[00:00:04]
>> SPEAKER: AT THIS TIME WILL OPEN OF THE CITY COUNCIL MEETING
[2. MINUTES. March 15, 2022]
COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE FOR APRI. CITY COUNCIL SHOULD HAVE THE MINUTES OF THE COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE FROM MARCH 15 MEETING.IS THERE ANY ADDITIONS OR CORRECTIONS TO THOSE MINUTES IF
NOT A MOVE TO APPROVE. >> SPEAKER: SO MOVED.
>> SPEAKER: MOTION AND SECOND. ALL IN FAVOR? ANY OPPOSED. (VOICE VOTE).
>> SPEAKER: WE HAVE ANOTHER BOARD COMMISSIONED TO MAKE TONIGHT AND MAYOR PRO TEM WITTEN IS OUT OF TOWN ON A BUSINESS
[3. DOWNTOWN DESIGN REVIEW COMMITTEE]
TRIP SO I WILL BE HANDLING THAT. WE WILL START WITH THE DOWNTOWN DESIGN REVIEW. WE HAVE ONE VACANCY TONIGHT.THE INCUMBENT IS ANNA SOLOMON AND SHE IS SERVED ONE FULL TERM.
SHE HAS APPLIED FOR A SECOND FULL TERM.
I WILL NOMINATE ANNA SOLOMON FOR SECOND FULL TERM.
>> SPEAKER: SECOND. >> SPEAKER: MOTION AND SECOND.
ANY DISCUSSION OR COMMENTS? IF NOT ALL IN FAVOR?
[4. HISTORIC PRESERVATION COMMISION]
(VOICE VOTE) THAT CARRIES AND WE WILL CONFIRM THAT IN THE AGENDA. HISTORIC PRESERVATION COMMISSION WE HAVE TWO VACANCIES TONIGHT. THE TERMS BEGIN APRIL 21 OF 2022. THEY WILL END APRIL 20, 2025.WE HAVE ONE INCUMBENT THAT IS SEEKING ACTUALLY A THIRD TERM.
I WOULD LIKE TO NOMINATE MAIBEN BEARD TO SERVE A THIRD FULL TERM ON THE HISTORIC PRESERVATION COMMISSION.
>> SPEAKER: SECOND. >> SPEAKER: MOTION AND SECOND.
ANY COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS? ALL IN FAVOR SAY AYE OF NOMINATING -- APPOINTING MAIBEN BEARD? (VOICE VOTE) THAT CARRIES FORTH.
MR. CHRISTIAN DAGG, WE APPRECIATE HIS WORK WITH THE HISTORIC PRESERVATION COMMISSION.
HE HAS DECIDED NOT TO SEEK A SECOND FULL TERM.
SO AT THIS TIME I WOULD LIKE TO NOMINATE MR. WARM BIRD.
>> SPEAKER: SECOND. >> SPEAKER: MOTION AND SECOND.
ANY COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS? ALL IN FAVOR SAY AYE PLEASE SAY.
(VOICE VOTE) THAT MOTION CARRIED.
[5. PLANNING COMMISSION]
WE WILL CONFIRM THAT LATER ON AND WE CERTAINLY THINK CHRISTIAN FOR HIS SERVICE. PLANNING COMMISSION WE HAD SIX OUTSTANDING APPLICANTS. WE INTERVIEWED THREE OF THOSE APPLICANTS TONIGHT. THIS IS TO FILL THE UNEXPIRED TERM OF MR. MAC LAZENBY. CERTAINLY WE THANK MR. LAZENBY FOR HIS SERVICE. THIS TERM WILL BEGIN IMMEDIATELY AND WILL AND JULY 31, 2023. I WOULD LIKE TO NOMINATE DR. JOE>> SPEAKER: MOTION AND SECOND. ANY OTHER NOMINATIONS?
>> SPEAKER: I WOULD LIKE TO NOMINATE DR. JOANNE ABRAM.
>> SPEAKER: SECOND. >> SPEAKER: SO THERE IS A MOTION AND SECOND FOR DR. JOANNE ABRAM'S.
AT THIS TIME IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION?
>> SPEAKER: MY NOMINATION FOR DR. ABRAMS ALL THREE CANDIDATES DID AN EXCELLENT JOB AT THE INTERVIEW AND EVERYTHING.
IT WAS A HARD DECISION TO MAKE. I WENT BACK AND LOOK AT SOME OF THE NOTES AND EVERYTHING I WAS REALLY IMPRESSED WITH ALL OF THREE OF THEM THAT INTERVIEWED. I WAS REALLY IMPRESSED WITH THE FACT WHEN WE TALKED ABOUT THE TEN TO 20 YEAR PLAN, SHE WAS TALKING ABOUT -- THAT WAS RATHER IMPRESSIVE TO ME AND ONE OF THE REASONS WHY I CHOSE HER AS A NOMINATION.
FOR THIS POSITION. >> SPEAKER: THANK YOU.
ANY OTHER COMMENTS REGARDING THIS? WE WILL BEGIN WITH DR. A STRIP. ALL IN FAVORITE OF DR. JOE A
STRIP PLEASE SAY I. >> SPEAKER: LET'S DO THAT WITH A HAND COUNT. ALL IN FAVOR PLEASE RAISE YOUR HAND? SO WE WILL CONFIRM DR. A STRIP LATER ON IN THE AGENDA. I WILL AGREE WITH MS. TAYLOR, WE HAD THREE OUTSTANDING INTERVIEWS AND I APPRECIATE EVERYONE SEEKING THIS POSITION. PLANNING IS SO IMPORTANT TO OUR COMMUNITY AND THERE IS SO MUCH GOING ON AND YOU REALLY HAVE TO
[5. QUESTIONS ON THE AGENDA]
DIG IN AND WANT TO BE A PART OF IT.I THINK ANYBODY WHO WANTS TO BE A PART OF OUR PLANNING COMMISSION. ANY QUESTIONS ON THE AGENDA FOR THE CITY MANAGER? ANY QUESTIONS FROM THE DAIS FOR THE CITY MANAGER? OKAY.
SEEING NONE ANY OF THE THINGS FROM THE COUNCIL?
>> SPEAKER: IF I MAY, I HAVE RECENTLY BEEN CONTACTED BY SEVERAL CITIZENS COMPLAINING ABOUT THE CONSTRUCTION OCCURRING IN THE CITY. THEIR MAIN CONCERN IS ONE OF THE PROJECT TAKEN SO LONG TO COMPLETE.
THE MAIN AREA OF CONCERN HAVE BEEN OPELIKA RD., COX ROAD AND COXSWAIN WIRE TURNABOUT. OR ROUNDABOUT.
I AGREE WITH THE CITIZENS THAT THESE PROJECTS SEEM TO BE NEVER ENDING. I CAN CERTAINLY UNDERSTAND WHY EVERYONE IS FRUSTRATED AND FRANKLY FELT FRUSTRATED AS WELL.
I HAVE A COUPLE OF QUESTIONS FOR THE CITY MANAGER.
[00:05:01]
WHEN DID THE COX ROAD PROJECT START CONSTRUCTION?>> SPEAKER: I WILL HAVE OUR CITY ENGINEER ALISON FRAZIER
SPEE-02 THAT -- SPEAK TO THAT. >> SPEAKER: THE COX ROAD WIDENING PROJECT STARTED IN JUNE OF 2020.
>> SPEAKER: WE ARE NOT. >> SPEAKER: THE PROJECT IS SUBSTANTIALLY COMPLETE. THE ONLY ITEM THAT REMAINS THAT WE ARE AWARE OF IS THE PERMANENT STRIPING AND MARKINGS.
THERE IS ONE CONTRACTOR IN THE WHOLE STATE OF ALABAMA THAT DOES PERMANENT STRIPING'S AND MARKINGS SO WE ARE AT THEIR MERCY. NOT ONLY FOR THIS PROJECT BUT
SEVERAL OTHER PROJECTS. >> SPEAKER: IS IT NORMAL TO TAKE TWO YEARS TO DO SOMETHING LIKE THAT?
>> SPEAKER: IT DOES IS IT NORMAL? IT DEPENDS ON THE SCOPE OF THE PROJECT.
PROJECTS CAN BE EXTENDED BECAUSE OF WEATHER DELAYS, WE CAN EXTEND THE SCOPE OF WORK AND SOMETIMES IT IS CONTRACTOR EFFORTS OR LACK
THEREOF WHICH EXTEND PROJECTS. >> SPEAKER: WHEN DO YOU EXPECT IT TO ACTUALLY BE COMPLETED WITH THE REFLECTORS AND STRIPING?
>> SPEAKER: WE ARE WAITING ON THE STRIPING CONTRACTOR THEY ACTUALLY HAVE OUR CITY RESTRIPING PROJECTS AND THEY TELL US EVERY FEW MONTHS WE CHECK ON THEM AND THEY SAY IN A FEW WEEKS. WE EXPECT THEM TO BE HERE THIS MONTH AND HOPEFULLY WHEN THEY COME INTO OUR CITY PROJECT THEY WILL ALSO BUT NOT SOME OF THE OTHER PROJECTS THAT WE ARE NOT
DIRECTLY MANAGING LIKE COX ROAD. >> SPEAKER: THANK YOU.
>> SPEAKER: DO WE TAKE ANY TYPE OF RECOURSE AGAINST THE CONTRACTOR FOR TAKING SO LONG ON THESE PROJECTS? YOU HAVE A MECHANISM FOR MAKING SURE OR AWARDING IF HE FINISHES
EARLY OR SOMETHING? >> SPEAKER: ONE OF THE THINGS WE HAVE LOOKED AT RECENTLY IS ADDING INCENTIVES AND DISINCENTIVES TO OUR PROJECT. IN THE CASE OF THE ROUNDABOUT, IT INCLUDES AN INCENTIVE TO HOWEVER, CONTRACT DID NOT MEET THE DEADLINE TO GET THAT PICKED OUR CONTRACT TO INCLUDE LIQUIDATED DAMAGES FOR DAMAGES THAT WE INCUR BEYOND THE
CONTRACT TIME. >> SPEAKER: I WOULD SAY TO THE ENTIRE COUNCIL, WHILE CONTRACTUALLY WE ARE A LITTLE CAREFUL ABOUT THE THINGS THAT WE SAY, WE ARE WELL AWARE OF WHAT IS IN THE CONTRACTS AND WE WILL HANDLE ACCORDINGLY.
ANYTHING THAT WE ARE ABLE TO HANDLE BASED ON CERTAIN CIRCUMSTANCES. THAT GOES FOR ANY CONTRACT THE CITY HAS, NOT JUST THE ONES MENTIONED TONIGHT IT.
WERE TAKEN VERY SERIOUSLY. ALSO ONE OF OUR CHALLENGES WITH THESE WE HAVE HAD A FEW FOLKS AND WE WILL GET TO SOME OTHER PROJECTS IN A MINUTE. HAVE SOME CONCERN, WHY DON'T YOU JUST CHANGE CONTRACTOR'S. IN THE MIDDLE OF A PROJECT AND GET A DIFFERENT ONE. IN THIS DAY AND AGE, IT IS VERY HARD TO FIND ANY ROAD BUILDING CONTRACTORS AND ONCE ONE GETS GET STARTED NO ONE IS GOING TO COME IN AND FOLLOW UP THEIR WORK AND GUARANTEE IT. SO ANYTHING THAT WE ARE DOING WITH ANY PROJECT, EVEN IF IT IS TAKING TOO LONG, WE LET THAT PROJECT FINISH WE WILL EVALUATE OUR ENGINEERS KEEP VERY DETAILED NOTES AND WE WILL EVALUATE. CONTRACTUALLY IF THERE ARE THINGS THAT NEED TO BE DEALT WITH THEY WILL BE DEALT WITH TO
THE CITY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE. >> SPEAKER: I WAS JUST CURIOUS IF THERE WAS A MECHANISM. I BELIEVE REWARDING FOR FINISHED EARLY BUT IF THEY FINISH LATE, THE --
>> SPEAKER: ABSOLUTELY. THIS COUNCIL HAS BEEN VERY INTERESTED IN THAT BEFORE, ASKING US COULD WE GET THINGS MOVING SOONER AND WE HAVE MADE ATTEMPTS IF THERE ARE CONTRACTS THAT DO NOT INVOLVE THE ALABAMA DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION.
WHAT I MEAN IS SOMETIMES WE GET SOME FUNDING OR IT INVOLVES THEIR RIGHT-OF-WAY. THOSE ARE DIFFERENT AS TO WHETHER OR NOT THEY CAN HAVE IT PICKED THE CITY CONTROLLED PROJECT WE ARE BUILDING IN STANDARD AND THAT IS CITY MANAGER WHEN WE COME TO ROAD PROJECTS THE PUBLIC WANTS THEM DONE AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE. I ALSO THINK THE PUBLIC IS A LITTLE FRUSTRATED THAT WE JUST DON'T HAVE CONTRACTORS WORK IN THE MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT ONLY. I WISH IT WAS THAT SIMPLE.
TO CONVINCE A CONTRACTOR TO DO ALL OF THEIR WORK OVERNIGHT WHEN OUR WATER RESOURCE MANAGEMENT TEAM FIXES WATER OR SEWER LINES OR REPLACES THEM OFF AND THEY DO THE WORK AT NIGHT.
BECAUSE THAT IS OUR OWN CITY EMPLOYEES AND WE ARE VERY GRATEFUL OF THE SACRIFICES THEY MAKE.
BUT OUR CONTRACTORS IS A BIT TOUGHER RIGHT NOW.
IT IS ALWAYS ON THE TABLE FOR US TO LOOK AT.
>> SPEAKER: I AGREE WITH YOU ABOUT PEOPLE BEING ANXIOUS, BUT TWO YEARS ON ONE ROAD -- I JUST DON'T UNDERSTAND IT.
WHERE ARE WE AT ON THE ROUNDABOUT?
IS A COMPLETE NOW OR? >> SPEAKER: THE ROUNDABOUT IS SUBSTANTIALLY COMPLETE AS WELL. REPLACED THE SURFACE LAST WEEK.
BUT WE ARE ALSO AT THE MERCY OF THE STRIPING CONTRACTOR.
WE ALSO NEED TO DO A FINAL PUNCH LIST WALK-THROUGH TO DEVELOP A LIST OF THINGS THAT THE CONTRACTOR NEEDS TO DO AS PART
OF COMPLETING THE PROJECT. >> SPEAKER: ALLISON, CAN YOU EXPLAIN WHAT SUBSTANTIALLY COMPLETE IS TO THE COUNCIL SO THEY UNDERSTAND IT IS A CONTRACTUAL TERM WE USE.
>> SPEAKER: SUBSTANTIALLY COMPLETE FOR US IS WHEN THEY HAVE COMPLETED ALL OF THE MAJOR ITEMS OF WORK.
WE USE TO INCLUDE A STRIPING ON THAT BUT ONCE WE GOT DOWN TO ONE STRIPING CONTRACTOR IN THE STATE SUBSTANTIALLY COMPLETE MEANS THEY HAVE COMPLETED ESSENTIALLY EVERYTHING UP TO THAT POINT.
[00:10:03]
THEY MAY HAVE SOME MINOR GRADING TO DO, SOME GRASS AND, JUST MINOR THINGS TO FINISH IT. BUT WE HOLD MONEY AND MAINTAIN UNTIL THE PROJECT IS COMPLETE COMPLETE.>> SPEAKER: ALSO, COULD YOU GIVE US AN UPDATE ON OPELIKA RD.
PROJECT AND WHEN IT WAS STARTED AND WHEN IT IS DUE TO BE
COMPLETED. >> SPEAKER: THE OPELIKA RD.
PROJECT STARTED IN 2019 -- 21. SORRY.
>> SPEAKER: IT WAS COVID DELAYED.
WE WERE IN THE MIDDLE OF BIDDING IT AND GO IT HAPPENED.
WE STOPPED AND IN 20 WE PICKED UP LATER IN 20.
>> SPEAKER: WE HAVE HAD SOME DESIGN ISSUES ON OPELIKA RD., CONFLICT WITH UTILITIES THAT WERE NOT LOCATED DURING DESIGN.
WE HAVE HAD TO REDESIGN A GOOD BIT OF THE STORM SURGE SYSTEM, SOME OF THE LIGHTING HAS BEEN IMPACTED BY FIBER-OPTIC LINES.
BUT THE CONTRACTOR IS ANTICIPATING BEING COMPLETE WITH THE NORTH SIDE OF THE ROAD WHICH IS THE SIDE KNIPPERS IS ON WITHIN THE NEXT COUPLE OF WEEKS. AND THEN WE WILL SHIFT TRAFFIC BECAUSE WE STILL HAVE TO CONSTRUCT THE MEDIANS ON THE INTERIOR LANE. IT IS NOT COMPLETE YET OBVIOUSLY
>> SPEAKER: I MAY HAVE MISSED IT, BUT WHEN ARE YOU LOOKING --
WHAT'S YOUR BEST GUESS? >> SPEAKER: COUNCILMAN DAWSON, I WOULD SAY MY BEST GUESS EDUCATED GUESS BASED ON WHAT IS LEFT TO DO IT WOULD BE EARLY SUMMER BEFORE THEY FINISH.
THAT IS PENDING ANY SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ISSUES THAT MIGHT COME
BETWEEN NOW AND THEN. >> SPEAKER: BECAUSE YOU HAVE SOME BUSINESSES OUT THERE THAT ARE HURTING.
I CAN UNDERSTAND THEIR PAIN AND FRANKLY I TEND TO AGREE WITH
THEM. >> SPEAKER: I WOULD ALSO LIKE TO POINT OUT THIS IS A FORMER RIGHT-OF-WAY OWNED BY THE ALABAMA DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION THAT WAS GIVEN TO THE CITY. ONE OF THE REASONS WE DIDN'T HAVE ALL OF THE DATA ON IT, WE DIDN'T REALIZE THERE IS A WEIRD THING SITTING IN FRONT OF NEFF FIRST, A GIGANTIC HOLE WITH A CONCRETE BARRIER AND A LOT OF PEOPLE HAVE ASKED WHAT THAT IS.
THE CITY ENGINEER CAN EXPLAIN BUT I WILL EXPLAIN IN CITY MANAGER TERMS. WE ALSO LEARNED THERE IS CONCRETE UNDERNEATH AND IN THE MIDDLE OF THIS ROAD AND WHEN THEY GOT TO DIGGING TO THE WATER LINES AND OTHER THINGS THEY
FOUND WHAT, ALLISON? >> SPEAKER: CONCRETE.
>> SPEAKER: IT IS NOT BEEN EASY.
TO REPAIR. IT IS CERTAINLY NOT AN EXCUSE.
WE ACKNOWLEDGE THAT. BUT SHORT OF JACK HAMMERING DOWN IN THE MIDDLE OF OPELIKA RD., IT IS NOT A ROAD THAT WE PREVIOUSLY MAINTAINED. THE PROJECT HASN'T GONE AS WE WISHED. THE MIDTOWN DEVELOPMENT WAS THE REASON THAT WE PULLED THE TRIGGER ON THIS PHASE OUT OF ORDER VERSUS OTHER PHASES OF OPELIKA RD., AND I WISH THAT IT HAD GONE BETTER. BUT THERE HAS BEEN A NUMBER OF THINGS THAT HAPPENED, SOME WITHIN OUR CONTROL AND SOME BEYOND OUR CONTROL. WE KNOW THE TRAVELING PUBLIC HAS MUCH TO SAY ABOUT US ON SOCIAL MEDIA, AND WE CLEARLY UNDERSTAND THAT, BUT I WOULD ALSO APPRECIATE IF YOU HAVE SPECIFIC QUESTIONS, PLEASE CALL THE CITY, PLEASE E-MAIL, PLEASE PUT IT IN ON FIX-IT. WE WILL BE HAPPY TO ADDRESS YOUR CONCERNS DIRECTLY. THE SPECULATION ON SOCIAL MEDIA IS CHALLENGING BECAUSE EVERYBODY IS GLEANING INFORMATION FROM CITIZEN TO CITIZEN AND THE CITY WOULD LOVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO TALK TO CITIZENS DIRECTLY THAT HAVE QUESTIONS.
>> SPEAKER: I JUST WANT TO SAY I UNDERSTAND THE CITIZENS CONCERNS AND I APPRECIATE IT AND I BELIEVE THE CITY IS WORKING HARD FROM LISTENING TONIGHT TO MS. FRASER TALK.
WORKING HARD TO GET THIS COMPLETED.
I UNDERSTAND SOMETIMES THINGS WILL HAPPEN WHERE -- I CAN RELATE. BUT I WOULD LIKE TO ASK YOU, MEGAN, AND I WILL ASK BECAUSE I DON'T KNOW.
ARE WE COMMUNICATING ENOUGH OURSELVES THROUGH SOCIAL MEDIA IN WAYS TO LET PEOPLE KNOW WHAT IS GOING ON AND GIVE UPDATES?
ON A WEEKLY OR -- >> SPEAKER: WE ARE NOT FOR OPELIKA RD. GIVING WEEKLY UPDATES.
WE TEND WITH A ROAD PROJECT TO GIVE UPDATES ON SOCIAL MEDIA ABOUT CLOSURES OR SHIFTS IN TRAFFIC OR NEW TRAFFIC SIGNALS GOING TO FLASH. WE GOT HEAVILY CRITICIZED ON SOCIAL MEDIA ABOUT A SIGNAL GOING TO FLASH ON GLENN AVENUE AND THEN IT WAS DANGEROUS. WE ARE REQUIRED BY LAW TO HAVE THE SIGNAL FLASH FOR EX AMOUNT OF DAYS BEFORE WE CAN PUT INTO OPERATION. IT IS NOT A CHOICE, IT IS NOT THE CITY BEING BUREAUCRATIC. IT IS A LAW WE HAVE TO FOLLOW.
IN GENERAL, WE WILL BE LAUNCHING SHORTLY A NEW CAPITOL IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM WHICH IS ALL OF OUR CAPITOL PROJECTS PORTION ON OUR WEBSITES THAT WILL HAVE MORE TIMELY UPDATES ON IT AND WILL BE PUSHING OUT ON SOCIAL MEDIA MORE INFORMATION TO DIRECT CITIZENS TO THAT AREA. IT GIVES MORE UPDATES THEN QUARTERLY. THEY WILL BE AT A MINIMUM MONTHLY. AND THAT SOME PROJECTS LIKE SAMFORD AND COLLEGE AND SANFORD AND GAY STREET THAT WE ARE ABOUT TO TEAR UP THAT THEY WILL HAVE A LITTLE MORE ACTIVE PARTICIPATION BECAUSE THERE IS GOING TO BE SO MANY LANE SHIFTS, CLOSURES AT CERTAIN TIMES, NOT FOOTBALL, THAT WE NEED TO NOTIFY EVERYBODY
[00:15:02]
AND PUSH THAT OUT. SO WE WILL BE DOING THAT.YOU WILL SEE THE SAME ON OPELIKA RD.
>> SPEAKER: COULD CAN WE GET MORE INFORMATION OUT THERE I THINK THAT WILL HELP US CITIZENS A LOT.
AT LEAST THEY WILL KNOW, COX ROAD IS GOING TO BE BLOCKED TODAY OR OPELIKA WILL BE DOING THIS.
>> SPEAKER: WE DO THAT FREQUENTLY IF THERE IS ANY LANE CLOSURES OUT THERE WE HAVE BEEN PUSHING IT OUT FOR A LONG PERIOD OF TIME. WE VERY MUCH ENCOURAGE PEOPLE TO SUBSCRIBE TO A NOTIFIER SO THEY CAN CHOOSE WHAT THEY WANT TO.
IT WILL PUSH E-MAILS OR TEXT MESSAGES BUT THEY CAN ALSO SUBSCRIBE TO OUR SOCIAL MEDIA CHANNELS AND WE ARE HAPPY TO ASSIST WITH THAT IF SOMEONE IS UNSURE.
>> SPEAKER: THANK YOU FOR THAT. >> SPEAKER: FOLLOW UP ON THAT, NOT TO KEEP ON, BUT THE GENERAL UPDATE ON OPELIKA RD. WE MENTIONED THE HOLE IN FRONT OF, MAYBE THAT'S A MEDIAN ISSUE THAT WE HAVE TO DEAL WITH AFTER THE FACT? BUT IT'S SOMETHING THAT SEEMS TO HAVE BEEN AN ONGOING OBVIOUS ISSUE THAT PERHAPS WE COULD EDUCATE PEOPLE ON.
THIS IS AN ISSUE THAT WILL BE AT THE TAIL END OF THE PROJECT THAT WE DIDN'T JUST PACK UP AND LEAVE THIS HOLE IN THE STREET FOR MONTHS. I WILL SUPPORT COUNCILMAN ELLIS ON THAT. I THINK WE'VE ALL HEARD WHY IN THE WORLD WOULD WE REPAVE OPELIKA RD. AND THE TIME WE HAVE BEEN WORKING ON THAT. I UNDERSTAND THE ISSUES BUT COMMUNICATION WOULD BE KEY THERE THE SECOND ISSUE WHILE I HAVE THE MICROPHONE, WE MENTIONED ONE STRIPING CONTRACTOR IN THE STATES. DO WE REQUIRE A CERTAIN CERTIFICATIONS FOR STRIPING CONTRACTORS?
>> SPEAKER: YOU WILL SEE TEMPORARY STRIPING DO YOU SEE THAT IN A LOT OF PLACES NOW PICK THE BEST WAY TO KNOW IF IT IS PERMANENT IT'S CALLED THERMAL CLASS AND IT IS SPARKLY.
IT HAS THE REFLECTION AND IT IS REFLECTIVE AND SO PERMANENT STRIPING MAKES IT ESPECIALLY IN INCLEMENT WEATHER MAKES IT EASIER TO SEE. IF IT LOOKS DULL OR IT SEEMS TO BE WASHING AWAY A LOT OF THAT IS TEMPORARY STRIPING.
THERMOPLASTIC HAS A LONGER LIFE ON IT TO, THERE ARE DIFFERENT GRADES OF THERMOPLASTIC. ALL OF THE WONDERFUL THINGS YOU LEARN AS CITY MANAGER. WE USE A HIGHER GRADE OF THERMOPLASTIC THAT WILL LAST LONGER AND IS SAFER BUT THERE IS ONE CONTRACTOR. WE HAVE LOOKED AND ARE CONTINUING TO LOOK AT A SMALL THERMOPLASTIC MACHINE THAT COULD DO SOME CROSSWALKS, LIMITED STRIPING, BUT NOT SOMETHING LIKE EACH UNIVERSITY DRIVE. WE ARE STILL EVALUATING THAT AND WE WILL BE TALKING ABOUT IT DURING THE BUDGET WHETHER WE
WILL GO THERE OR NOT. >> SPEAKER: CHEESE, I APPRECIATE YOU BRINGING THIS UP. I JUST WANT TO SAY TO OUR COMMUNITY THAT WE KNOW THAT THIS IS FRUSTRATING.
CERTAINLY TO THE BUSINESSES PARTICULARLY THOSE ON OPELIKA RD. I FEEL FOR YOU.
I WAS AT ONE OF THOSE BUSINESSES LAST WEEK WITH ALL OF MY FAMILY ENJOYING DINNER AND IT WAS COMPLICATED TO GET IN AND OUT OF THERE. I WANT TO THE COMMUNITY TO KNOW THAT THE CITY STAFF IS DOING ALL THAT THEY CAN TO GET THESE PROJECTS MOVED FORWARD. OBVIOUSLY, TONIGHT WE HAVE TALKED ABOUT MORE AGGRESSIVE WAYS THAT WE CAN COMMUNICATE WHAT IS GOING ON WITH ALL OF THESE PROJECTS WITH OUR COMMUNITY AND I WOULD HOPE THAT WE WILL MOVE FORWARD AND DO THAT AND BE AS INTENTIONAL AND AS AGGRESSIVE AS WE CAN TELLING OUR CITIZENS WHAT IS GOING ON. I KNOW YOU ARE FRUSTRATED AND I APPRECIATE YOUR PATIENCE AND IT IS OUR DESIRE TO GET THESE FINISHED AS FAST AS POSSIBLE. IT HAS BEEN A LONG TIME.
AND WE KNOW THAT. >> SPEAKER: MAYOR, I WOULD LIKE TO SAY SOMETHING ALSO. I CAN UNDERSTAND THE FRUSTRATION OF THE COMMUNITY AND EVERYTHING ABOUT THE ROUNDABOUTS AND THE CONSTRUCTION GOING ON. FORTUNATELY, I DO WORK WITH CONTACTS EVERY DAY. THAT IS MY JOB AT TUSKEGEE.
I WORK WITH THOSE AND WHEN IT COMES DOWN TO ACTUALLY -- I SORT OF WANT TO DEFEND THE CONTRACTORS A LITTLE BIT.
WHAT I'M SAYING. IT IS BECAUSE EVEN -- I'M OUT IN THE FIELD -- I'M NOT OUT IN THE FIELD AND A WORK IN THE OFFICE SO I UNDERSTAND WHAT HAS BEEN GOING ON WITH A LOT OF THIS CONSTRUCTION AND STUFF. WHEN YOU GOT CONTRACTORS IN THERE, AND EVEN THEY SIGN A CONTRACT FOR A CERTAIN TIME AND A FINISH TIME, THE MAIN FACTOR A LOT OF TIMES IS THE WEATHER.
I KNOW I CAN'T REMEMBER IF IT IS 2019 OR 2020 BUT WE HAVE A LOT OF RAIN ONE OF THOSE YEARS, A LOT OF RAIN.
THAT PROLONGS THE CONSTRUCTION, THAT PROLONGS THE TIME.
SOMETIMES YOU HAVE TO STRETCH IT OUT, STRETCH THE TIME OUT.
THE COMMUNITY DOES NOT KNOW THAT, WHICH IS A GOOD POINT THAT YOU MADE ABOUT PUTTING THAT THERE.
THEY DON'T UNDERSTAND THAT SOMETIMES THE PROJECT IS NOT GOING TO GO AS IT IS SUPPOSED TO GO.
[00:20:05]
WHEN THINGS LIKE THAT HAPPEN, MAINLY, THE MAIN THINGS THAT REALLY HAPPEN IS EITHER IT WILL BE WHETHER OR SOME TYPES OF UNFORESEEN ITEM OF THE PROJECT THAT HAPPENS UNDERGROUND OR WHATEVER. SO THEN YOU HAVE TO STRETCH OUT THE CONTRACT AND YOU HAVE TO DO CHANGE ORDERS AND DO ALL OF THESE DIFFERENT KINDS OF STUFF. THAT JUST TO SAY THAT PART OF IT IS AS FAR AS THE CONTRACTORS GO. SPEAKING OF COX ROAD, AND I TRAVEL THAT EVERY MORNING GOING TO WORK, THE ONLY PROBLEM I HAVE INTO THAT INTERSECTION AND THAT ROUNDABOUT IS I DON'T REALLY THINK PEOPLE UNDERSTAND HOW YOU ARE SUPPOSED TO YIELD IN THOSE THINGS. I HAVE SEEN SEVERAL ACCIDENTS, INCLUDING MYSELF, THIS PERSON THINKS THEY ARE SUPPOSED TO GO AND THIS PERSON AND EVERYBODY'S GOING AT THE SAME TIME.I HAVEN'T PAID ATTENTION. MACON, WHETHER THERE IS ENOUGH YIELD SIGNS OR HOW IT IS SUPPOSED TO GO, BUT I KNOW IT CAN BE CONFUSING. SOME MORNINGS.
I HAVE LIKE TO GET HIT OR HIT SOMEBODY BECAUSE I AM THINKING I AM SUPPOSED TO GO BEFORE THEM AND THEY THINK THEY ARE SUPPOSED TO GO BEFORE ME. THAT IS THE PROBLEM I HAD ON COX ROAD. I GO EVERY MORNING THAT'S THE WAY I TRAVEL GOING TO '10 EVERY MORNING.
I AM THANKFUL FOR IT TO THE CONES, ALL OF THOSE CONES AND STUFF THAT'S CONFUSING. AND YOU GET UP ON THOSE THINGS AND IT'S CONFUSING. ON OPELIKA RD., IT IS ALMOST LIKE -- I TRAVEL THAT RODE A LOT TOO -- IT'S LIKE JUST BEFORE IF YOU ARE GETTING OUT OF OPELIKA, AND THAT LITTLE ARROW THAT TELLS YOU TO STAY OVER IN THE LANE, IT LOOKS LIKE THOSE CONES NEED TO BE PUSHED UP A LITTLE BIT BECAUSE YOU GOT A CONE ON THE SIDE OF YOU AND THEN YOU WRITING THIS SIDE AND YOU DON'T KNOW WHETHER TO GET OVER, THEY DON'T KNOW IF TO GO TO YOUR WAY.
IT IS SORT OF CONFUSING RIGHT THERE.
THOSE ARE THE ISSUES I GOT WITH THAT.
IS NOT SO MUCH THE TIME IT'S TAKING FOR THE CONSTRUCTION.
OPELIKA RD., YEAH, BUT NOT COX ROAD.
WE HAD A LOT OF RAIN ONE YEAR. BUT IT IS SORT OF CONFUSING WITH
THAT ROUNDABOUT. >> SPEAKER: I APPRECIATE YOUR OBSERVATION. BUT I DON'T THINK IT TAKES TWO YEARS TO GO CLEARING THE SIDE OF THE ROAD.
TWO YEARS IS A LONG TIME FOR ANYBODY.
>> SPEAKER: WELL, I AM UP THERE.
I KNOW STANDING ON THE OUTSIDE LOOKING IN.
IT MAY APPEAR THAT WAY. THAT'S JUST ME, MY OPINION.
>> SPEAKER: KELLEY? >> SPEAKER: THIS IS RELATED TO WHICH CHIEF DAWSON MENTIONED. HE AND I WERE TALKING PART OF THIS IS BECAUSE WE ONLY GET ONE BIT HER ON SOME OF THESE PROJECTS LIKE THIS. THAT MAYBE AN ACTION THAT THE CITY COUNCIL CAN TAKE NOTE OF. MAYBE WE OUGHT TO ASK MORE QUESTIONS AND NOT ALLOWED TO BE CONTRACT TO BE AWARDED IF THERE IS NO -- MAYBE WE OUGHT TO TAKE AN PAST PERFORMANCE AS A CRITERIA BEFORE WE AUTHORIZE THE CITY MANAGER TO ACCEPT THE CONTRACT. THERE ARE SOME THINGS LIKE THE POOL CHEMICALS THAT YOU WILL SEE TONIGHT YOU HAVE TO HAVE THOSE BEFORE SUMMER. THAT'S FINE.
ONLY ONE BIDDER ON THAT AS WE WILL SEE.
BUT A HUGE PROJECT LIKE THIS AND WE HAVE A SINGLE CONTRACTOR, WE HAVE -- YOU HAVE US OVER A BARREL.
WE DON'T WANT TO HAVE THAT CONTRACT AT THAT TIME.
THAT SOMETHING WE AS A COUNCIL SHOULD TAKE INTO CONSIDERATION.
>> SPEAKER: I JUST ALWAYS THOUGHT THE STATE REQUIRED THREE
BIDS. >> SPEAKER: KNOW NO, WE ARE REQUIRED TO BID IT AND IF WE DON'T GET BIDS OR WE ONLY GET ONE BIDDER, SOMETIMES THERE IS SOME NEGOTIATION.
BUT THERE ARE ONLY SPECIFIC REASONS WHY WE EITHER HAVE TO ACCEPT A BID IF WE WANT TO MOVE FORWARD WITH THE PROJECT, OR REJECTED FOR SPECIFIC REASONS, BUT WE CAN'T -- WE WOULD HAVE TO TALK TO THE COUNCIL ANOTHER TIME ABOUT ALL OF THE INS AND OUTS OF CONTRACTS BECAUSE THERE ARE VERY SPECIFIC THINGS WE HAVE TO FOLLOW WITH PUBLIC WORKS BID LAW THAT ARE NOT OF COURSE LIKE EVERYTHING RIGHT, KATIE. WE ARE HAPPY TO GO OVER THAT WITH YOU IF YOU WANT TO LEARN MORE ABOUT IT.
>> SPEAKER: DOES THE CITY OF AUBURN FOLLOW THE ALDOT DEADLINES ONLY IN AN LINE OF THAT OR.
>> SPEAKER: THAT DEPENDS ON WHAT YOU ARE REFERRING TO ON PUBLIC WORKS BID LAW, WE HAVE BIDDING A ROAD PROJECT THAT IS JUST THE CITY OF AUBURN THAT DOESN'T INVOLVE ANY STATE FUNDING OR WHAT HAVE YOU. WE ARE FOLLOWING STATE LAW IN TERMS OF OUR BIDDING REQUIREMENTS.
IF THERE ARE PROJECTS WHERE ALDOT IS INVOLVED DUE TO FUNDING OR IF IT INVOLVES THEIR RIGHT-OF-WAY WHERE WE ALSO HAVE TO FOLLOW THEIR STANDARD SPECIFICATIONS AND DETAILS, AND THERE IS ALSO SOME OTHER THINGS WE WILL TALK ABOUT.
ALDOT STANDARD THAT ARE JUST IN OUR CONSTRUCTION MANUALS BECAUSE THAT IS NORMAL. IT IS A VERY COMPLICATED PROCESS BUT WE DO BID. THEY CALL IT LETTING PROJECT
[00:25:03]
WHICH IS AWARDING BIDS AND MAYBE SOME THINGS THAT THE -- SLIGHTLY DIFFERENT THAN WE DO EXPECT ANYTHING ELSE FROM THE COUNCIL?* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.