Ways and Means adds authorization for Dominion transformer work, approves $5.9M stormwater contract and slate of city contracts

The Charleston City Committee on Ways and Means on Jan. 14, 2025 voted to add and approve authorization for the mayor to execute an "other work in progress" agreement with Dominion for transformer relocation work at 141 Meeting Street related to the EB White building, and approved a series of contracts and change orders across parks, stormwater and public safety projects.

The item to authorize the mayor to execute the Dominion agreement was added to the agenda and approved during the meeting. Committee members said the work is needed for Dominion to continue a project that is already under way and that the agreement is a precursor to a property closing scheduled in the coming week. The transcript records that the city's estimated share of the cost was described as approximately "2 $150,836," with the other half to be paid by Dominion; the meeting did not record a precise single-line item total or a roll-call tally for that vote.

Why it matters: The city said the agreement is required by Dominion for the ongoing utility work tied to a near-term real-estate closing, meaning the decision affects both a capital project and an imminent property transaction.

Among the other formally approved items, the committee authorized a $5,875,000 construction contract for stormwater work with Low Country Site Work; approved Parks Capital Projects funding of $1,287,263 for plan improvements at Fort Pemberton Park; and approved two Gulfstream Construction change orders for seawall repairs totaling $972,194 (change order #5 for $423,411.80 and change order #6 for $548,783.91). The committee also took a bundled vote on items 8 through 11, approving task-order contracts for Bridal Arch lining and repair services.

Other approvals included a memorandum of understanding with the City of North Charleston (Police Department), a subaward agreement with Anna Laslow Associates for police-related work, and a recreation lease or agreement with Saint Andrews Parks, Parish and Playground (described in the meeting as a lease for lanes at that facility). The committee accepted the December 16, 2024 Real Estate Committee report and recorded four residential annexations as unanimously approved.

Discussion and procedure: Most items were moved and "properly seconded" and approved by voice vote; the transcript repeatedly records "the ayes have it" rather than roll-call tallies. Council member Mitchell is recorded as seconding the stormwater construction contract; other individual movers/seconders were not named in the transcript and are listed as not specified in the formal action records. Several council members asked staff follow-up questions during the meeting, including a request to compile leases and to provide a list of city activity under the $100,000 bidding threshold.

Clarifying details recorded in the meeting: the Fort Pemberton Park project budget was given as $1,287,263; the Howell Avenue stormwater retrofit memorandum with Charleston County was recorded with an amount of $0; the two Gulfstream seawall change orders were $423,411.80 (change order #5) and $548,783.91 (change order #6); the stormwater construction contract amount was $5,875,000; and four annexations described as residential were approved by the committee.

What the meeting did not record: The committee approved items by voice vote without individual roll-call tallies in the transcript, and several motions show only generalized mover/second language. The transcript does not provide a single clarified dollar total for the Dominion/141 Meeting Street item and uses phrasing that could not be unambiguously parsed into one exact figure; the article therefore reports the text of the estimate as given in the meeting.

Votes at a glance (as recorded in the meeting): - Authorization for mayor to execute other work-in-progress agreement with Dominion for transformer relocation at 141 Meeting Street: added to agenda and approved; city's estimated share described as approximately "2 $150,836," other half to be paid by Dominion; vote recorded by voice as "ayes have it." - Parks Capital Projects: $1,287,263 to complete plan improvements at Fort Pemberton Park — approved. - Stormwater construction contract (Low Country Site Work): $5,875,000 — approved (seconded by Council member Mitchell; voice vote). - Howell Avenue stormwater retrofit memorandum of agreement with Charleston County: amount recorded as $0 — approved. - Gulfstream Construction change order #5 (Low Battery seawall repairs): $423,411.80 — approved. - Gulfstream Construction change order #6 (Low Water EC wall repairs Phase 4): $548,783.91 — approved. - Items 8–11 (task-order contracts for Bridal Arch lining and repair services): taken and approved together. - Police memorandum of understanding with City of North Charleston: approved. - Police subaward agreement with Anna Laslow Associates: approved. - Recreation agreement/lease with Saint Andrews Parks, Parish and Playground: approved. - Acceptance of Real Estate Committee report (Dec. 16, 2024), including four residential annexations: accepted/unanimously approved.

Next steps and follow-up requests: Council members requested staff provide listings of city leases (including amounts) tied to upcoming relocations, and a listing of city bids and purchases under $100,000 to evaluate the small-purchase threshold. The committee requested those follow-ups be pursued by staff.

Ending: The committee concluded after moving and approving the listed items and directing staff follow-ups; the transcript shows voice votes for approval on all recorded items.