In 2020, Q. Grady Minor & Associates, P.A. (Grady Minor) was hired to provide professional services for future street lighting and pedestrian safety improvements along South First Street (from Main Street to School Road/Seminole Crossing Trail).
This work included feasibility studies and conceptual plans for the purpose of relocating existing decorative light poles, considering the future street lighting and pedestrian safety improvements. Additionally, it included reviewing and providing recommendations for the location of new pedestrian crosswalks, and the location of new landscape and hardscape elements. Estimated construction costs and long-term maintenance costs were included with the feasibility studies.
In 2021, Grady Minor provided the final Conceptual Plan Report that recommends the installation of Rectangular Rapid Flashing Beacons at the three crosswalks and 11 additional Collier County Traffic Operations light poles. ICRA Staff had coordinated with Collier County Traffic Operations and Public Transit during the development of the conceptual plan and their input was reflected in the final conceptual plans.
Staff applied for a Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) in February 2022 and the $250,000 grant was conditionally awarded in April 2022.
On June 28, 2022, Community and Human Services (CHS) processed the grant agreement between the Collier County Community Redevelopment Agency (CRA) and the Collier County Board of County Commissioners (BCC) for CDBG funds. The agreement was approved by the Collier County BCC on June 28, 2022. The grant agreement for design was approved by the CRA (BCC) board on September 13, 2022, for the CDBG $250,000 grant. The formal notification from HUD was provided on December 9, 2022, that the environmental review had been completed and authorized the CRA to proceed with the Solicitation for request for proposals. The Solicitation process was initiated for the design of the construction plans for this project.
Kisinger Campos & Associates (KCA) was selected for the design of the project and KCA provided a revised proposal on June 22, 2023. A Work Order was executed on June 28, 2023, and on July 20, 2023, a Notice to Proceed with Purchase Order was issued with a commencement date of July 21, 2023.
The survey work was completed September 15, 2023, by T2, KCA’s subcontractor. On November 10, 2023, KCA requested clarification on the intent of the lighting (e.g. strictly pedestrian level lighting as reflected in the conceptual plans or luminating the full corridor). KCA provided Staff a Lighting Design Memo comparing the two levels of lighting, pedestrian safety only or the full corridor with estimated costs (not including additional Subsurface Utility Engineering locating needed to accommodate the increased infrastructure). KCA recommended the full corridor plan. On December 11, 2023 Staff requested a Proposal from KCA for the modifications to the 30% plan for consideration and the possible preparation of a Change Order.
The Grant period ends on April 30, 2024. On January 4, 2024, Staff submitted a Request for a 180-day Extension (10/27/24) to Community Health Services (CHS). On January 17, 2024, CHS provided an extension from April 30, 2024 to October 27, 2024.
On January 5, 2024, KCA suggested as an alternative to a Change Order to eliminate the 30% and 90% plans; but keeping the County Staff and Utilities Entities a 15-day review for comments to the 60% and draft Final Plans. Staff provided the three (3) options to County Management for discussion on January 8, 2024 with Staff’s recommendation of full corridor lighting. The option for full corridor lighting was reviewed by the Deputy County Manager, Traffic Operations, Office of Management & Budget, CHS and Procurement Services. On February 13, 2024, Staff advised KCA of the approval of the full corridor lighting option and requested a proposal, timeline and costs associated with the change for the timely preparation of a Change Order (CO). On March 7, 2024 KCA provided a proposal for a change to Task 5 (Surveying) and a time extension. CO #1 was sent to KCA for execution on March 19, 2024 reflecting a 180-day extension to KCA’s Work Order from an ending date of April 16, 2024 to October 13, 2024 to allow time to perform 12 additional test holes, Subsurface Utility Engineering (SUE), for conflict and confirmation purposes on underground utilities on this 4-land divided highway as ingress/egress to downtown Immokalee. The increase from 4 SUEs to 16 SUEs added in-field survey work that would be required on Full Corridor construction plans for the enhancement of both street lighting and signalized crosswalk improvements. The additional cost is $11,955 for the modifications to the survey work.
Having 100% design plans will allow this project to be considered shovel ready and will better position the CRA to leverage funds with other funding opportunities for construction.
On February 20, 2024, Staff applied for a CDBG Grant for construction funds in the amount of $1,200,000. Due to the grant deadline of February 21, 2024, the Immokalee CRA Board provided an After-the-Fact approval to submit the electronic grant application at the February 21, 2024, CRA Meeting. At the February 27, 2024, BCC meeting the Board approved an After-the-Fact electronic grant application submittal. Staff was approved to move forward to prepare a full grant application and is scheduled to present the project and funding request to the Review and Ranking Committee on March 27, 2024. Denial and Conditional Award letters are anticipated to be issued by April 8, 2024 and final conditional awards are slated to go before the BCC for approval in June 2024.
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