On January 17, 2017, the City entered into a Design/Build Agreement with Ric-Man Construction, Inc., (Ric-Man) to develop, design, and construct the Stormwater Pump Station on 19th Street between Convention Center Drive and Meridian Avenue. As part of the scope of the Project, Ric-Man is to replace the existing seawall along the south perimeter of Collins Canal, abutting the Miami Beach Botanical Garden (Botanical Garden) property and the Holocaust Memorial. In order to gain access to the seawall and complete its replacement, some of the surrounding landscaping and portions of the existing walkway bordering Collins Canal in the vicinity of the Botanical Garden will be affected.
At the April 26, 2017, Commission Meeting, the Commission referred an item to the Neighborhood/Community Affairs Committee to discuss the vision of the Botanical Garden’s expansion, north to the swale and landscaped area along Collins Canal.
At the May 19, 2017, Neighborhood/Community Affairs Committee (NCAC) meeting, Sandy Shapiro, the Executive Director of the Botanical Garden, stated that the replacement of the seawall along the canal will require new landscaping, and therefore presents an opportunity to implement the 2011 Raymond Jungles’ concept plan and improve the area north of the Botanical Garden, along Collins Canal (Exhibit A). Raymond Jungles, Inc. is the landscape architect that completed the design for the renovation of the Botanical Garden that took place in 2011. The vision of the design plan is for visitors and resident to access the Botanical Garden from the Collins Canal walkway, and include the addition of gated entrances along the north perimeter of the property as well as extending the plant palate to the edge of the Collins Canal. Ms. Shapiro informed the NCAC that Raymond Jungles, Inc. prepared a preliminary construction cost estimate. Further, she informed the NCAC that the Botanical Garden will be maintaining the landscape improvements, which represents an offset to the City as the landscape is currently maintained by the City’s GreenSpace Management Division at minimum cost. NCAC requested the City Commission refer this item to the Finance and Citywide Projects Committee.
The preliminary cost estimate prepared by Raymond Jungles, Inc. is attached (Exhibit B.) Their estimated construction cost for this work is approximately $700,000. This number has exclusions and needs to be confirmed by the Administration.
At the June 16, 2017 FCWPC meeting, the item was presented and the committee favorably recommended to Commission, to proceed with the design and construction of the improvements north of the Botanical Garden.
Staff recommends that a Change Order to the current Agreement between Ric-Man and the City be issued to incorporate the proposed extension of the Botanical Garden as part of their seawall reconstruction. Adding the scope under this contract will be more efficient and expedient. Staff is currently working on obtaining an estimate from Ric-Man, to perform the work included in the Concept Plan prepared by Raymond Jungles, Inc. in 2011 for this area.
In the event that staff is unable to negotiate with the Contractor, staff will explore other procurement options.
Funding is available through previously appropriated funds in the current fiscal year budget.