Lambert votes Yes on WGI Contract
April 8, 2020
March 23, 2020 Two meetings at City Hall, CRA and City Commission. What I want to draw your attention to is in Bold type, my opinion in italics and if you have difficulty understanding what you are about to read, don’t feel bad it’s written to confuse us.
CRA meeting: Resolution No. 20-18 authorizing a funding interlocal agreement between the City of West Palm Beach and the West Palm Beach Community Redevelopment Agency for the Banyan Boulevard Streetscape project.
A RESOLUTION OF THE WEST PALM BEACH COMMUNITY REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY APPROVING A PROJECT FUNDING INTERLOCAL AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE CITY OF WEST PALM BEACH AND THE WEST PALM BEACH COMMUNITY REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY FOR THE FUNDING OF THE BANYAN BOULEVARD STREETSCAPE PROJECT; PROVIDING FOR AN EFFECTIVE DATE; AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES.
Agenda Cover Memorandum No.: 22079
Staff Recommended Motion: Approve Resolution 20-18.
Background: The CRA’s Strategic Finance Plans for the City Center/Downtown CRA District, Amendment No. 14, identifies infrastructure projects located within the Historic Northwest and funded with the Series 2019 Bond, and specifically the Banyan Boulevard Streetscape.
The City and CRA worked together on the design of Banyan Boulevard. The design features a raised bike lane, additional lighting and trees, a treed median, enhanced crosswalks and signalization and better connections from the Historic Northwest to Downtown.
Resolution No. 19-1 approved the issuance of $110,000,000 in Series 2019 Bonds for the CRA. As part of the bond issuance, the Banyan Boulevard Streetscape was allocated $15,400,000. The GMP was received on February 12, 2020 with a total price of $15,461,731.56 for phase 1. Funding will be provided through both the CRA Bond as well as the City’s Engineering budget.
Companion Resolution Nos. 57-20 and 58-20 will be presented to the City of West Palm Beach City Commission.
This project is in Commission District 3: Richard Ryles.
Fiscal Note: $20 million from bond proceeds.
I didn’t plan to attend the CRA meeting, walked in late in time to hear Commissioner Lambert say she was told by the WPB Ethics Officer it was acceptable for her to vote on the issue. I returned to the atrium and grabbed a copy of the CRA agenda.
On the CRA agenda there is no mention of the contractors contracted to do the construction, but I knew it had to concern the Wantman Group (WGI) Turns out I was right, WGI named on City Commission agenda.
City Commission meeting:
Resolution No. 57-20 approving the Guaranteed Maximum Price for Banyan Boulevard Streetscape project for the Construction Contract with Whiting-Turner establishing the GMP and Resolution No. 58-20 approving the Project Funding Agreement by the CRA to Banyan Blvd Streetscape project.
Resolution No. 57-20: A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF WEST PALM BEACH, FLORIDA, APPROVING THE FIRST AMENDMENT TO THE CONSTRUCTION MANAGER AT RISK CONTRACT FOR THE BANYAN BLVD STREETSCAPE PROJECT BETWEEN THE CITY OF WEST PALM BEACH AND WHITING-TURNER TO ESTABLISH A GUARANTEED MAXIMUM PRICE; PROVIDING AN EFFECTIVE DATE; AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES.
Resolution No. 58-20: A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF WEST PALM BEACH, FLORIDA, APPROVING THE PROJECT FUNDING AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE WEST PALM BEACH COMMUNITY REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY AND THE CITY OF WEST PALM BEACH FOR THE FUNDING OF THE BANYAN BLVD STREETSCAPE; PROVIDING FOR AN EFFECTIVE DATE; AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES
Background: The City issued its Request for Qualifications No. 17-18-402, for Construction Manager At Risk services for Downtown Streetscapes and Alleyways. Whiting-Turner Construction Company, was awarded a Construction Manager at Risk Contract for Banyan Blvd Streetscape, on May 17, 2019. Banyan Boulevard is a major collector road, with over 14,000 Annual Daily Trips, for Downtown West Palm Beach connecting Australian Avenue to Flagler Drive. In 2013, the City prioritized paving on Banyan Blvd. as part of the Public Works Bond to improve deteriorated road conditions. The Community Redevelopment Agency (CRA) and the City of West Palm Beach are partnering with Engineering Services to implement complete streets and enhance safety and efficiency of the corridor. The City retained Wantman Group (WGI), to perform a traffic study, investigate road conditions, and recommend a sustainable typical section. The scope of work includes but is not limited to: drainage improvements, street lighting, ADA access, landscaped median, midblock crosswalk enhancement, traffic signalization, smart city technology, and sidewalk and bike access. Whiting-Turner (WT), a contracting firm, was retained as the Construction Manager at Risk (CMAR) to build the project.
Banyan Boulevard has historically been considered a dividing line between downtown, the Northwest Neighborhoods and the northern border of downtown West Palm Beach. With the proposed improvements, Banyan Blvd will be transformed into a highly visible Gateway into the downtown district. Design for the Banyan Boulevard Improvements is funded utilizing Capital Acquisition Funds and CRA Bond funds. In accordance with its contract, Whiting-Turner Construction Company submitted a Guaranteed Maximum Price for the Banyan Blvd Streetscape, last revised February 11, 2020, in the amount of $15,461,731.56. The City desires to approve the GMP and proceed with the Banyan Blvd Streetscape Project. Resolution No. 57-20 approves the Guaranteed Maximum Price (“GMP”) for the Banyan Blvd Streetscape at $15,461,731.56 and authorizes execution of the First Amendment to the Contract establishing the GMP. Resolution No. 58-20 approves the Project Funding Agreement with the CRA for Banyan Blvd Streetscape. COMMISSION DISTRICT: District 3: Commissioner Richard Ryles.
The Wantman Group has received another lucrative contract from the city. This is the same company who employs Jeffrey Brophy, senior vice president of WGI and Mr. Brophy owns a home in Andros Isles and rented his home to then City Commissioner Keith James who voted approval on every contract that contained a WGI contract.
It gets better for WGI after City Commissioner Christine Lambert was sworn in and 4 months later WGI hired her husband Monty as a Senior Business Development Manager. It doesn’t get any better for WGI or the Lambert’s.
The contract that Lambert voted “yes” at both meetings do you believe she wont benefit from her vote?
How could the WPB Ethics Officer not believe this was a conflict of interest? My opinion I look to the no-bid contract for James friend Willie Perez, PSC Security. James tried to convince us both City Attorney and Procurement agreed it was their “opinion” that bids were not needed and a contract straight to PSC was acceptable.
Residents were outraged and spoke out at the City Commission meeting and strongly suggested both City Attorney and Procurement Manager be fired for their “opinion.”
Well it turns out both departments advised Mayor James that bids should be sought for the eight million dollar contract.
James sat there listening to residents knowing that the City Attorney and the Procurement Manager did their job and he didn’t do his. Disgraceful the way he continually throws people under the bus.