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HomeMy WebLinkAbout12-17-91 WS '-' KIHUTES or THE OCOEE BOARD or CITY COKKISSIONERS WORKSHOP HELD DECEKBER 17, 1991 This workshop was called in order to review the City Hall/Police Station Space Study with PDR Architects and to discuss the Sanitation Budget. Mayor pro tem Johnson called the workshop to order at 6:05 p.m., called the roll and declared a quorum present. PRESENT: Mayor pro tem Johnson, Commissioners Combs, Foster and Woodson. Also present were City Manager Shapiro, Administrative Services Director Beamer, Public Works Director Brenner, Building Official Flippen, and City Clerk Grafton. ABSENT: Mayor Dabbs (Attending Board of Education Meeting) City Hall/Police Station Space Study with PDR Architects Administrative Services Director Beamer explained that a contract was signed with PDR Architects on October 1, 1991 to do a space needs study as well as a site plan development and finalization for the City Hall/ Police Station through the year 1998. Ms. Beamer introduced Mr. Jim Dorsey, President of PDR Architects, who reviewed the findings of the study. Mr. Dorsey said that the summary page of their report shows a proposed total gross square feet of 16,140 for the City Hall, and 7,361 square feet for the Police Station. He said that, although this evaluation shows the space needs to be greater than they originally anticipated, with certain renovations to the existing buildings along with the new construction the project can be done within the budget. The preliminary evaluation was Sl.7M and that figure is still valid. '--' Mayor pro tem Johnson asked for comments from the Commissioners and there were none at this time. City Manager Shapiro said that department heads have asked for space conservatively so very few changes were required to satisfy the needs of each department. Mr. Dorsey presented a site plan which he recommended because of cost and because it would provide a centralized complex. Mayor pro tem Johnson did not like this layout and suggested doing away with the old police station and using that space for the entrance so that a view of the lake would be available to citizens entering the complex. Commissioner Combs said he liked the original layout that was presented by PDR on August 20 with City Hall in the ball park, and he felt that the architecture as presented tonight was all right. Commissioner Foster preferred to consider a design which would permit staff to look over the lake during the workday. City Manager Shapiro said that such an arrangement had been considered but that it would be too costly as it would involve piping in the entire ditch rather than just the part under the proposed parking lot. '-" Commissioner Woodson said that he liked the idea of using unusable drainage ditch land for the building and leaving the green area for the ball park. '-' Page 2 Ocoee City Commission Workshop Deceaber 17, 1991 Consensus was to accept the site locations for the new construction as presented and to balance the design with a porch in back and rocking chairs. ,-,. Administrative Services Director Beamer said that on October 1 an agreement was signed and a work order was issued to PDR Architects, Inc. in the amount of $8,595 with an additional reimbursable of $75. Ms. Beamer said that at this time there are no sub-contractors attached to this agreement and, as the presentation on space needs assessment for the City Hall and Police Department made by Mr. Dorsey completes the task ordered in Work Order #1 it would be possible to re-bid the job, should the Commission wish to. On December 10 the creditors for PDR went to the courts and asked for an involuntary Chapter 7 (liquidation) against PDR Inc. and PDR is filing consent. However, Section 14 in our agreement with PDR includes the possibility of consignment and Mr. Dorsey has been employed by DRP Group, Inc. (same principals) since December 1. Ms. BealUcr advised that staff recommendation is not to wait to do assignment as it would be necessary to readvertise. Ms. Beamer asked City Attorney Rosenthal to relate the options. Mr. Rosenthal explained that, as stated earlier, unsecured creditors of ?DR Architects, Inc. have put them in liquidation and the contract with the City is an asset to PDR in bankruptcy court. Mr. Rosenthal recommended not proceeding with new work orders now as the company has no employees and the money would go to the bankruptcy court. Mr. Rosenthal said that the judge mayor may not process the case quickly and the City has the option of getting rid of DRP now and rebidding or coasting for 2 or 3 weeks and see what happens. City Manager Shapiro recommended coasting. Commissioner Combs asked Mr. Dorsey if he had any prior knowledge of this and Mr. Dorsey replied "Absolutely not." Consensus was to hold on and wait. Sanitation Budget: Special Pickup and Disposal Requirements City Manager Shapiro said that the changes in sanitation fees and service that were discussed during the preparation of the budget have been implemented in order to save money, to comply with the state and federal law, to accommodate the county's increases, and to serve our own needs. Mr. Shapiro said, however, that the system is still sick and a report has been prepared using the complaints received as a guideline. The major question from citizens has been concerning what they can do with waste since the City has limited what is picked up by the City. Administrative Services Director Beamer said that the State has mandated a reduction in land fill with which the City must comply or be fined and she presented an analysis on Solid Waste so that all would be aware just what changes were made and why. Ms. Beamer explained that a three-page sanitation information handout has been prepared which is reviewed with new customers and every effort has been made to communicate the same information to existing residents. Ms. Beamer also presented a proposed change which would be an alternative to bulk curbside pick up of such items as excessive yard waste, tree limbs, white goods and old furniture. Such items could be delivered by citizens to a designated location, without additional charge, on Saturdays from 8:00 a.m. to 12:00 noon and on Sundays from 12:00 noon to 4:00 p.m. The site, equipped with the chipper and a Solid Waste truck, would be operated by two Solid Waste employees to be paid overtime wages; and the approximate cost would be $22,510 annually. ~ Commissioner Foster said he felt that citizens would not deliver to a central location and that a contractor with a pickup truck could be hired for that amount to cover every street every week. He indicated that he might do it. ~ Page 3 Ocoee City Commission Workshop December 17, 1991 Commissioner Woodson said that a run should be made three or four times a year for such items. Commissioner Combs said he agreed with Commissioner Foster, that spending an extra $22,000 a year is going the wrong direction. He said he had asked for a mid year budget review to make sure we are breaking even in the Sanitation Department. He then read an announcement from Orange County which stated that their people pay for twice weekly garbage collection and separate weekly pick-ups of recyclable material and yard clippings for a charge of $10.99. Commissioner Combs said that he had a lot of questions about this and he agreed with Commissioner Foster about getting a pickup truck and contracting to do the job. City Manager Shapiro pointed out that the insurance alone on such a venture would be prohibitive. Mayor pro tem Johnson noted that the time for closing the meeting was near and he wished to give several citizens present an opportunity to speak. '-' Mr. John Bateman, 406 E. Lakeshore Drive, said there is something wrong with a system when the Commission talks about spending $1.7 million on a new building and spends a half-hour talking about a company they have contracted with going into bankruptcy and then will not even consider spending $40,000 to get a garbage truck that is sorely needed. Mr. Bateman said that he felt it was a device to set up privatization and he vehemently objected to such as this City has the finest sanitation service in the country. Mayor pro tem Johnson said that the rates had been raised in order to take care of the equipment and now services are being cut back also. He said that he had asked for a workshop to hear why we cannot pick up small loads of twigs, etc., as that seems to be the main complaint he hears every day on the street. City Manager Shapiro said that the problem began when the vehicles were new and money was not put aside for their replacement. ADJOUlOOIENT The meeting adjourned at 7:35 p.m. Approved: CITY OF OCOEE J '-'