Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Infrastructure Maintenance topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
CRA authorizes $120,000 bid process to repair Palafox Pier fountain
Summary
The Pensacola Community Redevelopment Agency voted 5-0 to authorize an invitation to bid for repairs to the Palafox Pier fountain, approving a $100,000 allocation plus a 20% contingency for a total of $120,000. Board members said they also are exploring alternative installations with outside partners.
The Pensacola Community Redevelopment Agency on Jan. 13 authorized an invitation to bid to repair the fountain at the end of Palafox Pier, approving $100,000 plus a 20% contingency for a total budget of $120,000.
The action, moved by Board Member Breyer and seconded by Board Member Moore, passed 5-0.
Board Member Patton, sponsor of the item, said the fountain "hasn't been working for some time" and is part of the Palafox Pier lease that requires the city to maintain that area. Patton said recent maintenance problems stem from the pump and electrical components being located underground in a vault that floods during storms, driving recurring repair costs. "It costs, you know, a lot to continue to... repair that," Patton said, and explained that a previous bid of about $86,000 proposed bringing the components above ground but lacked a warranty and clear scope.
Patton said the CRA should solicit new bids to get an updated cost estimate and clearer scope before deciding on a permanent fix. "I think we all felt like we ought to just start over again, get new bids, make sure we understand what we are looking at and how much the cost is and then go from there," Patton said.
The mayor, speaking during the item, said the administration would support moving forward to determine exact costs but noted concerns about long-term maintenance and warranty terms for a project of this size. "We definitely wanna do something," the mayor said, adding that the administration has had preliminary discussions with an outside group, American Magic, about a possible public installation at the site that could change the long-term approach.
The board voted without public comment. No firm timeline for the bidding process or a construction start date was provided during the meeting.
Patton and others described the fountain as a local gathering spot; Patton said it had been a backdrop for homecoming and prom photos in the past but has been out of service for more than a year. The $120,000 figure approved tonight is to fund an invitation to bid and does not itself authorize construction beyond the procurement step.
The CRA did not provide a final decision on whether the pump and electrical components will be relocated above ground, replaced in-kind, or whether an alternate public installation will be pursued if partnership discussions with American Magic advance further.
