Remodeling projects top council agenda
Remodeling of the City Council Dais, conference room and office lobby downstairs that first surfaced more than a year ago, comes before council for funding approval at Monday’s regular council meeting at City Hall.
Council met with staff on April 6 to select from the design and cost options presented Public Works Director Steve Neff, who said all work could be done during the four-week summer hiatus.
“It will come before council as early as this Monday,” said Councilman Rick Williams, who serves as council’s office manager. “It has to be done so we can see each other better. It’s been budgeted. We talked about this last year and put it off. We’ve scaled it back so I think we are being prudent with the funding.”
The chosen design reconfigures the shape of the dais for seating eight members, bringing staff below to face the dais and relocating power and computer hookups at an estimated cost of $36,000.
Improvements to the conference room, located next door to Council Chambers, consists of painting, replacement of carpet, table and chairs, and adding artwork and blinds in the amount of $7,000.
“The conference room is being done under regular maintenance,” said Williams.
Office space improvements are estimated to cost about $73,000 to install veneer desks with new chairs, sliding glass door, frosted glass panels, meeting table, countertop and new guest seating.
“There are no changes planned for any council member’s offices,” said Williams.
Total cost for all improvements is $116,000.
Council also is being asked on Monday to approve grant agreements with the Florida Department of Transportation to design and construct sidewalks on both sides of Chiquita Boulevard from Gleason Parkway to Southwest 12th Terrace, and on the north side of Tropicana Parkway from Chiquita to Santa Barbara Boulevard.
There’s also a resolution seeking approval of continuing the Transportation Advisory Board and Golf Course Advisory Board.
Council is expected to approve an ordinance to sell city-owned property at Santa Barbara Boulevard and Veterans Parkway to Creighton Companies, which owns adjoining property and intends to develop the properties for commercial purposes. Creighton has offered the city a purchase contract exceeding the appraised value.
The meeting starts at 4:30 p.m. in Council Chambers.