Issue link: https://newsleader.uberflip.com/i/127088
Sarasota News Leader May 3, 2013 Page 38 Still, before the vote on the motion, Chair- would be able to produce a more reliable estiwoman Carolyn Mason asked Robinson to mate for the total cost of the work. If the figure clarify whether it meant revisiting the bond was below $16.7 million, Eastwood indicated, vote for the Siesta Public Beach project and some of those options could be added back the board's April 2012 decision to accelerate in. Staff would come back to the commission construction of Bee with a report on that, Ridge Road improveEastwood added, as ments through use of I believe Siesta Key Beach needs the decision on what bond revenue. to include would be up to be improved, but I believe we have to to the commission. "It does not," Robin- phase it because of other outstanding needs … This is a want, as far as I see it "But that would be son replied. right now. after we sign … [a During a morning staff contract]?" Patterson presentation, Steve Christine Robinson asked. Commissioner Botelho, the county's Sarasota County chief financial planNo, Eastwood told her. ning officer, reported The discussion would that the board would be asked to vote on May take place before the board committed itself 7 on a Procurement Department recommenda- to the final contract for the project. tion that the John F. Swift firm of Sarasota be hired as the construction manager at risk (CM Then Hines reported that he had driven at risk) for the Siesta Beach improvements. through the beach park over the weekend, tryThe board had agreed at its December 2012 ing to weigh the costs of improvements there meeting to pursue the CM at risk option, to try against the replacement of the county's emerto bring the project in below the staff estimate gency communications system and the cost of the new Emergency Operations/911 Center. of $16.7 million. Botelho noted construction is expected to The park "looked OK in my opinion," Hines start in 2014 and take 24 months to complete. said, indicating the need for improving the restrooms was greater than that for new picnic A CM at risk works with subcontractors to tables or tennis courts, for example. make certain costs do not exceed the budget With a discussion at hand regarding the set for a project. board's Capital Improvement Program (CIP) for Fiscal Years 2014 to 2018 — part of the QUESTIONING THE EXPENSE process for preparing the FY 2014 budget — When Patterson asked what happened to a list he added, "I'm wavering a little bit" on the of optional items that had been part of the plan for Siesta Public Beach. original list of Siesta Beach Park improvements, Carolyn Eastwood, the program man- Returning to the mention of the extra options, ager for the project, responded that staff felt Patterson said, "I think the overall estimates once the CM at risk was on board, the firm without those items — many of which were