Keep Informed on Two City Projects

Marco Island City Staff, Advisory Committees and the City Council have two major projects looming in the immediate future. Both will have an impact on the city for years to come and both couldn’t be more different in their scope. 

Veterans Community Park 

The first project will involve the long-awaited build–out of Veterans Community Park. The land for that park was initially known as the Glonn Property and was purchased in 1999, shortly after the city was formed. 10 years after that, an initial conceptual design was formulated through a collaborative effort of city staff, a community committee and the assistance of Kimley-Horn and Associates from Sarasota, Florida. The recession of 2008, however, put any discussions regarding development on hold for the next decade. 

In 2019, a second look at that initial conceptual plan was undertaken once again by Kimley-Horn. They worked with city staff and kept the Parks and Recreation Advisory Committee informed. Committee input was sought, and certain adjustments were made which would accommodate concerns from all sectors within the community. 

At the council meeting on Monday, August 19, 2019, the dedication and work contributed by a number of volunteers and committee members saw life breathed into the dream that has been 20 years in the making when the council voted to move forward. 

Earlier in 2019, it was determined that the city would proceed with a Construction Manager at Risk (CMR) style of contract. This is a contractual method that entails a commitment by the construction manager to deliver the project within a Guaranteed Maximum Price (GMP). Should the project suffer an overrun of the GMP, then the CMR is liable for that overage.  

At the March 2nd meeting, the council chose the Manhattan Construction Company for that responsibility. They were recommended as the favorable bidder to serve as the Construction Manager at Risk for the project. Approval of that award was opposed by Victor Rios based upon the contract price of $168,223. Manhattan would be responsible for assisting Kimley-Horn and city staff for developing construction specifications to allow bidding of the project, in addition to reviewing all bids and working with the successful contractor. 

Should the contracted work go above the quotation from the successful CMR firm, the firm would have to absorb those costs. Manhattan was awarded the contract on a 6-1 vote with Rios objecting. 

Manhattan, as well as Kimley-Horn, will work on developing those build specifications and upon completion, they will be going out to bid. Manhattan, as well as Kimley-Horn, will review those bid packages when returned and the CMR will assume responsibility for the contract and insuring it comes in at the proposed price. 

Comprehensive Plan Update 

Nothing is more important to a community than the vision it has for itself. That vision can only be obtained by laying out the standards for the community that it adopts for itself. By State Statute, a community is required to review its Comprehensive Plan every 10 years to ensure it has the tools in place to assure that the community can reach that vision, as well as ensure its ordinances and regulations adhere to new statutory requirements on the books. 

At its first meeting in March, the City Council awarded a contract to Florida Gulf Coast University for $74,623 to review that document and ensure those tools are in place as well as other requirements such as transportation, utilities, recreational and cultural services to mention a few. 

Issues regarding stormwater management and water quality issues may also be dealt with during the Plan’s update to ensure the quality of life issues regarding these items are addressed. 

FGCU will initially deal with the city staff as they develop a plan to review the existing document and review challenges facing the community that may have not been in evidence in 2009 when the last plan was developed.  

Staff and FGCU will then move forward to discuss these issues with the Planning Board for their input and consideration before having the document and its changes forwarded to the council for adoption and presentation to the State of Florida. 

There will be adequate opportunity for public input as the process proceeds and the public will be encouraged to offer their ideas. 

Two Completely Different Projects 

Although these are two distinctly different projects, the public should stay involved, as both will impact how the public sees the community going forward during the next decade.  

The park will be something they will be able to put their hands on every day and marvel at the vision that committees and council had in its development. 

The public will also be able to see the vision that the community has for itself and whether it has put the appropriate planning in place to accomplish that vision for the future.