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Miami Lakes council approves demolition contract for building at 5951 NW 150th St after debate over rebidding
Summary
Council approved an $89,000 bid to demolish the former commercial building at 5951 NW 150th Street after council members debated whether to rebid the contract to seek lower prices; staff said five bids were received and procurement verified references for the lowest bidder.
The Miami Lakes Town Council voted July 26 to award a demolition contract for the property at 5951 NW 150th Street after a contentious discussion in which one council member urged rebidding to try to reduce the per-square-foot cost.
Councilman Guadalupe Garcia moved to reject the recommendation and rebid the demolition, arguing the town could do better than the low bid’s price of approximately $5.94 per square foot. The motion failed; the council then approved award of the contract to the lowest responsive bidder, which staff recommended at $89,000.
Why it mattered: The property demolition is an early step in a long-planned municipal project. Several council members stressed the importance of moving forward quickly to demonstrate progress on longstanding infrastructure and traffic-relief priorities. Opponents of immediate award urged further competition to try to reduce cost.
What staff reported: Public works staff said the job was advertised as an invitation to bid for 30 days and received five bids. Procurement checked bidder references and experience; staff said the recommended contractor has 12 years in business and prior municipal demolition experience, including work for other cities. A standard contingency (about 30 percent) was included because of the building’s 1970s construction and the potential for asbestos or soil contamination.
Council debate: Garcia argued the town should rebid, citing industry guidance that comparable projects were often below $5 per square foot and urging further cost savings. Council members Ray Garcia and others countered that five bids represented a healthy competitive pool and that the lowest bid was substantially below the second-lowest; they also warned that delaying demolition risks higher costs later due to inflation. Councilman Herzberg said staff had verified the contractor’s references and past work on similar demolitions.
Outcome and next steps: Council approved the $89,000 contract and the contingency approach; staff will proceed with permitting and demolition procurement steps. Officials said if environmental testing during permitting reveals additional remediation needs, those would come back to council for further appropriation and discussion.
