Commission approves $250,000 planning grant and selects engineer for Cedar Key outer ramp project

City staff presented a planning, design and permitting grant described in the meeting packet as a $250,000 award for an outer ramp expansion at the Cedar Key marina. The mayor explained the grant will fund preliminary design work and permitting, and commissioners approved the agreement by voice vote.

During discussion, staff and a consulting lead explained the RFQ process: only one proposer responded to the request for qualifications, so the commission was asked to name a top proposer and authorize the mayor to negotiate a contract. Commissioners emphasized that the design process will include trade studies and a 60% review that returns to the commission for approval. "So there's a 60% review that preliminary design would have to come to the commission for approval," staff said.

Following the grant approval, the commission considered engineering selection and approved CPH Corporation (formerly Mittower) as the city's engineer of choice for design and permitting. Commissioners discussed whether to include a traffic study in the scope and whether design guidance should be supplied to the engineer at kickoff; staff said those decisions would be part of initial scoping and could affect cost and scope.