDINGS.
QUITE FRANKLY, THERE WASN'T A WHOLE LOT TO CHOOSE FROM IN THE DOWNTOWN AREA THAT YOU COULD LOOK AT WITH TWO CONTIGUOUS BLOCKS THAT WE COULD DO THAT KIND OF WORK.
SO RATHER THAN SPEND A LOT OF ENERGY ON SOMETHING THAT WE FELT LIKE WE COULDN'T ACHIEVE, WE DIDN'T. AND SO THAT'S WHERE WE ARRIVED AT THAT.
WE DID LOOK AT SOME OTHER STRUCTURES THAT WERE DOWNTOWN THAT COULD BE RAISED, BUT THEY WEREN'T REALLY DOWNTOWN.
THEY WERE ON THE EDGE OF DOWNTOWN.
WE LOOK AT SOME LISTED FACILITIES THAT HAD PARKING ASSOCIATED WITH THEM, EITHER STRUCTURED OR SURROUNDING SURFACE.
SO WE LOOKED AT EVERY OPTION WE.
I FEEL LIKE WE TURNED OVER EVERY ROCK.
WE ARE AVAILABLE TO US ON THAT.
BUT DON'T, I'D NEVER SAY THAT.
YOU KNOW, WE CAN'T, YOU KNOW, CHECK TO MAKE SURE THERE'S NO OTHER OPTIONS AVAILABLE TO US. I DO THINK THAT, YES, WE NEED TO MOVE.
IF WE DO SELECT AN ARCHITECT, WE DO NEED TO MOVE ON A PROJECT.
BUT WE CAN PART OF THAT INITIAL PHASE CAN BE EVALUATING.
YOU KNOW, IS NEW CONSTRUCTION AN OPTION? LET'S LET'S DO AN ANALYSIS.
IT WOULD BE A CURSORY ANALYSIS.
AND WE WOULD NOT DESIGN BOTH OPTIONS, OBVIOUSLY, AND I DON'T THINK ANYBODY WOULD PROPOSE THAT. BUT WE CAN DO SOME STUDY ON THAT AND BRING SOME PRELIMINARY DATA BACK TO YOU, AND THAT COULD INFORM THE DIRECTION THAT WE GO GOING FORWARD.
I AM NOT PROPOSING SOMETHING THAT WOULD SIGNIFICANTLY DELAY A PROJECT OR COST US A LOT MORE MONEY. BUT BUT THAT IS DUE DILIGENCE.
AND I THINK THAT WE CAN DO THAT.
ANY FOLLOW UP TO THAT COUNCIL MEMBER SAUER? I'M I'M OK WITH THAT KIND OF A LOOK, BUT I DON'T I DON'T FEEL LIKE WE CAN DELAY, I REALLY THIS THING ABOUT US PUSHING SO FAST, I FEEL LIKE WE'RE PUSHING PRETTY SLOW.
WE'VE BEEN WORKING ON THIS SINCE ALMOST WHEN WE GOT IN OFFICE IN 2017 THERE WAS THE 2019 TALKED ABOUT IN 2016 AND WE PICKED IT UP IN 2017 AND WE'VE BEEN WORKING IT AND WORKING IT AND WORKING IT AND WE'VE WORKED EVERY, EVERY POSSIBLE WAY WE'VE LOOKED AT.
THREE OR FOUR PROPERTIES DOWNTOWN, WE DID, AND WE SERIOUSLY LOOKED AT ZACHERY OUT OF DOWNTOWN. WE'VE WE'VE GONE THROUGH ALL OF THEM AND THROUGH ALL OF THAT, WE HAVE LOOKED AT ALL OF THESE OPTIONS.
AND SO IT'S IT'S NOT LIKE IT'S AN ALL OF A SUDDEN THE ONLY THING THAT MIGHT MAKE IT A LITTLE BIT ALL OF A SUDDEN IS WE HAD THIS YEAR OF COVID THAT WAS PUT ON US.
THAT CHANGED OUR VIEW COMPLETELY.
AND IT WAS NOT A GOOD YEAR, BECAUSE WHENEVER YOU LOOK AT THE RESULT OF WHAT WE'VE GOT.
SO YOU'RE TELLING US IN FEBRUARY, WE'RE TWO DAYS FROM SHUTTING DOWN.
WE'VE HAD THE OTHER EVENT WITH IN THE IT DEPARTMENT THAT COULD HAVE EASILY GONE THE WRONG WAY AND THEY WOULD HAVE SHUT THE CITY DOWN.
SO I THINK WE'RE NOT WE'RE NOT PUSHING FAST ENOUGH.
AND IF SOMEONE DOESN'T LIKE THAT, I'M KIND OF OK WITH THAT BECAUSE I FEEL LIKE WE'VE BEEN PUSHING THIS UPHILL AND IT'S BEEN LIKE PUSHING A BOULDER UPHILL.
IT'S NOT LIKE PUSHING SOME PEBBLES OR SOMETHING.
WE'VE BEEN WORKING PRETTY HARD ON THIS.
AND SO I THINK WE NEED TO I'M MORE THAN WILLING FOR US TO GO AHEAD AND AWARD THIS AND AT THE SAME TIME SAY TAKE A CURSORY LOOK AND SEE, IS THAT ANOTHER OPTION? BUT I DON'T THINK THAT WE NEED TO BE PUMPING THE BRAKES.
WE'VE BEEN PUMPING THE BRAKES FOR FOUR YEARS ON THIS AND WE NEED TO QUIT PUMPING THE BRAKES. ANY OTHER COMMENTS? I'LL MAKE A COMMENT.
WE'VE WORKED ON IT SINCE WE WERE ELECTED IN MAY OF 17.
[00:45:07]
A YEAR AGO. WE CONSIDERED DOING THE HARDWARE BUILDING.WE HAD ALL THIS SAME INFORMATION, JERRY'S GIVING US ESTIMATES AND COST TO FIXING THIS BUILDING UP.
AT LEAST COUNCIL A YEAR AGO, LAST FALL.
WAS. WELL, ACTUALLY, ALL FIVE OF US.
CAME TO THE POINT OF GOING TO THE HARDWARE BUILDING.
WE HAD A FEASIBILITY TIME JUST TO GIVE US AN OUT IN CASE ELECTION DIDN'T DIDN'T PASS.
SO WE COULD HAVE GOTTEN OUT AND BUT WE ALL DECIDED THAT WE WOULD MOVE AHEAD AND PURCHASE IT.
DOWN COLE STANLEY'S PATH AND BUT I'M COMFORTABLE.
WHAT NEEDS TO BE SPENT ON THIS BUILDING.
THANK YOU. ANY OTHER COMMENTS ON THIS SIDE? ANYTHING TO ADD? I JUST HAD A QUESTION BEFORE JERRY SITS DOWN AND WE MAKE HIM GET BACK UP. THE TWO MILLION WAS INCLUDED IN YOUR 35 MILLION, IS THAT CORRECT? OK, SO WE HAVE A CO THAT'S BEEN, I GUESS, PROPOSED, BUT WON'T VOTE UNTIL AUGUST.
HOW ARE WE PAYING FOR THIS TWO MILLION? AND HOW DOES THIS AWARD TIE IN TO THAT WITH IT BEING IN ADVANCE TO THE VOTE FOR THE CO? LAURA STORRS, ASSISTANT CITY MANAGER, CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER, LAURA.
SO THE WAY THAT A DEBT ISSUANCE WORKS FOR A CONSTRUCTION PROJECT, ANY KIND OF A&E COSTS, ARCHITECTURAL AND ENGINEERING COSTS THAT A CITY INCURS PRIOR TO THE ISSUANCE OF DEBT CAN BE RECOUPED FROM THE DEBT PROCEEDS IF THAT'S THE DIRECTION THE CITY DECIDES TO CHOOSE.
IF THERE'S ANY OTHER EXPENDITURES PRIOR TO A DEBT ISSUANCE.
THERE'S ANOTHER PROCESS THAT CAN GO BEFORE COUNCIL.
IT'S A REIMBURSEMENT RESOLUTION.
AND IT BASICALLY ACKNOWLEDGES THAT SOME COSTS ARE SPENT UP FRONT AND THAT WE ARE SEEKING TO ISSUE DEBT FOR THOSE COSTS.
AND THEN THEY WILL BE RECOUPED DURING, AT OR AT THE TIME THAT THE BOND PROCEEDS COME IN.
OTHER THAN THAT, IF FOR SOME REASON COUNCIL DECIDES NOT TO MOVE FORWARD WITH ISSUING DEBT, WE WILL LOOK TO OUTSTANDING CITY PROJECTS AND LOOK TO RE-PRIORITIZE, IF NEEDED, TO COVER ANY COSTS THAT ARE INCURRED PRIOR TO A DEBT ISSUANCE.
OK. COLE, I WOULD JUST START BY SAYING WE REALLY APPRECIATE YOUR QUESTIONS, ALL THE QUESTIONS ARE GOOD.
ALL THE QUESTIONS BRING UP IDEAS AND CONCERNS, MOST OF WHICH WE HAVE ALREADY WALKED DOWN THOSE ROADS AND TURNED OVER THOSE ROCKS.
AND YOU AND I HAVE HAD THE CONVERSATION SEVERAL TIMES ABOUT THIS IS A LOT TO COME ON BOARD TO GET ONTO A TRAIN THAT'S ALREADY MOVING WITH A COUNCIL THAT'S BEEN WORKING TOGETHER FOR FOUR YEARS. AND I JUST WANT TO COMMEND YOU, BECAUSE THE FOUR OF US HAVE WATCHED YOU STEP INTO THIS ROLE AND WE'VE ALL DONE THAT.
UNTIL YOU'VE PUT IT ON AND WALKED AROUND IN IT FOR A MINUTE, IT IS REALLY HARD TO TO TAKE IT ALL IN AS QUICKLY AS YOU HAVE.
AND SO I COMMEND YOU THAT YOU HAVE COME TO THE TABLE, READY TO WORK, READY TO LEARN, ASKING INTELLIGENT, WELL THOUGHT OUT QUESTIONS.
BUT AS WE'VE TALKED ABOUT FOUR YEARS, IS A LOT OF TIME TO CATCH UP ON.
YOU'VE BEEN HERE EIGHT WEEKS ON THE DAIS WITH US, SO I HOPE YOU'RE FEELING GRACE AND FEELING WELCOME TO BEING IN IN THE PLACE ONE CHAIR, BECAUSE YOU ABSOLUTELY ARE WELCOME.
[00:50:06]
IT'S JUST SO HARD FOR US TO MAKE UP FOUR YEARS, IN EIGHT WEEKS.AND SO I THINK THE QUESTIONS YOU'RE ASKING ARE GREAT.
BUT WHAT I'M HEARING FROM I'LL JUST SPEAK FOR MYSELF.
WE HAVE SPENT SO MUCH TIME WORKING ON THIS.
COVID DID CREATE A PAUSE THAT WE WEREN'T EXPECTING, NOR DID WE REALLY HAVE TIME TO PAUSE JUST BASED ON THE REPAIRS THAT NEED TO BE MADE IN THIS BUILDING.
SO I THINK I'M FEELING URGENCY TO MOVE, BUT I DO APPRECIATE YOUR QUESTIONS.
AND AND WHAT I HATE IS THAT TIMING WISE, I'M NOT GOING TO FEEL LIKE IT'S A GOOD USE OF OUR TIME TO TAP THE BRAKES AND AND TO GO BACK AROUND AND RECOVER SOME OF THAT TERRITORY OR COVER IT TWICE WHEN I FEEL LIKE WE HAVE ALREADY DONE THAT IN THE PREVIOUS FOUR YEARS.
YEAH, I APPRECIATE YOU AND APPRECIATE THE ENCOURAGEMENT AND THE COMPLIMENT.
AND SO I HOPE IT'S OBVIOUS I AM WORKING HARD AND TRYING TO BE DILIGENT AND I HOPE I'M WORKING RIGHT ALONGSIDE YOU GUYS DOING THE EXACT SAME THING THAT Y'ALL WANT TO DO.
YOU WANT TO MAKE SURE YOU DON'T WASTE ONE DOLLAR.
AND SO WE HAVE 12 MILLION OF THEM THAT WE COULD BE LOOKING AT AS A POTENTIAL CHANGE.
AND I APPRECIATE THAT Y'ALL ARE WILLING TO LOOK AT THAT AND LET THE ARCHITECT AND THE THE EXPERTS OUT THERE BRING THAT BACK TO THE TABLE.
YOU KNOW, AND EDDY, YOU'VE GOT A GOOD POINT, LIKE 142,000 SQUARE FEET, GET YOU A LOT OF ROOM TO STRETCH YOUR LEGS AND GROW INTO.
AND EVEN IF WE WERE TO SAY, YOU KNOW, LET'S NOT BUILD 75,000 SQUARE FEET, LET'S BUILD 100,000 SQUARE FEET, DID WE TAKE THAT THAT COST SAVINGS FROM 12 MILLION TO SIX? I MEAN, IF WE DO AND WE COMPROMISE, WE GET WHAT YOU'RE SEEING IS SOME WISDOM.
AND WE ALSO HAVE SIX MILLION DOLLARS LEFT TO SPEND ON OTHER PRIORITIES THAT WE ARE WE'RE ALL GOING TO BE FACING AND HOW TO BALANCE THIS.
I ALWAYS APPRECIATE YOU AND YOUR WILLINGNESS TO.
YOU KNOW, UNDERSTAND THAT I GET THAT IT'S A LITTLE TAXING TO GO BACK OVER A CONVERSATION YOU'VE HAD BEFORE, BUT I'M SEEING IT FROM THE THE SEAT OF SITTING OUT THERE STILL.
AND SO I JUST DON'T HAVE THE FOUR YEARS WITH YOU.
I THINK WE'RE STILL BEING PRODUCTIVE.
AND SO A LITTLE BIT OF TIME SPENT RIGHT NOW GO A LONG WAY FOR ALL OF US.
I KNOW THAT YOU'VE SPENT A LOT OF TIME WITH COLE OR COUNCIL MEMBER STANLEY JUST ADDRESSING QUESTIONS AND LISTENING TO IDEAS, ANYTHING OUT OF THOSE CONVERSATIONS THAT CAUSES A PAUSE FOR YOU OR THAT YOU FEEL LIKE WE SHOULD CHANGE COURSE AND LOOK AT A DIFFERENT SOLUTION FOR CITY HALL? WELL, AS I STATED EARLIER, WE'RE STILL LOOKING AT LAND IS BEING THE ISSUE, WHERE DO WE HAVE LAND THAT WOULD ACCOMPLISH WHAT YOU WANT TO ACCOMPLISH? IF WE'RE LOOKING AT THE HUNDRED TO ONE HUNDRED AND FORTY THOUSAND SQUARE FEET, WHERE DO I BUILD THAT? MR. STANLEY IS ABSOLUTELY CORRECT.
EVERY FLOOR WE ADD, IT CHANGES THE DESIGN, THE STRUCTURAL STEEL, THE CONCRETE, DEPENDING ON WHAT WHAT MEANS AND METHOD.
THERE'S A BIG DIFFERENCE BETWEEN LIGHT COMMERCIAL AND HEAVY COMMERCIAL.
AND WE'RE AND WE'RE JUMP WE'RE JUMPING RIGHT IN THE MIDDLE OF HEAVY COMMERCIAL CONSTRUCTION WHEN WE LOOK AT THIS SORT OF STUFF.
THE OTHER THING THAT WE'RE LOOKING AT AND WE'VE GOT TO BE COGNIZANT OF WHEN WE LOOK AT SOME OF THESE PROJECTS, OUR NUMBERS INCLUDE FURNITURE, FIXTURES AND EQUIPMENT THAT'S IN THERE. WE'RE LOOKING AT DIFFERENT COMPONENTS THAT ACTUALLY GO INSIDE OF A MUNICIPAL BUILDING THAT IS NOT REALLY A CONSTRUCTION NUMBER, BUT WE KNOW THAT WE NEED IT IN ORDER TO OCCUPY THAT SPACE.
SO THOSE NUMBERS ARE BUILT INTO THE NUMBERS WE HAVE PRESENTED IN THAT.
WE ABSOLUTELY ARE AWARE WITH THE CONSTRUCTION METHODS AND AND AND MR. STANLEY AND I HAVEN'T HAD A CHANCE TO DISCUSS THIS.
BUT WHEN WE LOOK AT A PROJECT LIKE THIS, THERE'S A LARGE SCOPE OF THAT THAT WE ACTUALLY TAKE AWAY FROM THE CONSTRUCTION MANAGER RISK.
AND WE AS THE CITY SELF PERFORM DEMOLITION, WE DON'T PAY A MARKUP ON THAT.
WHEN WE LOOK AT [INAUDIBLE], WE DON'T PAY A COMMISSION ON THAT.
BUT IT'S BUILT INTO THE NUMBERS THAT YOU HAVE REPRESENTED IN FRONT OF YOU WITH REGARDS TO THIS. NOW, WITH REGARDS TO OUR ARCHITECT, WE ASKED THEM TO DESIGN TO THOSE STANDARDS.
WE ASKED THAT TO BE PART OF THE DESIGN, WHEREAS A TYPICAL ARCHITECT ISN'T NECESSARILY DOING THAT TO THAT LEVEL.
YEAH, THEY'RE GOING TO PUT PHONES IN THERE AND COMPUTER CONNECTIONS IN THERE, BUT.
[00:55:01]
THEY'RE NOT DESIGNING DATA CENTERS, THEY'RE NOT WE'RE IN THESE SCENARIOS, WE ARE DOING THAT. SO THERE'S SOME DIFFERENCES IN THE TWO TYPE.AND HE POINTED OUT RATHER ACCURATELY EARLIER IN HIS PRESENTATION.
SO THERE'S SOME DIFFERENT COMPONENTS.
AND HE AND I, I WOULD LOVE TO SIT DOWN WITH HIM AND GO THROUGH THE MEAT AND POTATOES AS, AS WE SAY, IN THE IN THE FIELD OF WHAT WE'RE LOOKING AT ON THIS PROJECT AND HOW WE ARRIVED AT THOSE NUMBERS.
I KNOW THAT WHEN WE LOOK AT OUR NUMBERS IN COMPARISON TO OTHER PROJECTS IN THIS REGION.
WE'RE ACTUALLY COMING IN QUITE A BIT LOWER THAN MOST, AND WE'LL USE OUR CONSTRUCTION NUMBERS FOR OUR FIRE STATIONS ON PROP TWO.
WE ACTUALLY RECEIVED EMAILS FROM OTHER CITIES SAYING, HOW DID YOU DO IT FOR THAT PRICE? OURS WAS A MILLION AND A HALF MORE THAN WHAT YOU SPENT.
WE LOOK AT A PROPERTY FOR ANIMAL MANAGEMENT.
THE CITY OF PAMPA JUST BUILT A FACILITY THAT DOESN'T HAVE THE FULL SCOPE OF WHAT WE HAVE.
BUT YET WE CAME IN A MILLION DOLLARS UNDER WHERE THEY WERE.
WE ARE VERY DILIGENT IN THE WAY THAT WE PROCEED, AND THE WAY THAT WE HANDLE THE CITY'S MONEY AND IN COORDINATION WITH THE CITY MANAGER AND YOU AS A COUNCIL UNDERSTANDING WE WILL DO WHAT IT TAKES TO GET US THE BEST DEAL WE CAN GET AND WE WILL SELF PERFORM A LOT OF THE WORK OURSELVES IN ORDER TO GET THAT BEST DEAL.
AND THAT'S HOW WE ACTUALLY BEAT WHAT MOST OTHER COMMUNITIES ARE CAPABLE OF DOING, BECAUSE YOU ACTUALLY HAVE A CORE GROUP OF PEOPLE THAT ARE CAPABLE OF DOING THOSE KIND OF SKILLS.
I THINK IT'S GOING TO BE GREAT TO HAVE COUNCIL MEMBER STANLEY'S EXPERIENCE BUILDING EXPERIENCE ON THE COUNCIL SO THAT YOU CAN LOOK AT THAT AND COUNCIL MEMBER STANLEY GIVES SUGGESTIONS AND YOU KNOW, EVERYTHING YOU'RE RAISING IS SOMETHING THAT GOING FORWARD, I WOULD HOPE THAT JERRY AND YOUR TEAM, I HOPE JARED THAT THEY WOULD CONSIDER ALL THOSE COMMENTS AND AND ANYTHING YOU CAN BRING TO THE TABLE TO HELP US SAVE DOLLARS ON IT, BECAUSE IT IS ABSOLUTELY ABOUT YOU KNOW, I WROTE DOWN FIVE FACTORS.
THAT COST IS THE NUMBER ONE FACTOR, I THINK.
BUT DISRUPTION IS A FACTOR AS WELL.
AND SO IF WE DO WORK ON THIS EXISTING BUILDING, IT WILL BE QUITE DISRUPTIVE FOR THE, YOU KNOW, YEAR AND A HALF TWO YEAR TIME FRAME THAT IT TAKES TO DO THE PROJECTS HERE.
GROWTH POTENTIAL, LIKE COUNCIL MEMBER SAUER MENTIONED, IS ON THE LIST.
BEST FUNCTION, LIKE IF WE'RE GOING TO INVEST THAT MUCH MONEY, ARE WE GOING TO HAVE THE BEST FUNCTIONALITY POSSIBLE? LIKE I REMEMBER MY DAD DECIDING WHETHER TO REPAIR OUR OLD LAWNMOWER OR KIND OF SPEND SIMILAR DOLLARS TO BUY A NEW LAWNMOWER.
AND THE NEW LAWN MOWER HAD MORE FUNCTION LIKE IT HAD NICER THINGS THAN REPAIRING THE OLD ONE. AND THEN AND THEN THE FIFTH THING IS JUST SPEED TO COMPLETION THAT I UNDERSTAND THE HARDWARE BUILDING BECAUSE YOU CAN START IMMEDIATELY IS SOMETHING THAT WE WOULD BE FINISHED WITH THE PROJECT, THE PROJECT, AND WE WOULD HAVE THAT FUNCTIONALITY SOONER.
SO THOSE ARE SORT OF THE FACTORS THAT I'VE BEEN THINKING ABOUT AS WE'VE BEEN MAKING WORKING TOWARD A DECISION ON THIS.
BUT I KNOW THAT THE GOOD QUESTIONS AND THE BUILDING EXPERIENCE THAT WE NOW HAVE AT THE COUNCIL TABLE AS WE MOVE FORWARD IS GOING TO BE IMPORTANT AND COULD VERY WELL LEAD TO SAVING DOLLARS. AND I THINK THAT'S ABSOLUTELY IT'S AT THE TOP OF MY LIST.
I THINK IT IS THE TOP OF EVERYONE'S LIST.
ANYTHING ELSE? ARE WE READY TO CALL THE QUESTION? OK, WE DO HAVE A MOTION WITH REGARD TO GIVING THE CITY MANAGER AUTHORITY TO NEGOTIATE, ENTER INTO AN AGREEMENT FOR PROFESSIONAL SERVICES, FOR ARCHITECTURAL AND ENGINEERING SERVICES.
ALL OF THOSE IN FAVOR OF THAT MOTION.
NAY. THAT MOTION PASSES WITH A FOUR ONE VOTE.
[1B. CONSIDER APPOINTMENT TO BOARDS & COMMISSIONS]
ITEM ONE B ON OUR AGENDA IS TO CONSIDER THE APPOINTMENT OF.A MEMBER TO THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT CORPORATION AND LAST WEEK WHEN WE DISCUSSED THIS ITEM, THE NAME JENNIFER [INAUDIBLE] WAS ONE THAT WAS BROUGHT UP AND WE HAVE NOW CHECKED WITH HER AND SHE IS AVAILABLE AND WILLING TO SERVE.
SO DO WE HAVE A MOTION WITH REGARD TO MS. [INAUDIBLE]? YES, MAYOR.
I MOVE TO APPOINT MS. JENNIFER [INAUDIBLE] TO THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT CORPORATION BOARD.
SECOND. IT'S BEEN MOVED BY MAYOR PRO TEM POWELL AND SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER SMITH TO APPOINT JENNIFER [INAUDIBLE] TO THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT CORPORATION.
ANY QUESTIONS OR DISCUSSION ON THAT MOTION? ALL THOSE IN FAVOR, PLEASE SAY, AYE.
OK, THAT MOTION PASSES WITH THE 5-0 VOTE, AND THAT BRINGS US DOWN TO THE EXECUTIVE
[2. EXECUTIVE SESSION]
[01:00:02]
SESSION PORTION OF OUR AGENDA, AND I WOULD ASK THAT THE CITY ATTORNEY READ OUR DISMISSAL LANGUAGE FOR THAT. BUT ALSO, MR. MCWILLIAMS, IF YOU DON'T MIND JUST GIVING A LITTLE BIT OF BACKGROUND OR EXPLANATION ABOUT THE ITEMS THAT WE HAVE ON OUR EXECUTIVE SESSION AGENDA.AND IT'S BEEN A WHILE SINCE WE'VE HAD A REFRESHER ABOUT WHAT CAN BE DISCUSSED IN EXECUTIVE SESSION. SURE.
PURSUANT THE TEXAS OPEN MEETINGS ACT, CLOSED SESSION OF THE AMARILLO CITY COUNCIL WAS ANNOUNCED ON JUNE 29, 2021 AT 2:15 P.M.
UNDER THE FOLLOWING AUTHORITY, EXCEPTIONS TO THE ACT SECTION 551.071 CONSULT WITH AN ATTORNEY ON A MATTER IN WHICH ATTORNEYS DUE TO THE GOVERNMENTAL BODY.
UNDER THE TEXAS DISCIPLINARY RULES OF PROFESSIONAL CONDUCT, CONFLICTS WITH THIS CHAPTER SECTION 551.076 DISCUSS EMPLOYMENT OR SPECIFIC OCCASIONS FOR IMPLEMENTATION OF SECURITY PERSONNEL OR DEVICES.
I'LL TAKE THE SECOND ONE FIRST.
THAT'S OK. THAT'S THE ONE THAT WE DON'T GO OVER A LOT.
WE USUALLY SEE IT ONCE OR MAYBE TWICE A YEAR.
IT'S A VERY STANDARD EXCEPTION.
THE EXCEPTION IS IS MEANT AND IT WAS DESIGNED BY THE LEGISLATURE TO PROTECT THE INFORMATION THAT IS RESTRICTED FROM RELEASE.
THERE IS A PROVISION, ANOTHER PROVISION OF THE TEXAS GOVERNMENT CODE THAT RESTRICTS AND PROHIBITS THE RELEASE OF NETWORK SYSTEMS INFORMATION, CRITICAL INFORMATION RELATED TO INFRASTRUCTURE ABOUT BROADBAND, INFORMATION MANAGEMENT RESOURCES, THOSE KINDS OF THINGS.
CRITICAL TO THE SECURITY OF THE INFORMATION THAT THAT ALL CITIES HAVE SOME INFORMATION BEING VERY PERSONAL INFORMATION ABOUT ITS CITIZENS, THAT KIND OF INFORMATION.
THOSE SYSTEMS ARE PROTECTED FROM BEING DISCUSSED IN PUBLIC TO GUARD AGAINST ATTACKS TO THAT INFRASTRUCTURE. IT'S BEEN WELL DOCUMENTED THAT THAT CYBER ATTACKS OCCUR EVERY SINGLE DAY TO GOVERNMENTAL ENTITIES.
AND THIS PARTICULAR EXCEPTION TO THE OPEN MEETINGS ACT, AND THERE'S ANOTHER ONE THAT'S JUST LIKE IT IN THE TEXAS PUBLIC INFORMATION ACT, PROTECTS THE RELEASE OF THAT INFORMATION SO THAT WE CAN GUARD THOSE THOSE SYSTEMS, THOSE INFORMATION SYSTEMS FROM CYBER CRIMINALS. SO THAT'S THE EXPLANATION AS TO D.
B IS THE EXCEPTION THAT WE NORMALLY GO INTO RELATED TO A CONSULTATION WITH A LAWYER ON INFORMATION THAT I CAN ONLY SHARE WITH YOU IN CONFIDENCE WITHOUT YOUR CONSENT.
SO THAT HAS TO DO WITH MEET AND CONFER AN OUTSIDE COUNCIL.
SO DOES THAT GET YOU WHAT YOU NEED? YES, IT DOES. IT'S HELPFUL TO ALL OF US TO HEAR ALL OF THAT AGAIN, AND ESPECIALLY A CITIZEN WHO MIGHT BE WONDERING WHY SOMETIMES THESE THINGS ARE TALKED ABOUT IN OPEN SESSION AND WHY WE SOMETIMES GO INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION.
I'VE ALREADY READ THAT, SO WE'RE GOOD.
OK. WE'RE GOOD. OK, WE'RE ADJOURNED TO EXECUTIVE SESSION THEN.
THANK YOU.
* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.