Fort Pierce agency OKs $195,405 design contract for Second Street ‘Festival Street’ project

The Fort Pierce Redevelopment Agency on Tuesday approved a $195,405 contract with EXP to produce architectural and engineering design work for a downtown “Festival Street” conversion on Second Street between Orange Avenue and Marina Way.

The contract was approved by roll call vote after presentation by Jessica Williams, a redevelopment specialist, who said, “The total fee is $195,405, and they are expecting to take about 32 weeks to execute the plan.” The agency voted 4–0 in favor with one commissioner absent.

The project is drawn from the agency’s fiscal year 2025 project‑based budget and is intended to create a versatile, curbless street that can transition from regular vehicular use to pedestrian event space. Williams told the board the consultant’s scope includes data and inventory collection, conceptual design at about 30 percent, followed by detailed design and engineering plans at 60, 90 and 100 percent; lighting analysis; assistance with permitting; utility coordination; and an as‑built review and certificate at the end of the work.

Commissioner Broderick said he had pulled the item to press for stronger public‑safety measures after earlier conversations about risks to large crowds. “I had expressed concerns relative to our downtown area and bringing masses of bodies down there and the potential for violence,” Broderick said during discussion. He described the need for protections beyond movable barricades and urged that the design include robust, structural options such as removable, structural bollards or I‑beam style devices.

Agency staff said they would raise those concerns with the consultant and pointed to an example shown during the meeting: permanent, removable bollards used on Clematis Street in West Palm Beach. Cheyenne Harnage, FPRA staff, said the project team will invite department heads and other stakeholders to kickoff and coordination meetings and that security, permitting and utility coordination will be part of the consultant’s work.

Board members and staff also discussed related safety efforts elsewhere downtown. Staff noted the Marina Park/Marina Square improvements are a separate project that will include its own safety review and that the city’s police department has been performing CPTED (crime prevention through environmental design) assessments of several parks. FPRA staff said the police department will continue assessments of FPRA parks and that recommendations on lighting, hedges and restroom facilities were part of that work.

The motion to approve the consultant contract was called and passed by roll call: Commissioner Broderick — yes; Commissioner Johnson — yes; Commissioner Taylor — yes; Chairwoman Hudson — yes. Commissioner Gaines was not present for the vote.

Board members and staff said the project will include outreach to downtown businesses and other stakeholders on how street transitions for events will affect daily operations. Williams said the plan aims to enhance curb appeal and landscape and provide a flexible street design that supports weekly events and larger downtown festivals.

Implementation steps noted at the meeting include consultant kickoff meetings with stakeholders, staged design milestones (30/60/90/100 percent), agency permitting assistance, and an as‑built review before construction. No construction contract or construction funding was approved at Tuesday’s meeting; the action was limited to authorization for design and engineering services.