By Pauline Masson –
During the Tuesday, Aug. 15 board of aldermen meeting, the first BOA meeting following the resignation of the city administrator of seven years, aldermen find Steve Roth’s always present and thorough recommendations on how they should vote on the board meeting agenda items.
The memorable agenda, which is 535 pages long, offers very specific recommendation on the project to build a new swimming pool.
Even though he acknowledged that he would not be able to advise the board going forward, Roth said he thought he would at least provide his input on the pool project, given the project’s long history.
For the better part of a year, Roth has been managing a plan to ask voters to raise their own taxes to pay for a new swimming pool, which needed to be built at the end of this season, pool experts advised because the current pool is fading.
In March of this year, Roth completed a $4,975 agreement with Westport Pool to complete a conceptual design for a new pool, still due and to be paid whether the pool is constructed or not. He had completed an earlier $10,652 contract with Navigate Building Solutions to help get the measure on the ballot initiate a conceptual plan for a new pool
Pool experts were quoted as saying the current pool was on its last leg and the city needed to build a new pool sooner rather than later because the life time of the old pool is expiring.
In his instruction to aldermen Roth said Bill 5211 gives approval to placing a $5 million pool proposal before voters at the November 7 election, which the Administrative Committee recommended approval by a 2-1 vote at its July 24 meeting.
In his last attempt to secure the pool contract for his favorite firms, Roth offered a turotial on the different types of contracts available to the city.
“Design-build is an alternative to the traditional design-bid-build process and is provided for by Missouri law. (RSMo 67.5060).” Roth said. “The process is very detailed and includes multiple steps, and ultimately allows for very tight City control of design and construction costs.
“Professional services to assist in a design-build procurement (whether from Navigate or other) would be required IMO if the City is going to meet the letter of the statutory requirements. We do understand that some cities have utilized a design-build solution without adhering to the letter of the statute; this would not be my recommendation.
“The other option is the design-bid- build process,” Roth said. “I would not advise that option, in part because I believe it puts more risk on the City. In design-build the City procures a complete design and construction package, at a fixed cost, up front. In design-bid-build you are at the mercy of the bidders when it comes to the actual construction bids.
What he did recommend was the resolution to hire Navigate, which was defined in Resolution 2023-57. Navigate Task Order 8, Municipal Pool services.
“This Resolution gives approval to certain services from Navigate in preparation for a Nov. 7 ballot issue. If the Board intends to move forward with the Nov. 7 vote, I would recommend acceptance of this proposal.,” Roth said. “The Task Order assumes the City would want to use a Design-Build selection process; Navigate then would assist with the selection process as outlined in the proposal. The total fee for pre-November 7 services is $6,750. If voters approve the project Nov. 7, the design-build solicitation process would begin immediately thereafter. The task order also includes pre-construction and construction phase services.”
In additionto the $6,750 for the ballot measure, the Navigate task order includes $60,000 for selecting a design-build contractor, and $11,000 a month for eleven months, or $121,000 for construction management, for a total pool project management fee of $187,750.
“I realize these are not my recommendations to make going forward,” Roth said in his traditional instruction to aldermen. “But thought I would at least provide my input, given the project’s long history.”
The $187,750 is in addition to the $10,652, the city has already paid Navigate Solutions and an agreement for the Westport Pools conceptural design for $4,975 that Roth approved Mar. 17 but the city still has to pay whether or not a swimming pool is constructed. For a total of $203,377 in management fees.
The recommendation to approve the agreement with Navigate, seemed to confirm concerns that one local business official posted on social media last week.
Tracy Layton Gullet commented that she was concerned that Roth’s close relationship with, one firm might bring undue consideration for that firm.
“II is very concerning as an owner of a large business in the City Limits of Pacific that this project would not go out to bid,” Gullet said. “It seems the city administrator hand picked them because he likes working with them. Exactly how does that benefit the citizens who will be asked to approve millions of dollars for a pool.”
“I suggest starting fresh,” Gullet said. ‘Haste makes waste.’
No matter what is decided with the pool, I would throw out all of Roths recommendations and start fresh. I agree with Tracey Gullet, Navigate has been mr Roths go to company and that has not always been beneficial to the city and citizens. The boards in the past have blindly followed Mr Roth. I have no doubt this board will do their due diligence and research the best options. With a new interim city Administrator, he may be able to put fresh eyes on the projects!
Get a solid proposal with details including costs before going to people for a vote. Single issue elections are expensive. Do due diligence, and vote in April.
It seems clear to me that with a new interim City Administrator this Board should wait to see what he thinks of Roth’s 💡 ideas. If he finds some that have merit he should advance them to the Board for consideration. To ignore Roth’s recommendations because you are mad with him is not good governance.