Minutes - 2011/09/26 - Laserfiche WebLink

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Mounds View City Council September 26,2011 Regular Meeting Page 8 • Stantec Consulting Services Inc., as both firms now had engineers that have experience with the project. Public Works Director DeBar reviewed the fee proposals described in the Staff report and recommended the Council authorize Stantec Consulting Services Inc. to perform engineering design services for Area, as their bid was lowest. Brian Amundsen, 3048 Wooddale Drive, commented that the Street and Utility Committee was not aware of the information presented by Staff this evening and had not reviewed Staff's recommendation. Mayor Flaherty asked Public Works Director DeBar if the Street and Utilities Committee reviewed the engineering fees in the past. Public Works Director DeBar indicated that the Committee has reviewed the overall Program costs that include the engineering fees, but the Committee has never reviewed engineering fees individually. Mayor Flaherty questioned why Stantec's figures were$258,000 less than the original estimation. Lee Mann, Stantec Consulting Services Inc. stated the original fee schedule was created by an individual that was no longer with the firm. For this reason, the new numbers were reviewed with Public Works Director DeBar and the new estimation streamlined several processes, • creating greater efficiencies,reducing the expense to the City. Public Works Director DeBar added that after completing several street improvement projects for the City, the City was seeing some efficiencies in the process, which was reducing the overall expense of the project. Public Works Director DeBar was not comfortable with Bonestroo's preliminary fee estimate and was confident that the fee estimate could be reduced. Public Works Director DeBar also credited the lower fee to City Staff talking on a larger portion of the workload through each improvement project, which reduced the time spend by the engineering consultant. Mayor Flaherty asked when the Street and Utilities Committee would be typically informed of the information presented by Staff this evening. Public Works Director DeBar indicated he spoke with the Council earlier this year about continuing to use Bonestroo for Area E or allowing other firms to submit fee proposals, at which time the Council directed Staff to proceed with using Bonestroo. However, with the unique situation of a merger, Staff felt this was an opportune time to review the situation and allow fee proposals to be solicited by two firms with staff having experience with the City's street projects. In the end, the solicitation was good for the residents, and taxpayers would win through the cost savings. Mayor Flaherty asked Public Works Direct() DeBar whether the engineering costs associated with last year's Area D project were brought to the Street Committee or their review. Public Works Director DeBar reported they were not. •