Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Infrastructure Water topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Council approves professional services agreement for Tarkanian well project after discussion on fees and funding
Summary
Gunnison City Council approved a professional services agreement for phase 1 of the Tarkanian well project (design and limited construction administration), 3–1. Council members discussed fee calculations, state funding benchmarks and federal reporting requirements before the vote.
Gunnison City Council voted 3–1 on Nov. 19 to approve a professional services agreement for phase 1 of the Tarkanian water project, which covers design and limited construction administration for the production well.
The contract covers the design of the production well and related engineering tasks for the first bid package. A project representative told the council the fixed fee was calculated by estimating hours and hourly rates and cross-checking that number against DFCM’s percentage-of-construction-cost guidance. The representative said the consultant’s fee for the portion shown in the packet is about $454,000 and that the estimated construction cost for the scope tied to DFCM/DFC funds is a little over $8 million. The council was also told earlier funding tied to BFCM totals roughly $5.5 million and that the project team intends to separate some state funds from federally administered funds to avoid “federalizing” the whole project and invoking additional federal requirements.
Council discussion focused on whether the consultant’s percentage was in line with industry practice. The project representative pointed out that DFCM’s schedule often places engineering at about 6.14% of construction cost for similar projects, while other programs that include more construction administration can run 10–12%. The representative also warned that future phases funded by federal programs will likely require more reporting and certifications and could increase consultant fees.
A motion to approve the agreement was made and seconded by a councilmember identified in the record as Councilman Warren; roll call recorded Charles — yes; Warren — yes; Craig — yes; Anderson — no, producing a 3–1 outcome in favor of approval.
The contract approval clears the way for the consultant to move into design and limited construction-administration tasks for the production well; staff and the consultant noted significant planning-phase work (environmental assessment, topographical surveys and easements) was already completed by specialty subconsultants. The council did not discuss in detail any final construction schedule or the specific terms of later pipeline work (phase 1B), which the council was told will be handled separately in a subsequent agreement.
Next steps: staff will finalize the contract language and proceed with design activities; subsequent phases and any separate agreements for pipeline work or federal-funded portions will return to the council for review.
