On April 17, 2012, the Richmond City Council majority had the wisdom of authorizing additional evaluation of the Riggers Loft as a n alternate location for the proposed grant-funded Security and Operations Center. The structural evaluation should be completed in less than two weeks, although the geotechnical evaluation might take slightly longer. For details, see Port Project a Boondoggle? April 14, 2012.
Item K-1 on the April 24 City Council agenda will provide further direction for City staff, with three alternates. For details, see

CONSIDER alternatives relating to development of an Operations and Security Center (OSC) at the Port of Richmond and DIRECT staff to reject all bids received on February 23, 2012 to construct the OSC at 1411 Harbour Way South, and revise the design of the OSC at 1411 Harbour Way South consistent with the remaining grant funds and reissue for bid - Port Department (Jim Matzorkis 215-4600).

1. Alternative 1: Execute a construction contract with Alten to construct the OSC at 1411 Harbour Way South in an amount not to exceed $3,976,921, with staff to collaborate with Alten to value engineer the project issuing a deductive change order to maintain cost within the available budget.

 

1. Alternative 2: Direct staff to explore moving the OSC to the Riggers Loft located in the Point Potrero Marine Terminal, involving rejecting all bids received on February 23, 2012 to construct the OSC at 1411 Harbour Way South, and verifying with the grantor that relocating the OSC is acceptable and verifying the financial implications of this decision.

1. Alternative 3: Direct Staff to reject all bids received on February 23, 2012, to construct the OSC at 1411 Harbour Way South. Revise the design of the OSC at 1411 Harbour Way South consistent with the remaining grant funds and rebid the project.

 

Staff is recommending that the City Council proceed with Alternative 3. If the City Council is inclined to proceed with Alternative 2, staff recommends that the final decision on this be deferred at least until the geotechnical and structural evaluation of the Riggers Loft by Wiss, Janney, Elstner Associates (WJE), authorized by the City Council at its meeting of April 17th, is completed.

The staff recommendation is the right way to approach this, and hopefully, the City Council will agree.