Council reauthorizes design-build process and hires GPD Group to guide service building project at 9150 Valley View

Macedonia City Council adopted an emergency ordinance reauthorizing the city to use a design-build contracting process to construct a new service building at 9150 Valley View Road and authorized the mayor to enter a contract with GPD Group to act as the city’s criteria architect and engineer.

The emergency ordinance (Ordinance 33-2025) reauthorizes a process council first considered in 2021 and updates it for the new site the city acquired at 9150 Valley View Road, described during the meeting as the former aerosol property. “The city is reauthorizing the city to utilize a design build process to construct a new service facility at 9150 Valley View Road and also authorizing a contract with GPD to act as the city's criteria architect and engineer for that preliminary phase of the project,” Director Gudetti said.

Council members and staff discussed why the item was presented as an emergency: passing the ordinance immediately would permit GPD Group to begin preliminary survey and design work so the project schedule is not delayed. Staff said if the ordinance did not pass, the schedule would be pushed back. Council members noted that further council action would be required at later stages, including award of a design-build contract after the design-build selection process and a separate recommendation for contract award.

On the question of reauthorization, staff explained that the city had previously begun a similar process in 2021 for a different site and that acquisition of the Valley View property required restarting the preliminary work. “We acquired land at 9150 Valley View Road… that is now the proposed site for the new service facility,” Gudetti told council.

Council adopted the emergency ordinance after a motion to adopt. The roll-call recorded the vote as “All in favor? Aye. All opposed? Nay. Motion carries,” indicating at least one recorded opposition but an overall majority in favor. The ordinance authorizes the mayor to execute a GPD Group contract for criteria architect/engineer services and permits the city to proceed with a design-build procurement process; staff will return to council when ready to award a design-build contract.

Background: The design-build method allows the city to engage a design-build firm following preliminary criteria developed by a criteria architect. The ordinance specifically authorizes use of the Ohio Revised Code provisions related to design-build contracting for public improvement projects.