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Redesign okayed for new city hall that has no home

The council also backs several moves aimed at determining a final site.

By SHEILA MULLANE ESTRADA, Times Correspondent
Published October 3, 2007

BELLEAIR BEACH- A new city hall came another step closer to reality Monday when the City Council approved a $168,000 redesign aimed at cutting the originally projected $3-million cost.

In addition to authorizing the Harvard Jolly architectural firm to develop a new design, the council authorized interim City Manager Nancy McCollum to contract for a title search, utility location and new survey.

"Once we can finalize the survey, we can finalize the building location," said council member Ron Baldwin, chairman of a special council committee charged with shepherding the project through construction.

The building committee met Friday but did not reach any consensus on where the new building should be located.

The original site plan called for the new city hall to be located behind the existing city hall and where public tennis courts are now.

When the city decided to shut down its police department earlier this year, the council considered moving the smaller building to the east side of the municipal complex to take advantage of views of the Intracoastal Waterway.

That plan ran into problems when a previously unknown Verizon easement was discovered running under the proposed new site.

Monday, Baldwin recommended a new title search, as well as an underground utility search and updated survey, to identify any other issues that could complicate design and construction.

The council also debated at length the potential advantages of opting for a design-build contractor instead of a more traditional contractor bidding based on city-approved architectural plans.

Baldwin stressed that Harvard Jolly architect Ward Friszolowski, who also is mayor of St. Pete Beach, had discounted his firm's normal rates.

"Ward has been working with us on his own nickel to keep this project going because he wants to help us," Baldwin told the council. "I see no solid reasoning for holding this thing up. If we go with design-build there would be no guarantee Harvard Jolly would be part of the (construction) team."

The council agreed, approving paying Harvard Jolly's $168,000 fee for additional architectural services. Only Mayor Lynn Rives voted no. The city previously paid the firm nearly $200,000 for the original city hall designs.

When completed, the new city hall will replace the present 50-year-old deteriorating building that leaks when it rains, is riddled with termite damage and does not meet handicapped requirements.

The building committee will meet again at 5 p.m. Nov. 1 when Baldwin hopes the group can recommend a final location for the new building.

[Last modified October 2, 2007, 23:11:04]