News

By Jane Smith

    A Fort Lauderdale engineering firm will translate conceptual drawings into biddable documents and oversee construction for Delray Beach’s redo of sidewalks and furnishings along its public beach.
    EDSA Inc. initially had a not-to-exceed contract of $600,000 to do the work, which Mayor Cary Glickstein called “essentially a sidewalk project” in early May. The city is paying a premium price because it wants the work finished by the end of the year. Even so, the mayor wanted EDSA to work with the city’s Environmental Services Department to lower the price.
    At the second meeting in May, the EDSA contract came in at $429,350 plus $35,000 for expenses. That amount was more agreeable to the commission and received unanimous approval by four members. Commissioner Mitch Katz was absent.
    “The $150,000 reduction makes it easier for us to approve,” Commissioner Jordana Jarjura said.
    The conceptual drawings were donated by architect Bob Currie. A vice president of the Beach Property Owners Association, he is a founding principal of the Currie Sowards Aguila Architects firm in Delray Beach.
    The area from Casuarina Road north to the end of the public beach will be redone in this project, estimated to cost $3 million.
    EDSA’s schedule calls for 30 percent of the drawings completed by June 5 so the company can submit permits to the Florida Department of Environmental Protection and Florida Department of Transportation. The firm will make a presentation to the City Commission on June 21 when 60 percent of its drawings are done.
    John Morgan, director of the Environmental Services Department, said the penalties for not completing the beach plan project on time will be detailed at that meeting.
    The project has tight deadlines: Construction bids will be opened on July 5. The commission will select the construction contractor at its July 21 meeting. Construction will start on July 25 with a goal of Dec. 1 for substantial completion and Dec. 31 for final completion.
    “They will be with us until the ribbon-cutting,” Morgan said. EDSA will ensure the needed permits are received from state and city entities, and present the plan to the city’s Site Plan Review and Appearance Board.
    The company will create drawings for two architectural gazebos, socializing areas, pedestrian scale lighting and a unified sign package. Its drawings also will cover expanded sidewalks, benches, waste/recycling containers and overhead showers.
    At the May 17 meeting, the mayor provided clarification on what the commission wants for the design of the benches and the shower structures. Open designs for the benches are preferred over solid ones and shower structures must have a place to hang a towel and a beach chair, he said.
    In other business May 17, the commission approved allowing the city manager to sign construction agreements with FDOT to turn two parking spaces on East Atlantic Avenue, between northbound and southbound Federal Highway, into spaces for use by scooters and golf carts. Another parking space on NE Sixth Avenue, near the Atlantic Avenue intersection, will be converted to golf cart parking.