Council ratifies emergency HVAC and water-main procurements totaling about $934,000

The North Miami City Council on Tuesday ratified two emergency procurements affecting community facilities and pedestrian infrastructure. The council ratified the acting city manager's emergency purchase order to AtmosAir Inc. in the amount of $338,786 to replace the HVAC system (phases 1 and 2) at the Jose Cristin Community Center. City staff said part of that project will be funded with housing-and-social-services Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funds and the balance from general funds. "Part of the funding will come from housing and social services, CDBG funds, and the other part will come from general funds," a staff member said on the record. Separately, the council ratified an emergency procurement and issuance of purchase orders to Rickman Construction Florida Inc. in an amount not to exceed $595,231 for the replacement of two 16-inch water-main crossings on pedestrian bridges along NE 130th Street to Bay Vista Boulevard. Why it matters: Staff described both transactions as emergency procurements made to protect building operations and water service. Ratification provides formal council authorization to proceed and for the city to pay invoices associated with the emergency work. Action and vote: The council approved both ratifications by recorded voice votes; AtmosAir's emergency procurement passed after a motion by Vice Mayor Cassandra Timothy, and the Rickman Construction item passed on a motion by Councilman Pierre Charles. Both items carried on unanimous votes. Next steps: Staff will process payments and incorporate the emergency expenditures into the appropriate budget sections; staff said they will provide financing detail in project reports.