HomeMy WebLinkAbout1998-03-16MINUTES
ADJOURNED JOINT MEETING OF THE
PALM DESERT CITY COUNCIL
AND
PALM DESERT REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY
MONDAY, MARCH 16, 1998
8:00 A.M.
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I. CALL TO ORDER
Mayor/Chairman Benson convened the meeting at 8:00 a.m.
H. ROLL CALL
Present:
Councilman Buford A. Crites
Councilman Jim Ferguson
Councilman Richard S. Kelly
Mayor Pro-Tempore Robert A. Spiegel
Mayor Jean M. Benson
Also Present:
Ramon A. Diaz, City Manager
Carlos L. Ortega, RDA Executive Director
Pat Conlon, Director of Building and Safety
Joe Gaugush, Engineering Manager
John Nagus, Community Arts Manager
David Yrigoyen, Redevelopment Manager
Rudy Acosta, Project Administrator
Steve Buchanan, Supervising Plans Examiner
Jeff Winklepleck, Associate Planner
Mary P. Gates, Deputy City Clerk
III. ORAL COMMUNICATIONS - A
None
MINUTES
ADJOURNED MEETING OF THE PALM DESERT CITY COUNCIL
AND REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY MARCH 16, 1998
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IV. OLD BUSINESS
A. REQUEST FOR AUTHORIZATION TO NEGOTIATE CONTRACT FOR THE DESIGN
AND CONSTRUCTION OF THE DESERT WILLOW GOLF RESORT CLUBHOUSE,
Contract No. C14230 (Continued from the Meeting of March 12, 1998).
Project Administrator Rudy Acosta reviewed the history of the project and the process leading
to staffs recommendation that the Council approve entering into negotiations with the design -
build team of Douglas E. Barnhart, Inc./Dahlin Group, Inc. for the design and construction
of the Desert Willow Golf Clubhouse. He noted that the Council had continued this matter
from its meeting of March 12, 1998, in order to receive presentations from the two design -
build teams of Barnhart/Dahlin and Simon/McFadden/McIntosh/Corcoran/Pickard.
MR. JIM McINTOSH and MR. CHRIS McFADDEN presented their projects. Upon question
by Councilman Spiegel relative to their proposal being a little more expensive than their
competitor and the fact that that was a decision made by the team, Mr. McIntosh stated that
the City wanted a $6 million project, and it was his team's obligation to give the City whatever
it could for that $6 million.
Councilman Ferguson stated that these proposals went through two separate committee
meetings. Based on the design, the other team was selected; however, Mr. McIntosh said it
was not fair to focus on design and that the City should look at design -build. He asked Mr.
McIntosh to explain this.
Mr. McIntosh stated that this was not just a design proposal but was a whole team, and he felt
his team was a better team to deliver the time schedule and get the project on track. With
regard to the budget, he noted that going with a tile roof as opposed to metal would save
approximately $140,000. He stated that their proposal added approximately 3,000 square feet
to the project, and cutting it back to the square footage required in the RFP would save
approximately $240,000. He noted that the exterior stone veneer included in the proposal was
not required but that they had added it at a cost of approximately $100,000. He stated that the
RFP required 225 spaces for the parking lot; however, in reviewing the existing facility, his
team felt there was a need for additional parking and, therefore, provided 250 spaces in the
proposal. He added that their prices stayed the same from the original submittal through the
entire process.
Councilman Spiegel asked whether they had been told how much square footage there should
be, and Mr. McFadden responded that they had been advised of the square footage but had
determined from their review that there was a need for an additional amount of footage for
several areas, including the kitchen.
2
MINUTES
ADJOURNED MEETING OF THE PALM DESERT CITY COUNCIL
AND REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY MARCH 16, 1998
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A representative from J.E. Simon Company addressed the Council stated that he had worked
on the Del Webb clubhouse and insisted on using local contractors. He said Simon had an edge
over other construction companies in that they had their own aggregate, made their own
asphalt, and operated their own equipment.
Mr. McIntosh stated that he wanted the Council not to make its selection based on the local
issue but instead to select the design -build team, based on its merits, that will give the best
service to the City.
Councilman Crites asked if the Intrawest building was completely detached. Mc. McFadden
responded that it was semi-detached in that there was a covered breezeway between the
clubhouse and the Intrawest building.
With Council concurrence, Mayor Benson called a recess at 9:15 a.m. in order for the second group
to set up their presentation.
MR. TEX BARNHART introduced other members of his team as follows: Doug Dahlin, Bill
Sharp, and Carl Danielson. He stated that with regard to local contractors, his team fully
intended to use as many local contractors as possible and that they had not yet made any
subcontractor decisions. He noted they would put plans in the Dodge plan room and would
also work with the Desert Contractors' Association.
Mr. Dahlin, Architect, reviewed the proposal in detail and offered to answer any questions.
Mr. Danielson noted that the schedule submitted with the proposal showed a beginning date
of April 1, 1998, and his team was prepared to meet that schedule and get the project
completed on time.
Councilman Spiegel asked if the team was given the seating capacity of the grill and whether
they felt the kitchen was too small.
Mr. Danielson responded that they were given the seating capacity and that they did not feel
the kitchen was too small.
Upon question by Mayor Benson, Mr. Danielson responded that the tower was between 32 and
35 feet tall.
Councilman Ferguson questioned the square footage of the pro shop and also asked whether
there were any interior support columns in the banquet room.
3
MINUTES
ADJOURNED MEETING OF THE PALM DESERT CITY COUNCIL
AND REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY MARCH 16, 1998
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Mr. Dahlin responded that the RFP asked for 2400 square feet for the pro shop, and their
proposal was at 2,381 square feet. He said the overall building was 1.,141 square feet more
than called for. With regard to interior support columns, he said there were none in the
banquet room.
At the request of Councilman Spiegel, members of the Evaluation Team commented on the
proposals and stated what they liked and did not like about each. Members who were present
and who spoke were Bill Inman, Piper Close, Steve Smith, Rob Jones, Steve Buchanan, Joe
Gaugush, John Nagus, Charlene Sumpter, Kevin Grochau, Craig Pearson, and Jeff
Winklepleck. There were also written comments distributed to the Council from Gregg
Lindquist and Alan Hart relative to the proposals.
Mr. Acosta stated that there was no question that any of the five teams could build this project,
and staff would not bring to the Council any team that staff had doubts could do the job. Five
very well -qualified design -build teams had been selected to participate in the process.
Councilman Kelly expressed appreciation to everyone who made submittals, especially the two
groups at today's meeting. He also expressed appreciation to the Evaluation Committee. He
said he had a good feeling about the Dahlin floor plan and its functionality. He said what was
more important to him was the fact that the City had decided on a process, that 12 people were
brought together who were felt to address all fields of this process and who were well -
qualified. He said it would be nice if everyone could be a winner, but that is not the case. He
said he felt strongly about going through the established process. He noted that he liked the
architecture of the McFadden/McIntosh submittal; however, when the whole thing is put
together, he felt the Barnhard/Dahlin design was better. He added that if the Council is going
to do the best job for its constituents and be fair to everyone concerned, it should stick with the
process.
Councilman Ferguson thanked both design -build teams who got this far. He said whichever
way the Council goes today, it might be appropriate to increase the stipend for the
nonsuccessful team from today's presentations. He said he had heard both presentations more
than once and had put a great deal of time into this process. He noted that it might have been
helpful to have a citizen at large on the Evaluation Committee, and he had tried to take that
approach because he is not an architect. He said he felt the first elevations from the Dahlin
Group were awful; however, by going back and having them resubmit, he said he saw a lot of
the subtle beauty of the Dahlin Group's submittal. He said he agreed with comments made by
Joe Gaugush of the Evaluation Committee that McFadden/McIntosh went out of their way to
make changes. He said he was convinced that the Dahlin Group had a better layout. He noted
that when they went into the second round, he wanted the McFadden team. At the end of that
meeting, Mr. Acosta indicated that things that were liked could be mixed and matched from
both teams. He said there was not a local preference issue because this was not included in the
4
MINUTES
ADJOURNED MEETING OF THE PALM DESERT CITY COUNCIL
AND REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY MARCH 16, 1998
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RFP, and he felt it would be unfair to introduce an element now that was not part of the
original process. He said he was still not happy with the architecture of the Dahlin Group but
felt they could work with staff on it. He added that he felt this plan would provide the most
functionality.
Councilman Spiegel stated that this was different from building a street where certain
information is put in the specifications, and if the bids that come in are pretty close and the
local bidder is close, the contract is awarded to the local firm. He said the objective in this
particular project is to get the best clubhouse possible. He said there were a lot of things in
the McFadden/McIntosh presentation that he liked and that he felt the entrance was more
luxurious than the Dahlin Group. He agreed it was a good idea to add more to the stipend for
the nonsuccessful of these two teams. He said he felt the pro shop was too small and should
be revisited because the money will be made in the pro shop, not the restaurants. He added
that while there were a lot of good assets to both proposals, he would have to go with the
Dahlin proposal because of its functionality.
Councilman Crites stated that he felt we would end up with local contractors no matter which
team is selected. He said he was not enormously concerned with the difference in cost and
agreed with Councilman Kelly about the importance of the Evaluation Team and the expertise
they brought together. He said almost everyone agreed the exterior of one is superior to the
exterior of the other, and he agreed. He said he felt having an Intrawest building was
significantly superior to having it included in the clubhouse building. He said he was not very
enthusiastic with the Dahlin proposal having a service area right in the front; on the other hand,
if it is put elsewhere on the site, a person looking down from the hotel might be looking into
that area. He said he appreciated the comments that in a building like this, there is no "back".
He said the interior spacing of the Dahlin proposal made good sense to him, and the idea that
the entire room is visible from other parts and can be combined made sense to him. He said
he liked the concept of using Desert Willow trees in the glasswork and felt the public art
portion of the McFadden/McIntosh team was superior. He noted that the Dahlin proposal
public art component was unacceptable to him and that, if selected, it should not be allowed
to go forward as it is now. He agreed the parking lot component was not acceptable as it is
now. He said he liked the McFadden proposal significantly better; however, he also felt as a
public official that his business is to listen to people the Council asks as volunteers to give the
Council their judgment. He said those judgements are persuasive when they come from a solid
group of people whose business it is to make those judgments.
Mayor Benson agreed there was a process used by the City. She said the City is celebrating
its 25th anniversary this year, and the Council gets compliments over and over again about
what a good job has been done over the past 25 years, and it is because the Council involves
people in the community. She said she believed in the committee process in order to get to the
ultimate end, and she had to rely on those who golf and know what is functional in a golf club.
5
MINUTES
ADJOURNED MEETING OF THE PALM DESERT CITY COUNCIL
AND REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY MARCH 16, 1998
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She said she liked the rotunda of the McFadden team and felt it had an elegance to it; however,
she would have to defer to the Dahlin team because of the committee recommendation. She
said she felt badly about the local contractor issue because she felt the City of Palm Desert had
done more than any other city in the Valley to work with local contractors. She said she would
like to see something that indicates over 50% would be local contractor work just to ensure that
this will happen. She agreed the committee did a good job, and she agreed if this is ever done
again that there needs to be a local citizen involved.
Councilman Kelly moved to, by Minute Motion: 1) Authorize staff to enter into negotiations for the
procurement of an agreement with the design -build team of Douglas E. Barnhart, Inc./Dahlin Group, Inc. for
the design and construction of the Desert Willow Golf Clubhouse in an amount not to exceed $6,000,000 and
authorize the Mayor to execute such agreement; 2) bring back to the next meeting the issue of the amount of
stipend to be given to the nonsuccessful teams; 3) authorize the appropriation of the $6,000,000 from
Unobligated Year 2000 Fund balance; 4) transfer $5,000,000 from General Fund to Year 2000; 5) direct staff
to include in the contract the use of at least 50% local contractors.
Councilman Crites stated that he felt if the Dahlin team is hired, the other firm
(McFadden/McIntosh) should receive a significant reimbursement in relation to the other three
of the five firms.
Councilman Spiegel seconded the motion, and it carried by unanimous vote of the Council.
V. ADJOURNMENT
With Council/Agency Board concurrence, Mayor/Chairman Benson adjourned the meeting at 11:55
a.m.
SHEILA R. GItUGAN, CIT,X CLERK/AGENCY SECRETARY
CITY OF PALM DESERT, AALIFORNIA
PALM DESERT REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY
146 A AAA -iv--
. BENSON, MAYOR/CHAIRMAN
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