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Council approves Pizzuti Solutions as owner's representative for municipal building projects
Summary
The Mount Vernon City Council adopted Resolution 2025-107 to hire Pizzuti Solutions LLC as an owner's representative to help plan and manage municipal building projects, citing the need for early expertise to control costs and schedule; council approved the emergency resolution by recorded vote.
The Mount Vernon City Council voted to adopt Resolution 2025-107, authorizing the safety service director to enter a qualifications-based contract with Pizzuti Solutions LLC to serve as the city's owner's representative for upcoming municipal building projects. The resolution, declared an emergency, passed after a motion to adopt was moved and seconded.
Jim Russell of Pizzuti Solutions told the council the firm's role is to act as an extension of city staff during design and construction, helping the city build the right facility at the right time and avoid costly overbuilding. "If your pricing are higher than what you can afford, you don't award the bid," Russell said, describing how early engagement produces more accurate budgets and avoids repeated estimating cycles.
Council members and staff said they expect Pizzuti to assist on several planned projects, including a police station, a new municipal center, a court building remodel or annex and possibly an East End fire station. Staff emphasized that owners'rep services are intended to augment, not replace, city personnel by providing technical oversight, schedule control and cost-management expertise.
The motion to adopt the resolution carried with affirmative votes recorded from Sherman, Hager, Severns, Mahan, Woods and Ruckman. Council declared the resolution an emergency to expedite contracting and engagement for preconstruction work.
The contract decision follows council'level concern about escalating construction costs and the risk of monthly cost increases while projects advance; proponents said the owner's representative can help time market entry and improve bid pricing. The council scheduled follow-up items and related financing decisions for upcoming meetings.
