Wildwood commissioners made the decision Monday during a specially called meeting to basically hit the reset button on the handling of the construction phase for the new police station.
The commission already had approved the process of seeking someone to fill the role of Construction Manager at Risk (CMAR). That job can be described as an empowered general contractor who has the city’s best interests at heart while overseeing all phases of the building process, starting with the architect to make sure the plans are buildable, and then moving forward through all phases of construction, Public Works Director Jeremy Hockenbury said.
The special meeting was called after Mayor Ed Wolf pointed out that he had heard from one local contractor who was disqualified from the selection process on a technicality. He said he wanted some clarification in the process for selecting the CMAR and exactly what duties that person or firm would handle.
After some lengthy discussion Monday morning about the merits of hiring a CMAR or just going with the standard-yet-possibly-riskier design/bid/build process, the commission decided to basically start the process over.
Commissioners voted 4-0 (Commissioner Don Clark left before the vote was taken) to have City Manager Jason McHugh meet with City Attorney Ashley Hunt to come up with a request for qualifications packet for those interested in serving as the CMAR. McHugh also will present to the commission suggestions on how the applicants for the job should be assessed and the possible process of deciding who sits on the selection committee for the position.
Earlier in the meeting, Hockenbury showed commissioners a presentation on the advantages of hiring a CMAR versus just sending the project out for bid and attempting to have city staff oversee it.
Hockenbury, who said he’s been involved with the CMAR process in the past and has seen it work quite well, told commissioners that the standard design/bid/build process is risky because the contractor is chosen primarily on price instead of qualifications. He said that process comes with no assurances that the project bids will come in on or below budget. He said the model offers limited protection from cost overruns, as it’s susceptible to change orders that frequently result in increased costs.
Hockenbury also said that process offers commissioners limited control on selection of local subcontractors – something they have said is of utmost importance to them.
With the CMAR model, Hockenbury said, commissioners have a commitment that the project will be delivered with a guaranteed price. He said it provides an integrated team approach to the planning, design and construction to control schedule and budget, thereby ensuring quality and eliminating worries for the city. He stressed that the person or firm selected will act as a representative of the city to protect its interest while helping to manage the construction of the project in a cost effective, transparent and timely manner.
Perhaps most importantly, Hockenbury pointed out, the CMAR will be inspired to manage and control costs so they don’t exceed a set guaranteed maximum price. Because if that happens and the extra costs aren’t associated with city-requested design changes, the CMAR is on the hook for those charges, Hockenbury said.
When agreeing to move forward with the process, commissioners made it quite clear that they want whomever is selected for the role to oversee the project to make it a high priority to use local subcontractors – assuming they are qualified for the tasks at hand.
Both McHugh and Hockenbury agreed with the importance of that mandate and assured commissioners it would be included in the upcoming request for qualifications packet they’ll receive at this coming Monday’s commission meeting.
The new police station will be located at County Road 462 West and U.S. 301. Architectural work on the proposed 13,200-square-foot building nearly is complete, with the estimated cost to be somewhere in the neighborhood of $6.9 million.
Earlier this year, commissioners agreed to upgrade the design from a metal building to stucco and brick. A sally port was added for secure suspect transfers, as well as a movable wall in the community room and a tower near the entrance. Space also was set aside for the department’s communications center.
In May 2016, the commission was spilt on the decision to locate the police station in its planned location, with Commissioner Pamala Harrison-Bivens saying the group should stand behind an earlier decision to locate it at King Park.
The current police station, located at 100 Huey Street, was erected nearly 70 years ago as a bomb shelter. It likely will be converted in a records room, commissioners were told last year.
