Status Report by CIP Department on Flamingo Neighborhood Improvements -- stormwater drainage, water distribution, pedestrian streetscape amenities

The CIP Department submitted the following report to the CIP Oversight Committee at its meeting of Dec 7, 2009 and then subsequently to the City Commission:

The City has received design-build proposals for a portion of the Flamingo Neighborhood Right of Way Improvements. The lowest proposal, from Ric-Man International is for $3,956,835. This work covers improvements between 7th and 9th Streets and Meridian and Washington Avenues. The work includes stormwater piping, new watermains, pedestrian lighting, hardscaping, landscaping, bump outs, ADA improvements and renotation of Pennsylvania Plaza.

A CDBG grant is funding the stormwater portion of the project. At this time the County is reviewing the proposals. Upon County review and approval, the City will execute a contract with Ric-Man International to begin this work. It is estimated that construction will start in early 2010 and will finish in one year.

Simultaneously, the City is evaluating the proposed storm water improvements for the Flamingo/Lummus Neighborhood and West Avenue Neighborhood projects. Both neighborhoods are in priority drainage basins. Therefore, the proposed improvements will accommocate a 5-year 1-day storm.

At this time, the Flamingo Neighborhood has 60% complete plans, in which the streetscape design is relatively 100% complete. These proposed streetscape improvements will be incorporated into the ultimate design since they have been accepted by the Flamingo neighborhood associations, the Flamingo Sub-committee of the CIPOC, and the City Commission. The West Avenue Neighborhood has a completed Basis of Design Report to provide direction for the streetscape improvements there.

To complete the stormwater design, the Public Works Department will engage an engineering consulting firm to prepare a Citywide stormwater master plan. The first task of the selected engineering firm will be to develop a storm water hydraulic model of the Flamingo / Lummus and West Avenue neighborhoods. This initial task will analyze the existing system, identify deficiencies, and design improvements.

These improvements will be identified in a schematic fashion so that multiple Design Criteria Packages can be prepared and issued for Invitations to Bid. The Invitations to Bid will then require the selected design-build firms to finalize the schematic designs, permit the design plans, and cconstruct the improvements. This approach will allow one pragmatic and comprehensive solution to the drainage needs of these neighborhoods and expedite the construction using multiple design build firms.

A proposed timeline for the entire neighborhood has been developed. The timeline will be refined as the modeling and design efforts are further developed.